Roland SH-2000 - 1973 - 30 Preset Analog Mono Synth

• Early Vintage Analogue Synthesizer
• Fully Restored
• 30 Pre-Set Sound Patches
• Some Knob Control (see features)
• After Touch (!!!)
• Reliable working condition - electronics restored
• Ample Potential when pre-sets turned into full control

The SH-2000 was the first Japanese Synthesizer on the American market - an: Analogue Pre-set Synthesizer. It was meant to be an add-on for organ players to add 30 directly accessible synthesizer pre-set sounds to their organ playing. It actually has a quite impressive synth engine that shoudl be capable of much more (see block diagram) I fully restored this unit.

Detail FEATURES as to Control Elements: -> Hands-On KNOB control: 37 Keys, SLIDERS: Modulation (LFO) Rate, Modulation (depth), Filter Cut-Off, Resonance, Portamento Speed, Master Volume, - POTENTIOMETERS: After touch: Sensitivity; Pitch (front pannel tuning knob) - SWITCHES: Power, After Touch destination: Volume, Vow (Filter Mod), “Growl”, Vibrato, Pitch Bend: Up/OFF/Down - Random Note: Auto/OFF/Key + TABS: 30 Pre-Sets + 4 Control: Repeat, Long sustain, Hold, Manual Control - Rear panel: Output: Hi/MED/Low + tuning

Work Performed to restore to reliably working condition: replaced all capacitors throughout the entire unit, re-soldered aged solder points, treated witches, controls and contacts with contact cleaner, performed all alignments, physical cleaning and detail work. Evaluated modification to make all parameters controllable + fabricated extension casing to house the modification (see photo)

Physical Condition: If it was not for the rust on the control panel I would say “good”, but there are a few dings. I might buy a replacement panel (at extra cost +$200) and with that it will be “good”). It currently reliably works (see “work performed”)

Lot: Roland SH-2000 Synth + extra expansion panel to house potential modifications (- See photos: remove wood top panel and install the expansion panel)

OPENING FOR DISCUSSION: Due to it's impressive synth engine (see block diagram photo) I am looking into modifications to free it from it's pre-sets to become much more versitile in sound. I have not decided whether to sell (the quoted price is for the synth in it's current condition and what work went into it so far). Any work needed to modify it in addition. Adding MIDI should be reasonably simple (+$250) and I can do that. 


Pre-Sets Set Free to manual control for more sound!

This vintage 1973 Roland music synthesizer has quite and expressive synth engine behind it to provide 30 pre-set sounds, but to provide 30 tab-accessible Pre-set sounds is mostly what it does. That is a severe limitation. The extensive engine in this synthesizer is already here, to provide much more, and more exotic sounds than the few chosen pre-sets! This synth set from it's limitations can be amazing to expand on it's full potential!

How does the pre-setting in this synthesizer work - and what can be done to set it free? The pre-sets are achieved here, by turning different sets of parameters in groups on/off via a diode matrix, to create a specific sound - or in other words: sending a voltage to each one particular switch that controls that one specific parameter that is part of creating that particular sound.

To free this synth from it's pre-sets would require to make each and every parameter individually switchable. To make this synth programmable one would need circuitry that can switch on/off/(and pass through) signals at the about 70 already existing connection points. If to make this synth digitally programable, one could use a Microcontroller and expand the design, so that ideally parameter names and settings would be on a display, and an input device that allows to adjust parameters by turning connection points (in the matrix) on/off/thru. I already designed what is needed to use physical switches to "program" this synth, but don't have the necessary microcontroller programming experience to accomplish that digitally yet without the switches.

To have more control over that, what the about total of 70 connection points can provide, it would make sense to either modify the envelope generator circuitry (VCA EG and VCF EG) for more switch points, or to provide pots for adjustment to be truly analog (one might loose the pre-set's if simply adding pots) A more effective Envelope control can be achieved by adding 2 more envelope generators that switch out for manual control and to substitute the pre-set generator with the freely adjustable Envelope Generator when switched in (There is a problem to be overcome - to those interested I will explain) Opening for discussion: Questions welcome, and I can provide more details on how the SH-2000 works and it's mods. Drop me a note with your thoughts, even if my technical jumble above flies right over your head! Inviting you to participate in the discussion if musician, artist or techie.

Purchase Agreement - All Sales are: "AS-IS”, FINAL - and: not returnable: LET’s do all that is needed to make sure to get you exactly what you need - BEFORE your purchase (Not returnable)! PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS - I am here to assist. All items are used and VINTAGE - sold "AS-IS" (-> vintage = often 50 years old!!!) and even with the best of refurb / repair work STILL CAN FAIL) and thus is sold without warranty or guarantees of any kind (AS-IS). I aim to perform all work that I foresee necessary, to provide equipment in well and reliably working condition - refurbish in as much detail as possible - and test thoroughly, to gain confidence through testing, to predict that it will last, but once work complete, it is still possible that something can go or be wrong with it (vintage) - Prices of items offered here reflect the work that went into a given piece of gear until it is listed, but cannot cover what a given piece may need in the future - that would be at your risk and expense - If there are defects, problems or shortcomings: likely I can repair, but it will be at additional cost - I do service what I sell at my regular shop rate. Any shipping costs responsibility of the buyer.