Bottom Ten Worst Synths of All Time

[gslug]

My Emulator II - because it is broken.

[synthroom]

You gotta get your EII fixed - it will be on your top ten list when it works!

[Walter Ego]

3) I'm not sure whether to include the Monotron or not. Through suitable processing it was actually pretty good, and I even made a recording with someone from a name band with it. So far so good. Then the output socket came loose and actually fell off the board. I opened it up, assessed the situation, and ditched it. It's possible that build quality varies, and it did a good job during its short life, so there are pros and cons.

I am torn about the Monotrons. They have a great tone; all three of them. But they're basically impossible to play. But I keep them around because I use the filter input all over the place. So as a synth, they're not much more than a toy for FX, but as FX units, they're great--at least I really like them. And I like that dirty MS-20 filter character A LOT.

[synthroom]

I can't claim it's one of the ten worst, but the FB-01 is the least favorite synth I've ever owned. I even bought it new in 1988. It had a couple of cool sounds, but it really put me off FM synths for a long time!

I love the strings on my Crumar Performer, yet I HATE the brass sounds it makes. But the strings are so good, I still love the Performer!

[gslug]

You gotta get your EII fixed - it will be on your top ten list when it works!

I know! I'm terrible for buying new gear. instead of getting around to fixing what I already have....

[Ry-Fi]

For me the worst synth I have used is probably the "Oberheim" OB-12...

I can't say your opinion's wrong, but I really do need to make sure you've heard this though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mQDx5iAgjg

This is a SPECTACULAR sounding synth, as far as I'm concerned!

[Hybrid88]

hmm, I've got a few least favourite synths of all time but I don't know if I'd call them bad, just not my taste

Some of them are;

Ensoniq SQ-80 - hate it, sounds retro in a bad way. Don't care what people say this one is going as soon as I get it fixed up.

Stringers (including solina) - Disco anyone? Thought not...

Casio VL Tone - actually I love it just as much as I hate it, it's cool, but it's c**p. Mine's broken so it sounds even worse than usual, which kinda adds to the charm. haha

Yamaha Tyros - everything about it makes me want to puke. Except for the price, that one has me laughing.

Roland/Edirol Sound Canvas's & GM Modules - for obvious reasons.

Roland U-110 - some usable sounds, but fark this thing has so many artifacts you'd be forgiven for confusing it with an archeological dig. 80's technology baby, live it up.

Yamaha PSR's/Casio CTK's - I avoid these as much as possible.

Home Organs - These are in vast quantities locally and I give a shudder everytime I see one for sale.

There are others that don't exactly enthral me, but most synths have some useful sounds however limited that may be.

[dustinh]

I'll post now since the SQ-80 has been hated on and it's my avatar! I really don't care though. I love it but I can definitely see why some people wouldn't.

Anyway, korg ea-1 for me. I thought it was awesome when I was 17. I bought it when it first came out. But it got boring REAL fast. And the filter sounds downright terrible on it.

[commodorejohn]

Yamaha PSR's/Casio CTK's - I avoid these as much as possible.

You know, I'm not gonna dispute that, but man, I have a PSR-48 anyway just for the baddest-a*s demo tune ever...

[pflosi]

Some amazing synths in this list you nitpickers

[Black Tomorrow]

Yamaha PSR's/Casio CTK's - I avoid these as much as possible.

I can certainly understand your sentiment. However, in spite of the fact that I've gotten instruments that I SWORE would replace it, my PSR-740 remains essential to my setup. It does less and less, but it's still useful.

1) Stylophone.

I'd never buy one myself, but a friend gave one to me for Christmas a few years ago. Quirky and fun occasionally, but only for a few minutes. But yes, it would probably go on my "worst" list.

Also, the Poly-800. Okay, I've heard some great sounding stuff from it, but if I include only equipment I've used, I just don't have the patience for this one.

SHS-10. I'm baffled at the prices these go for. It was my first keyboard, and I still have it, but I have no real use for it.

I had Baldwin home organ that I found cheap at a pawn shop. Boring, but the one thing it had going for it was that it was tough. When a friend helped me move it in his truck, it flipped out the back at 50mph. Thankfully it didn't hit anyone, but after putting it back on and getting it home, it still worked! Looked like it survived a war, but it had no functional issues.

[ppg_wavecomputer]

I would like to add Roland´s TR-505/626/MT-32 to my personal list, as well as the Siel Kiwi, the Roland Juno-106, Korg Poly 800, as well as the Kawai K4.

Yes, the CS80 is an overrated heap of dung.

Stephen

[Hybrid88]

See I have to disagree there, the Juno 106 is right up my alley, great synth.

And Pflosi if you want to hear me nitpick on some "amazing" synths, you better add the PPG Wave, Jupiter 8, Fairlight and Oberheim synths to my list of 'thanks but no thanks'. I am happy if others love them and I can definitely understand why, but personally I'm not keen to relive 80's music.

[pflosi]

Sure, go on writing the prices down Quite a few synths on my wishlist mentioned here and that is even excluding all the high level stuff (and obviously a few posters were maybe a bit sarcastic...).

And do you really think all you can do with PPG, JP8, Fairlight and Obies is "80's music"?

[Hybrid88]

haha no I'm serious

I know they're nice machines but they're just not that useful for my style.

...And do you really think all you can do with PPG, JP8, Fairlight and Obies is "80's music"?

Yes, that's all I've heard them do really well.

Put it this way, I'm yet to hear anything that really inspires or intrigues me regarding their usefulness in modern music that's not meant to sound retrospective. Believe me I've tried to like them, but it's just not happening. I'm always happy to be proven wrong.