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"Up for auction here is a rare vintage Synare S3X drum synthesizer, made somewhere around 1980 by Star Instruments of Stafford Springs, CT. It's an update of the somewhat more common Synare PS3 drum synth, which turns up from time to time in New Wave and, especially, disco records of the era. Nowadays, these Synare drums are more often used as a nice portable impact-activated analog synth, rather like hitting a Moog with a stick. It's got two oscillators and a ton of sonic possibilities, you can get real dubsteppy real quick with this thing, it's got a sound that matches up well with its UFO-like shape. (Check out "Synare" on youtube for an idea of some of the possibilities.)
The differences between this S3X and the earlier PS3 are several:
The S3X allows you to have 5 preset sounds, available by turning the rightmost knob on the unit. These are adjustable, to some degree, by opening up the case and turning one of the five trim pots on the circuit board. The preset sounds can be modified in real time by adjusting the knobs on the front of the drum, e.g., increasing or decreasing the Decay time. Selecting Preset 0 puts the drum in full realtime control without any preset sound source.
The sensitivity of the drum can be adjusted by turning another trim pot on the circuit board.
The S3X can be used with a Synare Sequencer without modification, whereas a PS3 requires retro-fitting to work with the Sequencer.
The S3X uses a wall wart power supply rather than two 9-volt batteries, so you don't run out of juice during a show. Also, each S3X has two 1/8" input/output jacks for DC power, which allows you to chain multiple drums to one power supply simply by running a 1/8" cable between your drums.
The condition of this unit isn't mint but it's not at all bad for a 30-year-old piece. The white drumhead is marked from playing but still perfectly responsive, not rotted and flaking like some you see. There's minor scratches and scrapes on the surface but no dents or rust. I've never gotten much of a sound from presets 1 and 2 but otherwise the controls function as they should.
I'm also including an interesting pile of documentation that came with the drum.
A folded one-sheet with a diagram of the drum interior on one side and a description of the internal preset, etc., controls on the other.
A (rather faded) second sheet with a diagram of the exterior controls on one side and some suggested configurations on the the other, and
Four pages of hand-written diagrams and notes, dated 2/11/80, describing the operation of the drum. I don't know if this came from the factory or what, but it's interesting.
Finally, this drum comes with an after-market (Radio Shack) wall wart adapter that works well with the drum. It has the requisite 1/8" male tip, which can be rather difficult to find.
And, finally, finally, I'll even enclose the original box, though that and everything else will be well-packed and protected in a larger container."
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