Yamaha SHS-10 Keytar Review 

I have this keyboard to thank for being a musician today. Got it before I knew my own name, still play it today.

In beautifully mixing science and art, this man is officially a synthlord.

This is just good content, man. Beware, 8-Bit Keys!

I have one of these just laying around the house, did not know they have this many features! Gonna pop it out an make some tunes.

I discovered your channel because a friend of mine found one of these at a thrift store for $9 but didn't have the money and they wouldn't hold it for him. By the time he had the money it was gone. All I knew was that it was a red keytar, after browsing for keyboards on a site I saw this Keytar. I sent it to my friend and he told me that was the exact one, after doing some research I discovered how influential it is in the keytar world and how inflated the price has become on ebay primarily. *But to be honest this exact keytar is my literal favorite I have seen and ever will see, I want one in a collector's condition and one to play with, and well I want to maybe get him one as a late birthday present/early Christmas present.* I like this Keytar so much that I'd hate for there to be no more working ones someday in the distant future. This model being brand new seems very hard to come by. It's a genius design aesthetically and I like the cheesy sounds, it adds a unique weird style to that instrument specifically. It seems the red one is most common for some reason. Perhaps you could compare all three color models. In a video in a teardown and analysis, see if anything differs internally. Also do these have a headphone jack? Maybe do some sort of possible modification to one of these if you ever get a spare one? But basically, after I found this Keytar online that I'm still watching, I started doing research and well, here I am, watching *Keen For Keys* The SHS-10 has the strap but the leather parts near the clips are worn from age, and the box has wear. So it's an iob condition. Also missing battery cover. Worth a shot?

That thing is so rad, and the music you made with it sounds just like something straight out of the Super Nintendo!

I once had such a synthesizer! 20 years ago! Great tool! Small and plays as big! )) We squeezed a lot out of it! SHS-10 is already a rarity! This is history! It is a pity that they are not being released now!

I have this keytar and love it so much! Seeing how insanely talented you are with it is really inspiring, and I hope I can play half as well someday!

It was really touching to see this keytar get such loving care ❤️

Why does this channel not have more subscribers.. this is awesome, you now have a new subscriber

This info finally has a place to live; I found one of these 12 years ago at a Goodwill next to a Sam Ash Music Store in perfect condition (manual, strap, and all) and bought it for 5 bucks! I LOVED this thing! I used to take it to the grocery store and solo up and down the aisle with my girlfriend at the time hahaha! The MIDI out is pretty cool to plug into other keyboards and modules as mentioned but the issue I had with it was not only was there no velocity sensitivity, every MIDI signal coming out only output at half velocity (64 out of 127). You can get around it sometimes depending on the slave device but it was the one thing that kept me from using it "for real". Still tons of fun! (I did get a Casio AZ-1 down the road though and I truly love that one) Still, thank you for the video! Such pleasant memories!

WOW what a great vid. That was some epic playing at the end. If you did that commercial it whould have been sold out immediatly. Got me all excited. Funny thing I just found mine after more than 30 years. It looks like new. When I twist it in the light I see tiny scratches. Also that 33 bass sound was cool to go on and explore it. And the classic sounds are hot again. When I found the box it was a hige surprise that it said midi. Nice bonus I just bought a roland mv-1 verselab. I can not play but I do remember learning to play "Last Christmas" by sound. I am accualy looking forward to get something out of this and to learn and play something.

I bought one of these recently on a whim because I wanted to teach myself music and I liked the retro chiptunes aesthetic. But, holy smokes, I didn't know that there was so much you could do with it. Thanks for sharing.

My mom bought one back when it came out, and she has now given it to me. It's in mint condition with the carrying case and strap

wow! another really good review by KOK here! you make a 'toy-instrument' sound like a pro one because you are a truly fine musician and know perfectly well what you're doing! and i also love the fact that you don't say things like "don't forget to subscribe!" like most other channels on RU-vid do at the end of their videos!

I sold a silver one of these the other day. I never realized how versatile it was, wow. Great video.

This was my first instrument. I still have it. But you showed me a few features I didn't know it had. Great video. Thanks!

Your reviews are in a class of their own-in-depth features portrayed with very adept performance applications and impressive musicality. As a late coming subscriber to your collection of excellent reviews, I saw you briefly mention the YAMAHA SHS-200 here. I'd love to see you do a review of this SHS-10's "big brother"-highlighting a number of features both models share, as well as outlining their contrasting ones in comparison. Your SHS-10 review took me back to when I first bought the very same model. I remember taking a 20 ft. 1/4" cable and 20 ft. MIDI cable, cutting the A/C adaptor's power cord and splicing in additional wire to extend its length, then sealing them all together in 6 adjoining pieces of heat shrink tubing to make an all-in-one multi-patch cord. Like you, I also used it for on-stage performances, until upgrading to an SHS-200 and eventually graduating to a Casio AZ-1. I've managed to hang on to and keep both original YAMAHA SHS models in pretty good working order, though I eventually did sell my Casio AZ-1. I perform solely on stationary keys now after having since decided to bid my keytar-playing days a fond farewell some 30 years ago...so much fun!

Another one I had in the 80s. This channel is pure synth-nostalgia for me .

Thanks for making a really great review.

That was incredible! I have had one of these for years and didn't know a lot of the features, thank you so much for your help and musical prowess!

Wow, what a beautiful review! Beautiful playing and compositions too 🔥🔥🔥

Good to see this back. I had one of this before and had fun with it.

This is an incredible device. Super insightful demo thank you!

You deserve more subscribers iv only seen a few of your videos but this is great content

great review! this helped me out a lot, and you clearly know what you're doing with it!

This is the most soothing thing I have seen on the internet all year "and that makes totally sense"

Just picked one up for $10 at the thrift store! Thanks for this video! Outstanding photos of the inside!

Wonderful little keyboard, bought one from my brother for £5 back in the early 2000s. It was great for live performance. But sadly a battery leaked all over the inside and it never worked since 😔 Thanks for the nostalgia! Really enjoyed your video 😊

I really dig your channel! Just started refurbing old retro keyboards myself & picked up a Yamaha PSR 510 the other day for $10 - needed a lot of work, but got it all up and sounding brilliant doing much the same as you did here. Pro tip: tape gunk - WD40 or a similar silicone lubricant spray does wonders and is pretty easy on older plastics. Keep up the cool videos!

Smooth talking and smooth playing. Awesome video.

Thanks for an excellent video. I have a silver grey SHS-10, which has just recently gone to a technician for assessment and hopefully full restoration. I have a LOT of respect for all Yamaha musical instruments, (I play Yamaha classical guitars) and I am impressed this little SHS-10's creative and educational potential as well.

Excellent review!

Amazing review. I cant believe you have so little subs.

I know I’m way late commenting on this, but I’ve been on a synth kick and am watching this one right now. My dad bought this sucker (same color) new in ‘87 or ‘88 and I’ve fiddled with it since. I still have one (not the same) and that trick about setting the range of pitch bend and portamento speed was absolute new information to me.

Lucked into one of these in its original box. I found it in a store room at my daughter's school and the teacher gave it to me. Strange but really fun keyboard to play.

This was my First Keyboard too! I used mine, mostly as a Midi keyboard to trigger samples and making music on a Commodore Amiga with Octamed and Pro tracker! Fun Times!

i've had one of these for a while! great little keyboard

I had this keyboard as a child and loved it, although I never knew how to fully utilize it and never made use of the side ports. I don't remember what happened to it, but I wish I still had it today as a collection piece.

Great channel! Thank you for the great work.

@ Keen On Keys In case you didn’t know, the Yamaha VSS-200 and yes, the Yamaha PSS-140 both use the same FM chip as the SHS-10.

Thanks for posting this thorough and fun review! I was looking for a very small, portable midi controller I could also play on stage with some visual performance effect, and something like this would be great! I love pushing the boundaries of overlooked toy-like instruments. I'm an acoustic player but a fan of 80s and 90s electronic dance music, and am just starting to explore an amplified setup. Currently I have a MicroKorg, mic, TC Helicon Perform-VE vocal fx box, and a melodica. Looking to add an easy MIDI controller and this is tempting! Thanks again.

I need more videos from this channel!!!

I have bought one now for 70 Euro's. In great condition. Your video is really helpful to getting to know the device. I can even play the siren sound from the Kill Bill soundtrack with it, hahaha!

Great job. Looking great !

Magnificent work, magnificent music. 🎶👍🎶

It’s a surprisingly competent little keyboard in so many ways. Cool.

13:44 This sounds like it came straight off a daft punk album, I love it.

Great one.. I must buy one.. hope it's available.. million thanks for the video..

This is so helpful - thank you! I play one of these - with an Alesis soundbank and WiDi - when The Dirge Carolers play live.

So cool! Love it.

It's soundchip (YM2420) is the same of YM2413, found in several video games of same period that this keyboard was released.

I had this beauty growing up. Good times~

Oh, thanks for the video So Well Made

that little 5-stroke roll in the drums on the “Rhythm and Blues 2” style adds some real feel! Never heard that kind of sophistication with FM drums on these PSS-style keyboards.

Must get the Yahama SHS-10! Looks so cool! ❤❤

Cool features! I really need to try it out on mine 😁

I have one of these and it's most recent sibling, the SHS-500, which I really love. Mine is in even worse shape than yours; a broken key, missing slider knobs, and a botched electronic surgery rendering two keys unusable. But it's still a blast to play if I want to get old-skool. I'd love to see you take a look at the 500 if you could get a hold of it. Some keytar enthusiasts aren't fond of it, but I see nothing wrong with it at all, especially for its ridiculously great value for money. Cheers!

He gets busy around 24:00. Definitely go there to listen if you quit earlier.

Please make and post the tabs for that improv at 24:12 it's too damn good. I'm listening to it constantly.

Try contact spray on the stickers! :) I love your channel. I will watch all your videos. Promised!

Love Fanfare 44 and the tune at the end.

Leave me alone simply piano I wanna watch keen on keys.

Wow.... very good review.i relly like it. i like keytar. but i haven't money to buy keytar... i will be happy if i got the keyaltar from you as a gift... 🙂 GBU from Indonesia.

Had the grey version in 1988 as addition to my PSS 170. I used the RX 17 to enhance the drums

Wow it sounds so sweet

I hope you can do more of the shs series.

I loved this thing

Sir you are a boss subscribed tho this isn’t my first video I watched in your channel won’t be the last either.

Why do i suddenly want this

Jan 2022: These were sold on "closeout" in Midwest US - Ohio in 1991 for $49.99 USD at a store called Big Lots. I remember the top shelf heavily stocked and bought just ONE. Watching this video 30 years later, wish I had bought several. Believe I sold it on a college Listserv buy/sell for the same price in 1993. (frown)

That was our very first synth back in 1988 ❤

No wonder these go for such a pretty penny. So many neat compositional tools to spark creativity. As others have said, sounds like they were used by many video game composers.

Very good - looking at the main PCB, I was initially surprised to see so many wire links on a double sided board, the back of the board is just used for a ground plane, it would appear. Then I twigged that the holes aren't plated through - so you couldn't easily substitute the wire links with traces on the back of the board, as you couldn't do a via. You'd have to insert a wire in each hole and solder it on either side, at which point you're better off just using a wire link an eschewing the trace entirely.

this is the funkiest ASMR video i've ever seen

I have this one as well!

exelente video!!!!

That thing comes with more features than my 3000$ keyboard

Jagex CEO: Now we just need some music for runescape... Employee with Yamaha shs 10: I have some ideas!

you have a very nice voice

I wish the sustain were longer, i just press it all of the time while i am playing. The nice sounds you get when you go with high notes and it starts to distort a little or really low.

I think a UV reactive glue might be best for repairing something like a keyboard key.

I still have one of those ! :P

Cool video! You sound like a German Liam Neeson! Nice!

Review a cat piano from target

The much sort after keytar. I have 2, bought for silly money in a Woolworths store. People want it nowadays for a cheap wearable keyboard with midi out controlling other synths! I saw it used in a concert live and it's a fun thing 😁

I had one of these when I was a kid. I wish I knew where it ended up.

1:10 If you give examples of keytars don't forget the granddaddy of them all, the Moog liberation. And if you're up for a unusual DIY synth/keytar the Elektor Chorosynth might be the ticket.

I have one of these, and I would like to know how to get rid of the static sound when you turn it on

For broken keys I found you can glue a piece of credit card behind them..I did it to my microkorg fiften years ago and it's still fine

Used this little thing as a MIDI controller.. Even played drums with it. Too bad it got burned up... :(

I just found one, the only missing part is the battery cover, came with bag, manual and power supply, I’m not a musician (I wish), I resell, thanks for the info!

Please do an unboxing video of Casio sa6

I have the big brother of this, but it has a broken tip which is sad. Maybe I can pimp it in a way that it looks cool again.

I had it in 1988 when i was 10 years old... The silver one..i have it somewhere but i don't kwow if it works

I wonder if a Jeff Pro Digital Whammy Bar would work with a Keytar? I'm not a keyboardist but I'm ordering a Behringer MS-1 synth in a few days. It's similar to the Yamaha Keytar because it can be strapped on and used like a guitar. The only other keyboard I've had was a Casio SK-1 Sampler. I would hook up my guitar pedals like a Digitech Whammy pedal and an echo pedal for some gnarly sounds!

I had this model

I just realized I have a keyboard from 1987. Glad I didnt lost it

Is there a range shift control on the SHS-10 to make the pitches lower?

good fukn review . thank u