Korg EPS-1

I am the original owner of this keyboard. The presets sound ok for back then, but nowadays are thin. The presence control can make things sound cool. I am not sure if I have a bad voice, one of the clavs (#1) sounds very thin compared to the other, as in amplitude. The manual is around here somewhere, I remember it as being very basic. The service manual I got on Ebay is original equipment, and nice.

This is a 76 key beast. The polyphony is plentiful enough for the era, 8 voices (per service manual, which I have) You get Piano I, Piano II, Electric Piano I, Electric Piano II, Clavinet I, Clavinet II. It has a volume control, and Key Dynamics control (velo sensitivity) There is a built in Chorus & Tremolo effect. There are no midi capabilities, though somebody used to sell one, wish I had the $175 for the midi retrofit back when, I don't think it is offered any more. It has some EQ controls, Bass , Middle, Treble, and a Level (Presence) control, which is kind of a resonant filter cutoff, plus a 12 position transpose switch. The strings have attack and release. There is a tune control in the back. There are Left/Mix, Right and Strings outputs. The damper pedal of this thing is something I have often wondered that I'd have to keep if I sold it...it is super nice. NOTE: The rating of 8, reflects what you got for the time, not compared to modern equipment. This is a pretty keyboard, always liked the look of it. Just wish the sound matched the looks. But again, for the day, it was ok enough, particularly for the strings.

The electric pianos are ok, better in a mix. The acoustic pianos sound rather thin. Ease of use can't be beat, punch a button, there it is. No programmability. This was a pre-midi keyboard. The chorus is nice enough, the tremolo very effective and particularly in a stereo mix...great for ambient funkiness. The velocity sensitivity is nice enough, but back then there was no aftertouch. The strings are nice in that you can adjust the attack per the velocity, and adjust the Level or presence for things. The Level control is very effective with the Clav sounds. The clav sounds are why I keep this around, plus one of the EP's is nice, with a doubler, would sound nice, perhaps along with an FM synth.

This has always worked for me. At this time, about 18-19 years old, it has a key or two that are not firing, I will clean the contacts, assuming that is the problem.

Never had it repaired, would not spend the money now. This thing is built nice, lots of particleboard inside. ;) Heavy, but not too bad.

If it was lost or stolen, I'd seek it via looking for the thief with a broken back. I have a lot of other keyboards but cannot bear to sell this still. I like the size and heft of it, too bad it does not have midi. Currently, it is stored in the original box. I am going to seek to midi-retrofit it on my own, it would make a nice controller perhaps.

If you could get one for less than $150, worth it for the sounds as basis for effect fodder, I'd think. I will try the strings in some effects, perhaps that will make it worth keeping, but I'd rather have a Crumar Performer for that. The strings on this thing are quite similar to those on the Korg Delta, to my ear. Korg strings of that time are rather non-realistic, phased chorused, synthy sounding, and cool, but not up to the lovely transparency and soaring nature of a Crumar. : ) Were this 1980's when I got it, I'd rate this an 8, now , it's a 5 for cool factors.

two pianos, eps and clavs double that if you activate the presence knob..adjust the presence knob for editing. patches no... presets yes the strings work likewise attack, release, bass and treble... also editable are key dynamics
never saw a manual but very simple operation

the keys are rather fragile, but who pounds on a string section anyways ?? no effects other than a release on the strings..no sequencers or midi..but you do have a key attack

strings are cool, run through effects, become much better
the rest well, I like the clavs sometimes......

always seems to work, pots get a little scratchy, just clean 'em
transports well (if you're careful)I'd recommend a case
a gig without backup..noooo

never dealt, with them..better to fix yourself than try to find someone who remembers these units

yeah, I'd look for another if this went missing..
76 key stringer, easier to move than my crummer orch. and more keys too..........
I think I'd love it midi'd, but it still sounds nice in a mix....