NAMM 2020 Highlights

Every January, the entire musical instruments industry — manufacturers, dealers, artists, fans and the merely curious — convenes in Anaheim, California for the annual event.

If you weren’t able to make it to the 2020 show, these were some of the hottest new offerings from Yamaha.

YC61 Stage Keyboard

Reproducing authentic organ sound, control and expressiveness in a mobile package has long been a Holy Grail for keyboard players. The YC61 Stage Keyboard summons this spirit into the 21st century, with a newly developed Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) tone generator that models the behavior of vintage electronics for an authentic tonewheel organ sound, along with a new VCM Rotary Speaker effect that replicates the two-speed spinning speaker typically used to amplify these organs. Organists will appreciate familiar controls such as drawbars and percussion switches, as well as the ability to customize “under the hood” parameters such as drawbar leakage, key click and rotor speed for an expressive and unique sound.

But the YC61 goes beyond organ sounds. Two comprehensive “Keys” sections offer authentic acoustic pianos, soulful electric pianos, realistic strings and brass, analog-style synths and more, plus dedicated effects like delay, chorus and distortion. And thanks to its aluminum construction, the YC61 is as rugged and roadworthy as it is light in weight — under 16 pounds!

SLB300SK Silent Bass™

The SLB300SK Silent Bass leads the next generation of electric upright basses, with advancements that allow the bassist to control their sound with the press of a button. The original design of the Silent Bass gave players a true ergonomic feel by including all the touch points of an acoustic upright bass. Newly incorporated Studio Response Technology (SRT) allows the SLB300SK to model an acoustic bass played through different high-end acoustic microphones, ranging from the clear, warm sound of a dynamic microphone to the well-balanced rich timbre of classic vintage vacuum-tube microphones.

The SLB300SK can be broken down into an easily transportable “subway friendly” instrument that can be packed into a TSA case without fear of being damaged en route. It also allows the player to perform in places where they may have previously feared to bring an expensive acoustic instrument, such as an outdoor gig on a hot, humid day.

NX Series Guitars

NAMM saw the debut of the new NX Series of nylon-string acoustic-electric guitars. The three NTX models (NTX1, NTX3 and NTX5) are designed to make it easy for electric and steel-string acoustic guitar players to add the warmth and beauty of nylon-string sounds to their tonal palettes. They have slimmer bodies, shallower neck profiles, narrower fingerboards and longer necks than most classical guitars, providing a more familiar playing experience. The three NCX models (NCX1, NCX3 and NCX5) have classical-style neck profiles and fingerboards and are designed for experienced nylon-string players in search of superior amplified sound.

The NTX3, NTX5, NCX3 and NCX5 models incorporate the Yamaha Atmosfeel^™preamp / pickup system for consistently balanced and natural amplified sound. An integrated undersaddle piezo pickup with individual string sensors captures only the mid and low frequencies (eliminating the characteristic brittleness of piezo pickups), while a unique synthetic sheet transducer captures the highs and an internal microphone captures overall body resonance and “airiness.” NTX1 and NCX1 guitars incorporate the same integrated piezo pickup, along with preamps featuring 3-band equalizers with adjustable mid frequencies. Careful wood selection combined with renowned Yamaha craftsmanship results in instruments of exceptional playability and tone, and all NX guitars have solid tops, including solid European spruce on the NTX5 and NCX5 models.

SBP0F4H Stage Custom Hip Drum Set

The new SBP0F4H Stage Custom Hip drum set is a compact version of the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch, one of the most popular venue backline kits the world over. Designed for use in multiple genres and by a wide variety of drummers (such as street performers, educators, hybrid players using DJ/electronic gear and home recording studio musicians), this set is also a great at-home practice solution with low volume setups.

The Stage Custom Hip utilizes 100% birch 6-ply shells and includes a 20″ x 8″ bass drum for a deep low end as well as smaller footprint, a 13″ x 5″ snare, a 10″ x 5″ rack tom and a 13″ x 8″ floor tom that can be used as a snare tom, allowing drummers to explore new sounds with this one-of-a-kind drum set configuration. Additional features include steel triple flange hoops and a compact single tom holder for easy transportation. Stage Custom Hip Series drum kits are available in three beautiful finishes: Natural Wood, Raven Black and Matte Surf Green.

P22 SILENT Piano™

NAMM saw an announcement from Yamaha about several innovative upgrades to the company’s venerable P22 Upright Piano, which has been widely used by schools and music educators for nearly half a century. For one thing, a redesigned music rack area allows the entire width of the P22 to support sheet music — vital when an instructor or student is juggling multiple pieces. In addition, the fallboard now incorporates a soft-close mechanism to prevent dropping; instead, it slowly glides to the closed position even if someone attempts to slam it on purpose, thus protecting both errant fingers and the piano itself.

In addition, the P22 can now be fitted with optional Yamaha SC2 SILENT Piano technology, ideal for quiet practice or in a lab where multiple pianos are located in the same room. When activated, the sound no longer comes from the strings being struck but instead comes from a high-quality digital tone generator featuring the voices of the world-class Yamaha CFX and legendary Bösendorfer Imperial concert grand pianos, with accurate reproduction of all internal resonances, ensuring realism. The SC2 SILENT Piano system can also record performances internally or onto a USB thumb drive — a perfect way to evaluate students’ progress — and can interface to computers as well as the Yamaha Smart Pianist app. Dual headphone jacks make side-by-side practice possible, and the P22 SC2 can also output audio to a music lab system such as the Yamaha MLC-200.

PSRSX900/700 Arranger Workstations

Incorporating both content and powerful features from the flagship Yamaha Genos Digital Workstation keyboard, the new PSR-SX700 and PSR-SX900 Arranger Workstation keyboards are affordable all-in-one instruments ideal for composing, arranging and performing. They offer a brilliant 7-inch color touchscreen, along with six assignable buttons and a joystick controller for maximum expressive possibilities. There’s instant access to a huge variety of international content, as well as new Voices and effects inherited from Genos. Arrangements created with the built-in 16-track sequencer can be output as studio-quality audio files that can be played back on smart devices or computers.

The PSR-SX900 is equipped with a newly designed bi-amped Expansive Soundfield Speaker system that delivers full, balanced sound for both the player and the audience. It comes with 4GB of internal memory, 1337 instrument Voices, 56 Drum/SFX kits and 480 XG Voices, as well as 329 Multi Pad banks. In addition, there are eight insert effect slots, a Chord Looper function, Bluetooth^® audio and Main L&R line outputs, plus Sub L&R line outputs and two USB ports. The PSR-SX700 includes many of the same features at a lower price point, with 1GB of internal memory, 986 instrument Voices, 41 Drum/SFX kits and 480 XG Voices, as well as five insert effect slots, 226 Multi Pad banks, Main L&R line outputs and one USB port.

YBS-480 Intermediate Baritone Sax

Yamaha intermediate baritone saxophones are used by thousands of schools in the United States and around the world. They have earned a stellar reputation for their outstanding playing characteristics, intonation and durability, and are sought after by scholastic marching, jazz and concert band programs. The YBS-480 Intermediate Baritone Saxophone unveiled at NAMM is the company’s first new baritone saxophone in 35 years.

The YBS-480 offers updated ergonomics to make it easier to hold. Also added is the ability to use a detachable peg, making the instrument more accessible to players of all sizes. The redesigned bore and neck are modeled after YBS-62 professional model Yamaha saxophones, which improve the intonation of the horn.

Gen III Chicago and New York Artist Trumpets

The Generation III Chicago and New York Artist Model trumpets are the latest and most advanced instruments in the renowned line of Yamaha Xeno Artist Model trumpets.

Intended to meet the critical demands of today’s top trumpet players, these instruments are celebrated for their responsive playing feel, nuanced sound characteristics and accurate, even intonation. The new Generation III models feature a redesigned two-piece construction valve casing, along with unified parts such as the water-key set-up and tuning slide radius. These design alterations create an improved upper register and sound throughout the range, and more stable intonation for players at all levels, especially those performing in the most critical situations. There are two Bb and three C models to choose from — the YTR-9335CHS III, YTR-9335NYS III, YTR-9445CHS III, YTR-9445NYS-YS III and YTR-9445NYS-YM III — making them ideal for a large variety of players, from those looking for a more modern style to those who prefer a more traditional feel and resistance.

THR-II Desktop Amps

These three new Yamaha THR-II desktop amplifiers provide guitarists with a perfect combination of professional-quality tones, convenient wireless operation, and stylish good looks — whether they are practicing, recording, or playing along with their favorite music.

Employing Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) technology to deliver the tone, feel and expressive nuances of boutique tube amplifiers, all provide 15 different amp tones, three modeled microphone sounds for acoustic-electric guitars, three bass amp models, and three flat voicings for use with other instruments, as well as stompbox-style modulation effects and studio-quality reverbs and delays. There’s also a USB port for direct recording and playback, and bundled Steinberg software allows desktop and mobile recording. Bluetooth support allows wireless audio playback from paired devices, and the THR30II WL Wireless and THR10II WL Wireless models even come with a built-in rechargeable battery and an integrated wireless receiver which, when combined with an optional Line 6^® Relay^® G10T transmitter, offer players a fully cable-free experience. For more information, see our blog article “Spotlight on THR-II.”

Steve Gadd Signature Snare

The new Steve Gadd Signature Snare Drum commemorates a relationship of more than 40 years with renowned Yamaha Artist Steve Gadd, who has recorded with an array of distinguished artists, including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Joe Cocker, Nancy Wilson, Bob James, Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola, George Benson, Chick Corea, Steely Dan and Paul Simon.

To celebrate this milestone, Yamaha and Gadd worked together to release a signature snare drum with a 14″ x 5.5″ steel shell and a new Steve Gadd 10-strand wire, which enhances the snare articulation. Limited to only 200 to be sold in the U.S., the drum’s steel shell exterior and aluminum die cast hoops are set in a distinctive black nickel. Additional features include a Steve Gadd signature badge that accompanies the shell, a black tuning key and a special certification card.

DZR/DXS-XLF / CZR/CXS-XLF White Speakers

Yamaha also announced at NAMM that it is adding a white finish version for its powered DZR/DXS-XLF and passive CZR/CXS-XLF professional loudspeakers and subwoofers. These cabinets fit a broader range of sound system requirements, especially in spaces where aesthetics and design are equally important as sound coverage and performance, such as churches, museums and upscale environments like high-end retail or hospitality venues.

The DZR line of powered speakers, along with the DXS-XLF powered subwoofers, use high-performance components and the latest DSP to provide superior audio quality, with minimal latency and phase distortion. Both lines are available with optional Dante integration for flexible routing and easier system configuration and setup. The CZR series of passive speakers are ideal for installations using remote power amplifiers. Adding the companion CXS-XLF subwoofers extends a sound system’s bottom end down to 29Hz for bass-heavy content. All models are housed in a lightweight, durable, 15mm-thick plywood cabinet, coated with military-grade polyurea to withstand the rigors of travel, handling and weather.

See you at next year’s NAMM — and remember, if you can’t make the show in person, you can always catch the highlights here!

Click here to learn more about the full line of Yamaha products.