I can't really make up my mind about the new Korg SV-1 Stage Vintage Piano. It is advertised as "New Body - Old Soul". I have tried this keyboard out a couple of times now in my local music store. The first thing that grabs your attention is it design, shape and Colour. Keyboards should be Exciting, Dazzling, Colourful and Innovative and we do not see enough of this from the keyboard manufacturing giants. Keyboard players not only want to sound good but look good on stage they also want to compete with their guitarist. If you compare the number of guitar designs and colours used you would appreciate how few there are in the keyboard world.This keyboard comes in two models a 73 note and a 88 note. I really like the 73 note for its weight and portability and that it is red, it had curves with a great layout angled back and upright in front of you.
The controls are all in front of you. You don't have any menus or displays the entire front panel is always live with clearly marked knobs to create the sound you want. If you are not happy with the sound you have made and want to change your mind you can simply tap the knob to recall the original value. The panel is laid out from left to right as follows:- Master Volume, 3-Band EQ, Pre-FX, Amp Model, 8 Favourite buttons, Sound, Modulation FX, Reverb/Delay. I have heard a few complaints that it is easy to accidently catch the controls whilst you are playing. I tried to play hard and fast in the shop but i was unable to recreate this problem
The Korg SV-1 has only 36 sounds covering Accousic and Electric Pianos, Organs, Clavs and Strings (See specifications below). I really liked its electro - mechanical, trasistorised and tape driven sounds and loved its retro organs, although I was not too impressed with its string sounds. The thing that bothers me is its price to amount of quality sounds ratio. This keyboard is very expensive and does not cover all my needs. I would need either another keyboard or have to buy a Sound Module to augment the sound pallete and this would make the overall price too expensive.
Sound Engine:
EDS (Enhanced Definition Synthesis) RX (Real eXperience) Technology
Polyphony: 80 notes
Sounds: 36; 6 Banks x 6 sounds
Bank 1; Electric Piano 1: Tine Electric Piano (x4); VPM Piano (X2)
Bank 2; Electric Piano 2: Reed Electric Piano (x2); Electro-Acoustic Grand; Korg SG-1D; 80's Synth Piano; MIDI Grand
Bank 3; Clav: Clav (x4); Plucked Reed Piano-ette; Transistor Piano
Bank 4; Piano: Bright Japanese Grand; Smooth European Grand; Mono Grand; Upright Piano; Piano + Strings; Piano + Pad
Bank 5; Organ: Tonewheel (x3); USA Tube Console; Italian Combo; VOX Combo
Bank 6; Other: Real Strings; Tape Strings; String Machine; Real Choir; Synth Brass; Sharp Brass
Effects/Processing: Five Individual Sections
Equalizer: On/Off Switch; Bass, Mid, Treble Knobs
Pre-FX: On/Off Switch; Speed Knob, Intensity Knob; Compressor, Boost, U-Vibe, Vibrato, Tremolo, VoxWah (Auto/Pedal Switch)
Amp Model: On/Off Switch; Drive Knob; Clean, California, Tweed, AC30, Mod'ed OverDrive, Organ Hi-Gain OverDrive
Modulation FX: On/Off Switch; Speed Knob, Intensity Knob; Chorus 1, Chorus 2, Phaser 1, Phaser 2, Flanger, Rotary (Fast/Slow Switch)
Reverb/Delay: On/Off Switch; Depth Knob; Room, Plate, Hall, Spring, Tape Echo, Stereo Delay (Tap-Tempo Button)
Valve Reactor Tube: 1 x 12AX7
Other Panel Controls: Master Volume Knob, Transpose Button, Local Off Button, Function Button.
Demo Songs: 6; Press Transpose + Local Off buttons to access
Connections:
Audio Outputs: Left/Mono, Right (1/4" Unbalanced); Left, Right (XLR Balanced)
Audio Inputs: Left/Mono, Right (1/4")
MIDI: Standard In, Out; USB/MIDI port
Damper Pedal: Damper (fixed)
Pedal 1: Switch Type; Sostenuto or Rotary Speaker Fast/Slow functions
Pedal 2: Sweep Type; Volume/Expression or Wah functions Switch Type; Soft Pedal (Una Corda) function
Headphones: Stereo 1/4"
SV-1 73 Dimensions: 45.0" × 13.66" × 6.1"; Weight: 38.5 lbs (without music stand)
SV-1 88 Dimensions: 53.3" × 13.66" × 6.1"; Weight: 45.3 lbs (without music stand)
Accessories Included: Power cable, Quick Guide, Accessory CD, Music stand, Damper Pedal (Korg DS-2H)
For more information and / or sales visit :- Absolutemusic