Yamaha JX20 Combo

Extremely easy to use. It takes a bit of getting used to the different levers and switches and knowing how to use them, but once you know how....you got it all figured out. It's quite a charm!

The YC30 has all the features of the YC20, but with additional features such as Marimba, Marimba Select, Marimba Speed (slow/fast), Attack 2-2/3, Fuzz, and a really cool portamento-theremin-flute analog strip that you can slide your fingers across laterally or dabbingly and make cool spacey, or even ethnic flute sounds. Then of course, there are all the essential features such as Section I voices (16, 8, 4, 2-2/3, 1-1/3, 1) and Section II voices (16, 8, 4, 2, 1), Vibrato(depths 1-2-3, speeds 1-2-3), Manual Bass (16, 8), Touch Vibrato (depths 1-2-3), Percussive, and there is also the Pitch Knob, Master Volume Knob, Manual Bass Volume Knob, Sustain Knob, and Portamento Volume Knob. Last but not least is the really cool-looking, chrome Mains On/Off switch with accompanying LED indicator on the right of the switch.
I'll give a 10 for awesome, simple, yet effective features!

I thought I'd never find another Farfisa Compact again. WRONG!!!! This thing sounds just like a Compact, but with more verstaility in terms of offering more harmonic footages. The YC30 can sound like both a Vox Continental and a Farfisa Compact, it's just all in how one dials in the right lever combinations and Balance controls. Many say that the YC Yamaha organs can never really sound like both Vox or Farfisa, but I think I have to disagree. Yes, when I first got the YC30 from Ebay, it took me a short while to get used to its more pure sounding tone, but if you really want to achieve Compact or Continental bliss, you must know what levers to use appropriately and how much in each varying amount.
The YC30 sounds even more Farfisa-esque when ran thru a descent valve combo such as a Vox AC30 or Fender Reverb (Twin). Now as for Vox sounds, again managing the right lever combinations will yield those classic reed and mellow tones. The touch vibrato is so cool!! hey, who said you can't make string-violin sounds or oboe sounds? huh? It sounds so cool, a bit fake-ish, but that's just it, it's the classic cheez sound. Perfect! Many others say that the YC30 is not capable of making other instrument sounds, just flutes and reeds. Well, I think that's wrong. Again using the right combination of tone levers from either Channel I or II, or both, can yield in an infinite array of tonal possibilities. To make the Strings or Oboe tones sound brighter, grittier and cheesier, you can use the Fuzz in conjunction with the tone levers, the only downside, the Fuzz is On or Off, and when it is on, it's full amount. If you play just solo notes, you can get some real awe-inspiring classic/cheesy Oboe or Trumpet sounds, but when you play chords, it begins to get aggressive and sloppy/gritty-- but it's still cool. The fuzz really brings out the "extreme" in the YC30, and to be frank with you, I'm quite impressed by this feature for an instrument that's almost 40 years old. The portamento strip is another amazing feature for an instrument of this age. With added reverb and delay effetcs, one can make some really cool spacey, or even cool ethnic flute sounds.
The YC30 is also capable of creating some stunning Hammond organ tones, just be sure to have a descent simulator or a good speaker system like a Leslie or Motion Sound. IMHO, I think that the YC30's Hammond sounds are better than that of Roland's VK digital series. Overall the YC30 organ has amazing sounds, cool simple effects, and awesome tone!! I love it.

I can't quite determine the outcome or verdict of my YC30's reliablity, but one thing for sure, it was bought used from Ebay from and old estate auction from an origianl owner and was in good funcitoning order, and to this day it perfroms extremely well. I've only had it for a few months, but the only issue I've had so far is that the Portamento Strip doesn't sound in the middle octave every now and then, but that's usually due to the way I power on my amp/keyboard setup at times. Other than that issue, all keys, levers, and effects function flawlessly and smoothly, and all notes are in proper tune. I can't complain for an instrument of this age. The Farfisa Compact I had a year ago was a charm, but a pain to keep maintained and in tune (espeically with those really old, unstable germanium transistors). Soldering wasn't my thing, so I wanted something that was more stable and reliable, yet still had the real vintage sound and looks. The Yamaha satisfied both requirements and even exceeds that to a degree. It uses ICs and more stable silicon transistors. The organ itself wieghs 40kg (88lbs) according to the owner's manual, but I think my Compact weighed just as much. I think the YC30 is also easier to carry and handle for its weight and size...it's got two durable carrying handles. Neat! And to boot- folds up into a portable suitcase, just like any Vox or Farfisa. It's a bit heavy, but it's still portable and giggable. Wow!!! ;-D

I've never personally dealt with Yamaha. However, I heard that their customer service is friendly and very apprehensive. I'm not quite so sure that they would ever service something this old, but I do think that there are plenty of solo technicians out there who specialize in these kind of vintage keyboards, and that they would be able to repair or replace parts and electronics quite well. So for this, I can't quite say...N/A

If this organ was lost or stolen, I'd be depressed, but I wouldn't hesitate to find and buy another one, or even get one of the double-manual versions such as the YC25D or YC45D. I love the YC30! I think that it was worth every penny (or quivre). To-boot, you can buy these for much cheaper than you can with a mint-conditioned Farfisa or Vox. Go figure...it just goes to show you the nature of most people's mentality and thinking. Oh bloody well, that's their loss, not mine! For those of you who are looking for a unique, real, authentic, vintage keyboard with authentic vintage sounds and effects, this is the one! If you like the sounds of Iron Butterfly, early Pink Floyd (Piper, Saucerful, More, Ummagumma,etc), Sly and TFS, Elvis Costello, Stereolab, Mogwai, Mike Oldfield, then this is the board for you. You won't be dissapointed with this unique organ. It aounds awesome, looks cool, performs well, built solid (to include the matching swivel chrome stand), and it's a fat lot of fun to play. Great buy! 10

Made in the 1980's Japan. Enough features for me. The reverb is solid and with effects. I can get some pretty versitile tones out of it.
Use the amp for practise, recording and small venues. Of course it is a solid state, and reading what the others have said, I have to say, every amp is different. I mainly play tube amps, but with the right effcets, it can play the blues, rock and jazz...

I use a strat through it. A 54 RI and a Steinberger. Has that 80's sound, withgreat sustain. By itself, turned way up, can be a bit muddy, but when using with effects, especially a compression sustain, it cleans up nice yet howls like a beast...as it is quite loud.

I'll give it to my kids...never had a problem and have had it since 87.

never had to use it

been playing for 30 years. Use Fender tube amps, Supros, Magnatone. What I like about this amp, is that it's very reliable and has that 80's crunch sound. It's not a warm tube, but as I said, use a fuzz face and a compression sustain and it can getr some nice bluesy tones.

Well, I gotta tell you...nothing like what the above writers went through ever happened to me. It is a clean little amp that i bought for my place 12 floors up. I have traded imn my fender stacks for micro waves and dishwashers and a big t.V. Sigh. I find No mud. this is a clean little amp. I like the channels and the fact i can run my mike thru it and stay about 8 feet away without feedback. This amp is so clean, vanillia comes to mind. It has plenty of controls, but they lead to distortion. Infact, the only way I can get different sounds is by having my Daddy-o intercede!! this old solid statere from the late golden years will have to do.

I ripped a Fernandaes apart and turned it into a fender standard (NOT squire!!!!!!!!!!!).
see abouve for most...I use it for writing and occasionally ripping a couple of riffs through the walls. The ol' gal has a lot of power.

I would rate it 10, but it faded on me the other day...oh ohhh!

never delt with them, but they can send me a fre amp!

30 years
A little fender or yamaha....
I love I have it, I hate the new fade. (the "presance" is great, too).
nothing else to say

Got this amp in about 1985 used. Has 30 watts of solid state power, spring reverb, a push pull gain/master volume control and a 10 inch Yamaha speaker.

This amp was probably single handedly responsible for the bad rap that solid state amps had back in the 80s. Clean settings are fair to poor. Using the gain settings produces the worst sounds I have ever heard in my 25 years of playing guitar. This amp redifines the word "mud." Totally undefined mush. Whatever you do, don't palm the bridge on the low E string. It produces a sound very similar to a blown speaker that someone stabbed a thousand times with a dull pencil. For the longest time I thought that this amp had a blown speaker, but after trying a different speaker in it, I realized the amp just sounded like sh**.

As I mentioned before, this amp was in a house fire and was totally melted. The knobs melted, the speaker grill was burned off and gone and it looked pretty terminal for the poor little thing, BUT...when I plugged it in....IT STILL WORKED! So this thing gets high marks for reliability. The pots are a little scratchy, but all else is fine. I don't know about gigging with this amp, because I wouldn't ever play it in public since this is the only amp I have ever played that would make the most polished guitarist sound like a rank amateur.

never dealt with them.

Cool little troll of an amp with some sentimental value I suppose. Just goes to show you how far the technology of solid state amps have come in 20 years.

This is the little brother of the JX-series, you can find reviews of the other models here. My first amp! Got it in '81 or '82. Gain (pull for more!), master, bass, treble and reverb controls. 10 inch speaker. Practice amp. Solid state.

You can get a resonable clean tone out of it, no complexity though, very straight forward and plain. Jazzers would perhaps like it. I was always frustrated with it, because I wanted to rock - and this amp just won't do that. The overdrive is basically horrible, and when people talk about how solid state amps can't match tubes, this is the classic example. Makes a, er..harsh farting sound. Also keep in mind that this is strictly a practice amp; cranking it to (smalll venue) gigging levels puts you quickly in farting mode. For a mellow jazzer at a very small venue, it could be used I suppose.

It's 20 years old now, and works fine. Scratchy pots, but that's normal of course. It's got sentimental value now, so I can't part with it. I've long since upgraded, but still find use for it in the role it probably was intended - clean tone practising at volume levels that won't make your wife threathen divorce, your neighbours call the police, etc.

I'm looking at it now as I write this, a little brown gnome over there in the corner. What an ugly duckling. Feelings of, er.. empathy and love. And enjoyable memories after all. It stays.