Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ultramungous, September 4, 2000
An excellent reference-work, this sets out to give details on every synth ever made from 1968 until 1996, with a big directory at the back of the book, and lengthy reviews of 100 of the most interesting at the front. Rather than being simply a collection of reviews from the other, hard-to-find Keyfax book, the whole book has been written from scratch. Julian Colbeck has a knack for writing that is informative and friendly without appearing smug, and the constant references to hopelessly untrendy bands that he has worked with add to the charm. His selection of 100 great synths covers the obvious bases and includes plenty of bizarre, interesting things that you have probably never heard of - the Gleeman Pentaphonic and the Octave-Plateau Voyetra Eight are new to me. Omissions are a matter of taste, but it seems odd to have both the Jupiter 8 and MKS-80 in separate entries, and it would have been nice to see the JX-10 as well. There is single black-and-white photograph for each synth (oddly, the one for the Kurzweil 250 seems to focus on the back of the machine), and a few interesting images in the directory. Given that the synth market has thrown up some interesting things in the last four years, here's hoping that there's an updated reprint in the wings, hopefully with a CD of old synth sounds attached to the front.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just the Facts, Ma'am, January 26, 2000
There is no other way to get all this information on vintage synths in one lifetime. Yeah, I kept mine in the bathroom at first, but now its next to the computer so I can check the minimal synth descriptions at the Ebay and Amazon auctions. Most recently, it convinced me to buy the Oberheim Matrix 1000, new in the box, a great synth. If you want data (and some knowledgeable opinions) rather than photos and memoirs, this is the book. (It does have some photos, small but informative.)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for synth junkies, August 30, 1998
A very good referance book for those interested in vintage synths. Has good overview's and statisics on many of the classics. Not as indepth as Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail and features some questionable "Top 100" synthesizer choices (Roland MT-32 but not Jupiter-6??). However, most Top 100 entries feature photos of instruments (although many are overly cropped), but if you're into vintage synths then it's a must read. I enjoyed it. Plus if you keep it in the bathroom, each synth overview will cover a sitting, allowing it to be enjoyed for a full 100 sittings! - And that doesn't count the synth manufacturer profiles and extensive buyer's guide index.
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