TC Electronic SDS-8 Octal Effect Controller


Will Systems MAB-303 (TB-303 emulator)

What kind of power supply does the MAB-303 use?


My second hand MAB-303 came without a power supply. Will Systems doesn't exist anymore so if you need an adapter I doubt you'll be able to get an original one. On the back there is a 15v AC adapter input. This is a rather odd voltage, most univeral adapter you get in stores only support voltages up to 12v, so you have to visit a specialized store to get one. Or buy it somewhere online. I don't know how much amperes it needs but I do know that 1000mA is not enough. I tried a 15v 1000mA adapter but the synth didn't turn on. I bought a 15-24v 4000mA univeral adapter at www.conrad.nl and it worked fine. I would suggest you buy one with plenty of amperes (note: it doesn't matter if you buy an adapter with even higher amperes because an electrical device only draws what it needs).





 

Yamaha YC-25D Combo Organ


The YC-25D is basically a dual-manual version of theYC-20 with several added features. I currently own one of these, so I'm quite familiar with it as well. The upper keyboard has 49 keys, and the lower manual has 30 Treble keys and 19(!?!) Bass keys which can be switched to extend the Treble section. Instead of having a Ch I and Ch II set of levers, one set is exclusively for each manual. Unlike the YC-20, both the upper and lower levers produce the same flute-like tone as the II section on the YC-20  However, the lower manual has a nice key-click, similar to the one found on the YC-20/YC-30 section I voices. The upper manual has all the same footages as the I section on the YC-20, and the lower manual has the same footages as the II section, plus a 2-2/3' lever. Both sections have the bright lever as well. Since the cheesier sounds of the YC-20's I section are gone, the upper manual of the YC-25D has four additional voices: Trombone 16', Kinura 16', Trumpet 8', and String 4'. These provide a nice selection of fuzzy, gritty, cheesy combo organ sounds. The Percussion section has been enhanced, with separately adjustable 4' and 2-2/3' levers, comparable to 2nd and 3rd harmonic percussion on a Hammond. There's also a Length lever for the percussion, which increases the time it takes for the percussion sound to die down. Similar to the Short/Long switch on a Hammond, but continuously variable. Percussion as well as Touch Vibrato are available on the upper manual only. The upper manual has a couple of additional features. There are two tabs to the left that select Touch Mute and Attack Glide. Touch Mute reduces the volume and mellows the timbre, but moving the keys side-to-side causes the timber to waver, giving sort of a "wah-wah" effect. Attack Glide is similar to Farfisa's Syntheslalom. When you press a key, it quickly "glides" up to the desired note. Not a very useful or pleasing sound, in my opinion, but fun to play with, nonetheless. There's also a lever to the left of the upper manual that controls the volume balance between the two manuals. The lower manual is basically the same as the YC-20 with the II section only, except it has the additional 2-2/3' lever. The Bass section is monophonic (when using the Bass voices - polyphonic when playing the treble voices), but adds a couple of extra features. Bass Guitar gives a plucked string-like sound that decays even if you hold the key. The other feature appears to vary on different models. Some have a "Sustain" lever, that adds a sustain after key release. This is the feature specified in the 1974 and '76 sales brochures that the picture below comes from. But on mine, the lever is labeled "Pizzicato", and it adds a sustain more like the Bass Guitar - it fades out even if you hold the key, and the sound stops immediately upon key release. The Sustain and Pizzicato features both affect only the regular 16' and 8' bass voices - the Bass Guitar is separate. The YC-25D can also be fitted with bass pedals, and the knob that switches between Manual Bass and Pedals effectively replaces the "Man Bass" switch on the YC-20 - switching the knob to the "Pedals" position, even if no pedals are connected, extends the bass section to play along with the rest of the lower manual. The YC-25D uses the same legs as the YC-20. http://www.combo-organ.com

Controls:
Knobs: Bass-Manual/Pedals, Pitch, Bass Volume, Master Volume.
Levers
:
    Vibrato: Vibrato, Vibrato Speed
    Upper: Touch Vibrato, Trombone 16', Kinura 16', Trumpet 8', String 4', Bright, 16', 8', 4', 2-2/3', 2', 1-3/5', 1'
    Percussion: 
Length, 4', 2-2/3'
    Lower
: Bright, 16', 8', 4', 2-2/3', 2'  
    Bass:
 Sustain or Pizzicato, 16', 8', Bass Guitar.
Tabs (to left of upper keyboard): Touch Mute, Attack Mute.  
Lever 
(next to tabs): Man. Balance.

Date introduced: 1972. In 1977, the YC-25D list price was $1,375. Weight 95lbs.



Hohner Bonanza


Roland TR-727 Rhythm Composer + M64C Memory Cartridge



The Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer is a programmable digital sample-based drum machine built by the Roland Corporation, beginning in 1984. The TR-707 was a staple in early house music, particularly with acid house. It is also a staple of almost all electronically produced Arabic pop music (al jeel). Because the TR-707 offers a limited number of instruments sampled at 12 bits, its sound is considered dated by modern standards. However, it is still in use because of its versatility in synchronizing with other hardware and its fully featured interface, comparable to that of high-end Roland drum machines such as the TR-808 and TR-909.

The TR-727 is an identical drum machine with blue highlights on the case and a Latin-inspired sample set. Similar sounds were present in the TR-505.
The TR-707 has fifteen digitally sampled sounds, which include two individual bass drum and snare sounds that cannot be triggered simultaneously. The instruments are labeled as Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Low Tom, Mid Tom, Hi Tom, Rimshot, Cowbell, Hand Clap, Tambourine, Hi-Hat (Closed or Open), Cymbal (Crash or Ride), as well as an additional function labeled accent, which serves to modify the volume of the other instruments.

The TR-707 provides four levels of shuffle that operate globally on the rhythm, as well as flam that can be applied to any step. The device offers 64 programmable patterns, which are editable via step-write or tap-write, that can be sequenced together into any of four different tracks. Patterns and tracks can be stored on the device (providing that two AA batteries are inserted) or onto an optional memory cartridge with twice the capacity.

The TR-707 is particularly sought after by users of Roland gear from the same era because it can synchronize with other hardware via both MIDI and DIN sync, although it cannot do so when controlled by other hardware. There is also an output that allows the Rimshot to trigger hardware that accepts a voltage pulse, such as the SH-101. There are individual volume sliders and output jacks for each instrument group, which is unusual for digital drum machines.  http://en.wikipedia.org


Manual [PDF]



Roland TR-626 Rhythm Composer

Vermona DRM (Digital Rhythm Machine), 1987-1990, made in Germany

Technische Daten: vermona | sequencer

Demo1
Demo2

gebaut von 1987 bis 1990
zwölffach polyphon, analoge Klangerzeugung, 12 Drumsounds (1Bass Drum, 2 Snare Drums, 2 Hi Hats (open, closed), 1 Cymbal, 3 Toms, 1 Clap, 1 Cowbell, 1 Clave ), 16 Preset Pattern, 10 User Pattern, 16 Songspeicher, Lauflichtprogrammierung ( 32 Programmierschritte ), Solo- und Fill-In Funktion, Tempo von 40 - 248 bpm, Realtime und Step-Programmierung, Akzentfunktion, midi In und Out

Soundcraft Spirit NotePad, 1996


Specification:

  • 4 Mic inputs Mic / Line
  • High-quality mic pre-amp inputs
  • Balanced / Unbalanced
  • 2 Stereo inputs Line / Turntable
  • 2-Band EQ on all 4 mono channels
  • Post fade Aux Send on all inputs
  • Switchable 48v phantom mic power
  • Separate mix & monitor outputs
  • Headphone output
  • 2-Track Tape Return
  • Effects send & Return
  • Compact lightweight design



Crumar DS-2



In 1978, Crumar released their first full-fledged synthesizer with innovative features, Crumar DS-2 which had one of the earliest Digital controller oscillators (DCO). Crumar synthesizers are comparable and contemporaneous to Moog synthesizers and other analog synthesizers. In fact, Crumar Spirit synthesizer in 1983 was originally designed by Bob Moog himself, along with Jim Scott (co-designer of minimoog) & Tom Rhea (who wrote manuals of Moog synthesizers). In 1984, they started producing polyphonic synthesizer using DCO under the name of Bit, which were marketed in the US under the name Unique. http://en.wikipedia.org


  • Specifications http://www.vintagesynth.com
  • Polyphony - Monophonic synthesizer section; 44 voice polyphonic string section
  • Oscillators - 2 DCOs
  • LFO - 2 LFOs; LFO 2 has Sample&hold and Staircase waveforms
  • Filter - 1 4-pole LPF with Cutoff, Resonance, ADSR and ENV-amount
  • VCA - ADSR
  • Keyboard - 44 keys
  • Memory - None
  • Control - Gate
  • Date Produced - 1978

McVoice WEH-700 Studio Service Analog Echo (made in Taiwan for Western Germany)


McVoice WEH-700 Studio Service Analog Echo (made in Taiwan for Western Germany)

Controls:
  • Volume 1
  • Volume 2
  • Echo Level
  • Repeat
  • Delay
  • Master Volume (peak level)
  • power on/off

Connectors:
  • Input 1 on standard 1/4' Jack.
  • Input 2 on standard 1/4' Jack.
  • Aux on standard 1/4' Jack.
  • Foot Switch on standard 1/4' Jack.
  • Output  on standard 1/4' Jack.
Power type and voltage:
  • Alternating Current supply (AC) / 220 Volt.

SeP Laboratory Vocoder

Owners of such equipment! Reply plz!

The owner of this exhibit is a friend of mine. With his permission, I will post photos and some information:

During last 3 years we had some untypical, lesser known gear like analog drumboxes, analog accompaniament machines or built-in organ solosynths but there was always some info about manufacturer.

This SeP Vocoder is totally unknown. I don't know, maybe it was some kind of prototype for never launched project…

This vocoder is mysterious. Really. I have it from friend who bought it 5 years ago in Germany. But I'm not sure about its origin. 

On the net there's no info about it...


Jolana Rubin Electric Bass Guitar, 1972, made in Czechoslovakia


Jolana Rubin bass is one of the numerous semihollow Jolana basses introduced during the second half of the sixties. Rubin bass was made somewhwere during the seventies. The first semihollow bass in this line was a Pampero (introduced in 1965), a bass version of Jolana Tornado, a semihollow model first introduced in 1963. It seems that Jolana company started to change various small details in the design, each time giving the instrument a new name. In communist reality that seems to be reasonable, because the company had the possibility to say that in "this year we introduced a couple of new models", while not doing almost anything: you didn't have to fight for the market, you only had to report that you were working.

Other similar semihollow Jolana basses were: Jolana Studio, Kolorbas, and mentioned above Pampero. The differencies include headstock shapes, controls' plates, f-holes quantity (1 to 2) and, of course, the logo. cheesyguitars

Jolana Iris Electric Guitar

Jolana Iris was a very popular guitar during the 70's and 80's in Eastern Europe. The Telecaster - inspired design features a semihollow body with one f-hole and a tremolo unit. Pickups are single-coils with rail magnets. The blue one is dated 1974.

Iris was introduced shortly after Jolana Vikomt guitar and bass came out in 1973. Vikomt had only one pickup in the neck position. Iris had two modifications - with AlNiCo pickups and ebony fingerboard and Ferrite pickups with rosewood fingerboard (not sure if ebony and rosewood were the real woods or just different paint color over beech fretboard). As usual, Iris bass was produced together with the guitar. Iris was very popular and the demand was high so Jolana produced Altro guitar and bass later. Altro had a solid body and a better bridge, the rest was similar to Iris.

 

Jolana Galaxis Electric Bass Guitar

80's Jolana Galaxis bass. Made in Krnov, Czechoslovakia since 1980. The red finish was avaliable since 1982. This bass was spotted on ebay with a minimum $99 bid. The pickups, tuners, finish, pickguard, neckplate and woods are similar to those found on Jolana Disco bass and several other 80's Jolana basses. http://cheesyguitars.com


first example: