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Yamaha Motif XS8 for sale or trade

Nov 01, 2010 by Tony Chung in Strategy

I’ve been meaning to post this for a long time. In 2009 I purchased a Yamaha Motif XS8 88-note keyboard from a store for a really good deal. The board was rented for use by the Dixie Chicks at the Merritt Mountain Music Festival the year before.

Yamaha Motif XS8 - the dream machine

The keyboard has been an absolute dream. I love playing it, recording with it, and teaching my kids to play music on it. I haven’t had as much time to record with it as I’d hoped. Life has just been too busy. But I managed to use it to help me build on a simple melody by my son:


Visit the YouTube page to leave a comment

This keyboard is a great songwriter’s tool, and perfect for use in a studio. Its only drawback is that the keyboard size is too heavy for me to pack and carry on my own to bring to a worship service or live performance. While other, more committed musicians don’t mind the inconvenience of carting this behemoth, I would prefer to work with something a lot lighter.

Trade for comparable Yamaha Motif XS7

To this end, I’ve decided I have to sell this board. Ideally, I’d like to trade it for a Yamaha Motif XS7 76-note keyboard with the Firewire card option installed. I bought two 512 MB SODIMMs to upgrade the sample RAM that I would take with me, if the 76-note board doesn’t already have expanded memory.

Yamaha Motif XS7 - the dream machine junior

Trade for just-released Yamaha XF7

As an alternative, I wouldn’t mind trading my 88-note keyboard for a base model of the newly released Yamaha Motif XF7 76-note keyboard. The XF line is a souped-up version of the XS series. It includes more instrument samples, but is essentially the same keyboard. The main difference is that sample memory is now available through non-volatile flash cards, which, unfortunately, does not come built into the basic model. However, I still think an 88-note XS8 keyboard for the cost of a basic 76-note XF would be a worthwhile trade.

Yamaha Motif XF7

More about the offer

The XS8 has only ever been indoors, in my studio, and under a dust cover when not in use. I’ve never taken it to a performance, so its appearance in Merritt was its only time on stage. If this opportunity interests you, visit my contact page to send me an offer.

 

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  • http://geekwhat.com Tony

    big fan of the motif series! i have two ES7 keyboards, one in the states and one here in taiwan, great sound library :-)

  • http://tonychung.ca/ Tony Chung

    I love the Motif sounds… the brass, strings, and drums are stellar. I hear the built-in piano on the XF is supposed to be better than the stock sound in the SX.

    How do you feel about the sequencer? I’ve only ever really used the Korg M1 and Roland D20 sequencers, and find the Yamaha infinitely more complex than either of those.

  • http://tonychung.ca/ Tony Chung

    Someone sent me a chat message through my Meebo Me ( I don’t know when), but I lost the message. He asked the question, “How much does the keyboard weigh?”

    Well, the big 88-noter is rated at 66 lbs., but feels about 90 lbs. The problem is that it’s really bulky for me to cart around on a regular basis. I’m not sure the 76-noter will be less bulky, but the 37.5 lbs. rating is quite attractive.

    If you’re the one who sent me a chat message, use my contact form at http://tonychung.ca/contact/ and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

  • Cfazzi1

    Dear Sir;
    I’d love to purchase this for my daughter but cannot afford the selling price; Though I believe they are worth what they sell for. I have $1100 dollars to spend, I am disabled with 4 children; My daughter is extremely talented and would gow so much with an instrument like this. If there is anyway this can happen please email me. Thank you Carmine

  • John Emanuelson

    Hi,I am interested in the XS8, and their are a number now available with the new model just out……would you take $1500?? Have the cash now.Let me knowJohn Emanuelson301-980-6889j.emanuelson@sssevents.com

    • http://tonychung.ca/ Tony Chung

      Hi John: While I appreciate that the new XF series exists, and the XS series has been discontinued, I’ve played the XF and find it to be identical to my XS, except for the additional ROM samples that give the new piano sound in the user bank. I really can’t accept less than $3200 for my keyboard, due to the cost. Note that even the discontinued model costs about the same price, only taxes are added to it.