I think the CZ range will remain relatively obscure. If you didn't use (and like using one) in the 80's, then I can't imagine too many synth folk are going to go out of their way to pick one up. There just isn't the awareness.
As a digital synth, it will always struggle with "vintage" appeal. I see 106's listed for AUD1400 regularly (assuming all of their voice chips are still going!), whereas CZ-1's won't sell @ AUD400 (I keep seeing the same ones come up again on Gumtree).
I paid around AUD800 for my CZ-1 new in late '88 (had been on the shelf for a while, so got it at a better price), but there's no way it would sell for that now. Even with a clean/backlight replacement/new battery.
I think if you are interested in picking one up, go for the CZ-1 as this will give you velocity and aftertouch, as well as 8 voices which can be divided up across up to 8 channels.
I still regret selling my CZ-101 though!
Regards,
JPS
Message
Re: [CZsynth] CZ synths market value
2014-06-04 by James Meagher
Sometimes I think the lack of interest in early digital synths is simply because most people don't believe there's any difference between them and software synths - so why buy the problem prone 30 year old synth when you have any number of soft-synths at your disposal. It9;s simple to fathom that digitally emulated analogue doesn't sound like real vintage analogue, but a bit more of an ask to fathom that digitally emulated digital doesn't sound like vintage digital. There are some who realize (and care) that FM8 doesn't sound like a DX7, but they are few . . . and general old and grumpy. ;)
If those making synthy sounds realize PlastiCZ doesn't quite sound like a CZ-1 will the value of CZs finally rise? I doubt it. I think soft synths will have improved to a point of true faithful emulation before that ever happens.
Jimmy
On Tue, Jun 3, 2014 at 11:54 PM, webform@... [CZsynth] <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote: