Hammond SK1-73From real comments

Verdict distilled from 23 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment60%
PROS 60%
CONS 40%

Rank based on 23 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You mainly want authentic, portable Hammond organ and electric piano tones for gigs
  • You need a lightweight 'under the arm' board for clubs, churches, or casual live sets
  • You already love Hammond's organ character and want piano added to one board

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need a strong acoustic piano sound as a primary voice
  • You want a convincing built-in Leslie without an external pedal
  • You want an intuitive, easy-to-learn interface out of the box

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
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
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
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
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
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Premium
Hammond SK1-73
Authentic Hammond organ toneAll-in-one organ plus piano boardStrong electric piano soundsConfusing manual and interfaceWeak acoustic piano soundDated design needing updates
Hammond SK1-73
Authentic Hammond organ tone
All-in-one organ plus piano board
Strong electric piano sounds
Confusing manual and interface
Weak acoustic piano sound
Dated design needing updates

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The organ and electric piano tones are the clear highlight. Multiple owners and reviewers say the SK1-73's Hammond organ sounds are excellent and authentic, satisfying even players who own vintage B3s or an SK2. Rhodes, suitcase, and electric piano voices are also called fantastic. This organ pedigree is repeatedly cited as the main reason to choose the instrument over rivals like Nord.

The acoustic piano and Leslie simulation disappoint some users. Several owners describe the acoustic piano as bloody awful or Casio-like, a notable letdown given its billing as an all-in-one board. The onboard Leslie tone is also called not great, with users recommending an external Leslie pedal instead. Horn and sax sounds were reported by one user as distorted and disappointing.

Portability is loved, but usability frustrates owners. Fans praise the SK1-73 as a great, lightweight keyboard to carry under the arm for gigs, churches, and casual venues. However, multiple owners complain the owner's manual is horrible and overly technical, making it hard to assign sounds or navigate presets. Combined with no helpful customer service, this makes day-to-day use harder than expected.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?