The Maestro Rhythm King MRK-2, an early analog drum machine from the 70s that Sly Stone called the “funk box”. He used it all over his classic album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On”. Click on the photo for a larger picture.
Here’s a free Maestro Sample Set you can use.
Video demo:
This article gives some more info on Sly and the Maestro, as well as other early drum machines.
And an article about what happened to Sly and what he is up to these days.
EDIT: Note there is the possibility that Sly used the Maestro MK IV, and not the MRK-2. A comment from matrixsynth:
“walkathon said…
I believe Sly used a Maestro IV – similar, but not the same beast. At least that’s what Sly biographer Jon Dakks once told me after I snagged my own beloved MRK-2.”
There is at least one comment out there that does say specifically he used the MRK-2, and most of the articles that talk about him and the Maestro use a picture of the MRK-2. It was, however, the most popular of all the models so they may just be putting up the picture that was easiest to find. Note the MRK-2 came out around 1970, right around when he got his new drum machine and was recording “Riot”. I am not sure when the MK IV came out… if you have info on that let me know!
EDIT 2: More from matrixsynth:
“FWIW: Kraftwerk used a Maestro Rhythm King back in the day. They apparently built trigger inputs for each button into the unit so
that they could trigger it either by the drumpads used by Wolfgang and Karl or by one of their customized Synthanorma sequencers. The drums on TEE were done this way.
Micke”
JZ | 09-Sep-07 at 8:25 pm | Permalink
Thanx man!
art | 10-Sep-07 at 5:17 am | Permalink
No problem, hope the samples are useful.
el duderino | 29-Oct-07 at 11:06 pm | Permalink
Miles Marshall Lewis in his book “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” says its the MRK-1 on that record and on the Sisters record.
MRK-2 came out October 1970 according to the linked article, while Riot was recorded Spring-Fall 1971. It’s a possibility.
The style of the MRK-4 doesn’t match any of the products that Maestro was releasing in 1971/1972, such as their guitar effects pedals, so I’m thinking the MRK-4 was released later.
el duderino | 30-Oct-07 at 12:41 pm | Permalink
I might also point out that Dakks is a (former) webmaster (slyfamstone.com), I don’t know what his credentials as a researcher or a biographer are. I usually don’t consider self-publishing with no editorial oversight as a reliable source, but it would be interesting to see what his source for the MRK-IV actually is though.
art | 04-Nov-07 at 12:10 am | Permalink
Thanks for the info!
The MRK-1 or MRK-2 make much more sense to me. They look more like a “funk box”, the MRK-4 is shaped more like some sort of computer or something.
The MRK-1 and 2 look almost identical, the only difference seems to be a balance knob on the MRK-2 that lets you adjust the amount of hi-hat sounds (which is nice, because they don’t sound that great). Otherwise, sound and pattern-wise I think they are very similar if not the same. The MRK-4 looks very different, and from what I’ve read, also sounds different.
Thanks again for the info.
Ben | 20-Nov-07 at 2:44 pm | Permalink
Hello,
Came across your demo of the rhythm king on you tube a couple of weeks a go and decided to have a go at recreating the rhythm king in flash as a little project. You can view the in progress version here:
http://www.createaplanet.com/rhythmking/rhythmking.html
Let me know what you think!
Thanks.
joe | 06-Dec-07 at 4:04 am | Permalink
any idea what one of those today would be worth… i was just diggin around in a friends garage and i found one. not sure if it works, it’s pretty dusty. but i’m sure it could be fixed up. what would one go for in decent shape?
art | 07-Dec-07 at 3:35 pm | Permalink
Hey Ben, I had trouble following your link, it gave me an error on the domain name. I’ll try it again later.
Joe, I would check ebay for prices. That is probably the only place you will get a good price for it. In the condition you describe it, probably $50-75. In good working shape, maybe $100-$125. Absolute mint and working perfectly maybe $200 depending on whether you happen to have someone who really wants one. The dollar is in terrible shape so if you sell to someone from Europe or Canada you might get more.
lew | 18-Jan-08 at 11:25 am | Permalink
hey man! thanks for the great info and video. really cool of u to do this.
Ben | 19-Jan-08 at 4:46 pm | Permalink
Hi, sorry about that my website got taken down. But I have uploaded the rhythm king to imageshack so you can now view it by going here:
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4579/rhythmkingv7qb3.swf
Let me know what you think. I made it using your samples.
Best wishes,
Ben.
art | 21-Jan-08 at 3:15 am | Permalink
That’s really cool! Do you have another website, or just an email, so I can give you credit when I link to it in a new entry?
One thing I would change is if you are playing one rhythm and then press another, it should stop the first and start the second. Since the program doesn’t keep them synced it doesn’t sound right to have them both playing. And on the actual Maestro, if you press a new button it does in fact stop the old one… if you want multiple ones you have to force it by manually holding both down at the same time.
If it is possible to do this with Flash, you could hold down shift and then click multiple simultaneous rhythms, and then when you release shift have them all start at the same time (this is how they do multiple buttons with the UAD Dimension D and 1176 plugins, I can’t take credit for the idea).
Again, it’s very cool! Thanks for posting the link.
SILVIA BECERRA | 15-Mar-08 at 8:16 am | Permalink
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I CAN BUY A MAESTRO RHYTHM KING DRUM MACHINE.
art | 19-Mar-08 at 2:53 am | Permalink
Hi Silvia, they haven’t been manufactured since the 70’s. The only way to buy them now is on the second-hand market, try ebay or a local used music gear store.
Ben | 26-Mar-08 at 3:31 pm | Permalink
Hi Art,
Glad you liked the flash version of the rhythm king. I will have a go at reworking the buttons so it works a little bit more like the original soon, sorry only just checked back on your site. I have also put a copy of it here on my portfolio site:
http://www.electric-texture.com/rhytmking.html
Best wishes,
Ben.
Nick | 09-Jun-08 at 6:49 am | Permalink
Do you know if there’s a MRK for sale?
Dan | 09-Jun-08 at 8:30 am | Permalink
Hi Art,
First off, thanks for all the info regarding the Rhythm King.
I’ve got a question for you: I recently picked up a MRK-2, and all the sounds work and sound fine, except all of the rhythms cycle in 6/4 timing rather than standard 4/4. Have you ever heard of this? It’s kind of puzzling me, since the demos I’ve seen on Youtube and on other sites all seem to be in counts of 4 rather than 6. Any insight would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan
Nick | 21-Aug-08 at 6:51 am | Permalink
Do you know of someone who has this machine for sale? I had one and gave it to a friend for a birthday present. I have 2 other drum machines but I miss the Maestro and I’m looking to buy one again.
art | 25-Aug-08 at 9:52 am | Permalink
Ebay is (unfortunately) probably your best bet. There’s one up there right now.
Will | 14-Jan-09 at 10:06 am | Permalink
Thanks for the samples and the great video, man! Now to re-create some of those weird early-70s Beach Boys jams…
dylan roper | 30-May-09 at 9:13 pm | Permalink
i got an old rythem king maestro….
Kyle | 17-Jun-09 at 4:08 pm | Permalink
Hi Art, great page, useful info and really useful samples too. They are well recorded too, I love the Culture Vulture! If anybody is interested, here is a set of Ace Tone -Rhythm Ace samples which I have been using alot, follow the link below.
http://www.rolandclan.info/de/samples/rhythm-ace/
If anybody doesn’t know that machine, it is an old analogue rhythm box, very similar to the Rhythm King but different too! Roland were called Ace Tone before they changed names.
This site also has alot of other samples from old Roland Machines!
Ben, loved your work, great idea! Y’know I have often wondered why someone doesn’t make a VST of all the old 60’s/70’s analogue drum machines. Ace Tone, Korg Minipops, Rhythm King, CR-78 etc. Ben, this is so close! Without taking anything away from your hard work, there is a few issues that would need to be ironed out but hey, maybe you are the man to put my words into life! Great work dude!
tiouz | 25-Feb-10 at 2:28 pm | Permalink
yo man thank you very much for the cultured samples
))
great !!
Outa-Spaceman | 14-Apr-12 at 3:32 pm | Permalink
Am I right in thinking this was the machine that Timmy Thomas used in “Why Can’t We Live Together”?
And was it also use in the George McCrae hit “Rock Your Baby”?
For anybody with an iPad, iPhone or iTouch check out the FunkBox app it’s got ‘em all (except the SoundMaster SR88 which is my all time fav machine).
OSM