From simon@alphabeck.co.uk Thu May 31 15:55:02 2007
Subject:Re: strangest organ rig?

Considering I have alway used mostly Casio gear anyway, my strangest rig was after I had had nearly all my gear stolen 2 years ago. All I had left was a Studiologic SL-880 MIDI keyboard and a Yamaha EMT-10 piano/strings/choir module with no organ sounds. I had rehearsals coming up for a Christmas party with a 4-piece function band, and I knew I wouldn't have my "new" second-hand Casio WK-3000 until about a week before the gig. I advertised on my local FreeCycle group for "any full-sized keyboard with a half-decent organ sound".

What did I end up with? A bizarre thing called a Miracle Piano, which was originally part of an Atari teach-yourself-piano interactive kit. 4 octaves, possibly two or three usable sounds, but through a chorus pedal it was playable during rehearsals. One odd thing - I tried to MIDI it up to the master keyboard to get a wider range, but it still only responded to 4 octaves! Another odd thing is that it was possibly one of the last pieces of consumer electronics ever to be actually made in the USA! Third thing - it came with the flimsiest sustain pedal I have ever seen - completely flat, cardboard on one side and foam rubber on the other, with a microscopic 2-pin plug! Anyway, it got me through the rehearsals, I got my WK-3000 in time for the gig, and I FreeCycled the Miracle Piano again.

Simon Beck
London, UK

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