Yamaha PSR-37 Home Keyboard Information, Specifications and Resources

Author: Andy Merrett / Data Driven

Overview

The Yamaha PSR-37 is a home keyboard released in 1989. It is marketed primarily to home musicians.

The PSR-37 has 61 synth/organ style full sized keys without touch sensitivity or aftertouch. It has nine notes of polyphony. It has 100 on board sounds including pianos and real world sounds, accompaniments and rhythms, and no pedals.

It uses Yamaha's AWM sound generation. Advanced Wave Memory is a classic high-quality sample playback and layering engine. It also uses FM sound generation. Frequency Modulation is an iconic digital synthesis for metallic, bell-like, and evolving tones. It also uses Digital Advanced Sampling System, for expanded sample playback with deeper control.

It has the ability to record and play back user performances. It has built-in MIDI capabilities. It has no built-in learning system. It has a built-in amplifier and speakers. It can run from both AC and battery power.

The keyboard is a decent choice for children. It's very much an entry level model, making it cheaper but also with fewer functions or lower quality sounds than more expensive keyboards. It's a part of the PSR family of instruments, whose models span from 1984 to the present day. Its release year of 1989 makes it a relatively early PSR model.

Description

The PSR-37's one hundred voices include various acoustic and electric pianos, tuned percussion instruments, strings and synth strings, stringed instruments, brass and woodwind, several organs, bass instruments, and synthetic and sound effects.

Any of the hundred voices can be used in the upper section of the keyboard, while twenty can be used in the lower section if split.

There are twenty-four accompaniment styles including disco, pops, 16 beat, rock, metal, rap, ballad, baroque, country, waltz, march, samba and bossanova. The auto bass chord system allows you to play a chord in the lower section of the keyboard to start a bassline along with the rhythm. It's possible to feed any of 13 chord types but the PSR-37 will only output major, minor or seventh chords.

As well as playing complete chords, the single finger chord mode builds a whole chord from a single played note.

Solo Styleplay is a feature which adds appropriate harmony notes and effects to a melody based on the accompaniment style selected.

The PSR-37 has a built in chord sequencer allowing the recording and playback of chords recorded using the auto bass feature, up to 200 chord changes. The sequence cannot be saved through power cycles.

Effects include a sustain (in lieu of a dedicated sustain pedal) and dual voice.

Sixteen percussion instruments can be played directly from the appropriate key on the instrument.

The PSR-37 has rudimentary MIDI capabilities and can send and receive data.

FAQ

What was the price of the Yamaha PSR-37?

At launch in 1989, the price of the PSR-37 was approximately $420. Current market value fluctuates considerably, but second-hand models can be picked up for perhaps a couple of hundred dollars. Buyer needs to exercise caution as many older units no longer function, or require repair.

What year was the Yamaha PSR-37 launched?

This instrument was launched in 1989

What other models did Yamaha release in 1989?

• PSR-2500
• PSR-27
• PSR-3500
• PSR-4500
• PSR-47
• PSR-6
• PSR-7
• PSS-100
• PSS-125
• PSS-20
• PSS-280
• PSS-380
• PSS-580
• PSS-780
• PSS-80
• PSS-80R
• SDX2000
• SY77
• V50

What models did other manufacturers release in 1989?

• Casio CT470
• Casio CT650
• Casio CT655
• Casio CT657
• Casio CT670
• Casio MT-750
• Korg T1
• Korg T2
• Roland D-5
• Roland D-70
• Roland W-30
• Technics KN2400
• Technics KN2600

What other home keyboards were released at a similar time?

• Casio CT360
• Casio CT370
• Casio CT460
• Casio CT470
• Casio CT510
• Casio CT630
• Casio CT636
• Casio CT640
• Casio CT650
• Casio CT655
• Casio CT657
• Casio CT660
• Casio CT670
• Casio CT680
• Casio MT-220
• Casio MT-25
• Casio MT-28
• Casio MT-520
• Casio MT-540
• Casio MT-600
• Casio MT-640
• Casio MT-750
• Casio MT-88
• Casio SA-21
• Casio SA-5
• Technics KN220
• Technics KN300
• Technics KN500
• Technics KN501
• Technics KN550
• Technics KN650
• Technics KN701
• Technics KN720
• Technics KN920
• Yamaha DSR-1000
• Yamaha DSR-2000
• Yamaha DSR-500
• Yamaha KB-100
• Yamaha KB-200
• Yamaha KB-2000
• Yamaha MIE-1
• Yamaha PSR-100
• Yamaha PSR-11
• Yamaha PSR-12
• Yamaha PSR-16
• Yamaha PSR-18
• Yamaha PSR-19
• Yamaha PSR-2
• Yamaha PSR-200
• Yamaha PSR-22
• Yamaha PSR-3
• Yamaha PSR-300
• Yamaha PSR-300M
• Yamaha PSR-31
• Yamaha PSR-32
• Yamaha PSR-36
• Yamaha PSR-38
• Yamaha PSR-40
• Yamaha PSR-400
• Yamaha PSR-410
• Yamaha PSR-4600
• Yamaha PSR-48
• Yamaha PSR-500
• Yamaha PSR-500M
• Yamaha PSR-500M
• Yamaha PSR-6700
• Yamaha PSR-73
• Yamaha PSR-80
• Yamaha PSS-101
• Yamaha PSS-102
• Yamaha PSS-103
• Yamaha PSS-104
• Yamaha PSS-130
• Yamaha PSS-140
• Yamaha PSS-16
• Yamaha PSS-170
• Yamaha PSS-190
• Yamaha PSS-270
• Yamaha PSS-290
• Yamaha PSS-30
• Yamaha PSS-370
• Yamaha PSS-390
• Yamaha PSS-470
• Yamaha PSS-480
• Yamaha PSS-50
• Yamaha PSS-570
• Yamaha PSS-590
• Yamaha PSS-595
• Yamaha PSS-680
• Yamaha PSS-790
• Yamaha PSS-795
• Yamaha PSS-9
• Yamaha SHS-10B
• Yamaha SHS-10R
• Yamaha SHS-10S
• Yamaha SHS-200
• Yamaha VSS-200
• Yamaha VSS-30
• Yamaha YPR-20
• Yamaha YPR-30

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Resources

• Yamaha PSR PortaTone Models 1984-2026
• Old Yamaha keyboard models: an overview of vintage

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Purchase Links

Buy the Yamaha PSR-37 on Reverb

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