Help needed! Korg PE 1000 information

[Mr.Denmark]

Hello fellow VSE people!

I've been offered a Korg PE-1000 for about 500 euros.
http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/pe1000.php

I don't have any knowledge of it's value, since I couldn't find another on Ebay, so I am wondering if this is a good price? Would I be paying too much compared to what I get. (the synth works fine)

The other concerns are about the sound of the machine. Unfortunately I cannot test the synth myself, and all the demos I have found on YouTube seem sort of overdriven and agressive? Is this the only way the PE 1000 can sound? I would also be interested in this instrument being more dynamic in it's expression, being able to have smooth flute/string/organ/clavi ect. sounds, not just the punchy overdriven.

I'm especially drawn by the traveler expression function. This is a pretty cool tool, but could I possibly find a good sound quality, traveler expression functions and classic flute/string ect. presets in another vintage synth to a cheaper price?
The question being: "Could I find the features I like and the wonderful big analog sound quality in another alterative synth at a lower expence?"

Time is valuable for me, hope you guys can help me out?

- All the best, Mr.Denmark

[silikon]

I don't have any knowledge of it's value, since I couldn't find another on Ebay, so I am wondering if this is a good price? Would I be paying too much compared to what I get. (the synth works fine)

If the synth is in good repair physically, and it's functional, then yes. I would expect that to be a reasonable price; however that may or may not be acceptable to you or someone else.

the PE1000 does have a quality about it, but I don't necessarily think it's overly aggressive or overdriven (unless deliberately driven); in fact my experience with them is the antithesis of an overdriven sound, it's more of a restrained sound. Perhaps the recordings you heard were done hastily and distorted to some degree.

I think given your options, it would likely be one of the lesser-expensive machines of it's kind.

[Mr.Denmark]

Hey, thanks for the quick reply!

Here is a video that to me seems overdriven in most of the sounds. Does this seem like the average sound of the PE1000?



The sound I'm looking for could resemble this Tame Impala songs sound at 1.15. I'm aware that this also sound a bit driven, but I hope the instrument I buy also could be less driven.


Again thank you

[Kenneth]

To the best of my knowledge, Tame Impala primarily uses a Juno-106 for most of his polyphonic needs. The patch you pointed out would be pretty simple to recreate with any poly and an external phaser. You could most certainly attain this with the Poly Ensemble 1000.

[perfectdefect]

First question is: is it a P or S? I have a PE1000 P that I paid about $400 for a few months ago and felt I got a good deal, so that asking price is not bad. It is perfect in every way and included the lid etc. Sound is as Silikon said: restrained -I would describe it as almost gentle. It has it's own characteristic sound that sits nicely in mixes. It has the possibility to tune every key independently to create alternate tunings.

I like it enough that I have been looking for a PE1000 S.

Can the sounds it makes be made by other synths? Probably yes.

[Kenneth]

First question is: is it a P or S? I have a PE1000 P that I paid about $400 for a few months ago and felt I got a good deal, so that asking price is not bad. It is perfect in every way and included the lid etc. Sound is as Silikon said: restrained -I would describe it as almost gentle. It has it's own characteristic sound that sits nicely in mixes. It has the possibility to tune every key independently to create alternate tunings.

I like it enough that I have been looking for a PE1000 S.

Can the sounds it makes be made by other synths? Probably yes.

PE1000 is P. PE2000 is S

[madtheory]

IMO €500 is a ridiculous price for a PE1000. It's just a basic string synth, which is simply an organ run through a phaser/ chorus. If it's the sound you're after, there are several very good sample sets out there (I still use the old XXL String Machines), and it might be fun to learn how to synthesize one. I think the only stringer that's worth that kind of money is the Eminent 310.

[Kenneth]

IMO €500 is a ridiculous price for a PE1000. It's just a basic string synth, which is simply an organ run through a phaser/ chorus. If it's the sound you're after, there are several very good sample sets out there (I still use the old XXL String Machines), and it might be fun to learn how to synthesize one. I think the only stringer that's worth that kind of money is the Eminent 310.

...and I would disagree with this, my argument being that it's not just about the sound, but the physical feel of touching the instrument and connecting with it. There is so much character and warmth to experience by playing one of these old string machines, and to say that can be recreated on software would be ignorant. Each of them sounds different, and, just like any instrument, it is about finding which one suits your style or needs. If software suits your style or needs, cool. A lot of people are not satisfied with plugins. They want to feel the instrument physically and influence it in the real world. That's more expensive, but you must understand why it is necessary.

[ppg_wavecomputer]

Bad thing about the 1000 is, it doesn´t play sustained notes. It is aimed at percussive tones like harpsichord, piano, brass, you name it. No way of playing sustained chords like you would on your ordinary string synthesiser, but then again, the PE-2000 has no infinite sustain either.

The sound of it is quite, erm, special. The filter section is interesting (but you´d be better off with either a 700S or a Korg Synthepedal if it´s only the sound of the filters you´re after), the sound itself tends to be a bit blaring -- "smooth" it most definitely is not. Vangelis did some amazing stuff with it before he got the CS80, e. g. on "Albedo", so it can´t be all that bad.

500 Euros is neither a bargain, nor is it overly expensive. I could think of some more interesting instrument for that type of money. I sold my 1000 some 11 years ago, and I have never missed it since.

Oh, I got 250 Euros for it -- which I felt was about right.

Stephen

[perfectdefect]

PE1000 is P. PE2000 is S

Ha - I guess I should revisit the notion that skimming is not really reading. No wonder I can't find a PE1000 S!

I should also add, I recently got a Crumar Performer cheap and it's got great phase-y strings and a decent filter. Might be a possible contender.

Also have a Korg EPS1 that has sweet strings/filters. I see these pretty cheap too. Kind of a beast though.

[Kenneth]

PE1000 is P. PE2000 is S

Ha - I guess I should revisit the notion that skimming is not really reading. No wonder I can't find a PE1000 S!

I should also add, I recently got a Crumar Performer cheap and it's got great phase-y strings and a decent filter. Might be a possible contender.

Also have a Korg EPS1 that has sweet strings/filters. I see these pretty cheap too. Kind of a beast though.

Crumar strings are beautiful. It's a perfect balance between lush and grainy that I just haven't heard in the ARPs or Yamahas or even the Eminent. My favorite stringer however, is the Korg ES-50 Lambda. Partly because it is one of the more flexible string synths, and partly because it is one of the smaller ones. The footprint just makes sense to me. Also it has a flat top. Perfect for setting more gear on top!

[madtheory]

There is so much character and warmth to experience by playing one of these old string machines, and to say that can be recreated on software would be ignorant. Each of them sounds different, and, just like any instrument, it is about finding which one suits your style or needs.

That's not what I'm saying. You're generalising from my criticism of the PE1000. What I'm saying is that the PE1000 is a poor stringer, whereas the Eminent 310 is great. SO basically I think ppg-wave's verdict of the Korg is spot on.

I do agree that the Crumars have a great sound, but the ones I tried had disgusting keyboards, and only one really great sound IMO. There isn't much useful variation in the settings, unless you like horrible electronic (as opposed to electric) piano sounds. The Eminent has a very decent organ action, and as well as being a great stringer the organ has character and class. I never liked the sound of the Yamaha stringers.

Incidentally, IMO only the Eminent and the Freeman Symphoniser are the only vintage stringers worth actually owning. The playability if all of the others is greatly enhanced by being sampled to facilitate proper envelopes and a decent keyboard action, with the addition of velocity, mod and pitch bend.

And anyway the OP did state that he is after the sound, not the experience.

[sam]

I totally agree with Kenneth on this.....I have quite some Crumars/Eka stringers inc some other makes but those envelopes are such that you play them in a different way to a polysynth.

I have to say though i don't like Korg stringers ....Yes i had most of them once.

[Mr.Denmark]

Thank you guys so much!

I have read everything you've sendt my way, and I have decided to let the Korg go to someone else.

This forum is f***ing great!

Thanks a bunch, lots of love from Denmark!! Will be posting for your advices soon again.

- Frederik