Alesis Melody 61 MKIIFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 7 mentions across 5 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment0%
CONS 100%

Rank based on 7 mentions across 5 aspects

View the verdict as

What users love

No pros data available.

Skip this if...

  • Stand may arrive missing screws or with unclear assembly instructions
  • No USB port for connecting to a computer for apps like Synthesia or streaming
  • Some buyers received units with sound problems or described overall quality as poor

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive~$199 · similar price
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive~$199 · similar price
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
2Mid
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay~$199 · similar price
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay~$199 · similar price
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
Best value
3Value
MXR Super Badass Distortion~$130 · 1.4× cheaper
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion~$130 · 1.4× cheaper
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
4Mid
Wampler Belle~$179 · similar price
Crisp, musical, transparent toneImproved bass control over ODR-1Stacks well with other pedalsLacks some ODR-1 openness/sparkleMisses some top-end chimeSmall print hard to read
Wampler Belle~$179 · similar price
Crisp, musical, transparent tone
Improved bass control over ODR-1
Stacks well with other pedals
Lacks some ODR-1 openness/sparkle
Misses some top-end chime
Small print hard to read
5Mid
Wampler Tumnus Deluxe~$199 · similar price
3-band active EQ for tone shapingTransparent, amp-enhancing toneGreat for stacking with other pedalsHot switch benefit not obvious at lower gainPossible popping noise on switch changeDidn't stand out for one user's amp
Wampler Tumnus Deluxe~$199 · similar price
3-band active EQ for tone shaping
Transparent, amp-enhancing tone
Great for stacking with other pedals
Hot switch benefit not obvious at lower gain
Possible popping noise on switch change
Didn't stand out for one user's amp
6Value
MXR Sugar Drive~$130 · 1.4× cheaper
Great for stacking with other drivesTransparent, organic Klon-style toneAffordable price for Klon-style toneSkepticism about matching the real KlonLost out to competing clones in some comparisonsSound depends heavily on amp/settings
MXR Sugar Drive~$130 · 1.4× cheaper
Great for stacking with other drives
Transparent, organic Klon-style tone
Affordable price for Klon-style tone
Skepticism about matching the real Klon
Lost out to competing clones in some comparisons
Sound depends heavily on amp/settings
7Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive~$199 · similar price
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive~$199 · similar price
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
8Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz~$199 · similar price
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz~$199 · similar price
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
9Upper
Strymon Flint~$349 · 1.9× pricier
High-quality vintage reverb voicesExceptional tremolo tonesLong-term reliability and board permanencePrice seen as steep by several buyersV1 vs V2 tonal disagreementReverb considered only average by some
Strymon Flint~$349 · 1.9× pricier
High-quality vintage reverb voices
Exceptional tremolo tones
Long-term reliability and board permanence
Price seen as steep by several buyers
V1 vs V2 tonal disagreement
Reverb considered only average by some
10Upper
Origin Effects Deluxe61~$349 · 1.9× pricier
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61~$349 · 1.9× pricier
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
You are here
24Mid
Alesis Melody 61 MKII~$179
Confusing Stand AssemblyNo USB Computer ConnectivityNo Sound Output
Alesis Melody 61 MKII~$179
Confusing Stand Assembly
No USB Computer Connectivity
No Sound Output

Who wins on what (similar price)

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Setting up the stand trips up more than one buyer. More than one commenter ran into trouble with the included stand. One asked for a more detailed explanation of how the stand pieces screw together, saying the unboxing coverage skipped over it too quickly. Another reported their stand arrived without any screws and with only a single hole on each side, forcing them to prop the keyboard on a chair instead since the hardware needed to mount it properly was never included in the box.

Computer connectivity is a recurring question mark. Multiple viewers wanted to connect the keyboard to a computer, whether to practice with Synthesia or to stream, but ran into the same wall: there's no USB port on the back panel. The only rear connections mentioned are for a microphone and headphones, leaving buyers who expected MIDI or USB functionality without a clear path to link the Melody 61 MKII to software on a PC.

A few units arrive with real quality problems. Not every unit performed as expected. One buyer reported no sound whatsoever even with the volume turned all the way up, while another described the keyboard outright as a piece of junk and warned others against buying it. A separate commenter said the keys themselves felt too small compared to what they expected, adding another complaint to the pile.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?