MATRIXSYNTH: Elka X-705


Sunday, December 07, 2008

Elka X-705

via this auction
"This thing is pretty insane - a double manual organ with drawbars, a bunch of instrument presets, an analog drum machine, and a wonderfully cheesy monophonic synth with 11 presets.

Apparently it was made from 1977-81, and was played by Jean-Michael Jarr.

The synth ("Solo Presets") is working great, as is the drum machine, and the "piano" and "clavi-chord" presets. The synth sounds can be modified if you press the "var" button. I have uploaded some sound samples here."

via Rebel Bass NZ

Update via Ian156 in the comments: "There was a pedal board with it, you could drop the entire "cheesy" synth section down there, for a bass guitar or 'oumpa' bass brass, tuba sort of thing.

The drawbars were in the 'right' Hammond order too. Some of the Japanese organs like Kawais understandably, had them in numerical order. The major 3rd harmonic from the 5 1/3 makes quite a difference. Mellows the registration. To be honest. I've a modern Technics now, but those string/cello choruses (yellow) weren't half bad, event compared to modern digi strings. Ideal "Moon River" and "When you wish upon a star" Mantrovani sort of stuff. In a review of the time, they put the piano in the "not bad" class. There were some howlers about. But some of todays cheaper keyboards arent any better. Its a smashing bit of kit. Look after it. It was a 70s space age version of the 60s Hammond B3 complete with Jerry Anderson style flashing buttons. But its a gem. Try "Whiter shade of pale" on it, if you have the Leslie speaker cabinet working."

3 comments:

  1. There was a pedal board with it, you could drop the entire "cheesy" synth section down there, for a bass guitar or 'oumpa' bass brass, tuba sort of thing.

    The drawbars were in the 'right' Hammond order too. Some of the Japanese organs like Kawais understandably, had them in numerical order. The major 3rd harmonic from the 5 1/3 makes quite a difference. Mellows the registration. To be honest. I've a modern Technics now, but those string/cello choruses (yellow) weren't half bad, event compared to modern digi strings. Ideal "Moon River" and "When you wish upon a star" Mantrovani sort of stuff. In a review of the time, they put the piano in the "not bad" class. There were some howlers about. But some of todays cheaper keyboards arent any better. Its a smashing bit of kit. Look after it. It was a 70s space age version of the 60s Hammond B3 complete with Jerry Anderson style flashing buttons. But its a gem. Try "Whiter shade of pale" on it, if you have the Leslie speaker cabinet working.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just got one of these and it's just great! Totaly spacey! Very nice and warm sound.

    The rhythm section doesn't seem to be working on mine; I wonder if this is related to the missing swell pedal...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Is it possible that the rythm section works if one remove the bass pedal: is the writer of that blog has the bass pedal with it? A lot of people are complaining about rythm section not working just like mine....i'll try it with the bass pedal removed illogical,but there's so weird things with that beast
    Just like the reverb: it's there but doesn't work....

    ReplyDelete

To reduce spam, comments for posts older than one week are not displayed until approved, usually same day. Do not insult people. For items for sale, do not ask if it is still available. Check the auction link and search for the item. Auctions are from various sellers and expire over time. Posts remain for the pics and historical purposes. This site is meant to be a daily snapshot of some of what was out there in the world of synths.

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