Yamaha CK 61 : That was a surprise!

[@timpullen4941]

I bought one and was delighted by the sounds at home. I play in a 5 pce band. Other than the organ sounds, I found the sounds very thin in a live band setting. It's not a case of just turn up the volume. It's a lack of desnsity. The deal killer for me was the key action. Yamaha are punching the keys out of octave sections of springy plastic. On initial press the key has resistance that suddenly gives way. One can get used compensating for the key action but I would never love the key action. The organ section was excellent. I used the leslie on B setting and it absolutely worked. Using my midi controller keyboard I set it up like a dual manual Hammond. I put it through my Mini Vent leslie simulator and the result was astonishinly good. The built in speakers were a big plus. Being able to run the unit on batteries was very good. Bluetooth audio input was very good. Being able to play wave files off a usb drive and trigger the wave files from playing either bottom or top key is a very good feature. It is possible to save a backing track onto the USB and then link a live set sound to that backing track. If you're in a semi pro band / solo work / duo this would be a great option. 5Kg weight. If you're in a rock band and need to stack up against a real rock drumkit and bass player and lead guitarist the CK61 is likely to battle. I was going to swap it for the YC61 until I felt the key action. I paid double the money and got a Nord Electro 6D 61 note. The sound is more dense the key action better. I'm happy. However I do miss the toys like pitchbender, bluetooth, USB audio playback.

[@nickfoleyuk]

Great review thanks! I’ll have a look at reviewing that nord soon

[@Gk2003m]

If your main sound is piano, yes this one is thin. No question. The EPs stand up in a band though IMO, as do the horns and strings. As for key action: I already have a weighted controller, along with an older synth with a much more ‘robust’ action. When I first played the CK61 I thought it felt like a toy by comparison. But I’m finding that its very light action is perfect for many things, such as playing Clavinet parts.

[@KandMe1]

My thoughts that you did a really good job of relaying your impression of this model and its feature. Thank you it was better than most others. I am interested in the CK61.

[@nickfoleyuk]

Thanks!

[@JimmyCaswell]

Thanks Nick. The sounds are great. J

[@nickfoleyuk]

They really are

[@tmarkrogers]

Thank you - great overview of sounds. I noticed you used the 'global delay button' at 16:25, which remains effective until turned off, so all the sounds after that point including the organ at the end had a pretty sizable amount! Delay can of course be added to parts separately and stored as a 'live set'. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts as to the organ sounds, as I'm no organist, but interested to know how it stands up. 👍

[@timpullen4941]

I had a Hammond hire company and service department. I am a Hammond player. The organ section is very very good. The leslie has 2 modes A and B. I choose the B for all of my presets.

[@dalebeaver5073]

Thanks for the review, Nick. The CK61 does have very nice piano sounds, both acoustic and electric. I didn't hear anything super special that I can't live without. Said differently, as primarily an organ player, there is nothing here that my Hammond SKX PRO keyboard doesn't reasonably replicate. (As said before, "the Hammond sounds are decent enough.") What is attractive is the price point for this keyboard. It might even be attractive enough to add to my arsenal... someday.

[@nickfoleyuk]

I’ll review to Crumar Mojo soon - that’s interesting

[@B3-R]

Sounds very interesting, hope you check the organ section which will be also nice to hear your opinion, thanks

[@nickfoleyuk]

I definitely will

[@B3-R]

@@nickfoleyuk fine

[@drjeffreypickens7642]

Nice review. Thx. It would be cool to hear the CK61 EP’s with various onboard effects. phaser?

[@denniswroblewski988]

I was told that The keybed on CK61 is the same as PSR-SX900, which has a very good feel..love it, much better feel then Kross keybed.. I hope this is true... checking out this week....

[@toplespecah666]

I saw the DS over there, what do you think? Is ck61 much worth to the peice and quality compared with DS? DS a good synth too just the technology is kind of old since they release on 2015 cmiiw

[@toplespecah666]

Do u use that built in speakers when u recording it?

[@Herschli]

So well done, thanks very much, Nick! 🙏

[@nickfoleyuk]

My pleasure!

[@MrKeys57]

I think it is a C3 Hammond, and you are most propably a rock-organist! - my fav.back in the days (to rock) was John Lord - but in jazz, the swedish Kjell Öhman, and Jimmy Mcgriff, Joey DeFrancesco, Tony Monaco.... greetings from Sweden, Levi

[@nickfoleyuk]

Hi mate !

[@infn8loopmusic]

I am thinking that Yamaha realized that their MX49 wasn't really competing that well with the Roland DS61 in the same price range and man. This seems like a great move for them to make. Of course it's still not a direct competitor to that but it's very competitive in it's range.

[@islandtony5009]

I have a CK88 (wanted the weighted keys for piano) but am loving the Hammond sounds and controls; I'm new to hammond though would love your opinion on whether the Hammond sounds are decent enough (for old guy band recreational gigging) or whether I should consider an XK-1C (for sounds and/or key action). Don't know why no one makes a waterfall MIDI keyboard; if they did could hook that to the CK88 for the action. . . Just sub'd, you have an awesome channel

[@nickfoleyuk]

I will do a video on just the organ sounds and we can have a listen. Maybe I could put it through a Leslie too?

[@paulwomack5866]

@@nickfoleyuk A Leslie is such a strong (and glorious) effect, you'd need it "straight" as well. A guitar through a fast Leslie is nearly unrecognisable as a guitar (which is why some people do it!)

[@timpullen4941]

I have an AXIOM 61 note midi controller with waterfall keys.

[@islandtony5009]

@@timpullen4941 Can you send me a link to what you have? Every Axiom I can find online has piano style keys, not waterfall

[@pdtoons9121]

Harpsichord (sometimes it was the Baldwin Electric Harpsichord ie. Dream On - Aeorsmith) was used in some 1960s and 1970s music. I think it should be available on all keyboards that provide piano sounds.

[@stoneyboyd]

I thought of Dream On too

[@MrKeys57]

You said:"lets leave the hammond things to the jazzguys" - and then having the CK61 sitting on top of a B3! Lol! - so what are you playing with your Hammond then? - lullabies?

[@stevec.1802]

Thanks, Nick- Have you checked out the Yamaha YC models 61, 73, or 88 ?

[@nickfoleyuk]

Not yet :-)

[@stevec.1802]

@@nickfoleyuk sometimes referred to as the black Nord.

[@nicklisac4667]

Yeah ok.... but does it do the dishes? 🍛🍴 and WHAT ABOUT THE ORGAN 🎹 you teaser 🤭 Got to admit I was expecting it to sound maybe a bit 🪀🛴 toyish but to my ears👂👂 it didn't. Not at all. Maybe you'll be able to get rid of that heavy old Rhodes now. 🤔 I was kidding 🤣