Yamaha CS-70M 6-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer (Ex-Massive Attack)

• Condition: Excellent / Fully Serviced
• Fitted with a MIDI Retrofit.

This CS-70M was previously owned and used by Massive Attack. It ships with a Certificate of Authenticity and a photograph documenting the connection. Provenance of this kind is exceptionally uncommon for an instrument of this era and adds real collector and creative value.

Up for sale is an incredibly rare, museum-grade piece of synthesizer history: a fully functional Yamaha CS-70M. This isn't just any CS-70M; this specific unit was previously owned and played by legendary trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack.

We acquired this instrument directly from Soundgas UK in 2020

Service History

Purchased and fully serviced in 2020 by Soundgas (UK) — one of the most respected vintage synth specialists in the world.

To ensure it is in absolute peak performance for its next owner, it just came off the bench in April 2026 at Yellow Bench Repair in Seattle, receiving a meticulous clean bill of health. It is running flawlessly, tuning rock-solidly across all six voices, and sounds immense.

What Makes the CS-70M Special — and Why It's Arguably a CS-80 Upgrade:

Released in 1981, the CS-70M represents the absolute pinnacle of Yamaha's classic analog polyphonic era. While the CS-80 gets the Hollywood fame, the CS-70M was Yamaha's answer to the real-world operational challenges of that legendary monster. It's differences make it a highly sophisticated beast that many studio pros argue is actually the superior instrument to live and work with.

• Where it pulls ahead is practicality and workflow. The CS-80 famously had no patch memory — every sound had to be dialed in by hand on the sliders or set on the hidden sub-panel, making it a nightmare to recall sounds. The "M" in CS-70M stands for Memory: it features true, instant digital patch storage (30 onboard memory slots) plus a built-in magnetic card reader to back up and load custom sounds.
• Tuning Stability & Reliability: The CS-80 is notorious for drifting out of tune if the room temperature changes by two degrees. The CS-70M introduced much more stable, redesigned voice cards and a highly efficient auto-tune function. It stays in tune, period.
• Integrated Polyphonic Sequencer: A massive addition to the CS lineage, the onboard 4-channel polyphonic sequencer allows you to record and loop intricate multi-part arrangements directly on the hardware.
• The Chorus/Tremolo Section: Unlike the CS-80's standard single BBD ensemble effect, the CS-70M uses a triple-bucket-brigade (BBD) string ensemble stereo chorus that adds immense spatial depth to the dual-oscillator voice architecture.
• Serviceability: The CS-70M is built with a modular internal layout that makes future maintenance vastly simpler than the CS-80.

It retains that unmistakable, thick, organic "CS" sound signature—creamy 12dB/oct filters, rings of rich modulation, and unmatched brass and pad textures—but wraps it in a package designed for reliable studio work.

MIDI Integration:

To make this vintage powerhouse seamlessly integrate into a modern studio environment, it has been professionally fitted with a premium MIDI Retrofit kit. This upgrade unlocks full external control over the CS-70M’s massive voice architecture via MIDI In and Thru.

You can sequence notes, control pitch bend, and manage modulation parameters externally without sacrificing a shred of the instrument's original analog signal path or internal functionality.

Condition & Shipping Details

• Cosmetics: Beautiful condition for its age. Minor light wear, wood panels have some minor blemishes as displayed in photos. Otherwise in fantastic shape.

• Electronics: 100% operational. Has been tested and verified by Yellow Bench last (April 2026).

• Included: Certificate of Authenticity (Massive Attack provenance), photo documentation.

Voltage Information: 120v model. 

Although local pickup in the Pacific Northwest is preferred, if shipped it will be double-boxed and packed with white-glove care ensuring safe and successful transit.

*International buyers contact for exact shipping cost before purchase.*