Customer Reviews

Vintage Synthesizers: Groundbreaking Instruments and Pioneering Designers of Electronic Music Synthesizers

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book doesn't read so much like a book as it reads like a collection of essays or old magazine articles (which is what it is, actually). It therefore doesn't have a coherent focus. I would much rather have a book that was written as a book, that follows a thread all the way through - like maybe a chapter pn the development of the oscillator, describing how it works, tracing it's development, pointing out the differences between the various makers, etc. Followed by a similar chapter on filter sytems, whatever. This book in no way does that. But, it is an interesting read anyway. Take note - the Second Edition does cover Japanese synths - Korg and Roland, although, again, in a typically scattershot manner.

I already have most of the chapters in the book via articles published in Keyboard Magazine in the late 80's and 90's, so the majority of the info was redundant and just re-printed from those articles. There are some glaring omissions, such as leaving Roland out of the book except for a few pics!(?) Also, Korg received short shrift as well. I preferred Keyfax Omnibus Edition from Colbeck, although it had it's own errors as well. If you're a novice or didn't have access to those earlier Keyboard articles, this isn't a bad place to start.

What a FUN book! If you were around when these synths were king, then this is a true trip down memory lane! Tons of pictures, including a color section, and chapters on Moog, PAiA, Buchla, Korg, Yamaha, ARP etc (Roland could use more coverage, and my beloved Yamaha CS-60 is not mentioned, though the CS80 is well covered). Most of Mark's information is fun and non-technical. This is not a how-to book, but more of a capsulation of the technologies, companies, and people surrounding the synthesizer revolution. A few factual errors and street prices that seem low since the analog synth resurgence are the only reasons I give it a 4. Also great pics of extremely rare synthesizers and lots of background stories on the companies. Highly Recommended (but dont believe the prices listed)

THis is a great book for lovers of synthesizers,drum machines, and the history behind synth inovators.The only downside is that it doesn't cover much on Roland and Korg. If it did I'd give it a 5 stars.Maybe an update is due in the secondhand section as when I first bought this book the prices were near enough, but since the Techno DIY ethic prices have skyrocketed.Well worth an investigation

In a word , addictive. I love this book, I keep coming to it looking for info year after year.

This is one serious book. A comprehensive technology guide about all those vintage synthesizers we love. CleverJoe is a keyboardist and long time analog freak, and this is truly a good resource for all you genuine analog lovers out there (you know who you are, lurking in the shadows...). Lots of pics, chapters on Moog, ARP, Korg, Yamaha, Buchla, many more. Of course there will inevitably be some grumbling from a few people who don't see their fave synth covered, but the book is not meant to be a complete price or synthesizer reference guide. Instead it is a wonderful trip down memory lane, with extensive background information on the evolution of synthesizers, insights into the business side of the builders, and the history of some of the most amazing synthesizer built.

This book has #1-cool articles; it has a part in it by Bob Moog, and I bought it basicaly on those terms! #2-cool pictures. I've never drooled on any of my books except this one! ;) #3-lots of good history and such. If you're looking for a technical manual, this isn't it....but if you're looking into nostalgia, background info on synths, or just some fun reading about synths this is a great book!

This books tells the story of a few of the synth maker pioneers: E-Mu, Moog, PPG, ARP, etc. Many of it's chapters are written by those who created the original instruments, others are written by Vail from a mostly interview Q&A style. A nice insight in what was what and who did who.

As one of the designers of the early ARP 2500, it was interesting to see a recap of those years at the company. The book presents a fascinating panorama of the history and evolution of analog synths, and is a good study of what drives product success in the marketplace. It is interesting to note how technology has disruptively moved from analog to digital, making synthesizer design into a completely different process from what it was in the good old days.

This Book impressed me so much when I first saw it...priceless pictures of EMS and synthesizers in luscious color...frozen in time. It focuses on examining the specific rise and falls of a few of the major analog synthesizer manufacturers from the 70's and 80's. It has great details on ARP, EML, EMS, PPG,Oberheim, and of course..Moog. I can't say enough positive things about it.