Korg Forums

Boynton · Senior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Posts: 421

Deal-breaker for me (or makes the decision easier - 88 or 61). The 73 note is the "classic" (which I hate) ends-at-E in the lower end, making the lowest partial octave useless for left-hand bass, since you need to get down to a C. All electric bass players play 5 string at least for this very reason (except when they want a vintage-retro sound and use a 4 string).

So all the 73 is is a 3 less-key "classic" 76 note keyboard. By comparison a quick check of product photos as Musician's Friend (foe) shows both the M3 and M50 having C to C 73 note keyboards. Perfect for the Left-Hand Bass Playing Keyboardist. The Kronos 73 is actually worse than the 76 "classic" layout by giving you a few less keys in the RH.

BOOOO!

So now if I were to conisder Kronos, it would probably be the 61 for portability on live gigs, and expand it with some other keyboard controller.

Perfect for me would be the 73, weighted action, laid out C to C. Sadly this appears not to be the case.

Bald Eagle · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:20 pm Post subject:

I agree that the layout of E to E is a big mistake. And I also think it was a mistake to use RH3 weighted keys. I would have preferred if the 73 key version was the exact same synth action keys as the M3.

I absolutelty love the M3-73 keyboard and I hope Korg will add this option. I'm not sure if this is a deal breaker for me but I will probably at least delay my purchase to see what happens in the future.

robinkle · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:58 pm Post subject:

Well if you look at it differently you can say that the bottom C and the Top C available has bonus keys. Better then not having them in my opinion. I will pick the 73 key version, not because i need the extra keys, but for weighted keys. Smile

Different needs and demands I guess. Smile

Hedegaard · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:42 pm Post subject:

I could be wrong, but isn't the E-E in order to be compatible with guitar scales?

Mike Bunker · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 5:27 pm Post subject:

Good point! -Mike

NuSkoolTone · Approved Merchant Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 1069

Different strokes for different folks. I've been using 76 keys most of my playing years. So this setup is preferred to me. Of course, I'd RATHER have the extra 3 keys but ce la vi.

I might have preferred the synth action, though I remember playing the RH3 on the M50-88 and liking it very much. Part of me has been considering weighted, though usually that's 88 key and just too big for gigging. My biggest concern is glissandos with the organ. Hopefully the ends of the keys are smooth and won't catch my hand too easily.

Given everything else, if the keys are the biggest compromise I can live with it.
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Korg: KRONOS 73, M50-61, 01W/r
Yamaha: Motif XS7, FS1R
Kawai K5000S, Roland JD-990 w/Vintage Synth

McHale · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 6:38 pm Post subject:

I've been told that 76/73 key doesn't sell as well as 61 or 88. I'd have to think that 73 weighted would sell worse than 73 semi-weighted. As bad as I want the Kronos, the keyboard options simply don't work for me. The RH3 is a great keybed but it's worthless for organ playing and can't keep up on fast runs or lead solos. While I'm REALLY REALLY hoping Korg puts out a 73 (or heaven forbid a 76) key semi-weighted, I'm not holding my breath.
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Current Korg Gear: KRONOS 88 (4GB), M50-73 (PS mod), RADIAS-73, Electribe MX, Triton Pro (MOSS, SCSI, CF, 64MB RAM), SQ-64, DVP-1, MEX-8000, MR-1, KAOSSilator, nanoKey, nanoKontrol, 3x nanoPad 2, 3x DS1H, 7x PS1, FC7 (yes Korg, NOT Yamaha).

Kevin Nolan · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:25 pm Post subject:

From a piano player's perspective it's perfect - middle C is in the middle!

So the geometry on left and right are perfect from where you sit and that's important to how you play.

Kevin.

Boynton · Senior Member Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Posts: 421

Yeah I guess if you are playing straight piano/keyboard without playing left-hand bass, which most people probably don't, then this is fine. Today I will experiment by setting my Roland A-90 to this layout and seeing how I do with it.

Akos Janca · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:11 pm Post subject:

synthdogg · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:17 pm Post subject:

73 note E to E is the classic Rhodes layout. Tons of keyboard players are already familiar with it, and it's the reason Korg put it into the SV1.

Personally, I'm glad they went this way with the Kronos...if you need a few more keys, get the 88.

Bald Eagle · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:36 pm Post subject:

I could learn to live with the E-E layout but I still would have preferred synth action keys rather than the RH3.

Bachus · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 3126

Makes you wonder what made them deside to make a 73/76 weighted keyboard... Mostly synth players buy this size for various reasons, people that want weighted keys will allmost allways buy the 88 key version..

Mike Bunker · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:03 pm Post subject:

It might be easily possible to shift the keys left or right within the unit, then shift the global pitch to accomodate the new key layout. How hard would that be? Just sayin'.
-Mike

synthdogg · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject: