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Description

Year Released: 1983 Keyboard: 49 keys Polyphony: 8 notes ROM: 20 sounds, 10 rhythms Power Consumption: 26 watts Dimensions: 771 mm x 303 mm x 111 mm Weight: 8.0 kg

This keyboard has built-in 5.8-watt mono speaker(s).

Trey Dunn

Trey Dunn

1983 Casiotone 501 with the MS-1 Bar Code Reader

Video thumbnail for 1983 Casiotone 501 with the MS-1 Bar Code Reader by Trey Dunn

1983 Casiotone 501 with the MS-1 Bar Code Reader

Trey Dunn

Trey Dunn

Video thumbnail for Casiotone 501 by Vintage Sounds

Casiotone 501

Vintage Sounds

Vintage Sounds

Video thumbnail for Casio in the Space  (Casiotone 501& Boss Space Echo & Boss dm-100 Delay) by Vintage Sounds

Casio in the Space (Casiotone 501& Boss Space Echo & Boss dm-100 Delay)

Vintage Sounds

Vintage Sounds

Video thumbnail for Casiotone 501 improvisation using Tascam Portastudio 424mkII. by Bernabe

Casiotone 501 improvisation using Tascam Portastudio 424mkII.

Bernabe

Bernabe

Reviews

3.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings

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alexeiparedes

Organ or arranger keyboard?

This Casio arranger keyboard from the early 80s is very interesting if we think of it as an organ. Some presets with the addition of effects pedals sound very good, but basically they are mostly organ sounds, they don't even mention the name on the panel. The Casiotone 501 actually looks very professional, for the time. The case uses mostly plastic and metal, but has a faux wood look (any wood used is actually compressed particle board). The 49 keys are full size. A large built-in speaker is all you need to hear yourself playing. However, there is a 1/4-inch mono output on the back. There is also a headphone jack and two jacks for pedal/sustain and volume pedal. Comes with a robust road case. You can select one preset sound at a time, and although there are no effects or programming options, there is a slider to activate Vibrato, Vibrato Delay (Delayed) and Sustain. You can choose one of the preset rhythm patterns to play along with some drum percussion - the drum sounds themselves were pretty standard for the time and reminiscent of Roland CR machines. It also has a Fill-In button for triggering drum fills and a tempo adjustment knob.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Jazz Organ 1 and 2 are very good, with a Leslie simulator they sound perfect.

From Gear Setup

Artist usage

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See how Rose Elinor Dougall uses Casio Casiotone 501

Rose Elinor Dougall

Singer

The WAEVE

...
Verified via Photo

In an Alamy stock photo taken at the Green Man Festival in Wales on August 17, 2024, Rose Elinor Dougall is clearly seen using the Casio Casiotone 501 while performing with Graham Coxon in their band, the WAEVE.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Casio Casiotone 501, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Casio CT-S1 61-key Keyboard Portable & Arranger Keyboards
3
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1

Community setups

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alexeiparedes

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