Casio CasioTone 301 - wood grain isn’t always vintage bliss: Synths you didn’t know you didn’t want

The year was 1980 and wood grain meant quality electronics. The item was the Casiotone 301 - a preset Synthesizer with very little to offer but a rhythm section and vibrato.

The year now is 2023 - is there a reason to buy the Casio 301 401 or 601?

Here’s what GPT4 has to say about it which is mostly true:

The Casiotone 301 is a vintage electronic keyboard produced by the Japanese company Casio in the late 1970s. It was one of the first portable keyboards to feature a built-in speaker, making it a popular choice for musicians on the go.

The Casiotone 301 had a compact design and weighed only about 6 pounds. It featured a 49-note keyboard with polyphonic capabilities, allowing for multiple notes to be played simultaneously. The keyboard also had a variety of built-in sounds, including piano, organ, and percussion, as well as adjustable vibrato and sustain effects.

One notable feature of the Casiotone 301 was its rhythm section, which allowed users to create and play along with a variety of drum patterns. The keyboard also had a built-in speaker and headphone jack for private practice.

The Casiotone 301 was a popular choice among beginners and hobbyists due to its affordability and ease of use. While it is no longer in production, it is still revered by some musicians for its unique sound and vintage charm.