New Run Original EMS Synthi A

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"This is one of the last 40 EMS Synthi's ever to be produced. I've spent more than a decade on the waiting list for it. New orders are no longer being accepted as the Spartanite briefcases essential to the Synthi design are no longer available.
In other words, according to the manufacturer, this unit is among the last handful of Synthi's ever.

This instrument was meticulously hand-built and precision-calibrated earlier this year by Robin Wood of EMS himself. It's in absolutely perfect operational and cosmetic condition. It's also the only truly new Synthi I've ever seen on eBay.

I placed my order for this Synthi with EMS in the UK in 2001. It was finally delivered in early 2012. A few years after placing my order I got impatient and had the chance to buy an older Synthi A, so at the moment I actually have two units. The two are almost identical but the older one has more sentimental value to me, having owned & played it for almost 10 years. After long deliberation I've decided to sell this new one.

In terms of design, compared to the 70's units, the only differences I've spotted are a squarish attack button instead of a round one (the new design is an improvement over the older one, which was much harder to push down), and the fact that the label on the briefcase now reads "EMS Cornwall" instead of "EMS London" (the company moved). The operating voltage is still switchable between 110v and 220v via a switch inside the briefcase.

In terms of sound, comparing this to my 1970's Synthi I hear no differences in sound character or response; it has all the unique sonic character that Synthi's are legendary for, while at the same time being perfectly calibrated and sounding exactly as its designer intended. I've had the chance to try out several Synthi's over the past 15 years, and this sounds exactly like the older units, but without the inevitable scratchiness of used instruments.

This is a Synthi A, not an AKS. That means it comes without a keyboard in the lid of the briefcase; those were only available in the 70's.
It can of course be controlled by an external CV keyboard, or by MIDI with a suitable MIDI-to-CV converter. This is a "MkII" Synthi A, with a matte aluminium front panel, and output rows on the pin matrix.


The Synthi comes with all the original accessories: a full set of 18 patch pins (white, red and green), the power cord, and the 90-page "Synthi Educational Handbook" manual. Comes in original, incredibly sturdy, packaging as well."