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Finally retrieved back my Yamaha VL1-m

It was a beautiful summer day many years ago when I found a Yamaha VL1-m and an XV-5080 for sale locally. I initially went and purchased the XV-5080, but that Yamaha just kept calling me back. So, the next day, I returned and picked it up.

Fast forward a few years, and I ended up selling the VL1-m when I needed cash to finance one of my bigger polys—I think it was the OB-8 or another similar synth. But one thing bothered me all that time: I completely regretted selling it without fully exploring its capabilities. I was too hasty and foolishly followed the advice of a Gearspace member who claimed the VL1 had fallen into obscurity and that better software alternatives were available.

After trying some of those “better” software options, I realized none of them sounded like the VL1. I wanted my unit back. Although I sold it on eBay, I had, for some reason, kept in touch with the buyer. Two years later, I asked if he was interested in selling it back to me. Of course, his answer was no. Three years after that, I asked again. The response was the same: “No way!”

Then, last month, on a whim, I reached out once more. It had been so many years that I did it just for fun, curious about where the unit had ended up. To my shock, the owner still had my unit and was just about to sell it on eBay. We agreed on the original price that I sold it for, and now the unit is back with me—my beloved VL1-m Ver2 that I originally bought from a rather confused dude, which is a story of its own.

The Backstory: A Lucky Find
I bought it in May 2007 from a wealthy guy who, although he knew exactly what it was, overestimated the power of physical modeling (PM) software synths at the time. He believed the Yamaha VL1 was already obsolete and wanted to get rid of it quickly. It was a bizarre encounter because he asked for an amount equivalent to just the Ver2 upgrade cost—350 notes. I called him one afternoon and asked if it was Version 1, to which he replied, “No, it’s Ver2; it even has a sticker.”

Somewhere up in the hills where the rich folks live…

Here comes the best part. When I went to pick up the XV-5080 the next day, I noticed he indeed had the VL1-m Ver2. While I was getting my money out, I casually asked if he could lower the price from 350 to 250 notes. To my surprise, he agreed! It was an insane deal! He mentioned that the VL1 was outdated technology and that he was moving completely ITB (in-the-box). Since I paid the full asking price for the XV-5080 without bargaining, he probably felt inclined to offer me a deal on the VL1-m.

Being such a rare synth, I couldn’t check its actual secondhand market value within those 20 minutes. I was surprised the price was as “low” as 350 notes, but I took the risk. Keep in mind—no smartphones back then. It was only a couple of weeks later that I discovered these units were worth about ten times what I paid! As for the seller, I wasn’t shocked. It was an affluent neighborhood with luxury villas, where people sometimes can’t tell a hundred from a grand. And honestly, I don’t blame them!

All in all, it was an epic day, except for a small detour I had to take due to road construction. Without smartphones, I ended up driving through some hills and forested areas and got lost! I could see his house on the hilltop but couldn’t figure out how to get there. Eventually, I did. It was a beautiful early summer day, and the scenic detour through the forest was quite enjoyable. It remains one of the best days in my gear acquisition journey!

Fast Forward to 2017
Coincidentally, I recently restored an old PowerPC Macintosh running OS9, which means I can now use the VL1 Expert Editor, export patches to a floppy disk, and load them into the VL1. I should mention—I didn’t buy this unit for flutes and violins, but for the incredible, unique sounds it can produce. It can even function as a full virtual analog synth with another OS9-based editor.

The journey came full circle, and I couldn’t be happier to have my VL1-m Ver2 back!

 

Comments (6)

  1. Elmer Pantry

    “Keep in mind – no smartphones back then.”

    There also wasn’t electricity back in those days.

    • Patrick Norbert

      You are aware first decent smartphone (iPhone) came out after 05/2007? Plus, it took years to spread, not many people had it back then.

      • Giles

        Define decent? I had a Nokia 9110 martphone in 2001 and while nothing like modern ones, for the time it was highly advanced compared to the alternatives.

  2. Don Solaris

    Elmer Pantry which smartphone did you had back in May 2007? 😀

  3. Barry Fuckwit

    That’s an excellent price, a steal.

    The moral of the previous story is never listen to anyone on Gearsluts – only Cunts and Nonces use that site 😂

    • Don Solaris

      Word up! From what I’ve heard, and I’ve heard this from a bro with a high street cred – something big’s coming up, and that ain’t no gangsta sh1t neither, yo!

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