In my never-ending quest to add further vintage mojo to my keyboard rig I was happy to acquire a Roland VK-09 electronic drawbar organ over the weekend.
There’s not much info about it to be found on the internet – maybe 3 or 4 opinions, a couple of YouTube vids, and a few pics. It’s not even on Roland’s venerable manuals page. I did however find a very good scan of the Service Notes (dated May 1981).
So far I’ve only had a chance to play it a little bit, so my list of fun facts to share here is short.
The first thing you notice is the ridiculously large “Roland” logo on the back. At least the kids in the back row will be able to read it at my next stadium concert. The second thing is that the whole thing is surprisingly small and light for a five-octave keyboard. This is a 33-year old instrument that I could actually imagine gigging with!
The organ has two identical groups of six drawbars: 16′, 5-1/3′, 8′, 4′, 2-2/3′, 2′. The first group (“Sine Wave”) produces normal organ-tones, while the second group (“Bright Wave”) produces extremely bright square waves. Each group can be individually toggled on and off using an 808-style pushbutton. I suspect the Vox/Farfisa/Hammond purists out there would hate the square wave drawbars, but in my initial putterings with the instrument I found that the judicious addition of these unusually bright stops makes for an organ tone that slices through a mix like a Ginsu. Think: The Monks, or Squeeze.
The VK-09 also features a slow/fast vibrato section which is a little more tame than I’d like, but is nonetheless very pleasant. It’s not a terribly realistic Leslie simulation, but it does feature the “momentum” effect when you change speeds. The front panel has separate “slow” and “fast” buttons, and the speed can also be toggled using an optional footswitch (as demonstrated in this video).
Like many organs there is an adjustable sustain (“release” in synthesizer parlance). There is also a variety of percussion settings.
While Googling for info about my new acquisition I stumbled upon a lovely article at Absolute Music, in which they toured the Roland museum in Japan and took lots of pretty pictures of vintage Roland instruments (including a mint-condition example of my new organ).
Meanwhile, here’s an old ad for the VK-09 that’s not too hard to find (click on it for a bit more miscellaneous info about this strange organ):
Updated 2017-12-05 to include a link to the service manual
A reader submitted:
Thanks, I’ve got the service notes. Couldn’t find an owners manual anywhere though – just a mini-review on combo-organ.com. Actually it’s more like an explanation of why the VK-09 can’t be part of the “cool organ club”. The article is not without its constructive merits however – some good info from VK-09 owner “Lenny G” is shared, including a pretty nice sounding registration to start with:
helloo , where can i get the mentioned manuals?
I have updated the article to include a link to the service manual. I don’t have an operation manual.
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VK-09 Got it from my Dad. it is in good condition, and in original cardboard box… but i need the operating manual, I would greatly appreciate it if you or anyone has the this –
I was also wondering what the Gate out socket was for and how i might use/connect to it?
Thanks
According to the Service Manual, the Gate Output produces 0 volts when off, and 15 volts when on. I suppose somebody could connect a meter to this to verify when it is “on” – which I suspect is whenever a key is pressed. I have no idea what purpose this might serve.
I picked up a VK-09 about five years ago. I’ll admit I was really wanting a Korg CX-3, but the price was too good to pass up. While the Korg no doubt sounds better right out of the box, I like the VK-09. It has its own unique sound. I have my methods for beefing up the sound, which will remain my little secret. I would encourage anybody who owns a VK-09 to experiment with it, run effects boxes through it, and see what sounds you can come up with.
Exactly the same here – while I love the sound of the original CX-3, they have become too dear. I’m not the greatest organ player, but when this came up for a decent price I thought it would be an interesting instrument to add to my rig.
Hello , I have recently purchased the VK-09 , but im having trouble finding the manual.
so far you guys are the only ones ive found saying that they have it …
Could one you please be so kind as to mail me a copy ?
any further literature containing info about the VK 09 is much appreciated .
Thank you in advance .
I don’t have a user manual, just a service manual pdf. I have uploaded it and included it in this article.
Hopefully this helps.
So lovely to see this little creature again.
It was my first Keyboard when I joined a pop band in Cornwall in 1981 at the fine old age of 17 yrs. I really loved it but after a few years moved on to a Roland Juno 106 synth. I couldn’t give the VK-09 away at the time.I think I sold it for £20. same for the 106.
…I wonder what happened to mine?????
Hi Sally! I’m pretty sure I don’t have it
Mine’s 120 volts. So’s my JU-106.
I hope you have moved on to some similary satisfying instruments!
I have access to the service notes AND the owners manual if anyone wants it. I have a rather different problem I am hoping someone can help me with. My VK-09 was probably missing any rubber feet on the bottom and then over the years the bottom got wet (soaked in a spilled beer or twenty) and the particle board bottom totally disintegrated (as have the side pieces). So, what I have now is a loose collection of metal and plastic parts. The missing particle board parts are nowhere detailed on the service notes. Does anyone have a VK-09 that they could turn upside down an trace the bottom of (or photograph with a measuring tape) and send me some dimensions? jameszeeck@gmail.com
Emailed!
hi
has the owner’s manual surfaced?
am I seeing it right that this is purely mono?
and the phones output is simply connecting this mono signal to both left and right?
Yes, an Owners Manual has surfaced and will be posted shortly.
http://juggernautmusic.com/2022/08/roland-vk-09-owners-manual/
Hi Nebula,
I happen to have one of these beautiful instruments in my possession, and it has worked completely without fail until recently. I’ve noticed that the tuning knob has to be all the way to the left to be in tune, and the 2nd harmonic percussion gone extremely faint (the 3rd is fine and properly loud as intended). The Chorus on/off button also temporarily didn’t work / needed to be pressed really hard to toggle.
I suspect it needs some dust or something cleaned out of it, but for that to happen I would need to know how to take the thing apart. I’ve already tried undoing the top screws to no avail. The side screws are also partly shredded so I really hope they don’t need to come out. I am very hesitant to turn it upside down as I don’t really know what to do (although I do have the experience of taking apart a 1985 JVC)
I’ve had a look at both the operational manual and service notes. It has helped me a little but overall I am still none the wiser on how to disassemble this instrument without doing damage to it.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, cheers