Where are the beautiful synths?
I was flipping through some pornography the other day, admiring some pretty guitars. Specifically, the maple-top Taylor T5 caught my eye. Of course, Grl’s 614CE is not exactly an eyesore either. Then I wondered: what gear do I have that’s nice to look at? The yellow-cone KRKs? The padKontrol? I love my kit, but it’s not pretty.
Guitarists can find an axe with any body shape, color, finish, and wood they like. Synthesizers, on the other hand, tend to look functional at best and butt-ugly at worst.
Sonically speaking, classics like the MS-20 or DX-7 were revolutionary. Visually, they look more like appliances than instruments. I would love to get my hands on an ARP Odyssey, but it’s pretty unattractive. At least oddities like the Wasp and the Fizmo are so ugly they’re cute.
What synths are beautiful? Pics and ramblings after the jump ..
I dig the look of Moog’s Little Phatty almost as much as I hate the name. I love the shape of the side panels– curves are so rare on synthesizers. The color scheme (especially on the wood-paneled Tribute edition), and the control layout also appeal.
Clavia make some classy-looking kit; the classic Nord Lead embodies it for me. More than any other synth manufacturer, you can glance at one of their instruments from a distance and instantly say, “hey, that’s a Clavia.”
Waldorf brought some color into the synth world with the yellow Q. In contrast to Clavia’s elegance, the Q exudes funkiness.
Of course I can’t ignore the uber-stylin’ Virus TI Polar. I feel like I’m not hip enough to even look at one.
(Photo credits: Little Phatty photo by Maggie Osterberg. Nord Lead 2 photo by metatron1. Virus & Q photos from the manufacturers.)