Yamaha presents the YC61 – the Japanese manufacturer’s first stage keyboard with drawbars. With meticulously emulated circuits and the unique and popular drawbar controls, the YC61 provides true organ feel in a compact, road-ready format. With a large selection of additional sounds from exquisite concert grand pianos to classic electric pianos, its clever iteration of the drawbar mechanics and a specially developed waterfall keyboard, the YC61 is the stage instrument for demanding organists and keyboard players.
YC61: the stage keyboard for organists
The drawbar organ is widely considered one of the most expressive instruments in contemporary music. With the YC61, Yamaha offers a compact, lightweight, yet versatile and authentic keyboard featuring nine drawbars, allowing for lively performances with the exciting sound of the VCM technology. Flexible in its application and smartly designed down to the very details, the YC61 is the perfect stage instrument for live keyboarders and organists.
Authentic sound due to VCM technology
In order to accomplish the natural, vivid organ sound typical for classic drawbar organs, the sound engine was specifically developed for the Yamaha YC61. Based on the proprietary Virtual Circuitry Modeling technology (VCM), the Yamaha engineers recreated the exact behaviour of all the transistors and resistors of tonewheel and drawbar circuits. This attention to detail results in a collection of exceptional organ sounds including rotary speakers and matching effects. Every detail of the organs can be adjusted, putting virtually no limits to sound creation. With captivating sounds like this, the YC61 impresses musicians and audiences alike.
True organ feel with waterfall keyboards
Organ sounds are iconic, but as with every other instrument, the organ always depends on the artist’s performance. The Yamaha YC61 offers organists exceptional tools for immaculate performances. The waterfall keyboard has been developed from the ground up and has just the right amount of resistance for the best playing feel. The drawbars have been optimised for haptic feedback, too. Being partially transparent, they also allow for effortless reading of the LED indicators independent of the drawbars’ positions. The artist always has a clear view not only of the position of the hardware drawbar, but also of the setup that is currently active.
Organs and beyond: sonic versatility for demanding gigs
The Yamaha YC61 has been optimised for organ sounds. It is not limited to this already vast set of sounds, though: high-quality piano and synthesizer sounds can also be played. For example, the YC61 already comes with two premium Yamaha concert grands: CFX and S700. A whole host of electric pianos in the tradition of classic FM synthesis enhances the instrument’s capabilities even more, preparing discerning keyboard players for all live applications.
Made for the stage
The Yamaha YC61 has been designed for the stage, and it shows. The control scheme foregoes complex menus in favour of easy-to-find parameters on the control surface. The whole design is particularly lightweight at only 7.1 kg (15 pounds, 10 oz.), making it particularly portable. Even the build quality reveals the stage-centric development – the YC61 is built to withstand rough conditions on the road without taking damage while shining every night. A convenient soft case for life on the road is also available.
Price and availability
The Yamaha YC61 is available from June 2020. The UK SRP is £2,015 inc VAT. The SCYC61 soft case is available separately at a UK SRP of £281 inc VAT.