via Kickstarter
"The Return of a Legend - Our Re-issue of the 777 analog synthesizer with Updated Sequencer Features from the Revolution and Swynx!
In 1997, The 777 was the first 303 clone to include the all-important sequencer, and provide real-time editing of patterns during playback. However, it really was much more than a clone..
...The first 30 units produced were the purple 777 models. Approximately 25 of the blue 777 models were then produced. There were 7 custom hand-brushed silver front panels created, and only 3 of those were ever sold to the public. The white 777 is the only one in existence. The majority of 777’s produced were the black and white models. Notice these models had slightly different screen-printing with the 777 name typed out instead of using a symbol like the first models had. ...It sounded fabulous but also caused the output to increase drastically in volume. So a completely new overdrive stage was implemented on later models that kept the output more consistent as the overdrive was increased. I would say later models had a cleaner sound overall, and slightly better stability.
All 777’s were hand assembled, and the first 200 plus units of the 777 were made entirely by myself. It took at least 8 hours to assemble a single unit. As demand grew for the 777, I hired another hand assembly company to do the majority of component placement, while I focused on final assembly, testing, and tuning of each unit, and the day-to-day chores of running a business. The 777 quickly became the acid synth of choice by many well known artists including: Skylab2000, Uberzone, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, KMFDM, Nine Inch Nails, Jason Nevins, Air Liquide, Alex Gopher, Richie Hawtin, Aphex Twin, BT, The Juan MacLean, Terra Firma/Union Jack, Nortec Collective, Atomic Babies, Electric Skychurch, and many others. Bands like Hardfloor and Plastikmand inspired the original concept for the 777, with the minimal acid house music they were creating using only a drum machine or two, and a TB-303.
I wanted to create similar music using only the 777, as digital multi-tracking was becoming more accessible at that time. The 777 provided built in distortion to achieve those ripping acid leads that were becoming popular, and also provided enough additional circuitry to allow analog percussion and other sounds to be generated. The 777 was originally called the Bassix, which can be seen printed on the PC boards. Although it was never publicly called this, it was simply a nickname given during development. This was a derived combination of the TB-303’s “Bassline” name and the TR-606’s “Drumatix” name. As this unit could sound like the 303, but its sequencer operated more like the 606 with its live note entry and editing features.
In 2003 production of the 777 stopped, with a total of 678 units being produced in all. These units quickly became collector like commodities, and continue to command high prices in the used market. We are very excited to bring it back! As of 2025 we have been prototyping the 777 for over 2 years to bring it back to the market. We have been through many iterations of the analog board in order to make it sound as much like my personal vintage unit while also designing it for manufacture.
Now we are asking for you help to do it the way we would like to. We are wanting to upgrade the processor and code base so that we have the ability to include the remix feature from the Revolution/Orb sequencers as well as the time signatures and swing features from the SWYNX!"
See Kickstarter for additional details.
