Korg miniKORG 700 (1973)

Name: Korg 700
Brand: Korg

A compact, single-oscillator monophonic analog synthesizer that was Korg's debut in the synth market.

Overview

The Korg miniKORG 700 was Korg's first mass-produced monophonic synthesizer, released in 1973. It had an unorthodox control layout and a compact body that reflected the limits of early 1970s electronic components. It was priced at under £350, less than half the asking price of many contemporary synths, at a time when analog synthesis was often out of reach for working musicians. The miniKORG 700 used a Volts/Hz tuning system and a single oscillator design. Its monophonic sound is described as unique and characterful. It was the foundation for later models like the 700S, and it also served as the platform for the Univox Mini-Korg K1, which kept the Univox branding. It came before Korg's MS-series, including the MS-10 and MS-20, which debuted in 1978.

Specifications

Product type	monophonic analog synthesizer
Polyphony	Monophonic
Timbrality	1 part
Oscillator count	1
Tuning system	Volts/Hz
Production year	1973

Design

The miniKORG 700 was Korg's first synthesizer. The layout was compact because the electronic components of the early 1970s were large. Internal space was tight, which limited functionality and left a simple architecture built around a single oscillator. The control panel layout was unconventional and set it apart from other synths of the era.

Context

The miniKORG 700 came out in 1973, when synthesizers were mostly expensive and complex. Korg priced it at under £350, less than half the cost of many contemporaries, which made it an affordable way into analog synthesis. It preceded the better-known MS-series synths and established Korg in the electronic instrument market. Univox later used the platform for their Mini-Korg K1, which kept the original design under a different brand.

Market

A fully serviced Korg miniKORG 700 was listed for US $1,409 in early 2025. Some users describe the original 700-series as having reliability issues and needing maintenance, while others report stable performance once it is properly serviced.