YAMAHA CK61/88 Demo & Review PT3 - Organ Deep Dive

[@niltomega2978]

I'll be ordering this soon. I used to gig from about 1994 to to 2005 and I would have loved this. I'm not into recording I just want accessible live gigging sounds and presets and this looks quite adequate.

[@tonyadler9896]

Woody, there's another Rotary under the effects section Trem/Rot. Tap to get to it. Once there, you can use the Rate and Depth knobs to alter the rotation of the Leslie. Not a particularly sophisticated implementation (0-127 rather than other rotary speed parameters) but yes there is Rotary tweaking available. Perhaps do a mini-vid on that. Also using the EQ makes a huge difference to getting a more 'authentic' sound. One can get closer to a real 'H' than it appears at first play.

[@JoelBouchillon]

yes, please

[@66guidos]

Hey Tony - would you have any tips on how to setup the eq better for a nicer organ sound? I'm pretty new to organ things in general, but any tips you've got for this CK would be great. Thanks!

[@tonyadler9896]

@@66guidos Very personal. Suggest start with Organ H. 4 bottom drawbars fully out. EQ Hi +12 Mid +5 Lo -5. Drive Rotary B, knob at 60. Percussion Soft and 2nd. Then tweak to suit and enjoy.

[@66guidos]

@@tonyadler9896 Thanks Tony! I'll start with this and see how I go. Definitely noticed rotary A cutting through the band mix almost a bit too much. Will see how it sounds with B at a gig on friday :)

[@niltomega2978]

I was just thinking "Slow and fast rotary only? ok I can live with it"...but now I won't have to!

[@kingstumble]

I remember going to see Georgie Fame at a jazz club when I would have been 17 or18. This was the first time I had heard a Leslie and it blew me away---almost literally! I had never heard anything like it before and I have been in love with it ever since.

[@JP-xx5xe]

New CK61 owner here - thanks for some great pointers on Hammond set up!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

nice 1, congrats!

[@timpullen4941]

I am using the CK61 in a rock band and it does the job. The sax is not great. The trumpet is very strident.

[@fernandoborstmann]

@@timpullen4941 for rock songs like deep purple does it worth?

[@luucdentoom6955]

Very nice demo again, Woody. I checked the manual and you can indeed assign the modulation wheel to any of the 128 CC’s. CC#9 is for rotary speed.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

that's great! strange that they didn't do it by default for the organ live set presets.

[@waynemiller6070]

My gosh, in the right hands this instrument sounds pretty awesome. My friend recently bought one and brought it over. I was quite impressed and started watching demo videos. There's a lot to like about this keyboard. I'm mostly a guitarist, but I'd like to think I could bring this to the gigs pretty easily and bang on it a little to add some interest.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i'm sure you could, and thank you!

[@stoneyboyd]

Okay I’m glad that the Farfisa Sound was carried over from the reface. I want to channel early Pink Floyd with the Farfisa setting…

[@craigmmiller35]

Thanks a ton Woody for doing this - really glad I found your channel. One challenge I have living in rural Pennsylvania USA is finding dealers who actually carry instruments. Most of the local shops tend to only carry the lower end models under ~$600 threshold because the target market is the teenager who is pestering his/her parents to learn and instrument. That said finding information out about boards like the CK series is hard - but thanks to you I can get a pretty good idea of what is under the hood so to speak.

[@VinePest]

Exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much for the organ deep dive; always cool to see the real thing in action, too. Fantastic video!

[@mikew6840]

I also learned on a Yamaha Electone in the 70s - with a 2 octave pedalboard. People thought it was truly the instrument of the future 😄. There were even organ recitals in church halls etc. Yamaha and Lowrey were the main household brands back then.

[@matthewbolduc2714]

Very good and groovy demonstration, including rotary speaker mind blowing demo.

[@keithrichardstaunton]

The best of the best of the best. Ty Maestro. 💗🙏🎶

[@MemphisMike901]

Just got a CK. Looking forward to diving into Organ. Volume pedal does wonders for dynamics. Great vid sir

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thanks and congrats

[@danielporter2201]

Just like the original vr-09, it runs the percussion through the c/v circuit. There is no chorus or vubrato on the percussion of a Hammond

[@paulwomack5866]

I was thinking quite favourably of the CK Hammond sounds ... until I heard the YC. As you said, the CK is probably fine in the mix, but the YC is so very much nicer (AKA closer to a Hammond). Disclaimer; I am sitting 8 feet from a Hammond C3 and Leslie L122 as I write this.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

oh wow, what a disclaimer! we need to respect your opinions for sure, much more than anything I spout! congrats and jealousy!

[@paulwomack5866]

@@WoodyPianoShack I bought it back in the late 80's. I wanted to sound like Booker T Jones, Stevie Winwood, Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson. Turns out you need talent as well as a Hammond to sound like that...

[@DaraM73]

Impressive. Ta Woody, great video

[@sonegmusic]

thanks for comparison , i keep my YC61 for the Hammond sound now for sure 👍🏻🎹🎶

[@andriksarmientolozada979]

It's Awesome i have mine it's a Dream come true

[@WoodyPianoShack]

congrats & enjoy :)

[@railway187]

Great video 👍 How does the organ section of this CK61 compare to the red Reface YC? I have a bit of a feeling that this CK61 is a compilation of the 4 Reface keyboards? Or is it more that that? I was thinking to buy a Reface YC as a handy organ addition to Yamaha PSR, but I wonder if the possibilities of the organ section of this new CK61 are better? I would only use the organ section though.

[@adamandlorraine]

Nice. Better than the reface YC. The vibrato and chorus are a bit wrong on that one and the Leslie isn't that great either. The big YC61 is still the winner for me.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yeah, for me too! but this was better than expected.

[@tommymandel]

As primarily an organ player, I judge the Reface as the best Hammond organ emulator I've played. Didn't like the YC - in fact its FM organ sounded less over-stylized than its tonewheel model. Sound mixers at NYC clubs I've brought the reface to this month agree with me. Not a big Nord organ fan either! The Hammond XK-3c ties the Reface because of its added effects and features. Thanks for sharing, Woody.

[@railway187]

Hello, I am considering to buy the red Reface to put on top of my Yamaha PSR. It's small, easy to put on top. I would use the Reface mainly for doing organ solos and use the PSR for the accompaniment and solos in other instruments. The alternative would be this new CK61, but it it is much bigger and si would only use the organ section anyway. I think the organ section of the new CK61 is much alike the one of the red Reface?

[@marcusstrymon693]

Reeeeealy? That surprises me. Wouldnt you say that this is far too bright? Especially the last 2 drawbars just piercy my ears

[@tommymandel]

@@marcusstrymon693 If they strike me as too bright, I just back them off some. It's hardly ever that I'll pull all the drawbars out all the way (well, maybe on a Hammond!) The reface lacks that nasal quality (a peak around 800hz?) that the 'better' Yamaha clonewheels seem to possess. Just my opinion though.

[@GizzyDillespee]

The "A" organ is Acetone, at least on the Reface version. Thanks for this demo! The overdrive and distortion kinda suck, huh? (Well, at least I don't like them🤪) I have good fx pedals and racks, but still, the overdrive I heard on a Ketron Event demo actually sounded good! So, I know it can be done, on a digital clonewheel keyboard. The Leslie sounds more like a harmonic tremolo... through an amp sim (or the reface speaker), the Reface clavinet with autowah sounds a bit like a surf guitar, so I think that would sound great through Rotary A (and then amp sim). The organs themselves sound good! At least different overdrive and Leslie fx can be found in pedal form, if someone isn't satisfied with these. I really prefer the YC61/73/99 Farfisa (which is FM generated in that board, and I think they're samples here on the CK61).

[@GizzyDillespee]

I meant YC88, not 99🤣 Sorry if I got anyone's hopes up!

[@GizzyDillespee]

Well, the separate speeds for high and low speeds give the Leslie effect an advantage over a typical harmonic tremolo... I wonder what a 3 band would sound like?! (Not going for realism there, obviously)

[@mrdali67]

Agree. If you don't do much organ I guess it's "ok" just for the odd time you need one, but if your serious about it, this is not the keyboard for you. I kinda like the goofy "back to the Electone" slider knobs... if you have ever played a CS Synth or older Yamaha Combo organs you fell right at home 😆 The A tone is definetly an Acetone. I heard one of those a while back. In itself it sounds really cheesy, but put it tru a real Leslie, it sounds absolutely "Ace" 😜 The seller demoed it thru a custom modified 760 with a large Guitar valve amp. but the Leslie was not for sale ☹

[@timpullen4941]

I bought a CK61 and it has the worst key action of any product I have ever owned. The keys feel as if there is a pressure hinge under each key. There is a key resistance initially and then the key resistance is overcome and the key goes down. When playing medium velocity broken chords in a ballad suddenly the key just barks at full volume. Then when playing staccato on non decaying sounds like trumpet, there is a key bounce / note retrigger. I have sent videos to Yamaha about this and waiting for an outcome. Yamaha are going to need to fix the key action on the CK61. Other forums are filling up with people complaining about the key action.

[@deancol4080]

Thanks for posting. Great overview! Disappointed that the overdrive cannot be combined with the rotary speaker; its one or the other. Surprised that Yamaha did it this way.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i don't remember how, but i'm sure you can achieve an overdriven leslie sound!

[@deancol4080]

Thanks for responding Woody. I actually was able to check the CK out at a music store and it appears that, yes, if you increase the level on the depth knob on the rotary effect, it increases the drive. That is great news and even better news that the overdrive sounds pretty good!@@WoodyPianoShack

[@Triplechorus2]

Overdrive after the Leslie doesn't sound very authentic. During my first contact with this otherwise very usable instrument, I couldn't find a way to give the effects a different routing. But these are all things that only we hear. People still get excited when they hear the CK organ. And we play for them, not just for ourselves.

[@ianhellens]

Be great to setup 2 manual organ split and bass pedals using midi pedal unit with the three parts😀 Perhaps the depth control of the Leslie could be dialled back so it’s not so pronounced

[@itsmaistro]

Would the CK88 be a good replacement for the Yanaha MX88?

[@ProcessedDigitally]

i would think so.. i have been playing the mx88 for just over two years in a church setting - its a good board but i see how the ck88 will outshine it for practicality in terms of less menu diving, easier and more live tuning of effects and the organ control is next to the real thing.

[@kiko1935]

0:18 you tell em, Woody!!

[@melhoraacadadia]

Thanks so much

[@Marian_M.P]

Hello Woody ,like your channel and appreciate your content ,can you please tell me what's the build quality (especially the keybead)of the CK compare to the Modx???Thnx in advance!!!good day to you !!👍👍

[@WoodyPianoShack]

feels very similar to the modx construction, the 88 action is GHS, which I think you find on the MODX8. it's a solid budget & lightweight action.

[@Marian_M.P]

@@WoodyPianoShack thnx for your answer 👍👍

[@cwhyles]

I think you have missed that if you select two or three parts together then you can adjust the effects simultaneously, so it is not correct, I don’t think, to say that you would need to match the settings for upper and lower manuals. Yet if you had two keyboards, why would you want them going through the same effects?

[@cwhyles]

By the way, I do have a CK88.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

congrats on your CK colin. aha, so whilst I was correct that each part has independent fx, it is possible to select multiple parts and adjust the fx together. that's good to know, thanks. normally each synth part would get its own fx, I agree. but here we are talking about lower manual + upper manual which is the same organ, distributed across two parts. the way organ splits is handledin the CK is very unusual for a clonewheel.

[@thesoundsmith]

So the Leslie is more realistic.

[@jeremiahvaughns8879]

Hey, thanks for the demo. I'm really considering getting this keyboard. Do you know if i get a 25 key pedal board if it would be compatible with this?

[@smokeymalone7028]

It looks like the high end is slightly boosted on your master EQ?

[@papasmrff2291]

It realy pisses me off that the pipe organ gets no favoritism, every video that I see that’s a review on the organs, nobody gives a shit about the pipe organs they care more about the Hammond

[@klyklyklykly]

Hey thank you for this video, does anyone know if there's a way for the screen to give you suggestions on how to set up the drawbars for each organ? For somebody who doesn't know the registrations it would help to have some guidance

[@WoodyPianoShack]

not sure what you are after, but the screen can display and control drawbars

[@klyklyklykly]

@@WoodyPianoShack Hi thanks for you reply, I just meant like if you press on an organ sound, would it suggest how to set up the draw bars or do you have to figure out the registration yourself?

[@Shades289]

Good content thanks ? Can you show how to make a preset patch like string or pad thanks

[@WoodyPianoShack]

ok, i will make a tutorial about that.

[@ChrisP3000x]

Great demo of the organ. Sounds decent enough for cheap gigs, deep in the mix, on a loud stage where you barely hear yourself,........especially on the "bringing a cheap/light board tonight" gigs. But buying it for personal enjoyment? No way. Wish they would have had at least the basic drum beats that are on the MX's. Would have made it at least a potential couch keyboard, or for busking/backyard/ etc....

[@thesoundsmith]

Personal enjoyment? Nah. But the speakers don't do it justice, it's definitely a B-grade machine, and the best I can find at this price point. Yeah, it's far from perfect, but what would you prefer for piano, Rhodes and Hammond with drawbars at $1500? Hammond's pianos suck and they don't make a full-size 'board. In a regular (non-concert venue) gig, you will be the only one that can tell the difference And as an old fart (81) I really don't want to haul my A-103 or even a Nord around. If ya got roadies, great, but that ain't me, babe! Jazz, fusion, soul, fuck, lite rock and hotel Great American Songbook gigs, it's good enough. All it needs is a case that can fit its own music rest, the factory case will not. If you can't make good music on this, it's on _you_, not the CK-88.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

Basically a Analog LFO style effect.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

the rotary? not how I would describe it!

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

@@WoodyPianoShack Its creating a in out style effect like a LFO with added reverb, Hey you know more then Me brother.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

dunno about that, but it's more than simple lfo as it is modelling the movement of the two spinning parts of the leslie, their frequency response, overdive, acceleration, deceleration etc.

[@PaulHarrisonmusician]

I’m certain I’m hearing the percussion is being routed through the V/C effect… hmmm… not how a B3 works and fairly surprising oversight.

[@thecyclopsguy4106]

Awesome! About to pick up a ck88, but I was wondering if it’s possible to assign a pedal to the rotary speed like on a nord stage?

[@thesoundsmith]

CC9 for either pedal; or mod wheel

[@EdMiran]

Woody which is better in Organ patches Yamaha SX900 , CK 61, YC 61 ? I prefer more on Organ patches.Please give me an idea, thanks.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

YC is easily the winner for organ out of those. also check out Viscount Legend, Mojo and Electro.

[@cripzrus]

I've just bought this lovely instrument. Thanks for your very helpful vid as I haven't a clue of how to make best settings.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

then you're the 3rd person in the comments that I need to congratulate!

[@garys-617]

Nice demo Woody, but.... Nah, I'll stick with the Roland VR-09 / VR-730, thanks.....

[@thesoundsmith]

I could not live with the Roland action, even for just the organ. I sent one back the day it arrived.

[@webkluns]

Price and featurewise there isn't any competition I can think off.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i'll do a comparison to competition in separate vid, thanks for your thoughts

[@TJonesMusic207]

Will look forward to that Woody! CK88 is a very cool product. I have a studiologic Numa compact 2x which I love, semi weighted keys with Hammond organ model. Built in speakers/low price/14lbs & with the 88 keys can split upper/lower manual.

[@philhf]

Roland RD88, 29 lbs, $1150 or so.

[@RonWesterbeek]

B3...mmm very inviting sound indeed, Jimmy Smith and Jimmy Mc Griff could have liked this, connected to the lesley cabinet..🤸‍♀️🎵👍

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i'm sure it would sound amazing in their hands.

[@jorgetarias5657]

Es una pena que no incluyan el control de aceleración o velocidad del rotary speaker...si quieres tocar " born to be wild" simplemente no puedes en éste teclado, espero equivocarme.... saludos!!!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

double-check the manual to be sure. what was special about born to be wild leslie speaker?

[@jorgetarias5657]

@@WoodyPianoShack ok thanks ...in.Born to be Wild after the verse, the Leslie Speaker sounds slowly to fast...but its so slow that makes roar the Hammond....its fantastic !!!!

[@Keybman]

Best AP from Yamaha - Montage; Best EP - CP88; Best organs - YC.. No any bests sounds - CK61/88?

[@craigmmiller35]

Sorry if you covered this already in one of your videos but does the CK series allow for saving user settings? I play in a band and being able to tweak sounds and save them to a user patch or slot for quick recall during gigs would be great. Does the CK series offer this capability?

[@thesoundsmith]

160 "Live Sets", individual instrument tweks, no, it's all in the "Live Set."

[@0tf850]

Comment comprised of ANGER!

[@crazypainter56]

Vox had 6 drawbars-Farfisa had tabs /rocker switches--A is for Ace tone combo organ

[@marcusstrymon693]

My friend hS abreal farfisa with a leslie. I think tho the ck sounds a bit thin in comparison

[@islandtony5009]

Great video thanks! How is the key action on the 88 for playing organ (slides etc)? I play 80% piano and 20% organ with my band so thinking the 88 is the best choice, but the 61 would definitely be better for just the organ pieces . . .

[@synthartist69]

Hi Woody, can you control the rotary effect by using the modulation wheel? Thank you! Jim

[@WoodyPianoShack]

it was a while ago, but pretty sure you could. check manual if important to you.

[@adamwhite5553]

This is very helpful Woody, thanks! Do the drawbars and other organ buttons send Midi ccs?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i don't know, you'll have to check manual for that.

[@adamwhite5553]

Thanks Woody, I have had a look at the manual but I can't see it mentioned in there (although the Midi section is pretty complex!) If you happen to notice it would be helpful to know. Thanks again for the helpful videos 🙂

[@WoodyPianoShack]

@@adamwhite5553 sadly i no longer have it...

[@jupiter12ent]

Guy at the end.... who's church has he been to 😂🙌.. those are my preaching chords 🔥

[@GizzyDillespee]

That was Professor Snape's nephew, who did the Leslie presentation earlier.

[@mrdali67]

Andreas .. awsome player from Sweeden. Worth checking him out. I always wonder if he goes by Andreas or Andrea but he is killing it on the B3 😋

[@miknelak]

I love Yamaha, but how they cannot replicate a decent Leslie is beyond belief.

[@timpullen4941]

The top rotor on fast is pretty horrible. I have a CK61 and the organ absolutely works in a band context but the leslie is left on slow most of the time.

[@O3177O]

Yamaha such balls , they can't and won't fix their digital weighted keyboards escapement action ... Buy another brand

[@njkumar1958]

Compare to MODX Plus and Yamaha CK which is better ???

[@WoodyPianoShack]

they have very different features. neither is better. it depends on what features are important to you.

[@njkumar1958]

Can we have styles in Yamaha CK ?

[@janeobadia2578]

Same Keybed as MODX?

[@alex-kooper]

CK88 is the same as MODX8, CK61 is a new keybed, they call FSB

[@phillipwaguespack7928]

Which organ out of the ck61 or yc61 would you refer for more of a black gospel type of church?

[@BrioTang]

The focus should be on the overdrive/distortion rather than the leslie sim

[@Keyboardnut99]

Great vid but would not buy it due to build quality ie wall wart. I would have to get the YC but as I have a stage 4 compact no need at all but great starter board

[@WoodyPianoShack]

yes, you can totally skip this board if you have the NS4! unless you want a beater for the rehearsal room!

[@ScoopexUs]

I'm sorry for subbing, you had some fun with synthesizers there tho when I joined! I'm just not interested in pianos and organs. Make your own music and your own instruments. Cheers and good luck tho. :)

[@WoodyPianoShack]

you're always welcome back, plenty of synth stuff to come, we're not done with them!

[@queenkomal465]

Beautiful performance my friend God bless you always new subscriber my friend 💗💗😘💖💖

[@WoodyPianoShack]

welcome onboard, what took you so long.. :D

[@njkumar1958]

Can we have styles ( Rhythms)in Yamaha CK ?dd d

[@WoodyPianoShack]

no it does not do that. it will play wav audio files though from usb.

[@tophboph]

15:06 What’s the song/hymn? Great playing!

[@jeffeason3599]

People Get Ready. Originally by Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions. Covered by a lot of rockers including Dylan/Band & Beck/Stewart. Even Bob Marley. Aretha Franklin. And now… @woodyspianoshack

[@charleslascari7191]

Why are bass notes, figures, parts on organs always so much quieter than treble parts? Is that just an organ thing that had to be accepted? I would prefer them to be loyder and punchier? Im a piano player, so I may just mot get thus about organs. 16:27 ?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

organ left hand bass is normally pretty loud, although you can adjust the relative positions of the upper and lower drawbars to get whatever balance you want. the ck sounds pretty much like it should regarding bass register. of course, it depends on what you're listening on as well!

[@charleslascari7191]

@@WoodyPianoShack TY for the reply. But I notice this on every video review. Also I experience it directly when I play them in stores. Could you just be used to it?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

@@charleslascari7191 real hammonds and clones have plenty of bottom end, but it's always a bit muffled.

[@Tonewheeldude]

Have you tested the Hammond SKX PRO? This does not sound right.

[@thesoundsmith]

Hammond pianos and electric pianos suck far worse than this version of a B3. It's not the greatest, but in a club setting (which is what it's designed for) it fits in just fine.

[@teetie192]

When I make live music, I also want to be able to play with enough space for my hands. 61 keys on such a light weight keyboard are not ideal. I can already see the bowl shaking on all sides. And I have to frantically play small. Too bad the sound is very good but the keyboard is too small. I'll go for the 88 if it also has a light touch, otherwise I'll continue looking to another brand

[@Triplechorus2]

Do I hear that the percussion is routet through the chorus vibrato?! That‘s not the way it works on real Hammonds and all good clones. The percussion needs to sound dry whether the chorus vibrato is activated or not. Greetings from Germany!😉🇩🇪🤝

[@carstenaltena]

Woody Organ Shack 😅

[@connor_flanigan]

this is truly horrendous in every way. the percussion does NOT go through the vibrato scanner on a real Hammond. also, the Leslie effect was better in my Korg Trinity from 1997.

[@user-ok2qx7gp5z]

Ну, не знаю, звук - пластмасса, чем-то Roland vr 9 напоминает - такая же ерунда

[@nigelreadon8381]

Sounds old fasioned, think if ELP and Rick Wakeman would have been younger today, you would never hear the Organ.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

the hammond guys are gonna come after you! old fashioned is why it is so good!

[@ubrhsjvrkskbdkabaoehdnxk-xh5bq]

piano , strings, E.Ps, synth. pads are cool but ORGAN SUCKS!!

[@theaudioeng]

😁👍🎹🎶💥

[@hammondvoodoo9555]

Honestly, that's absolutely terrible - especially in comparison to the real thing. What is presented here is the technical standard of the 2000s and even back then there were digital organs like the Korg CX3/BX3 II (released in 2000) which sounded significantly better. Nowadays, a hardware manufacturer must be able to at least come up with the sound quality of plug-ins. Everything else is outdated and simply a cheap rip-off.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

enjoying your pull-no-punches comment, thanks!

[@hammondvoodoo9555]

​@@WoodyPianoShack You know, I'm a Yamaha fan, I own a CP4 stage and I'm happy with it ... bought it in 2014. However, that's almost 10 years ago and I don't see real progress with the CK88. Meanwhile, software is miles ahead and memory is getting smaller and more powerful at the same time. It's not at all understandable why we're still dealing with technical standards that existed 20 years ago. If somebody asked me in 2014 what stage pianos we will have in the 2020's I would have expected something completely different.

[@drchrisdavies2941]

@@WoodyPianoShack- well said Woody!

[@jptaylor]

As a new owner of the Yamaha YC88, the organ “capabilities” of the CK series don’t even compare. Trying to paint the picture that the two are in the same ballpark is disingenuous at best and perhaps even “shilling” for YT views at worst.