Discover the Electone #1 - A look at Yamaha's Electone Organs of the 60s & 70s

A look at Yamaha's Electone Organs of the 60s & 70s .... music; Yamaha Electone 7000 with Leslie 815 with performances from Dennis Hinman, Jim Levesque, Rollie Hudson, Alden Skinner and Tracy Hammer ....
Vintage Organ Group
mikebracchi.co.uk

[@tenfootvoyager]

My Dad gave me his Electone BK20B when he upgraded to a D65. Couldn't sell or give it away. Council collected it. Mess about with a PSR2000 keyboard and Casio CZ 101synth these days. 😀

[@MudmanMedia]

Thanks for sharing these. I grew up on Yamaha Electones. My parents bought me the E-10AR, when I was 12 but had been playing them since I was 7. I participated in multiple Electone Festivals, starting at ag 9 and fortunate enough to make it to multiple regional levels, all the way through the pro divisions. I was also blessed to study for 6 years with the great Rollie Hudson, a Yamaha Electone Concert Artist. I then worked for a Yamaha dealer in the Chicago area while I was in College and after, selling them. I recall when we got in the HX-1. The Store Owner had it delivered to my apartment (full-sized speakers and all) to work with for about a week as a prep for selling it. Some great stuff!!

[@jacobhughes8386]

I have the E-10AR. Our church replaced it with an Allen organ so, The Electone went home with me. Everything still works on it and it is in almost mint condition. I still enjoy playing it. Our church got it brand new in 1974 and it spent its entire life as our church organ up until retirement less than 3 months ago.

[@cecarcueva4881]

​@@jacobhughes8386 Si lo vende me avisa amigo yo quiero uno

[@wowzwerintrouzer]

I feel like I'm listening to the Nintendo Wii shop channel, but I love it!

[@felixgonzales5965]

Our first Yamaha Electone organ in church was the C-2B (1967) but we bought it in 1971. That’s where I learned my first few songs and hymns.

[@ThisIsNotAhnJieRen]

Our church still has our Yamaha Electone B2B. Somewhere in the stockroom. The tag at the back said 1971 and it still plays!

[@wcanner8946]

Looking forward to 80’s and beyond - 🙏

[@i-vernsimphonique3012]

Thank you for this showcase of Yamaha Electone history! Really appreciate it! Miss all the grand designs of the Electone organs too.

[@soulslip]

I have an Electone 205D and it sounds amazing. The analog filters are very pleasant. And the sine wav bass sub notes on the bass pedal sound sooo good. I would love to circuit bend mine to tap into the oscillators etc.... I am sure mine needs a recap however.

[@jorgemunoz8607]

Que bonito reportaje de estos órganos. Recuerdo los años de mi niñez allá por los 70's. Gracias y saludos desde León Gto. México.

[@jackraves7363]

Happy memories from the time between '74 and 80 seeing, hearing, demonstrating and selling several Yamaha Electone's to happy customers. Now friends with a guy in the Netherlands who has set up a (not too big) museum of... guess what? YES. YAMAHA elecones, and a few other makes...

[@pianoetudes4755]

where is the museum?

[@jackraves7363]

mr John Visser and his partner Rina Datema have their collection in VEENHUZEN, in a building, part of the prison project. (northern part of the country.

[@sjhwestwood]

I still have an E70 - magnificent beast in its day. Rattles and wheezes a bit now - the tremolo speaker sounds like a wind turbine and there is a dodgy D key - but all over, a lovely reminder of times long past.

[@billbergen9169]

The d key should be easy to fix, probably just a dirty or corroded switch, and the tremolo speaker probably needs to be oiled.

[@massivelymusic6006]

My grandad had one and could do things on it that’s sounded like a big band. Where I got a lot of my musical skills from. I never got to play it but would listen to my grandad all day when we went to visit. When my grandad died, my family got rid of the organ and I never got to play it after he died. One of the biggest regrets of my life

[@cumberland_68]

@@massivelymusic6006 I bought my E-75 last year in perfect condition. They are rare, but sometimes you find one in the ads. They are quit cheap, but you get in serious trouble, if the electone is not working properly... So it is not to late...

[@classiciron8798]

@@massivelymusic6006 Go and get yourself an organ. Its never too late. Facebook market place is a good place to start. Many are for free. Many are fully working, many are not. If they are free, you haven't lost much if it turns out to he a dud.

[@ryanmelvey8764]

i absolutely love the performances here. i have a huge grin everytime i listen. is it truly all electone????

[@officialWWM]

Amazing to me that these instruments seem to have next to no value today. I was given one about a year ago and became obsessed with learning how to play it...now I have 6 of them and I think I have a total of $200 invested! I'm gonna need a bigger house soon, lol.

[@sixtiesfan11]

I love it - if i had room I'd have loads. I have a Hammond L100 which isn't worth much - will be 60 yrs old next year. Same with pianos, not worth any money but wonderfully made things.

[@jmack619]

Hi M Music Islife. I have a chance to buy a C-605 for $200 . the pictures and description are good. looks like they were expensive in 1982! 4500. would you recommend? Anything to watch for ?thank you John m

[@jacobbarnwell8999]

Imaging having enough money to have a church sized organ built on land you had all to yourself

[@jmack619]

@@jacobbarnwell8999 pipes through the roof of the house

[@neilsheppard6673]

Same here! 🎹

[@jojoJOHANN7659]

I love old electone

[@surrealism33]

Great video with the sound samples. It answered a lot of questions I about Yamaha organs. thanks for posting

[@mikebracchi]

Glad it was helpful!

[@welshsynthesizerlabs6552]

Those home organs from the 70s were basically analog synths with preset sounds. Programmable synths get put on this pedestal despite the fact that most of the time we just dial them into timbres very similar to those in home organs. Same with the built in rhythm arrangers that some people thumb their nose at in favor of programmable TR-808 and 909 boxes. Yet they’ll program rhythms not worlds apart from those patterns built into these organs. I have a room full of synths yet my Grandmas old Baldwin could go most of the same places. Jean Michele Jarre’s classic “synthesizer” album “Oxygene” is more or less a demo of mid 70s Elka organs. There is more organ than synth on that album yet it is considered a foundational work for today’s synth pop and EDM. Home organs are still popular in Japan and to a lesser extent in Europe. Really more like arranger workstations in home organ format. Yamaha offers these programs across Japan where they teach predominantly teenage girls to play these machines. These girls have videos all over KZbin, and they will crush most “synth” players out there. They’re very talented and inspiring to watch.

[@peroleable]

Organs with still high value is the Hammond B3, C3, A100, L100 and other models.

[@mrdali67]

Had a C-55 which is basic little brother to the E-75/7000 for a year, then switched to the updated version C-55 N. only difference was the green button for Fill in/Intro/Ending. Such great Organs. Also Had the kinda rare Yamaha TM-5 Tremolo cabinet which had for an electronic "Tremolo" a real nice sound and gave some needed punch for gigging, but boy if I had known back then I could have gotten a "real" 2 channel leslie in the 815 It would have been nice. Really great flute sound thru it, but the TM-5 had both the electronic Symphonic and Tremolo effect, so it was more in line with the A/B/C/D/E line of Electones. Great music and the 7000 sounds as good as it looks

[@IvanRTinkle]

Great music, great instruments :-)

[@milldy_yt]

I like this melody

[@manguimas]

Very good !

[@MikeTeaveeJr]

At 9:20 I recognized the theme from Angie, the 1970's sitcom that starred Donna Pescow in the title role.

[@acousticnature]

Great! I have a BK-2 and BK-4 model. Can give a photo with pleasure if you need. Thanks for cool presentation!

[@solomonramsa]

Can you send me a picture of the b4 from the inside, and general overview, pls. I have the same but some keys not sound at all :'( [e-mail] Thank-uq

[@paulanderson79]

Some players are overly enthusiastic with the expression pedal. Constant volume pumping in time with the music is quite nauseating. However, these machines always made a great sound. A real mechanical Leslie was very hard to simulate back in the 70's.

[@Lindyharbert]

Excellent

[@advisevo2153]

Is so sad that Yamaha music schools are gone. The sounds of the 70s-80s

[@badideabearcub2747]

Are they? I didn't know.

[@israelduarte4300]

Yamaha é yamaha. A melhor marca para instrumentos musicais.

[@TonyWilliampianoman]

Love the "If I Only Had A Brain" passage in Green Dolphin Street.

[@markjeffries3684]

Giving the artists their due: Secret Love--Dennis Hinman On Green Dolphin Street--Jim Levesque Diff'rent Worlds (Theme from "Angie")--Alden Skinner (longtime Yamaha-er Debbie Culbertson was his wife) Ain't She Sweet?--Rollie Hudson Welcome to My World--Hudson Top Banana--Tracy Hammer--(a bit of a shocker, since the one time I heard Tracy she seemed to be more in the theater organ tradition than her fellow Yamaha-ers) Great Day--Hudson A Foggy Day--Skinner

[@CraigMecak]

No E-5AR? I had this one, from 1973. Console model, similar to the E-10, but with portamento felt strip & pull-out preset drawer.

[@vincedowney3862]

I remember that model well. By suddenly flicking on the 'Brilliance' stop the sound would lift to another dimension.

[@MrArchie800]

Very nostalgic, I’d love an E75 and D85, some of the EX models looked amazing (and still do)

[@78mld]

good sound recording quality for these old organ

[@daisukeyoshimoto8384]

I knew that the model 7000 was the same model as the E-70, but when I heard this sound, I knew it was the same model as the E-700. I owned an E-70. E-70, E-700, EX-1. I still like all of them.

[@coolelectronics1759]

Im so happy Im getting a electone F45 organ, hopefully I wont be disapointed with it Im getting it for $120 delivered. Its replacing a lowrey genie and I can't find any youtube video demo on the yamaha!

[@mauriceschouten2]

Amazing organ sound 19.25 🎹

[@mikaelsjodin1963]

Where is the promised Part 2? My Electone model from the 70´s is missing in this video.

[@mikebracchi]

Sorry Michael, will get onto it next week - what model Yamaha do you have ... my photo library has increased somewhat since making this video so hopefully you may see it in the next one 😉

[@mikaelsjodin1963]

@@mikebracchi Mine is BK-4C. I think it´s from 1977.

[@cobolsaurus]

I have a Yamaha Electone B-45 from 1977.

[@caad1960]

in 70s i have bk4...my father bought,,,very stronger organ ,,for beginner,,really nice

[@SteveCournane]

nice job..

[@cygil1]

That EX 42 looks appealing.

[@LoneTiger]

The X series of the 70s you could sit on one and go to warp speed 😁

[@marcbrasse747]

That E1 looks sooooo cool! By the way: The 7000 is the same as the E70 and the EX2 (stage version). A grand mix between early digital oscillators and analog filters and amplification.

[@ewertonaugusto8125]

Beautiful work! Thanks! A curiosity is that there is a model, close to where I live, and I didn't see this model in your video (great video) The name of the model that I have here is B - 7D... could you tell me something about this model?

[@mikebracchi]

The B-7D is a real oldie ... from around 1967/68, I don't have any information on it ... other than it was an 'export model' with a relatively basic specification (no rhythm). Sorry I can't help you more.🙂

[@chrispoleson6118]

Yamaha always made great musical stuff. I dont remember them having that lovely Leslie sound though. Did they run these organs through a Leslie or was it an internal sound on these recordings? I spent years trying & failing to recreate that sound but eventually gave up.

[@Rv7traralgon]

I still my HX1 that I bought after I sold my FX20

[@migueluyaguarijuela7839]

Buenas noches sr profesor donde venden estos instrumentos musicales? Y cuanto cuesta el organo musical

[@finntv4280]

Where is part 2

[@Carlos-qi8er]

hey, would you mind sharing the tunes shown in the video?

[@gabrielo4102]

I would say the Yamaha HS, HX and EL era produced the finest Electones.

[@ashleyboniphas2801]

Nice it, How can i get the organ like this please help me

[@andrescuba6552]

This was fantastic. Would you tell me what´s the song starting on time frame 16´30, please?

[@RaymondCastile]

Is there any such thing as a pre-1970s Yamaha keyboard with portamento?

[@t55a2]

Is it easy to run the output of a Yamaha A-55 into a mixer or effects processor? Also, is it possible (or advisable) to disable the internal speaker on these organs? I'd love one but space is an absolute priority. Great video; love the sound of these organs.

[@ScottWayneJackson]

Yes, I believe that it has an "aux out" socket. The easiest way to disable the speaker is to plug in headphones.

[@helenseymour4732]

I have a ME5500. I think that’s it, but no cassettes. Anyone know where I can get any?

[@rickyhughes93]

i found a free electone C-40. Are these any good? Deep bass? I play psyche rock. Thanks!

[@brianhignett1579]

Anyone willing to help me figure out a model A-45? The direction of a manual would be super ok.

[@vaneyshaalkhalifi2197]

Hello! just wanna ask if anyone know how to turn on the piano sound on the Electone FE 60? cause my Electone won't gave any sound when i tried to play the piano blocks, is it broken or did i missed some button? cause there's so much button on the Electone, I'm so confused

[@jorgeandrade20]

Any chance part #2 will come out soon?

[@greyson042290]

i though this music was played on a Wii shop while looking for some games to be downloaded

[@scottie8600]

I began to play the organ in 1974. This kind of instruments have disappeared now. Only synthesizers in music shops or Hammond😮 clones

[@theeyeofthestorm5718]

Would love to have one of those organs but two things stop me can't afford it and I don't know how to play would love to but too old but thanks for the sounds

[@karenpierce6424]

Look on E-Bay. Sometimes you can pick them up for next to nothing.

[@davidkennedy4845]

I paid $150 for an E45 and $175 for an E75 Some might say I paid too much but I have had tremendous pleasure from both of these. I built a Leslie for the E75 and just love it.

[@FNM3Dgraphics]

We own the EX1 model for decades. If anyone wants to buy it let me know! It's in pristine condition and looks super awesome 🙂! Location : Ontario Canada

[@mikebracchi]

Send some pictures of it to me at [e-mail] and I'll post the details on the Vintage Organ group for you ... remember to let me know what the asking price is :)

[@ZemanTheMighty]

The ex1 is a really good instrument. I really think you're making a mistake

[@FNM3Dgraphics]

@@ZemanTheMighty haha tell that to my mom. She wants it gone for years as it takes up her whole living room lol.

[@COMMANDER0_F39AD]

I have a c-200 :]

[@super63strat]

did not realize so many models

[@ricardomonasterio3599]

Check www.ggbmusic.com/museum/

[@LeoLeo-qo7yw]

Where it's part #2?

[@amateursand]

What's the song at 12:32 ?

[@captbink5131]

Welcome To My World

[@bootmenow]

Number 2 never made it huh?

[@johnroberts8061]

Sounds like a 1970's mlb game

[@ElectoneGuy]

First performer's use of the expression pedal caused a lot of volume pumping. Definitely not good for a recording.

[@bojanarezina2352]

what's the difference between series A, B, C etc.?

[@nicolasgiroux3833]

A : 37 keys per keyboard / B : 44 keys with small amp / C : 44 keys with bigger amp / D : 49 keys / E : 61 keys

[@karenpierce6424]

@@nicolasgiroux3833 I have the model F-5 and have not seen any demos or info using it. Do you know if Yamaha has the original books that come with them for purchase. I've not been able to find them either. Just been trying to figure out what everything does.

[@nicolasgiroux3833]

Karen Pierce Some manuals are available on Yamaha website or on ManualLib but I don’t know for the F-5 model

[@karenpierce6424]

@@nicolasgiroux3833 Thank you much. Found two of the manuals @ ManualLib (Quick Start and part of the Owners Manual. Yamaha website is down till the 7th, but I'll look then. Found out the F-5 and F-15 manuals are usually (maybe always) in the same manual.

[@hernybetley7703]

whats the somg in the background???

[@chickengirlslyrics]

my organ isn’t playing any f notes. any idea why?

[@raymondk9679]

I have a D 80 eith similar problems Must be tsken apart and cleaned.If you can find a technical service representative ,good luck

[@jackpijjin4088]

Late reply, but... If the note loss is consistent across the whole keyboard, it's usually a problem with the tone generator or divider circuit. Something simple like a bad resistor or capacitor is usually the culprit. Sometimes it could just be a dry solder joint or loose contact depending on how the generator is designed.

[@jimmymapua574]

dk-40?

[@divinodayacap3313]

Can you hook these organs into a mixer or keyboard amplifier????

[@ScottWayneJackson]

Yes of course, but the early models used spinning speakers for their tremolo effect, so that will be lost; but later models had tremolo effect created by electronics, so you keep the effect in the output and in headphones.

[@Thunderdome76]

where is my a45?

[@ara6563]

Anybody know the song at 12:30??

[@kimpedersen2045]

“Welcome to my world”, I believe

[@diamondaxe4133]

Whats the song in the first track?

[@mikebracchi]

Secret Love from the 1953 film musical 'Calamity Jane' sung by Doris Day.

[@diamondaxe4133]

@@mikebracchi thanks! I come back to this video so many times mostly for that song 😁

[@diamondaxe4133]

@@mikebracchi you wouldn't happen to know where to find the music for it?

[@ricardomonasterio3599]

I don't see my B-45 there... => Big time =-(

[@franklinmastrangelo9536]

Why does 12:30 hit different

[@timmorodgers4271]

I’ve been offered a Yamaha organ for free but I can’t spot it in the line up here, it’s a big wooden thing from the ‘70s

[@jonathansmith7400]

Electone model naming is a disaster for people with OCD, just randomly dishing out letters and number. GX then FX then HX then ELX....

[@ChristianPinnock-u5c]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ElectoneGuy]

Electone 7000 is the same as E-75

[@Royalorgans]

Do you have a Yamaha 7000

[@ElectoneGuy]

@@Royalorgans No, I have a FX-20 and HS-8

[@classiciron8798]

Electone 7000 is same as E70. E75 is the further evolution of the E70 and has more features. I have had E75 and now have E70. E75 is the nicer sounding of the two...imo.