So I have been neglecting this poor blog for a few weeks but no worries because I kept a list on my counter of songs/artists I wanted to upload at the time so I’ll be filtering through those in the next week.

So today’s post is about the TB-303(wiki here). It’s a monophonic synth with a built in sequencer that Roland made that was a complete failure at the time in the early 80s(marketed to guitarists). It was discontinued after a short production run but eventually made it into the hands of the early House electronic music creators and hip hop producers. Now it’s one of the most sought after vintage synths with a price on the used market that fetches thousands of dollars. The reason I bring it up is I’m going to build one soon thanks to a wonderful group online who has released PCBs and a bill of materials for the rest of us to build our own - but I gotta hurry because many of the original parts are also becoming just as rare of the synth itself. I figure it will be a good project for me and hopefully I can find a new applications for it besides what you hear here - but first let’s talk about the many very recognizable faces(acorss genres) of the TB-303.

Okay, lets start with Acid music - the TB-303 sound IS ACID. That shifty lead sound being filtered all to hell is something you hear in every house/acid song and it all starts with the 303. The first influential group from the genre is widely considered to be Phuture. Listen to the this track by them and hear the 303 really kick in about 1:15 into it(it’s faintly heard before that).

Acid Trax by Phuture: This is considered classic Acid - not to be confused with the later Acid music that came along in the 90s which combined the 303 with effects like distortion to produce more mind bending sounds (and the soundtrack for many many raves). Just as another geek tidbit, the drums you hear here are analog drums and likely are also of the Roland ilk. They made the Tr-606, TR-808, and Tr-909 drum machines that synced up easily with the 303 bass synth. The TR series was suppose to be drum accompaniment while the TB 303 was suppose to be bass and they were both marketed to guitars and keyboardist for an early one man band sound. Anyway, when you hear songs or musicians refer to “808″ or “909″ they are talking about the drum sounds you hear on a track like this.

Itchiban Scratch by Chris “The Glove” Taylor. -Early electro at it’s best.

Jam on It by Newcleus - I know this looks really dated, but I’m 95% positive I saw some really hip kid rockin the exact same look in a fashion magazine sometime recently.

Unknown Youtube clip - I found this one really inspiring. The clip here is part 3 of a 3 part series of a guy showing how he makes music influenced by Ethiopian music. In part 1 he uses a TB-303 to show how he constructed the bass line and a TR-606 to make the drums(with triangle & doorbell overdubs later on). It’s really amazing to see him pull this tune together so quickly.  I posted the third video because it wraps up with the finished song - the bass is the 303.

Jam by Suitandtieguy - another random youtube clip. Here a guy is creating some crazy electro/hip hop beat with the 303, a drum machine(the multi colored push button thing at the beginning) and a slew of pedals.