Elka Rhapsody 490

2 buttons, 2 sliders, 49 keys, not counting the on/off switch...
If you can play a keyboard, you can play this.

Possibly the most perfect analogue string sound there is. I had a choice to buy this or the Roland Strings for the same price. I liked this one better.

The sound can be a little tinny on it's own. It helps to run it through an amplifier or EQ just to beef up the lower register a little. It also sounds amazing through external effects, like a phaser or sweep filters. I have also played this through a lo-pass filter to get a warm pad-like sound. On it's own, it's not very versatile, however it's brilliant with effects.

I would have given this a 10, but there is a heartbeat sound that can be heard when the volume is up too high, or if you run it through a distortion box. This can be a problem if you multi-track it too much. It's important to mute this instrument when it is not in use.

I have had to do some repairs on my unit, which is otherwise in very good condition. Fortunately, a neighbour of mine had an old broken and severely abused Elka that he donated to me for parts. It is, for the most part, a very sturdy, and road-worthy device, and very little seems to happen to it that contact cleaner can't solve.

This keyboard is an absolute gem. I can't say more about how much I love the tone. After being EQ's, it can have such a warm rich lovely tone (the low frequencies are present, they are just very quiet). Perfect for many styles of music including Prog and Funk. I think I've heard this on a P-Funk album.

2 presets,or combine them for the third.
no manual,don't need one.

49 note polyphony,built in "sustain" which i think is a spring reverb?
no MIDI or anything else.

if you want that certain 70's disco/prog/horror movie soundtrack string synth sound this has it.
if you love that sound it's a 10,if you don't it's a 0.
i happen to love it,which shows my age i suppose.
comes with a nice volume pedal for swells,and a cheesy reverb.

when i went to the guy's house to buy this it lit up but didn't make any sound,until my brother accidentally knocked it over.
i only got $10 off the asking price,i would have walked,but it was in great shape otherwise,including the super sleek fiberglass case.
i would not gig with this,it still cuts out on me every now and then,until i give it a smack like my dad used to smack our old TV...

is Elka still in business?
i have a friend that repairs amplifiers for me occasionally,i'll have him fix it if it breaks beyond basic soldering/wiring i'm capable of.

iuf it were lost or stolen i would be bummed out,but not heartbroken.
this was an impulse buy,i have a broken Hohner String Performer (that i should sell for parts) i always loved cheesy 70's string synthesizers and now i have one that works.
if you can find one for about the same price i got mine for it's a great deal.

Straight forward and easy to use Violin or Cello or Both. Sustain and Volume, Plus a footpedal for a Volume Control and a slightly quicker attack. Classical Keyboard techniques can work to your advantage for a ensemble type of sound, try Legato in right hand, and Staccato in left.

Totaly Polyphonic. No effects. No expansion that I am aware of. Again straight forward psuedo strings

Again a Psuedo almost disco/prog rock type of string sound. Works well for most all types of music again variations in from staccato to legato fingers allows the sound to very somewhat in its attack and loudness. No Velocity or Aftertouch. No on Board effects.

Have had mine for 30 years and only a minor problem when beer was spilled into the keyboard and that was 28 years ago. As soon as it dried out it worked fine. Had it thoroughly cleaned.

Nill.

excellent durable and very useable. I haven't taken it out on the road for 25 years. But if you run it thru a Alesis Multifx and a Multiverb and a chorus or phaser you can get a magnificient stereo spread to be used as a string pad for say a Sample Violin Lead line...etc.

Just read another description which compares this unit with a nowadays digital synth.
Considering the age MIDI should not be expected. The unit is from the pre-MIDI era.
Technically it should be compared with an electric organ. It has one master ocillator and a lot of frequency deviders to generate the right tones. It could be considered as unlimited polyphony.
Only three sounds to be made with the "violin" and the "cello" option. Furthermore a volume and a sustain slider. It's simple.

The unit had to be examined with it's age in consideration. Compare with a modern supersynth is not fair.

- unlimited polyphony
- no effects
- not key sensitive
- no midi

- It sounds like a 70's string ensemble cold and a little like a swarm of bees in a jampot. A lot can be done with adding some external FX however.

It's old. Nice for home use. Using it on stage without proper precautions will cost you a next gig.

Don't know

This a late 70's analog string synth. There are two sliders for volume and sustain, and two buttons for violin and cello, and strings. They sounds can be combined for a fuller sound. A pitch knob is on the back near the power cable.

I don't know what amount of polyphony there is but there's enough. Very simple, no MIDI, C/V out or in and no effects. The keyboard has 49 keys.

The strings aren't very realistic but sound more like a preset of a normal analog synth. No velocity sensitivity.

I bought it over the net and when it arrived there was a problem. When a key was presses a horrible racket would follow each note and a ratting loose part kinda sound also occurred. So I opened it up and there was a metal bar that the springs touched to trigger the sound that had come loose. I had to super glue the little plastic snap where it went but it has held so far. Overall the entire unit looks pretty cheaply made.

ELKA's long gone and I don't speak Italian anyway.

I might buy it again if it were cheaper. Compared to a Crumar Performer string synth it's not as good. It's not bad but there's lots better.