Our friends at Yamaha need little introduction as they are always burning the midnight oil to bring us cool new gear packed with latest technology and innovations. One of Yamaha’s signature strengths is to invest a ton of money on the research and design of their flagship models, then delivering choice bits of it into products at a more attainable price point.
With their tremendous R&D and unbeatable manufacturing processes, it’s no wonder that Yamaha has made some of the best music gear in the industry. Let’s take a minute and look at some of the top 10 Yamaha products to help you achieve your musical goals.
PSRSX920 Arranger Workstation
Yamaha’s flagship arranger keyboard is the Genos. Introduced in 2017 and updated to the Genos 2 on 2022, it is an amazing piece of technology requiring an enormous research and design budget. They introduced the PSRSX900 in 2019 and now the PSRSX920 in 2024.
Yamaha PSRSX920 Keyboard Arranger Workstation
Special Price $2,499.99
The PSRXS series borrows heavily on the Genos’ legacy. It shares the same sound engines and effects as the Genos. The focus is on realistic sounds: pianos, of course, but also super realistic organs, horns, strings, bass, guitar, and all manner of percussion are made possible using Yamaha’s patented Super Articulate Plus© sound engine.
Like the architecture of the Genos, the Yamaha PSRSX920 has 575 Preset Styles available for different arrangements. Choose from a bank of styles to audition.
Once in a style you can choose from 1,587 voices and 63 drum sets. Modify the arrangement in real time by using the lighted control keys above the keyboard. Choose between 3 different intros, 4 different main sections and 3 different endings. Just above the control keys there is a knob labeled “Style Dynamics Control” that can adjust the intensity of the band, allowing you to mellow the band out for verses and ramp up for breaks, fills and endings. Expansion packs are available, so you can add voices and styles in different genres including non-western tunings.
Montage Workstation Synthesizer and MODX Offspring
The Montage has been Yamaha’s flagship synth since it was released in 2016. In true Yamaha fashion, it spawned a series of more affordable synths which borrowed key bits of the technology developed for the Montage called the MODX series.
Both the Montage and MODX lines have been recently updated and significantly tweaked with the new “M” moniker. The main improvement is a vast memory upgrade allowing the user access to over 12.6 GB of memory, 3,427 sounds and up to 268-voice polyphony.
They also took the new M series to the gym and lost a few pounds and inches, making them more portable.
Of the many cool features, onboard 16 track sequencer, three independent sound engines, 7’ wide thin film technology touchscreen display, onboard DAW control, among many others, the one that really stands out is the Super Knob, which can morph up to 128 assignable parameters with a single turn.
Both series include onboard USB audio interface, so they make great standalone keyboards and recording studio nexuses.
Montage-M and MODX-M are available in 61, 73, and weighted-88 key models.
HS Series Studio Monitors
Yamaha got its feet wet in the recording studio monitor market almost by accident; In 1978 they introduced the NS10 bookshelf speaker. They originally marketed this speaker in the home stereo hifi segment, but it was adopted by the professional studio market when Fleetwod Mac’s producer, Greg Ladanyl, purchased a pair while on a trip to Japan. Legendary producer Bob Clearmountain quickly followed suit, and the diminutive speakers soon became “must have” gear for any studio.
Fast forward to 2006 when Yamaha introduced the HS series of self-powered near field reference monitors. Taking a style cue from the old-skool NS10’s, the HS series features white 5-, 7-, or 8-inch woofers paired with a 1-inch dome tweeter for crystal clear highs and responsive, accurate mids and lows.
Powered by internal 70-watt bi-amped amplifiers, the HS system is ideal for smaller studio spaces and bedroom recordists wanting accurate, uncolored monitoring at a price that won’t break the bank.
For added low frequency performance, the HS8S subwoofer was added to the lineup in 2013. The HS5, HS7, and HS8 speakers are available in black and “mac friendly” white. Don’t forget cables: the HS series can use XLR or TRS Phono cables.
MG10 Analog Audio Mixer
Yamaha knows how to make a mixer, having been at it since 1974 when they introduced their PM200 analog mixer.
The MG series mixers bring “big console” essentials to a small-format, desktop-friendly footprint that’s perfect for live gigs and home recording setups.
Most mixers “read” from left to right, so let’s start on the left. The first four channels can be used for microphone or instruments. Switchable 48V phantom power is available to power condenser microphones. All four channels feature a 25dB pad and High Pass Filter to help tame back loud signals and clean up muddy bass. The first two channels also have a built-in compressor with adjustable sensitivity control. And all the microphone channels feature premium preamps.
The remaining channels 5-10 are stereo pairs with Phono and RCA inputs on 5-6 and 7-8, perfect for keyboards and drum machines.
On the output side, Yamaha gives you sends to feed outboard effects and monitors, along with level controls for the main outputs, which are nicely outfitted with XLR balanced connections for super quiet operation.
Need onboard digital effects? Look at the MG10XCV. Need USB and effects? Look at the MG10XU. Don’t forget to order the carry bag. Need more channels? You can also find Yamaha MG mixers in 12, 16, and 22 channel versions.
YDP105B Arius Digital Piano
Yamaha is known for making some of the best acoustic pianos around. But what if you want that amazing sound and playability in an instrument that actually fits in your living room…?
Yamaha YDP105B Arius Digital Piano with Bench in Black Walnut
Special Price $899.99
Aimed at home market, the Yamaha Arius YDP105B is designed to blend elegantly with any décor. The compact size makes it fit in spaces where conventional pianos would not. Also, unlike conventional pianos, the Arius never needs tuning, making it a reliable investment if you or your family are trying to learn to play.
The Arius features a wooden graded hammer action keyboard that accurately reproduces a real piano feel with heavier action on the lower keys, lightening as you go up. Some other cool features include side-by-side keyboard mirroring, so you can sit with an instructor and both have matching keyboards.
Two headphone outputs make silent lessons possible. The speaker and headphone outputs have hearing protection, ensuring no damaging sound will occur even if played hard. Yamaha’s legendary sound engine makes the sound rich and realistic. You can even mix sounds like strings and electric piano tones. This package includes a furniture-style stand, foot pedals, and matching bench.
FG830 Folk Acoustic Guitar
Yamaha FG830 Folk Acoustic with Solid Spruce Top
Special Price $429.99
The Yamaha FG830 is a standard dreadnought acoustic steel sting guitar that currently sells for less than $500. Yamaha’s flagship acoustic guitar, the FS9, sells for $4,599.00. And again, in Yamaha fashion, they can bring a lot of the techniques and lessons learned during that production to the more attainable instrument and come up with a guitar that punches way above its weight class.
The FG830 sports a gloss-finished solid Alaskan Sitka spruce top paired with layered rosewood back and sides give this guitar a warm bright tone with excellent projection. The nato neck is in a matte finish for the player’s comfort. The rosewood fingerboard is bound at the edges, as is the body, finally finished off with an elegant abalone sound hole rosette.
Yamaha’s legendary high standard of QC ensures smooth playability and low action. A lot of companies subcontract the production of a guitar in this price point — but Yamaha owns the factory! That’s a pretty big deal, and it’s why the FG830 will easily surprise even the most particular guitar snobs despite its sub-$500 price tag.
EAD10 Acoustic Drum Module
One of the cool things about Yamaha is that they make everything! Which means they can blend their technology into many different product categories, evidenced in the super-cool EAD10 Electronic Drum Module.
The EAD10 is a perfect solution for drummers wanting to augment their acoustic drum sound with a splash of electronics without having to replace everything with an electronic kit.
The system consists of a combination sensor/stereo microphone that attaches to the front hoop of your bass drum. An electronic “brain” controls the system, allowing access to 50 preset scenes and 200 user definable scenes to create your custom sound. You can also add additional sensors or external drum pads to expand the system.
Fire up the system, and when you hit your REAL acoustic drum, it’ll also trigger electronic sounds sent straight to your PA, monitor, headphones, or interface.
Use the auxiliary stereo input to playback music for immersive practice sessions using the headphone output. The USB direct capture feature makes analyzing your performance a breeze.
FGDP50 Finger Drum Pad Drum Machine
Don’t have room for a full drum set? Create your own rhythms with your fingertips with the Yamaha FGPD50 Finger Drum Pad.
Yamaha FGDP50 Finger Drum Pad Portable Drum Machine
Special Price $329.99
The ergonomic layout allows you to grab up one of the 48 preset drum kits and make some beats. You get 18 pads plus 8 assignable RGB pads. The pads are velocity sensitive and aftertouch sensitive. Build your own drum set and store it in one of the 50 user slots. Tones can be created using the internal AWM synth engine, or load your own samples to the 600 second sample memory.
USB connectivity allows you to trigger other devices and use it with your favorite DAW. The “rec-n-share” feature allows you to share your projects with backing tracks to your mobile device.
The built-in speaker lets you create and share beats anywhere, or plug in some headphones to silence the speaker for stealth mode. And the rechargeable battery can run for 3 hours. Slip this cool little dude into your backpack and you unleash your finger drumming chops anytime!
Revstar Electric Guitar
Yamaha came up with a quirky retro offset body shape when they introduced the Revstar electric guitar in 2015 and refreshed the design in 2022.
Yamaha RSS02T Revstar Standard Electric Guitar Sonic Blue
Special Price $929.99
Inspired by the café racer motorcycle scene, the Revstar color palette is bright and funky with a 1950’s feel (love the sonic blue). The custom diecast tailpiece adds to the biker vibe.
Outfitted with two cream P90-style pickups and a five-way blade pickup selector, the tones can range from smoky jazz to a surfy brash jangle. A passive push-pull switch in the tone knob they refer to as “focus” gives the pickups a slightly overwound tone.
For the Revstar, Yamaha developed “Acoustic Design,” an amazing bit of tech, engineering many chambered areas in the maple and mahogany body to provide perfect balance and enhanced resonance.
For added stability the neck even has carbon fiber reinforcement imbedded in it. This guitar looks deceptively simple, but it is bristling with Yamaha’s technical wizardry.
TAG 3 TransAcoustic Guitar
Sure, it might look like a regular-old acoustic guitar. But the Yamaha TAG 3 TransAcoustic pushes the absolute boundaries of what an acoustic guitar can be.
Yamaha TAG 3 Dreadnought Transacoustic Guitar Natural
Special Price $1,899.99
To get the “normal” stuff out of the way, the TAG 3 sounds great as an acoustic guitar: solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, ebony fingerboard and bridge, single cutaway, and volume-boosting dreadnought body shape. It’s everything you could want in an acoustic guitar.
Now, take everything you know about an acoustic guitar and forget it! Because the Yamaha TAG 3 is equipped with onboard effects. No, not effects you hear when you plug it in — though it can do that, too. These effects are acoustic! That’s right; you don’t have to be plugged in to hear them.
Onboard reverb, delay, and chorus can be activated and heard acoustically with the dials on the side of the guitar. I’m not entirely sure of the exact magic, but basically the TransAcoustic SYSTEM76 electronics actually vibrate the top in a certain way to add acoustic effects — no amp required.
And the best part: It has an onboard looper. Just tap the little circle on the front of the guitar and you can jam along with yourself. And again, it’s all acoustic.
The Yamaha TAG 3 TransAcoustic is basically what would happen a wizard decided to become a luthier. It’s definitely something every guitarist should check out.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Yamaha Gear?
Yamaha is definitely in a league of its own when it comes to manufacturing. How many companies can build everything from pianos and drum kits to guitars and synths — and that doesn’t even count their motorcycles, jet skis, and side by sides! They make so much great gear that it’s hard to fit in a single article.
If any of these items get your motor running and you have a few more questions, go ahead and call our Gear Nerds and 800-458-4076. Our shipping is VERY fast, so you don’t have to wait to play your new Yamaha. Don’t forget to ask about our no interest monthly payment options!
