Hey all,
Coming to you in hopes that you can talk me into the SV-1. I need to pick up a single board for stage use for an upcoming tour, and I'd also like it to be something I will enjoy playing in my home studio and etc. To be honest, I'm a guitarist but have been developing keys as a secondary instrument and need/want to be able to cover EP, AP, and Hammond sounds easily and convincingly and I can't afford a Nord... I've played the SV1 and I dig everything about it sound/feature wise...
So - seems like the SV-1 is a perfect fit right? Yeah, but I'm terrified of all these horror stories of key bed issues, power issues, startup issues, etc...
What's the latest from the field? Can I trust my hard earned cash to one? Are there really actually lots of satisfied customers and he ones with issues are just very vocal? Or do I need to go with a more reliable board and sacrifice some vibe?
Talk me into an SV-1... Can I trust it?
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
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coloradobenedic
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:27 am
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coloradobenedic
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:27 am
We're not the most talkative bunch. We're usually to be found in an intimate one-to-one situation, coaxing beautiful music from the sexiest keyboard on the planet! 
What can I say? I've had mine for two years, gigged with it regularly in all that time and - touch wood - not had a problem yet. But it continues to inspire with sounds and looks and general vibe that is just light years ahead of any other digital piano.
It's the same keyboard (RH) as fitted to the Kronos 88 (although there do appear to be some different revisions of the keyboard available). If you check in the Kronos forum, there are a few complaints regarding the keyboard in there too. Add all the complaints together, though, and there's only a handful of people that have had a problem with either board. Buy it new from a local retailer with a decent returns policy if you're worried.
As far as fit for your needs goes, well it's a piano, not an organ. So it will definitely do EP and AP. There are a few organ samples on there, and they're perfectly usable for what they are, but it's not an organ by a long shot.
Given your requirements as outlined below, I would say that the Korg Krome (in red special edition, possibly!) should also be a contender.
AP is great on that (it's the HUGE 2GB sample from the Kronos), and EP is good (although not as good as the SV-1 imho), and organs are better. Plus, the big kicker for a gigging musician - it's 15Kg (for Krome 88 ) versus 20Kg (for SV-1 88 ).
What can I say? I've had mine for two years, gigged with it regularly in all that time and - touch wood - not had a problem yet. But it continues to inspire with sounds and looks and general vibe that is just light years ahead of any other digital piano.
It's the same keyboard (RH) as fitted to the Kronos 88 (although there do appear to be some different revisions of the keyboard available). If you check in the Kronos forum, there are a few complaints regarding the keyboard in there too. Add all the complaints together, though, and there's only a handful of people that have had a problem with either board. Buy it new from a local retailer with a decent returns policy if you're worried.
As far as fit for your needs goes, well it's a piano, not an organ. So it will definitely do EP and AP. There are a few organ samples on there, and they're perfectly usable for what they are, but it's not an organ by a long shot.
Given your requirements as outlined below, I would say that the Korg Krome (in red special edition, possibly!) should also be a contender.
AP is great on that (it's the HUGE 2GB sample from the Kronos), and EP is good (although not as good as the SV-1 imho), and organs are better. Plus, the big kicker for a gigging musician - it's 15Kg (for Krome 88 ) versus 20Kg (for SV-1 88 ).
Last edited by oy5t3h on Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
PaulR
Korg SV-1 88
Kurzweil PC361
Korg SV-1 88
Kurzweil PC361
Re: Talk me into an SV-1... Can I trust it?
I've had no problems at all with the keybed since I first bought it. The USB port broke at one point, but I had it replaced and it works fine now. This is very different from my previous board, a Roland RD-200, where I was constantly having notes fail (sometimes--and most irritatingly--by only sounding at top volume, no matter how lightly you were playing), and having to obtain and replace strips of contacts.
That said, I haven't attempted a tour with it, so it's had a pretty cush life.
There must have been some bad keyboards (how else can you explain the problems posted on various groups?), but owners who don't have problems rarely get on just to boast "Nothing bad happened to my SV1 this week! Again!"
Good luck, and enjoy the board!
That said, I haven't attempted a tour with it, so it's had a pretty cush life.
There must have been some bad keyboards (how else can you explain the problems posted on various groups?), but owners who don't have problems rarely get on just to boast "Nothing bad happened to my SV1 this week! Again!"
Good luck, and enjoy the board!
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Ignatius_Gerumpany
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2013 4:38 pm
- Location: United States
Great, great piano, with some organ sounds
I bought my SV-1 after years of frustration with the piano sounds on a Nord Electro 2. I have been a happy pianist for the last 12 months in my two bands, and shifted my parts on a lot of songs from the B3 to either an acoustic or electric piano.
However, I now have a mirror frustration with the organ sounds on the SV-1, and thinking about picking up an Electro again. The organ sounds on the SV-1 are okay, but the lack of control on the tone (via the draw bars) and on the percussive effects are a real miss.
However, if you are mainly a guitar player, and your organ parts will largely consist of pads, the SV-1 is absolutely for you. The combo organ sounds are fine, and the B3 and Lowry sounds, baked as they are, respond to the Leslie accelerator very well.
I love the feel of the keyboard. One tip - they told me at the shop to store the keyboard flat, not tipped up on one side. This, they said, can result in stuck keys and other problems.
However, I now have a mirror frustration with the organ sounds on the SV-1, and thinking about picking up an Electro again. The organ sounds on the SV-1 are okay, but the lack of control on the tone (via the draw bars) and on the percussive effects are a real miss.
However, if you are mainly a guitar player, and your organ parts will largely consist of pads, the SV-1 is absolutely for you. The combo organ sounds are fine, and the B3 and Lowry sounds, baked as they are, respond to the Leslie accelerator very well.
I love the feel of the keyboard. One tip - they told me at the shop to store the keyboard flat, not tipped up on one side. This, they said, can result in stuck keys and other problems.
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coloradobenedic
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:27 am
Right on everyone! Apologies for my impatience, I suppose I was just more worried than anything. All things considered and given what I need to accomplish with a board live, I still think the SV-1 has the most vibe coupled with the best package of sounds for what I will be doing of any board I've researched.
I've heard some say the organs on the 2nd SV sound pack are a slight improvement too, and they are editable via the software yes? I actually own an A100/142, so I'm quite familiar with the sound and don't expect it to be spot on, but it still seems like hopefully the SV-1 will hold a nice tone for chords in a live mix...
Thanks for the reassurance guys... Now if I can only find an SV-1 in good shape for under 1k I'll be a happy guy!
I've heard some say the organs on the 2nd SV sound pack are a slight improvement too, and they are editable via the software yes? I actually own an A100/142, so I'm quite familiar with the sound and don't expect it to be spot on, but it still seems like hopefully the SV-1 will hold a nice tone for chords in a live mix...
Thanks for the reassurance guys... Now if I can only find an SV-1 in good shape for under 1k I'll be a happy guy!
They are editable within certain parameters. Basically, the sounds are all hard-wired into the SV1, so what you are editing is the effects layered on top of that: EQ, Pre FX, Amps, Modulations, Reverbs, RX mechanical sounds, etc. So, you can change the tremolo or phaser speed, or make the Rhodes rattle more or less, but you can't do much about the underlying sound.coloradobenedic wrote:I've heard some say the organs on the 2nd SV sound pack are a slight improvement too, and they are editable via the software yes?
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coloradobenedic
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:27 am
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Kurt Gepke
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:33 am
- Location: Las Vegas, NV.
- Contact:
I would buy it again in a heartbeat if mine went down. I just joined this forum looking for some help regarding a phenomena I'm experiencing. That is a fluctuation in volume which comes and goes but is annoying as hell and happens in the middle of a solo, etc.
Other than that, I love the instrument so far (about four months now). I play a vast genre span from 60's through the 90's and find it much friendlier than toting around a Rhodes or the limitations of the Wurli.
In my particular application, I cannot get away with taking only the SV1 though. I need true analog synths and I need that big fat analog/digital combo sound I get from my Jupiter-50.
The Jupiter could almost do the complete job but it's the "real deal feel" of the Korg that makes it play so much better for a piano guy.
Bottom line......as another suggested, buy it from a retailer like MusiciansFriend or zZounds. No tax, free shipping, and free return shipping on defective gear within a certain timeframe.
Go for it and good luck.
BTW, I also double on guitar so I'm in your world a little bit. It sucks having to set up two independent rigs and it's a hell of a lot of gear to hump.
What genre of music do you play with your two bands?
KG
Other than that, I love the instrument so far (about four months now). I play a vast genre span from 60's through the 90's and find it much friendlier than toting around a Rhodes or the limitations of the Wurli.
In my particular application, I cannot get away with taking only the SV1 though. I need true analog synths and I need that big fat analog/digital combo sound I get from my Jupiter-50.
The Jupiter could almost do the complete job but it's the "real deal feel" of the Korg that makes it play so much better for a piano guy.
Bottom line......as another suggested, buy it from a retailer like MusiciansFriend or zZounds. No tax, free shipping, and free return shipping on defective gear within a certain timeframe.
Go for it and good luck.
BTW, I also double on guitar so I'm in your world a little bit. It sucks having to set up two independent rigs and it's a hell of a lot of gear to hump.
What genre of music do you play with your two bands?
KG
Tune it or die!
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coloradobenedic
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:27 am
Hey Kurt, thanks for the response!
Yeah, it's gonna suck setting up a bunch of stuff. The newest project Im getting involved with is an Americana/Rock n Roll group, and I might even play a little pedal steel for them too, so imagine all that! I'm probably going to cheat a little and run the steel/6-string with an AB pedal into the same board, then into one channel of a Twin; the other channel will be for keys...
So at least in that way, only one amp for 3 instruments ain't half bad bad, but Twins arent exactly light either
My main project for the last few years though is a Hammond organ based funk/jazz/rock quartet, and while I only haul 6-string gear to those gigs the Hammond Leslie usually make the trip, so what's the difference!
I digress... Still digging the SV1, hope one works out. Rodney, Im bummed we couldn't connect earlier as I just noticed your SV1 88 on eBay, and Im right up the road in Boulder! Shucks, oh well - I'll keep an eye on it still though and might throw a bid on!
Yeah, it's gonna suck setting up a bunch of stuff. The newest project Im getting involved with is an Americana/Rock n Roll group, and I might even play a little pedal steel for them too, so imagine all that! I'm probably going to cheat a little and run the steel/6-string with an AB pedal into the same board, then into one channel of a Twin; the other channel will be for keys...
So at least in that way, only one amp for 3 instruments ain't half bad bad, but Twins arent exactly light either
My main project for the last few years though is a Hammond organ based funk/jazz/rock quartet, and while I only haul 6-string gear to those gigs the Hammond Leslie usually make the trip, so what's the difference!
I digress... Still digging the SV1, hope one works out. Rodney, Im bummed we couldn't connect earlier as I just noticed your SV1 88 on eBay, and Im right up the road in Boulder! Shucks, oh well - I'll keep an eye on it still though and might throw a bid on!
Acoustic Piano will sound poor played through a guitar amp. The Electric Pianos on the SV-1 have amp sims in the standard presets. You'll want to turn off the internal amp sim if you're playing through the Twin.coloradobenedic wrote:... into one channel of a Twin; the other channel will be for keys...
Keys are generally designed to be played through the flattest, cleanest PA speakers available. Nothing wrong with playing through a guitar amp, but you will get that guitar amp tone applied to everything, and it really doesn't suit all keyboard sounds - especially acoustic piano.
PaulR
Korg SV-1 88
Kurzweil PC361
Korg SV-1 88
Kurzweil PC361
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coloradobenedic
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:27 am
Yep, very familiar with that. But it seems better than depending on/sharing crappy club PA monitors with the guitars and drums! I agree, they'll be tinged a but, but it's my best solution so far... At least a SF Twin is a pretty neutral, clean amp...
We shall see! Going to look at the Wurly 200a today, so if I pick that up my SV1 purchase may be delayed a bit....
We shall see! Going to look at the Wurly 200a today, so if I pick that up my SV1 purchase may be delayed a bit....
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coloradobenedic
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:27 am
Well, I ended up finding a used 88-key locally, with a gig bag, and went for it. So far so good! The only issue I have is that mine has the XLR output imbalance thing happening, where one channel (left I think?) is slightly quieter than the other. I knew this going in though and it's really only an issue in certain rare situations, so I'm a happy camper - sounds are killer!
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throwfirewoodatme
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2013 9:29 am