This week's Fess Find is a rare Yamaha gem, an all-white Yamaha CS01 analog monophonic synthesizer. Yamaha first introduced the CS01 in 1982, aiming to provide beginner musicians and first-time synth buyers with a simple yet powerful musical tool. The CS01 has been lauded by electronic musicians all over the world for its simplicity, as well as its surprisingly powerful analog signal path with a single oscillator. One of the most appealing aspects of this analog synthesizer is its ability to run on batteries, making it an ideal instrument for music creators on the go.
The CS01 boasts a single VCO with selectable sine, square, PWM and noise. It also has a 12dB resonant voltage-controlled filter, providing users with an excellent tool to sculpt their desired sounds. On board is a basic LFO that's assignable to pitch and the filter along with a glissando feature that simulates portamento. Another neat feature is its breath controller input so you can even utilize it as an electronic brass or woodwind instrument with a compatible breath controller. To top it all off, there's a built-in speaker that adds a bit of fun to the synth experience, especially when you're jamming.
The rare all-white version of the Yamaha CS01 that we've found is not only a visually striking instrument but the seller lists it in mint condition, coming straight out of one of our preferred shops based in Japan, Music Sound Tokyo. The synth's rarity, combined with its excellent condition, makes it an incredible find for any enthusiast.