Elka Rhapsody 490 (1975)
The Elka Rhapsody 490 is a rare polyphonic string synthesizer from the Italian manufacturer EME (Elettronica Musicale Europea), released in 1975. It's the smaller sibling of the Elka Rhapsody 610, and the family also includes the 49-key Rhapsody 410. The 490 is described as having a divide-down sound engine with a BBD (bucket brigade delay) chorus/ensemble effect. That's the standard recipe for the thick, swirly 1970s string sound.
Documentation on this model is thin, and what exists contradicts itself. The most reliable sources list a 61-key keyboard (C to C). At least one database calls the 490 a 49-key version of the 610, and that inconsistency shows up even within the same source. The original price is just as shaky. One spec database lists $995, while another entry on the same page suggests $1,200, with no clear attribution. Production year is generally given as 1975, with one source extending it to 1975-1976.
What is consistently reported: the 490 is fully polyphonic, has 15 presets, and has a touch-response keyboard. It has 1/4" audio outputs and runs on AC power. One source also mentions a four-channel audio output. The instrument is widely described as very rare and sought-after. One forum poster says its string character sets it apart from the ARP Omni or Roland RS-202.
Beyond its listing in period equipment directories, almost nothing else is recorded about the Rhapsody 490. No dimensions, weight, or detailed service documentation have surfaced. The Rhapsody 490 appears in a period equipment directory from Mix Magazine (July 1980, p.52).
- Polyphonic string synthesizer, divide-down architecture
- 61 keys (C to C) — some sources describe it as a 49-key model
- 2 oscillators per key
- 15 presets
- BBD chorus/ensemble effect
- 1/4" audio outputs; AC power
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