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Re: Yamaha Custom CX

Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-07-09 04:15

Chris, I don't often disagree with you but I think I have to this time. I believe the Custom CS descended from the YCL-72, not the entry-level YCL-62, which evolved into the current YCL-650. Based on what I see on the Yamaha U.S. website, I think the actual chain is:

YCL-81 (Bb) /85 (A) from 1976-84 There is also a YCL-82 (Bb) listed from 1979-84. I'm not sure where (or whether) it fits in. It actually has the large script "Custom" in its logo and was probably the top-of-the-line.

YCL-72 and 72A from 1985-1987

YCL-72CS and CSA from 1988-94 (integral wooden toneholes)
YCL-72CX and CXA from 1988-94 (plastic inset toneholes)

YCL-CS and CSA from 1994- ? Yamaha identifies the CS and CSA models as discontinued but gives no end date and actually designates both models as "current." This is probably an error.

YCL-CX and CXA from 1994-? About 5 years ago, when I first looked into these histories, this site gave 1994-98 as the dates for the CX. Now it actually gives no dates and displays the instrument as though it were still available though the model is identified as discontinued and is only shown in the list of "Discontinued Products." Yamaha gives no end date for the CXA but lists it as discontinued with no current (equivalent) model.

From 1988 - the end of the Custom CS and CX lines, there are three distinct logos: (1) 72CS/72CX (or 72-CS/72-CX, I forget which); (2) CS/CX; and (3) Custom CS/CX. I have seen all three. I own a set of the "plain" CS model. I have no information on when the changes occurred but I suspect the Custom CS and CX probably began in 1994. I think the existence of the 72CS/CX is pretty clear evidence of the ancestry, however.

While the Yamaha website doesn't show a direct lineage, it makes sense (to me anyway) the CSV may have evolved from the Custom CS. As I recall, the CSV and SEV models came out at the same time and the SEV was advertised as a new design. I also note that these dates from the U.S. website do not always agree with similar dates on other Yamaha sites, e.g., Europe. It appears that Yamaha followed different marketing strategies in different countries, e.g., the YCL-62A was available at least in parts of Europe but not the U.S.A.

Best regards,
jnk

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Yamaha Custom CX new

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2011-07-07 22:06