Casio Casiotone 7000

I bought this when it came out. This was when the ARP's and Moog's were the electronic work horses (and horribly expensive!!!) - This wasn't inexpensive either!
I still have the manual (somewhere) and did manage to record a number of convincing instrumental pieces with this keyboard.

For the time it came out, this was a good piece of equipment. I still refer to it as a "Keyboard" and not a "Synth" as it has really nothing in common with one (even with the ones from the eighties).
However, the sounds are... Okay for what they are (none of them are samples - I believe the names given to the sounds are for reference and bear no resemblance to the actual named instrument).
The action is like a typical electric organ - on/off, not touch sensitive. The stereo EFX are nice enough, especially if run out the back into two separate amps to widen the sound separation.
If I were Dr. Frankenstein I might get into its guts and try and mutate it some, but running it out through effects boxes and pedals is easier.
It has the ever eighties "Rhythm Unit" complete with Bossa Nova, and Waltz. I will admit that some of these do work well if you just use the arpeggiator and turn everything else off.

As I said above, the sounds bear little resemblance to their namesakes. So I just use the names for reference. I've used this for recording pieces similar to early Tangerine Dream or Klaus Schulze (yes, it IS handy to have a REAL synth nearby as well). It worked well thorugh a club soundsystem but it IS a bit bulky and difficult to transport without an actual keyboard flightcase (I use an old half size trunk).
To add to its EFX capabilities, I adjust the volume while playing (which helps on the "Cello" sound)to create swells etc.

I've had this keyboard since 1984 or so (bought it right off the showroom floor). It's held up well - better than my Arp Odyssey. I've used it in various gigs and it's never failed me yet (unlike aforementioned Arp).

It's a dinosaur. A museum piece. Most everyone in any music store says the proverbial "Huh?" when I mention it. It's not that complicated of an instrument really so I've never really had the need for support.

I'd get something else. Only because for the same price the keyboards and synths out there now are truely amazing. I do prefer analog synths as opposed to digital - the combination machines are the best of all. I believe Akai made some years back. The Buchla Synths facinate me as well, since they have no keyboard!!! and the virtual synths now Arp's, Moog's, and Yamaha. These are interesting additions to home recording.

The sounds are rubbish but the keyboard was made before I was even born, so what do you expect! It was advanced for its time, with loud sound, sustain, stereo pan control and even a three track sequencer (one track for accomp, the other two for melodic parts). The accomps are rubbish though with silly appergios! And they all sound the same if it wasn't for the beat. I used to love playing this keybaord when I was young, and even dug it out of the loft when my current keyboard was getting repaired. It's easy to use; just press the button with the word Flute on it and a so called (if unrealisitc) flute sound will play!

I'm not sure about the polyphony but it seems to play a few notes. It's probably eight note. It can be connected to an external amplifier and has a sustain pedal jack in the back. I think there is also a way of transfering the contents of the memory as data to an audio tape, and somehow playing it back through the keyboard. I guess you could describe it as a crude version of MIDI, although I've never used this feature. It was advanced for it's time. Oh yes, I have used to above feature and the tape played a bleeps and blarps! I don't know how to get the signal back through the keybaord but there must be a way, as the whole memory dump thing would be pointless! I never use this keyboard now anyhow.

The sounds are all synthetic rubbish, they sound it. In fact they don't try to be anything but it. It's OK if you want electro eightees pop (the sixteen beat drum pattern sounds like the start of the Human Leagues Don't You Want Me). The demo is rubbish, a pop version of the famous Minuet. I used to play it when I was a kid all the time! It feels sturdy enough to play although it isn't touch sensitive (but that probably wasn't even invented then)!

I could rely on it. It's been in the family for 20 odd years. It feels strong and weighs a lot. I wouldn't use it in a gig as it is too old, but if I was old enough to gig with it at the time I might have.

Probably doesn't even exist for this product anymore!

I wouldn't buy it again, don't need to, probably can't either! I started playing keyboard with this. It was the families instrument, until I got my own litle keyboards for my room. I think the sequencer and memory dump feature must have been really advanced for the time. I think my dad originally chose a lower down Casio model, but immediately exchanged it for this model when he realised of its features.

Simple is the word here! It is the flagship model of the range. It dates from the eighties. It has a drum machine, vibrato, delay vibrato and sustain effects with a sustane pedal port on the back.
Sounds are all crap! The electric organ is my favorite though as it sounds like a Farfisa compact duo with or without the vibrato. Listen to Ummagumma.

I listed the features above. It also has a sterio pan control between the speakers. This would be better if one of the speakers was not so damn muted. The stereo effect is displayed on a screen lifted straight out of a casio calculator! It also has a two patch memory ad a recording function. Sadly I have no manual so I can't opperate this.

None of the instrmuents are realistic. Flute sounds crap, so it is ironic that casio stuck a "synth flute" sound to it incase I found the real flute tone to realistic! That farfisa tone is good though. this is helped by the solid state vibrato, which was a feature on the original farfisa. Listen to Ummagumma!

No problem. It may be champagne gold (sick) but it has a wooden base, and it ways a ton. It wouldn't survive Keith Emerson, but I don't rely heavily on it, read later!

I borrowed it from my school music department. Es kostet nichts!

I am 15 and I love early pink floyd! Our band plays Interstellar overdrive and Saucerful of Secrets. Both rely on this beast. For IS I plug it through a zoom 606. saucerful requires no effects. For IS I take another child's keyboard (also Casio) and I squash it into the keys producing a mad hellish noise. I then adjust the 7000's tuner function and the pitch goes insane!