WOLF retro DESIGN REVIEW. 2nd March 2023
A retro review looks at products that are at least over ten years old from a present-day WOLF design perspective. While the technology and fashion of the period influence design, and are taken into consideration, great design ideas will transcend their eras to be timeless.
Interesting and factual information may be provided, but our review aims to deliver insight from the perspective of a designer’s mind and eyes.
It was rather cool in the mid 80’s
Introduction
Product Focus
As with most reviews the focus is on the design and its evolution with the Keyboard industry. The functioning systems and sound quality are not necessarily not considered.
Product description
The Casiotone CT-810 by CASIO was a home keyboard from the mid-80s. Very little is written about this keyboard and on the internet it is generally known to be from 1985 but we recall seeing it as early as 1984 and this is further evidenced by certain Casio brochures from 1984 that feature the CT-810.
Price and Availability.
The CT-810 had a suggested retail price of $699 US when new, which was considerable for 1984. This hefty price tag kept sales low and explains why they rarely come up for sale on the second hand market. Having said that they are inexpensive when they do appear and are go between $100 and $300 US depending on condition. A mint one with factory case and other accessories such as stand, ROMs, etc might command a higher price.
Additional information
The CT-810 coincided with Casio’s usage of ROM packs, which were digital sheet music cartridges containing melody programs that could be played on the keyboards. Being a keyboard with full sized keys it was considered the King of the keyboards that were able to utilize ROM packs. According to our research it is the only keyboard with full sized keys to have ROM pack features.
Review
It was more stylish without its music stand.
First impression/ Delight
The CT-810 feels rather brutal with its harsh corners and thick edges while at the same time wants to be elegant with its neat and relatively symmetrical layout. We remember seeing this new in 1984 when it presented as a very cool and mature looking keyboard. Today after 40 years it looks more like an odd curiosity.
Exterior Design Review
The CT-810 was conceived as a rather thick singular form (of around 7cm) that bends towards the user at roughly 20 degrees to create an expansive front panel. This bend is most evident from the sides with the darker under section being recessed. The bend is one of the first in the history of Casio keyboards with very few other models known to adopt this design concept. It looks quite pronounced on the CT-810 because it starts from a quarter of an ivory keys length, thus creating a disproportionately large front panel. The other interesting and disproportionately large idea were the five round dials that dominate the top of the control panel. These dials are unique to the CT-810 as we have never seen them replicated anywhere else in the World of keyboards. The colour of the CT-810 is a warm metallic silver and under certain lighting conditions it almost appears champagne in colour.
On either end of the Keyboard are built in speakers and the grills form a part of the molded plastic body for a fully integrated and seamless look. We like how the corrugated plastic grills return down the outer sides. To the right of the round dials is the ROM cartridge section which upsets the overall symmetry of the CT-810. However, we can appreciate that placing it in the middle with round dials on either side may not have looked better.
Craftmanship.
The CT-810 is predominantly cased in painted plastic and while the metallic paint attempts to create the illusion of real metal. However, its light weight and hollow shell sound contradicts is looks to be less substantial than what how it wants to appear. The paint is of reasonably good quality and only tends be affected when the plastic casing is significantly chipped or scratched.
The speaker design is clever and unlike the more commonly seen mesh style grills are not as prone to getting dints. The dials, sliders and smoked acrylic door to the ROM compartment all operate smoothly and feel like quality. The press buttons however feel a bit basic and even clanky/noisy.
FUNCTION- Experience.
The upward bed of the front panel certainly makes the CT-810 engaging and was a welcome concept in the mid-80s when most keyboards and even synthesizers were rather flat. All buttons are well spaced and easy enough to access and operate. Those curious dials are certainly inviting and friendly despite being oversized.
Although slightly bulky, this keyboard is still light and together with its thick edges is relatively easy to grip and move around. On the underside is a compartment for batteries to allows the CT-810 to be enjoyed in a car, boat, train or somewhere more remote. There is even a car adapter accessory (CA-5) to draw power from a vehicle.
The power button on the right end is likely to get accidentally pressed from being a common place for keyboardists to rest their right hand.
Desirability / Collectability
The CT-810 is hard to find in good order, but is not particularly sought after or expensive. It is certainly a unique keyboard from a design perspective and being the King of Casio ROM cartridge playing keyboards it does have some potential to be quite collectible. Original instruction manuals, dust covers and detachable music stands are often missing and the factory case (HC-12) is an extremely rare bonus. The keyboard in the review is the few we’ve ever seen to have its original factory hard case.
The CT-810 together with genuine factory hard case, the HC-12.
The case is quite beautifully detailed.
This is a very rare ROM pack carry case that can hold around a dozen ROM packs
WORD OF THE WOLF
If you’re a keyboard collector, the CT-810 is definitely one to consider and we imagine $500 as being fair for a mint working example with original case and accessories. The ROM cartridges themselves have become highly sought after in recent years. Certain ROM packs are very rare and in many cases a set of particular cartridges can sell for more than the keyboard itself.
The original dust cover is very hard to find in good order.
Original instruction manual in English and French.
Original English Brochure
This is the CS-2 stand which could be used with most CT models. The design is simple and elegant though unfortunately is not adjustable.
A 1984 brochure indicating a suggested retail price of $699 US and also featuring the available optional accessories.
A few pages from various CASIO product brochures featuring the CT-810.
A Japanese brochure feature the CT_810 within the larger CT family.
WOLF Concept
Re-imagined with the ROM section symmetrically positioned. One of the dials might need to be replaced with a slider and positioned on the left end.
WOLF DESIGN EXCELLENCE SCORE = 6.2
Disclaimer
The information in this review is intended for informational or educational purposes to provide readers an understanding of how something may be seen from a certain design perspective. In this case it is from the view point of WOLF DESIGNS. As design is subjective this review should only be considered as an independent opinion. Information further to being of an opinion is provided to the best of our knowledge based on our own research at the time of doing the review. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or inconsistencies and reserve the right to change or update any content as appropriate.
The final responsibility of the design resides with the original manufacturer.
