Yamaha SHS-10

Very easy to use, especially if you're just using the onboard sounds. Its an 80s style 'home' keyboard so you only need to press a button and you've got a rhythm and accompaniment - mmm nice! Yahama's online library has the manual so you can't go wrong.

The keys are mini and not velocity sensitive. However, it has MIDI out (only) so can control another sound generator. I linked mine to a Novation K Station and, after setting both to the same channel (SHS-10 has a 'midi channel' button and big red light up digits so its idiot-proof) it was working instantly, wih pitch bend and mod. Voice change over midi made sense once I clicked that the SHS-10 uses 0-5 (so 5 x 5) to identify eac one - so you can set up 25 channels on your synth / module and change them from the keytar.

Realistic? Ha ha - not exactly but one look at it would tell you what to expect. Enjoy the rhythms and voices for their 80s-tastic trash aesthetic. When using as a midi controller, you can just stick a 1/4" jack plug and this cuts out the keytar's speakers.

Seems reliable and the batteries go on for ages. In the unlikely event it fails, I'd just switch back to my synth and take over from there.

As stated te manual is avaialble online - easy to follow.

Love its retro good looks. I have a silvery grey one (not a red one - that would just be attention-seeking ha ha). Its a cheap(ish) midi controller, albeit limited and is light (1.1 kg exc. batteries!) so easy to weild whilst playing. Only 750mm long (so not particularly manly looking, if that worries you)and mini keys but my limited keyboard skills don't warrant paying silly money that I don't have on a Roland AX. Its toy-like appearance is inhirently amusing but its not pretending to be anything its not. Embrace and enjoy.

The Keytar is great to hold, and using the pitch bend/portamento/sustain/vibrato with the left hand is very easy and can be done without having to look once you have practiced for a while. I think i would find it difficult to play this instrument left handed though...

I am yet to try MIDI out, but all midi controllers are pretty much the same. Being able to adjust the rang of pitch bend and other parameters is something that lots of modern keyboards/synths do not have, and is very useful. The polyphony is 6 Voices, which is good even by today's standards. (I mean, if you play more than 6 notes on a keyboard of that size, it isnt going to sound terribly brilliant anyway).

The sounds are basic, but what do you expect? This thing is an antique now! I am able to really play whatever i want though, the keys are just the right size to be able to play many chords with just the right hand, and if i do need 2 hands, the strap holds it in a comfortable position to be able to take the left hand off the neck. The downside to this is that you have to hold down sustain/portamento buttons for them to work.

I think i would have to, these things are hard to find now! Its never given me any problems. The best thing is that it runs off 2 AA batteries for a long time so if your power supply dies (as they always do at gigs), it isnt the end of the world.

I think i would have to replace it if it was stolen, but the price and availability are limiting factors. I have a red one in perfect condition which are rarer and more popular, so i think i was lucky to get this for 100 quid. If you are bidding on ebay for someone else who really wants it the prices can be stupid.

Easy!

The best feature is the MIDI out so I can use my other boards! The built in sounds are okay to practice tunes with. IN fact, I use this to work out keyboard solos, etc. I have BackTracker I plug it into, record whatever passage from my CD player, and use the SHS-10. I can do this wherever, not just in my band room.

The portomento is cool to bend tones with. It's bright red color is very expressive!!

I used it for gigging in the late 80's, early 90's to show up our cocky lead guitarist. Had a custome 40ft MIDI cable made so I could jump out on the dance floor. BTW, I am an excellent keyboardist with a classical piano performance degree, so I can play the hell out of any keyboard. Some of you here say you would never use it seriously...well, it is a limitation of your own abilities then! If you have this MIDI'd into a qualtiy host keyboard, you will get monster sounds controlled by this thing! That is what half the fun is! It looks 80's, cheesy, but here you are playing it like a madman, rattling the stage through the PA!! People HAVE to take it seriously then!!! I am putting a new band together, and as the lead singer, I plan on playing it a lot so I am not locked behind my rack of boards! Oh, and THESE ARE HIP AGAIN if you haven't noticed. Are they worth 3 bills on eBay, probably not. But they are retro cool again, so those of you who think different are behind the times!! My son and his bandmates (16 yo) think it is cool as hell!!! So there! Go stuff that and smoke it you idiots!!

You can still download manuals from Yamaha's website which is cool.

Love it. 9.9 Besides my Vintage Rhodes (yeah, strap that bastard on!), it is my favorite board. Main boards will come and go as technology changes, but with its MIDI capability I will always be able to have the latest sounds with my vintage SHS 10!!

When my band realized we were allergic to bass players, our guitarist suggested I play the bass lines on this "keytar" that he bought for his little boy. I looked at it and said, "Isn't that a toy?" He said, well, yeah, but if you set it on the wood bass patch and I run it through a 15-band EQ, sounds pretty good. Mini keys are not a problem when you're only playing one at a time. Didn't see anybody discuss this bass thing, so I'm putting my 2 cents in. Also, have the capabilities of going wireless with this rig. I find the lack of velocity sensitivity an advantage for playing rock & roll bass lines.

Well, I've been playing key bass on the keytar for about 16 years. Went out initially and picked up 2 more while they were on sale at Sears. They have all been through rock & roll road hell and haven't had any problems until a high E key went out on me in 2004. I have a Roland AX 7 that is an exquisite instrument, but I'm a 108-pound female, and the keytar just looks a lot cuter, you know. Plus it weighs almost nothing. I always take a spare and have it in the trunk of my car, but I have a spare of damn near everything in the trunk of my car.

I actually would like to buy some more of these. So all you people who are so unhappy with yours, I'll gladly take them off your hands for a reasonable fee. I'm not going to pay any ridiculously high price, but I would like to talk if you have one for sale.

Released in 1987
Beware of Ebay Scams !
This small keyboard is only worth $20 today.
Unsuspecting buyers are being mis-lead into thinking
the SHS-10 is some amazing MIDI controller; it's not.
it has only 37 TINY keys too...yecch.
If you ever think of bidding on one of these on Ebay,
stop...and ask yourself..
When, ever, did you see a top musician use one on stage?
(Never, is the correct answer)

Polyphony: 4 note
MIDI: Out only
Touch-Sensitivity: NO
Sequencer: a JOKE. its only for chords and only onboard.
Cheesy sounds that can easily be found in beter keyboards for less money.
Pitch Bend: Yes...BUT...its very choppy in slow bends.

This was for a kid to imitate rock stars.
No REAL rock star would be seen dead with one.
North America model was RED.
Europe model was GREY.
only 37 TINY keys that are NOT 'Touch' or Velocity' sensitive at all.
It's a toy...seriously

NO
You take this thing on stage, and jump, and the batteries pop loose.
never attempt rough treatment.

go to google
type yamaha owners manual
then search for the manual there
top marks to Yamaha fro making these manuals available online for free.

It was worth the $5 i paid, and no more.
not a serious instrument.
this is just for fun.

This thing is easy. I mastered it in a week, and played them live on the radio.

NO manual.

It plays 4 notes at once.

The portamento button, and vibrato are the best things. YOu play a solo, and then push those keys, and it actually gets really expressive.

I link this up to a DCB to midi convertor, and then I rock my Juno 60 with it!

I also program chord progressions in to the sequencer on board before a gig, and use it for a song. That's about all you can realistically program though.

It's not touch sensitive, so you really have to play with your foot on a volume pedal to really control the expressiveness of it. That's what I find works best.

Like I said, It's all about the vibrato and portamento.

Also, the inboard chord rhythms are so cheesy their good. I played it live on the radio, and use it for all my drums. To hear the SHS-10 in action, listen to this radio show, and fast forward to 40 minutes into the program.http://hero.com/demolisten/demolisten_2003_06_20/

When you put batteries in it....and jump, it sometimes goes off for a split second, and then the sounds are all reset, and the drums turn off etc..... It's a disaster live in that way. So now, I plug it in, and tape the plug into the side of it, and have batteries.

I've used it live 7 times or so, and whatever.....it works.

Never dealt with the company

I love it, mainly cuz I love keytars and cheesy electronic toylike sounds.

I wish it was a little bigger. The keys are small and difficult to play. It'd be easier if they were larger. Also, being touch sensitive would help.

But i love the preset chord music thingy's. YOu push G, and it plays a great music pattern in the key of G, and you sing your heart out.

It's easy and fun and silly. People love to see the keytar.

It's just an entry level typical Yamaha toy keyboard with a "cool" body to it. Typical Style/Tone selection. Effects + pitch bend keys right where you'd expect 'em. Selectable MIDI-out is what really matters for present-day use.

4-voice FM synth? Mini keys with sloppy toy action. Press the demo button and a very 80s smooth-pop version of Wham's "Last Christmas" plays. HOW FREAKING GREAT IS THAT?!!!

Horrible sounds. Endearing auto-accompaniments if you yearn for the days of suspenders, hairspray, etc.

Mine held on for 17+ years. :)

There's something about it that still tugs at my heart strings. Born in '78, and started playing keys by '83... I looked up to folks like Jan Hammer, Herbie Hancock, the guy from Wham whose name no one remembers, etc. as my heroes... this was the board that MADE ME ONE OF THEM!

Easy easy. It has the appearance of a kids toy (which is a bit deceptive), but its about as easy AS a kids toy. Nice colored buttons n all that.

Erm, yes, there's a Yamaha keyboard in there. Verrrrrrry nice in an early- mid 80s kinda way. Depeche Mode fans'll love it.

However - **MIDI out** Need I say more!

Well, I don't care what the inbuilt sounds are like. Did I mention this thing has MIDI OUT?? IE onstage controlling yer synth looking like someone on Top Of The Pops (UK show)... all you need is some pink and yellow neon squiggle lights and youre there, man! I mean heck, when people think of the 80s, strap on 'keytars' are probably up there near the top.

Humm.. just don't try and smash it a la Pete Townshend. I doubt it could take that. Anyway, remember, you're playing an 80s instrument, not 60s. Therefore get that strap as tight as possible, you wanna look like a cross between Mark King and Prince. Or something.

you can do some things to it apparently : http://www.informatik.fh-hamburg.de/~windle_c/TableHooters/Yamaha_SHS-10.html

Anyone ever tried these? I assume my 1986 warranty would be voided?! ;-)

Alright, this wasn't the cheapest one ever on sale. But generally its a fu?kin' good little thing. I mean, heck, VIBRATO, PORTAMENTO, SUSTAIN, PITCH BEND capable STRAP on MIDI controller!!!! EXCELLENT! I love this. It's my onstage gimmicky thing thats actually very fun to play.

People always come upto me after gigs and comment on it. Sometimes even on my music! *sniff*

Get one, it's a decent MIDI controller and just looks so cool. Well I think so..... where's my medication???

The presets sound fairly awful. I once ran the wood bass through a very cheap chorus so that it distorted, and actually got the only sound I would ever have considered playing in front of an audience (the tones were transposed down an octave). Changing the sounds is very easy: clicking "tone" then the button for the sound.

Effects: Vibrato, portamento, and sustain. Now and then, it's slightly interesting to use the Portamento or Sustain, but you have to hold them with a finger of your left hand while playing with your right, not really fun.
No expansion. No pressure or velocity sensitivity.
IT HAS MIDI OUT! You can select your midi channel.
It weighs about 1 or 2 pounds. It is about 2.5 feet long, 3" high, and 7" deep. The keys are mini keys, about the size of Accordian keys.

Horrible sounds.
Horrible to play, really, although twice (in 10 years), I have picked it up and jammed with the radio (BY MYSELF!).
No velocity, no aftertouch, tiny keys.

I would never use in a gig.
I have no respect for it, so I have tossed it into corners and thrown it into boxes with other stuff when packing, the audio-out button snapped, but held on with bent plastic, and I bent it back, and now it's been working that way for months and I can't see the break. The internal amp has stopped working. When using batteries, it loses memory (forgets which sound it was playing). I plug it in, and use it mostly for entering music into my computer music software.

It is a reasonable tool for entering music into midi software. If I saw one for sale for $20, I would seriously consider buying it to have a backup.
At this time, this is my ONLY midi keyboard. I use it about 2 hours per week, and have for several years now.
The feel is very unpleasant for me: I usually am playing piano, and there is no resistance at all.
I think this may be the cheapest MIDI input device. As the cheapest MIDI device, it's fine. I bought mine new around 1992.

If you know how to press buttons and turn a pitch wheel, you won't have much trouble with it. Simple in design and functionality, and even the MIDI features are self-explanatory.

Pretty packed for a strap-on consumer synth! Best as I can tell, polyphony is 6. The keyboard action is a little spongy for my tastes, but otherwise okay. Keys are a bit small, but usable. The real reason this thing has the cult following it does is its' MIDI OUT support. I've used it with modules and a sequencer with relative success, and it's pretty good. A lot better to use this 2-pound strap-on than some bulky controller if you're going live. Just remember to duck when the non-cheeseheads throw cabbage. Pretty nice little pitch wheel, too.

All of the sounds are one- and two-operator FM synthesis, so sounds are thin and hardly expressive. Most of them are unusable shit, though a few-Synthesizer(!), Wood Bass, Music Box-are usable. Tweaking the Tuning and Transpose settings, as well as the three effects-vibrato, portamento, sustain-can get some charming sounds. Synthesizer with sustain can attain some very Kraftwerkish tones. But I won't mince words: using a variety of effects can do freakish things to these sounds and get some unexpectedly wild sonic ventures for you. I recommend using a flanger, overdrive, and chorus simultaneously with any of the tones. Freakish, it is.

Seems pretty reliable and surprisingly sturdy for it's feather weight.

I have no idea. I know Yamaha have all their manuals online, which is nice. I just haven't gotten around to finding them yet.

If this were lost or stolen, I'd look for another but not with a passion. It's exceptional for a consumer synth, fair for a MIDI controller, and nice as a cheesy addition to my already ultra-cheddar accessories. I use it with mini Danelectro pedals, transistor radio, some other consumer keyboards, and a Pentium 75. It does what it does well, and nothing more. Most everything about it is great...I wish you could mix tones like in so many other Casio and Yamaha synths; this would probably make the sounds far more interesting.