YAMAHA
           CS01 Analog Synthesizer

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This keyboard is not nearly as old as the others on this site, but it is noteworthy for a few reasons. Built in 1985 by Yamaha Musical Instruments, it has become quite a popular instrument to reclaim and enjoy. It is an analog synthesizer as opposed to a digital synthesizer. The difference between the two is basically that an analog synthesizer actually creates the sound from it's electronic hardware where a digital keyboard creates its sound through the reading of stored data. The CS01 was originally introduced as a budget mini synthesizer in a series of products Yamaha released known as the "Producer Series", various recording products for the entry level user.

My Yamaha CS01 synthesizer may look like a toy, but it is far from that. It uses analog circuitry that is very much like that used in professional analog synthesizers of the day, but on a junior scale. It has no sound memories, does not interface to a computer and cannot be connected to other keyboards or computers by MIDI.  It's just a cool little solo instrument with a BIG sound. Two notable features of the CS01; it runs on batteries and has a built-in speaker making it playable anywhere, anytime. Also, and in my opinion the coolest feature of all, a breath controller can be used with the CS01 for wind instrument-like performances.