Briscoe Chord Organ (1968-1970)

This is a GEM Model P Combo Organ rebranded with the Briscoe nameplate and ID badge (including Vancouver, BC). Made in the same factory in Italy and containing most of the same components as the Vox Jaguar V304, the Briscoe is essentially a Vox clone. While it looked similar to its more famous older brother, the Vox Continental, the Jaguar was nothing more than a poor-person’s Continental.  Famous songs that feature the Continental include “Light My Fire,” and “Break on Through (to the other side),” THE DOORS; “House of the Rising Sun,” THE ANIMALS; “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” IRON BUTTERFLY; “96 Tears,” ? AND THE MYSTERIANS; “California Sun,” THE RIVERIAS; “Kicks,” PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS; “I’m a Believer” and “I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone,” THE MONKEES.

 

Yamaha YC-45D Combo Organ (1972-77)

The top-end of the YC Combo Organs (recently reintroduced by Yamaha as the Yamaha Reface YC), this organ is a beast, weighing 132 lbs. In 1977, its list price was $2,975. Used by TANGERINE DREAM, PINK FLOYD and TERRY RILEY.

 

Crumar Multiman-S (1977)

A fully polyphonic Italian-made orchestral string machine featuring five basic sounds: brass, piano, clavichord, cello and violin. A later version of it, the Performer, was used by DURAN DURAN and SAINT ETIENNE.

 

Roland RS-09 (1979-80)

A poor person’s Arp Solina, the RS-09 is an analog string and organ synthesizer. It was used by THE CURE on their early albums: "17 Seconds" (1980), "Faith" (1981), and "Pornography" (1982).

 

Roland Juno-6 (1982)

Virtually identical to the Juno-60 that replaced it months after its release, the Juno-6 has been used by artists such as Nick Rhodes, DURAN DURAN (“Save a Prayer”), Enya (“Caribbean Blue”, Vince Clarke, ERASURE and ANIMAL COLLECTIVE (“My Girls”).

 

Yamaha DX7 (1983-89)

The 80s sound was intrinsically tied to the DX7. Artists that featured the DX7 in their songs included: Whitney Houston – “Saving All My Love For You” (1985); Phil Collins – “One More Night” (1985); CHICAGO – “Hard Habit to Break” (1984); Luther Vandross – “Here and Now” (1989); A-HA – “Take On Me” (1984); GENESIS – “In Too Deep” (1986); Howard Jones – “What is Love” (1984); MISTER MISTER – “Broken Wings” (1985); and BERLIN – “Take My Breath Away” (1986). Brian Eno used it extensively in his ambient music in the eighties.

 

Yamaha TX-7 (1985)

A desktop module version of the DX-7. Used by GENESIS, HUMAN LEAGUE and the SPICE GIRLS.

 

Roland MKS-50 (1987)

The MKS-50 is a rack-mount version of the Alpha Juno. It is used by UBERZONE, ASTRAL PROJECTION, FLUKE, FUTURE SOUND OF LONDON, PET SHOP BOYS, and Vince Clarke.

 

Yamaha TX81Z (1987)

Essentially a DX-11, it contains many of the classic DX-7 sounds. It is used by FLUKE, Roni Size, ASTRAL PROJECTION, SQUAREPUSHER, Jimmy Edgar, FUTUE SOUND OF LONDON, and Josh Wink.

 

Roland P-330 Digital Piano Module (1988)

Anyone looking to buy a fairly noisy, poorly sampled P-330 filled with unremarkable late eighties sounds?

 

Korg M3R (1989-1992)

A lite version of the classic Korg M1 that contained similar sounds. The M1 was one of the most important synths in electronic music history and was the most popular synth of the 90s, featured on innumerable tracks including Madonna’s “Vogue” (1990), SNAP'S “Rhythm is a Dancer” (1992), Robin S’s “Show Me Love” (1993), Jay Z’s “Money, Cash, Hoes” (1998) and in recent productions such as Bon Iver’s “Beth/Rest” (2011).

 

E-Mu Proformace 1+ (1990)

True stereo piano module.

 

Korg Wavestation SR (1990-94)

After he sold Sequential Circuits to Yamaha in 1988, Dave Smith went to Korg where he was part of the team that developed the Wavestation, which was based on the Prophet VS and utilized vector synthesis which creates continuously evolving sounds (perfect for synth pads). Notable artists who used the Wavestation include Jan Hammer, Phil Colllins, Gary Numan, Tony Banks, DEPECHE MODE and Michael Jackson. Soundtrack composer Mark Snow used a Wavestation SR when scoring episodes of the X-Files.