A new collaboration between Japanese design house fragment design and electronics maker Casio brings a contemporary twist to the Casiotone CT-S1 keyboard. The limited edition model features a distinctive houndstooth pattern covering its speakers and will be sold exclusively through Hiroshi Fujiwara's VA (Various Artists) retail channels.
The keyboard maintains its classic black and white colorway but incorporates several design elements from fragment, including their signature double lightning bolt logo positioned above the C8 key and co-branded text on the right side. In a departure from the original Casiotone's light grey, red, and brown control scheme, this version opts for an all-black configuration of tuning knobs.
Under the hood, the instrument combines vintage and modern capabilities. Players can access 12 "Casio Classic" sounds that pay homage to the company's earlier electronic instruments, alongside 10 "Advanced Tones" powered by the current AiX sound engine. The keyboard's horizontal bass reflex system provides enhanced low-end response and overall sound projection.
This isn't fragment design's first venture into musical instrument collaborations. The brand previously worked with Fender on a special edition Telecaster guitar last December and has created custom acoustic guitars in past projects.
The fragment design x Casiotone CT-S1 will launch on January 16 at VA's physical store and online platform. The keyboard is priced at ¥71,500 JPY (approximately $453 USD).
Technical Specifications:
- Model: Casiotone CT-S1
- Sound Banks: 12 Classic + 10 Advanced Tones
- Sound Engine: AiX
- Special Features: Horizontal bass reflex system
- Design Elements: Houndstooth speaker covering, fragment design logo, co-branding
- Color scheme: Black and white with all-black controls
Maya Torelli
Straddling the worlds of art and communication, this creative professional established People in 2009, a content agency specializing in the fusion of words and visuals. Over the years, her work has spanned a variety of projects, including magazines and documentary films. Beyond her commercial endeavors, she dedicates herself to exploring the nature of imagery, with a particular focus on its interplay with other media forms, especially music. Her passion for music not only fuels her writing but also deeply influences her work as a filmmaker, shaping both her documentaries and video installations. With a voracious appetite for knowledge across philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and various scientific disciplines, she weaves these diverse interests into a unique, interdisciplinary approach to content creation, perspective-taking, and writing.