This custom sunshine Roland SH-101 is sure to add some brightness to any day in your studio. Fitted with new yellow LEDs, an illuminated pitch bender, and a Tubbutec MIDI kit which works both in and out ports.
The seller, SynthSpa, not only gave this synth the ultimate skin treatment but also fully calibrated and rebuilt all the sliders—it resembles their similarly painted Juno-106 that became one of Reverb's recent Finds of the Week.
Since its release in 1982, the Roland SH-101 has become a cult favorite amongst synth users and artists such as Portishead, Boards of Canada, and 808 State.
This monosynth has a lot of power due to its single VCO with sub-oscillator, its resonant filter, and its single envelope generator that can be routed to the VCA and filter independently. It can also produce sounds comparable to those produced by a Juno or TB-303, from oozing acid patterns and pulsating sub-bass lines to melodic leads and arpeggios.
The sequencer on this synth is potentially more of a trendsetter than the synth itself, and gave way to the term “101-style” when referring to the operation of a sequencer. To use it, all you have to do is hit record, play the notes you want, hit play again, and set the tempo.
The pitch bender is another one of its coolest features, allowing you to control the filter, pitch, LFO, or all three simultaneously. Additionally, there are CV and Gate outputs—it can also be modded into a keytar if you find the optional handle and strap.
If you're looking for an iconic synthesizer that's been given a new lease on the sunny side of life, this listing is worth checking out.