Yamaha PS-3 Home Keyboard Information, Specifications and Resources

Author: Andy Merrett / Data Driven

Overview

The Yamaha PS-3 is a home keyboard released in 1980. It is marketed primarily to home musicians.

The PS-3 has 44 synth/organ style mini keys without touch sensitivity or aftertouch. It has eight notes of polyphony. It has nine on board sounds but no acoustic piano sounds. It does have other real world sounds though, accompaniments and rhythms, and no pedals.

It has no built-in learning system. It has a built-in amplifier and speakers. It can run from both AC and battery power.

It's very much an entry level model, making it cheaper but also with fewer functions or lower quality sounds than more expensive keyboards.

Description

Yamaha’s first PortaSound branded keyboards had the PS prefix on model numbers, and began with a trio in 1980: the PS-1, PS-2 and PS-3. These are billed as analog instruments using filtered square waves to generate their sounds.

The PS-3 has 44 mini keys, four rhythm sounds and nine tones, and a decent 8 notes of polyphony. Available in delightful beige colouring and coming with their own carry cases, these were reasonably capable instruments for the time, and in fact were more advanced than the first early ’80s PSS branded instruments.

FAQ

What year was the Yamaha PS-3 launched?

This instrument was launched in 1980

What other models did Yamaha release in 1980?

• PS-1
• PS-10
• PS-2
• PS-20
• PS-30
• PS-30B
• SK20
• SK30
• SK50D

What models did other manufacturers release in 1980?

• Casio Casiotone 201
• Casio Casiotone 301
• Casio M-10
• Korg Trident

What other home keyboards were released at a similar time?

• Casio Casiotone 1000p
• Casio Casiotone 101
• Casio Casiotone 201
• Casio Casiotone 202
• Casio Casiotone 301
• Casio Casiotone 401
• Casio Casiotone 403
• Casio Casiotone 610
• Casio Casiotone 701
• Casio M-10
• Casio MT-30
• Casio MT-40
• Casio MT-45
• Casio MT-46
• Casio MT-60
• Casio MT-70
• Yamaha HS-200
• Yamaha HS-400
• Yamaha HS-500
• Yamaha HS-501
• Yamaha MP-1
• Yamaha PC-100
• Yamaha PC-50
• Yamaha PS-25
• Yamaha PS-300
• Yamaha PS-400

Have your own question about the Yamaha PS-3? Email us and we'll research it for you.

Resources

• Old Yamaha keyboard models: an overview of vintage

Reviews

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Purchase Links

Buy the Yamaha PS-3 on Reverb

Find Yamaha PS-3 Deals on

More Info

• Article Page: https://pianoandsynth.com/yamaha-pss-portasound-models-1980-1997/