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Hammond SK-1<br />
Ultra-Portable Combo Organ<br />
Hammond-Suzuki USA has released its<br />
first ultra-portable stage keyboard: the<br />
SK-1. At 15 pounds, it’s a mere wisp compared<br />
to the company’s 400-pound B3 organ.<br />
Hammond’s goal in designing the SK-1<br />
was to offer a comprehensive keyboard that<br />
would feature a range of organ and piano<br />
voices. All of the classic Hammond organ<br />
tones are here, supplemented by an Extra<br />
Voice division consisting of acoustic pianos,<br />
electric pianos, clavs, harpsichords,<br />
string synths, accordions and a complete<br />
selection of woodwind and brasswind voices.<br />
Electronic organs like Vox and Farfisa are<br />
also represented, along with some very nice<br />
pipe organ sounds. Additional voices can be<br />
Casio WK-7500<br />
Strong Entry-Level Solution<br />
Casio is no stranger to the entrylevel<br />
keyboard market, and<br />
the WK-7500 may be its strongest<br />
entry yet. It comes loaded with<br />
more than 800 sounds, including a<br />
drawbar organ that you can tweak<br />
with a real set of dedicated hardware<br />
drawbar controls—a nice touch, and<br />
unheard of in this category.<br />
All of the workstation sounds you expect<br />
are here. The pianos are realistic, the electric<br />
pianos have some grit, the strings are full,<br />
and there are enough synth sounds to represent<br />
everything from vintage to house. Casio<br />
has provided facility to tweak these tones,<br />
too, although in a rudimentary way. The DSP<br />
section offers a wide array of nice effects.<br />
A serious level of auto-accompaniment is<br />
available, with 250 rhythms—including chord<br />
accompaniment and a nice auto-harmonize<br />
function. Add a 17-track sequencer to this,<br />
and you’ve got a pretty complete solution for<br />
those who want quick ways to get inspired.<br />
Casio has also included inputs for both<br />
downloaded via the unit’s USB port.<br />
The SK-1 has 61 waterfall-style, velocitysensitive<br />
keys that feel just like those on a regular<br />
B3. It can easily be expanded to a dualmanual<br />
organ by connecting it to another<br />
keyboard via MIDI. Pedalboard connection<br />
is also an easy option.<br />
Beyond all the great sounds on the SK-1,<br />
one of its coolest features is the Prochord<br />
function that’s available with some of the<br />
Extra Voice instruments. This allows you<br />
to create a fully harmonized sax section or<br />
brass ensemble by holding down a chord<br />
with your left and and playing a melody with<br />
your right.<br />
—Ed Enright<br />
Ordering info: hammondorganco.com<br />
mic (only 1/4-inch here, not XLR) and instruments,<br />
which can be routed and mixed<br />
through the internal 32-channel mixer and<br />
recorded along with the internal sequencer<br />
tracks in the WK-7500’s own audio recorder,<br />
mixed down internally and dumped off onto<br />
an SD card—all onboard the keyboard itself.<br />
It’s clear that Casio has decided to up the<br />
ante in the entry-level market. The sounds are<br />
definitely better than I expected. The lightweight<br />
instrument has a 76-note keyboard<br />
that is unweighted and takes a little getting<br />
used to, but is very playable. At a street price<br />
of around $500, this board should be making<br />
its way under a lot of trees this holiday season.<br />
<br />
—Chris Neville<br />
Ordering info: casio.com<br />
Godin MultiOud<br />
Modern Take On An<br />
Ancient Axe<br />
For more than 20 years, Godin has made<br />
innovation a top priority. Recently, the company<br />
set its sights on a Middle Eastern instrument<br />
known as the oud, giving this ancient<br />
icon a complete facelift. The new<br />
MultiOud solves many of the<br />
problems faced by oud players<br />
who struggle with amplification<br />
issues and tuning problems.<br />
In creating the MultiOud,<br />
Godin set out to build an instrument<br />
that would not only retain<br />
many of the characteristics of a<br />
traditional oud, but also include<br />
enhancements that would allow<br />
the instrument to be played in<br />
live situations where high<br />
volume is needed. Godin<br />
achieves this goal by<br />
straying from the basic<br />
acoustic oud construction<br />
in two areas: overall<br />
body design and<br />
built-in electronics.<br />
The MultiOud features<br />
a flat back constructed<br />
from chambered<br />
mahogany as<br />
opposed to the rounded<br />
back of the standard oud.<br />
The top is made from solid spruce,<br />
and the pear-shaped body features a cutaway for<br />
easy access to the higher register. The MutiOud<br />
contains the standard 11-string setup with a fretless<br />
mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard.<br />
It has an adjustable truss rod and can handle<br />
nylon or steel strings.<br />
The MultiOud’s chambered body allows<br />
the instrument to be played acoustically, and<br />
although not as loud or rich as a traditional oud,<br />
it does produce a decent acoustic sound. The<br />
active electronics on the MultiOud are easily<br />
accessible via a small control panel built right<br />
into the body. Godin uses a piezo pickup for<br />
amplification and also includes the Fishman<br />
Aura system with four custom-designed microphone<br />
model images that can be blended in<br />
along with the piezo signal. There is also a<br />
three-band EQ, an anti-feedback filter and<br />
even a built-in chromatic tuner. Overall, the<br />
MultiOud is extremely easy to play.<br />
This modern adaptation of an ancient<br />
design is perfect for those looking for a solid<br />
and affordable gigging instrument.<br />
<br />
—Keith Baumann<br />
Ordering info: godinguitars.com<br />
DECEMBER 2011 DOWNBEAT 107
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