1980 Oncor Sound BGS 4000 The Touch Vintage Electric Bass Guitar Synthesizer

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"Up for sale, a 1980 Oncor Sound BGS 4000 The Touch vintage bass synthesizer in exceptional condition and perfect working order. This instrument is in fantastic cosmetic shape and was fully (and recently) serviced by synth guru Julie Yarborough to ensure functionality and consistency with the instrument's myriad of features. This is a collector-grade example which was also previously owned by Oncor endorsee Don Schiff, and comes complete with the original manual, print ads from the era, 45rpm record with sound samples, paper overlays for the controls with recommended settings, warranty card, volume pedal, and signal adaptor (for interfacing with an amp).

Here's what Oncor Sound has to say about 'The Touch' Bass:

'The Touch' synthesizer is a unique approach to guitar synthesis eliminating the need for pitch extraction. Pitch extraction is a method whereby an electrical sensor determines string vibration and uses this pitch reference to drive an external synthesizer. 'The Touch' synthesizer allows the musician to play faster than other guitar synthesizers. The fretboard on a bass "Touch" contains 60 touch sensitive frets. The frets do not physically move to actuate fret position. Because of the lack of any physical movement, these switches should last for the owners lifetime. A musician will no longer need strings or mechanical tuning pegs. The plucking section uses a spring loaded pluck bar. The tension on this bar simulates the plucking motion of a regular bass.

'The Touch' Synthesizer is engineered for total synthesis from a self contained unit. It offers all the possibilities of a regular bass such as:

Priority selection on the fretboard
Pitch Bending
Hammering
Pull-off
Sliding

Infinite sustaining: 'The Touch' includes a unique selection for fret memory. This allows the musician to remove his fingers from a fret and still allow that fret address to be maintained. This is particularly useful to anyone just learning to play bass, or becoming familiar with 'The Touch' system.

Playing technique: 'The Touch' may be played using a standard pick or fingers. Experience with 'The Touch' often recommends a style of tapping downward on the strum bars as if playing keys. Because 'The Touch' is a monophonic lead instrument, care should be taken to play only one bar at a time.

Cosmetically, tin Oncor synth is remarkably clean, showing virtually no wear of note. The chrome on the body is minty (there's even an original factory sticker present on the chrome 'pickup cover') and all of the text for the various controls is bold and present. The 'fretboard' does have incremental separation from the aluminum neck, and by all accounts this is part of the functionality of the instrument that the board has a tiny amount of room to press down when playing.

A vintage (presumably original) case is included, with a foam lined interior that allows for convenient recesses for the included volume pedal and adapter box. The included warranty card, manual, and accessories are also near mint, representative of an instrument that has been cherished and well cared for over the past few decades."