Korg Wavestate mkIIFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 15 mentions across 5 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment53%
PROS 53%
CONS 47%

Rank based on 15 mentions across 5 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You love deep sound-design exploration and morphing patches over finishing songs
  • You don't already own the original Wavestate and want more polyphony
  • You want a synth that supports loading your own samples

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You already own the Mk1 and expect a major upgrade
  • You need aftertouch for expressive playing
  • You need rock-solid build quality and reliable PC connectivity

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

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Articulate sound
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Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
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Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
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Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
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Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
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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
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Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
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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
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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
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Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
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Reliability concerns of aging hardware
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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
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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
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Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
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Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
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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
31Mid
Korg Wavestate mkII
Rich, immersive sound designMinimal upgrade over Mk1No aftertouchBuild and reliability concerns
Korg Wavestate mkII
Rich, immersive sound design
Minimal upgrade over Mk1
No aftertouch
Build and reliability concerns

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

An endlessly explorable sound-design playground. Multiple commenters describe getting lost in the Wavestate mkII for hours, calling it a synth for those who 'play with patches until they die' rather than finish songs. Others echo this obsession, spending seemingly endless time immersed in soundscape creation. The wave-sequencing engine and morphing pad sounds via the Sample knob are highlighted as genuinely magical, rewarding patient, dedicated exploration by the right kind of synthesist.

Only an incremental upgrade over the original Wavestate. Several owners of the Mk1 say the mkII isn't worth upgrading to, noting it's mainly more polyphony with largely the same presets carried over unchanged. One user calls the SE version overpriced. Another questions whether Mk1 owners can upgrade via software instead of buying new hardware, suggesting the differences feel too small to justify a full repurchase for existing owners.

Expressive engine held back by missing aftertouch and build quirks. Commenters repeatedly lament the lack of aftertouch, calling it 'sad' given how expressive the synth otherwise is, and wishing Korg had included a better keybed. Build quality gets mixed reviews - one calls the knobs quality but chassis 'sketchy,' while others report early-unit connectivity/motherboard problems and difficulty restoring factory sounds after data loss, denting reliability confidence.

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