Is the miniKORG 700FS a Flop?! 

It's funny, I use mine every day. It is very handy to have around. There are others that would perhaps be broader appeal. The PS synths would be the dream, but I bet a PolySix reissue would be very well. Thanks for the name drop btw.

Korg must have known the customer base for this is very niche. In times that weren’t post-Covid economy and components shortage concerns it probably would have sold out already. For me, seeing the number of bands in the documentary Synth Britannia who used the original 700s on their first albums, and Kitaro, whose name was synonymous with the 700, made getting one a relatively short mental debate. I am very happy Korg is so gung-ho on vintage re-issues. If only Roland could get catch a semblance of a clue in that regard.

I had both the 700 and 700s, they were great. But what made them so special was the price. When this first came out the 700s was known as 'the poor man's Moog'. It's a shame that Korg couldn't have given us a cheaper price on this reissue. At 2000 bucks it's even more expensive than most Moogs. Now at $999 they could sell a bucket load.

Definitely not a flop to me. Solid build and it has so many possibilities. Sound design is super fun with the 700FS. I really like this for its uniqueness from my other synths.

Beautiful sounding synth. Just too much for a mono that doesn’t have a lot of modulation capabilities.

Roland Sh2000 is not considered? I love it. It's an early Japanese synth, aftertouch, transistor ladder vcf, etc. Not for making unique alien farts, but just always sounds damn beautiful.

I think it's wonderful, It was so important to the early British synth pop as well as the sound of the cars. I REALLY REALLY wanted a MAXIKORG DV800..... but, yeah, I'm def interested in this synth, though it is expensive. I plan on sitting one under my old Minimoog D

boy Zack I hope they put them on clearance cause I would love to have one but the price!

I owned an original. It's such a unique sounding synth and I think has better basses than anything else I've tried. I love the addition of arp, patches, and reverb. It seems more like a passion project for Korg as a celebration than a huge money-maker.

I love mine. Every time I turn it on, I seem to create something unique and beautiful with relative ease. That's what it's all about right? The sound is just so unique on this thing. Especially the low end. Plus there's all the history, build quality and modernizing updates which to me makes it well worth the investment.

I would love to own this synth, have loved its sound since the Human Leagues orig version of ‘Being Boiled’-at the current price it would only ever be a dream.

I'd prefer an affordable 770 Mini reissue to this deluxe, full-sized 700FS.

I played this at a store and I fell in love with it. I was ready to save for it. Then I noticed it had no MIDI Out. That killed it for me.

I have had 6-7 of these over the past 40 yrs and picked up the FS right away. It IS an improved version. I think it is limited issue boutique synth. It has its own vibe. I have the moog sub 37 for that sound but the 700 FS was a must have for me. Anyone seeing Kitaro in person or on youtube can start to appreciate how a single oscillator can cut through the mix. Midi in allows use of a sequencer or Keystep to add power. Memory, no velocity but after touch is added value. Try slow attack, long release and portamento to get that singing vibe.

Flop? No! Niche? Yes probably, but a total precious gem! Got mine finally and my Matriarch often has to rest .. cause the 700FS is one thing definitly: fun to play! You better get yourself one if you are still interested, they wont last long anymore, then its probably 25 years for a reissue. 🎹

Funny thing is I had one of these back in 1978. The same synth although mine was labeled a Univox K-2. I got a lot of mileage out of it since I didn't have a ton of gear at the time. I wouldn't have dreamed they'd be charging as much as they are today.

I have a feeling the other big factor in the miniKorg 700FS's relative underperformance is that they also have the MS-20 FS for $800 less (although no upgrades from the original design save for MIDI), and the MS-20 is more famous to begin with.

Price!.............I love the synth but practicality had me get a Modwave,Wavestate, and opsix combined, for less .

Hi Zach, I think you're right about the high price and perhaps more limited audience that this synth is aimed at. I bought one thinking (and being told by Korg and the retailer) that they'd likely sell out the initial run and be done with it. I'm not sure if Korg extended the production run, but I can say that I do really enjoy my MiniKorg 700fs. I also own an original MiniKorg K2 that I restored, and I can really appreciate the upgrades of the modern version. The patch storage, MIDI implementation, aftertouch/joystick and wonderful keyboard action make it almost always preferable to the original. My only negatives comments are on the wall-wart style power supply that I wouldn't expect at this price point and the fact it doesn't have adjustable-height rear feet for using on an organ (which I actually do sometimes). I'd be happy to share my restoration video and/or my music videos showcasing the MiniKorg in the comment here for the benefit of the audience, but I certainly don't want to spam your channel unsolicited!

I really hope to see a 700 mini like the Arp2600M. I love its sound

I have one and love it! It was expensive (and heavy!), but you can spends hours with it. Great sound!

Hardware Synths are hard to cost justify these days. Bought my first synth in the early 1990s, a Korg 01W for $2000+. I Loved it! Then sold it 15 years latter for $500 and spent $2000+ on a Korg Triton Extreme which I still own and love today. Even though I do love the sounds of the miniKorg700FS, how much would I pay to have one? Nada. I don't have room for it, and I already have access to its sounds via Korg's Collection 4. I would tell young keyboard musicians and performers to spend your money on one really good instrument that meets your needs, and has full midi. Your DAW and VSTs can expand upon that investment in any direction you want to go, without breaking your budget.

I don’t think you can say the reasons it’s a flop are a) that it’s too expensive and then b) compare it to a synth that costs over 3x as much. Either the two are competing and in the same category or they’re not, and if they are, then it’s dirt cheap within that class. That said, I’m loving the sound of it - I really shouldn’t be buying anything right now (I literally just got a Prophet 10 and a Waldorf M in the past week alone) but this has me GASing. The dirty sounds are so awesomely grinding and the clean sounds are smooth and slippery! Great demo.

That sounds amazing. Quality cost more , so if someone wants the best , then pay for it

I'd love one.. I think it sounds delicious.. it's just hard to justify that price when I remember seeing the originals for 1/3rd that. And yeah if they do an 800DV that would be preferable. What I really want from Korg is stuff like the Trident, PS-3300 etc.

An unusual instrument that appeals to a select audience that love 70's and early 80s British electronic music. As a huge Human League fan, and that era of music, having a 700FS was a no-brainer. Great synth. Underrated AF. Awesome ring modulator. A rich and raw, eccentric synth.

The only synth in the world with one vertical Vco and on horizontal one! And the coolest looking too 😉

I own one and it’s a blast to play and interact with. I can program aftertouch to open the Spring reverb mix amount or the mix amount on the Oscillator control during a near audio rate arpeggiation, all the while I can program the y axis movement of the joystick to two additional slider destinations (the aftertouch and y axis joystick movement can modulate any slider on the synth and it’s very powerful. It’s a players synth for sure, it’s so fast and immediate and pleasing it’s hard not to be inspired by it. I love the two slider envelope setup. For a mono synth it’s perfect and most sounds you’d dial in with a full ADSR are achievable with the the two envelope sliders here anyways. I could go on and on about other unique aspects of its design and performance capabilities but my point is, you have to play one and read the manual to fully understand what it’s capable of and how well made it is.

I suppose for someone not in the know next to something like a MS20 it may seem limited, but it's also really SO essential in british synth pop history I feel like it ought to sell, but maybe it's just too pricey

Is there a modern synth that sounds this awesome??

Weird i was just looking at these today. Have been seeking the kitaro sound

I have Korg‘s plugin version of this and I love it. Not really a historically relevant synth in my musical niche, but fun and surprisingly useful.

I would have bought one of these in a heartbeat if they were only a few hundred more than what the originals are going for. It’s hard to justify buying this synth when you can instead buy a Moog Matriarch or Juno X, which both blow this out of the water in terms of features. Maybe it would have been nice to see Korg make a scaled down version of this similar to the Odyssey and MS-20. Seeing as this is priced higher than the MS-20FS, I get the feeling that Korg intended for this to be a limited production model mainly targeted at studios and collectors.

I really love this synth and it sounds absolutely incredible. The main problems are the price and the limitation of the sounds. If you don't really want these sounds the price you have to pay for this instrument is too high in the actual market. If you think about that you get a Matrixbrute (including a fantastic case) for less than you have to pay for the miniKorg ... for most of the people that's a hard fact they can not ignore. I'm 100% agree with you - this synth is a player synth, much more than 95% of all the other synth's that are available nowadays. And for me it is quite a bargain if I want a modern version of something legendary from the 70's and I don't want to support the Moog insanity!

I really love your channel, great info as always... man if I'm ever down that way I am definitely stopping in!

Its too expensive, doesn't have the history, and it doesn't do enough, pretty simple. Would I like one? Yup, would I pay what they cost? absolutely not.

Kind of a dumb take. It's boutique. It's for fans of the original. It's a small audience. I can't imagine that Korg intended this to be a big seller to a younger audience. As someone who has an original 700, the build is better than the original - better switches, sliders, real wood sides and better keyboard BY FAR. Back in the 70s, the average musician could not afford a Moog. This was the first, generally available and affordable synth. It was actually a much better choice than a Minimoog because, before digital presets, you could quickly repatch for a different song with a few flips of the switches. I remember playing a Cars song with a classic synth lead sound and then repatching for a French horn for a Christopher Cross song in about 2 seconds. People who are seeing the 700FS for the first time don't realize that it was designed to to get fast access to a wide variety of classic synth voicings with a few flips.

Love my 700FS and MS-20FS. I just wish the Karp 2600FS would have "flopped" so I could get one of those too.

It’s quite simple: it’s the price in post-Covid and Brexit economy times. Yes, it’s a gorgeous sounding synth, but it’s not very versatile by modern standards. We can’t afford to splurge so much on a relatively niche product when money is so tight.

I want one so bad. I could have got an original in the early 2000s for pretty cheap, but I had no idea it was as good and cool as it is. The performance aspect with having everything on the front, rather than the top, is awesome. Buuuut it's way out of my price range.

Yes I think your correct, I can here the younger generation now, no multi effects no digital display. But I don't think Korg did them selfs any favours with their promotional info saying it was a limited release. I purchased one and I am a bit torn about it, all so how heavy is that flight case made like a nuclear bunker.

The man❤

I love 70's Korgs but at some point it's no longer worth the money. I sold my Maxikorg because as much as I like it, it's not worth 5k. It just isn't. The 700fs is grossly overpriced. Add that to the fact that the Korg reissues just don't feel or sound particularly great (basing this on the MS20 and 2600) and it just seems like a total waste of money / nostalgia cash in. 2K for a 700fs? Nope. Way off. I wouldn't pay $500 for that thing and that's coming from someone that is particularly fond of the early Korgs.

The problem is,... nobody plops their synth in rop of 450 lbs of Hammond organ anymore. All the controls are in the wrong place for how people use synths today.

It looks like a luxury collectors item! 😉

It's not just a flop. It's a one-dimensional one trick pony and an outrageously overpriced flop at that. Who the heck should be interested in buying some extremely limited monophonic analog furniture, which can only produce 2-3 really different useable sounds? :-)))

That synth sounds so nice. Days ago I watched Roger Waters' keyboardist playing one of these on Any colour you like.

I had an OG 700 that I got for a few hundred bucks back in the day. They’re cool but as others have stated in the comments, it’s like reissuing an SH-1000, not like a Minimoog, an Odyssey, or even their own MS-20. This reissue was about the same price as the Odyssey FS which is kinda nuts to me. If they wanted to do another synth from their past at a premium price, they should have done a Maxi-Korg, or a Mono/Poly.

$1499 now on Reverb (plus shipping). So probably $1650 by the time you get it in hand with shipping, taxes etc. Pricey? I guess. This synth has an exquisite sound though. And it's maybe a little less than competing monos now (sub37 etc). Although the Grandmother has a sweet sound too and it's cheaper so I don't know. Tough call maybe. Lots of competition in this particular segment. I'd take the Korg because it sounds both great and has a unique sound. Can't get it out of anything else. And the third reason is probably its sound would actually be perfect for modern day electronica styles.

I would be happy with a vinyl case and a cheaper end price. You can get an sh101 for less!

This could only be sold to a very wealthy individual who does not care too much of wasting a few quid. It is well made though for sure. This is much more expensive than many more powerful polyphonic synths. That give way much better results and better sound to be honest.

It should be a flop. It's a vanity nostalgia piece for people with more money than sense who want to flex I think ...I don't mean to be rude , so don't kill me

I think this is a box for players who can play lead lines. I dont see it quite like the eurorack that is more sequencer driven. Like me, there are more players like the later than the former. I know this is sort of heretical to admit. It is pricey for a mono box too. The sound is certainly as pure and beautiful as it gets.

It's such a well built instrument and it sounds amazing....but it's just soooo expensive. Are there that many well off synth players that it would fly off the shelves? Also so much competition in the analog mono synth market.

It's because it sounds thin and weedy. On the flip side, you have the Pro-3 which is likely the best monosynth around, and it costs less. Who would buy a Minikorg over that? Talk about a "no brainer"......

When I can buy an mono synth for the same price and more features this synth can take a hike. Pro tip- lower the price

I completely agree with what you’re saying. I also think a lot of us boomers just loved these synths. We just didn’t know the history. Speaking for myself. I’m really interested in these. Can’t seem to get an answer on where these reissues are made. Did they make these in Japan like the originals? To me that would help justify the cost.

I was really excited for it but it’s way too expensive. I don’t need an expensive case or other luxuries. I purchased a b-stock noir Matrixbrute for $1200, so it’s very hard to justify the cost

Goldfrapp used one extensively.

I think the MiniKorg 700FS itself is cool. I just think it's a bit overpriced, especially considering the tons of other options out there. Although it is a very nice synth with what appears to be superb build quality, the featureset seems quite limited, considering it's price. Hmmm, maybe that's another reason it's probably not quite selling as well.

I own a maxi-korg already… do I need this???

It's a great synth BUT it is wa-a-ay too expensive. If the retail price was half the current price in stores, it would fly off the shelves.

would love one but its the price i struggle with

Simply put it's too expensive.You can get a Moog Sub 37 for a hundred dollars less..Play them side by side and tell me which would be a better purchase.You can buy the Behringer Odyssey and their Minimoog both for the same money..There are too many less expensive options that can do the job well at about half the price of the Korg..yes I had the original and loved it but the price point is a very real consideration when buying new gear..

The SH-2000 has aftertouch also

Nostalgi does not mean cool sounds in 2022. Cool video.

It'll become a collector's item one day... when it's discontinued and used ones cost ¼ the new price.

It was a bit pricey. Sorry just saying! I guess that is relative. It is a cool synth!

is Lowrey going to re-issue their old chord organ too? lol.....maybe lack of current cultural relevance is the issue. just a wild guess bruh

I have an old Univox Mini Korg. The single oscillator one that has no controls on the upper left panel. I need to take it in for an overhaul and I'm afraid to turn it on. It might ignite! Still, when it was working, it was a great little synth. I was intrigued by the new one until I saw the price. Just like eh Moog Model D reissue. Are you guys nuts? Her in Canada, the price fro my Moog Grandmother was $1,300. t does almost as much as the Model D, which is $7,000 here and just over half the price of the MiniKorg. The Grandmother does a LOT more than the MiniKorg too. These companies really need to take a step back and think about their pricing. The MiniKorg should have been less than grand and the Model D, less than 3 grand. They'd certainly sell a lot more synths that way and even though the profit on each one is much less, they'd make it up on quantity. At least, that's what I think. What do you think?

So, it was sold out, but U state is does not go over your counter. Just check your marketing skills, bro.

Its not an iconic vintage piece that people want and *the few people that wanted it & could afford it, bought it. *probably applies to any synth really and the higher the price the fewer the customers.

I love the miniKORG, it's definitely a gorgeous instrument, no doubt. But it's not for today's instant driven kiddies who wanna have everything, immediately, but having no clue and can't play... so yeah, from business perspective it seems to be a flop.

1 year later, they're $700 off from Korg via Reverb- I vote flop.

i bought an original some years ago and loved it. crazy coincidence that a couple of years after I sold it, this thing came out. my biggest issue with this reissue is definitely the price. $2000 for a 2 oscillator synth which is fairly limited in sound? not really worth it in my opinion. I know the MS20 has a totally different flavor of sound. Way nastier, but way more justified in its price with how complicated, flexible, and diverse the circuit is. If it was $1200 I'd consider it

I wish for one but I’ll wait for the Behringer

Get to the point. The flop is that it has no window. You almost work in complete darkness.

geez i kinda wish i could afford one now. lol.

I think people are bored of mono synth's... I mean if I was gonna get a mono synth, I would much rather have a syntryx 2 then some piece of history..

The pro 3 used is 1300.00 so much better value, not nostalgic though

yeh for sure theyre just not famous enough. even among synth heads you need to be pretty far down the rabbit hole before you start getting into these kind of machines.

The Price is too high. Simple as that.

COVID/SUB37 has entered the chatroom.

way to expensive

It’s the price. I have a lot of pricy gear. This is too much for what it is.

look at the price for what it actually does, what were they thinking?

Way too expensive!

It's pronounced MOOG as in moooog not MOGUE