Ultramungous
Rating:
5 / 5
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.
Just the Facts, Ma'am
Rating:
5 / 5
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.)
Indispensible guide for the used keyboard buyer
Rating:
5 / 5
Keyfax Omnibus is a must have item for electronic musicians looking for those increasingly hard to find bargains in the world of used synthesizers.Each review has pertinant information like how many units of a particular instrument were sold, what the asking price was when the item was originally sold and what it was when this edition was compiled (1996 prices). Of course there have been fluctuations, but the guide prices are all pretty valid. This has reviews and many pictures for just about anything that you'll find, so it may save some money in the long run, and help to identify bargains. Julian has a hot 100 which most people will agree with. Strongly recommended.
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