Electronic Woodwind
ALTERNATE NAME(S)
- Woodwind synthesizer
Maker
Yamaha
Date1989 ca.
Place MadeHamamatsu, Japan, Asia
ModelEW20
Serial No.03569
SignedPrinted on tone generator: YAMAHA ELECTRONIC WOODWIND WIND JAMM'R TMPrinted on controller: WIND JAMM'R TM YAMAHA EW20 ELECTRONIC WOODWIND
MarkingsEmbossed next to the adjustment knobs on back: BREATH / WHEEL
DescriptionReleased in 1989, and primarily marketed to schools, the Yamaha EW20 WindJamm’r was a woodwind synthesizer combo set, which came with its own tone generator and the controller.
The tone generator, or sound module, is a Frequency Modulator (FM) synthesizer (4 operators). It is basically a stand-alone console of black metallic panels containing the main circuit board assembly. The top panel has a small LCD display window, 8 preset push buttons (edit/store, performance, transpose, octave, voice select (+ or -), wheel, and reverb), and 2 slide switches (reverb and volume). This model, EW20, boosted a total of 64 different instrumental voices, 5 reverberation types (hall, room, plate, echo, and distortion), and 32 preprogrammed combinations of performance settings. The sound module could also be combined with an external sequencer for a multi-timbral setup. On the rear panel, you have the power switch and the terminal jacks for MIDI (thru, in, out), foot switches, output, and headphones. The controller jack is located on the left side panel of the module.
The controller, or wind converter, is made of a solid black plastic body in one section, with a double-swell shape of an end-blown instrument with a beak mouthpiece (no reed). You play the WindJamm'r by blowing into the mouthpiece of the controller and fingering the keys, just like a woodwind instrument. Essentially, the fingering is the same as a saxophone (preset from factory) or a recorder (Baroque or German fingering). Articulation of individual notes could be done with tonguing (using the tongue to interrupt air flow). The controller has 13 fingering key buttons on the front, including a half-step trill key (side key) for right-hand first finger, which raises any note a half-step, and 3 octave keys on the back. The controller also has two adjustment knobs in the back for breath response (adjusts the responsiveness of the WindJamm'r to the force of the breath) and for thumb wheel sensitivity adjustment. The thumb wheel is a lever located just below the integral thumbrest that can be activated with the right thumb to generate vibrato or pitch bending. The controller also has a small water port on bottom, which is essentially a hole to allow condensation from the breath to drain out. Via the sound module, the player could play even-tempered (preset) or natural scales, and in a four- or two-octave range, for saxophone fingering mode or recorder mode, respectively.
This set is retained at the NMM with an original case, one pedal or foot switch assembly with cable (model Yamaha FC5), cables, operating manuals, and the original Hal Leonard music book for Windjamm'r with play-along cassette tape.
DimensionsTone generator (L x D X H): 360 x 190 x 46mm
Controller:
- overall length (from tip of mouthpiece to bottom of body): 490mm
- largest swell point: 42mm
- largest width of protuberance keys: 60mm
ProvenanceThe WindJamm'r was sold by the Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division, which Dale Thompson oversaw. This was his own original set and was lightly used.
Credit LineGift of Dale Thompson, 2024
Object number15828
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