The definitive encyclopedia of classic synths
Part One A-M & Part Two N-Z – Reviewed by John Alex Hvidlykke
The title says it all: Analogue Synthesizers from A to Z. Or rather synthesisers, as the author, Peter Forrest, is British. In the two books, totalling 706 pages, you’ll find an almost complete alphabetical listing of all analogue synthesizers on the market (but also DIY synths, such as Elektor formant), primarily from the early 1970s and about 30 years onwards. For each one, you will find a description of the most important technical data – to the extent that the author has been able to obtain it. The most important ones are also evaluated with graphs of 10 different parameters (sounds, keyboard, interface, controls, memories, ease of use, character, power/space ratio, maintenance and collectability), as well as a graph of the price development.
The assessment is obviously subjective, but Peter Forrest knows his subject matter to a rare degree and has had his hands on more classic synthesizers than most people can hope to achieve in a lifetime. The descriptions are peppered with opinions and recommendations, such as “If you were compiling a top ten of monosynths, there would be a strong case for including the original Wasp. Revolutionary, distinctive, affordable (at the time), and above all with a great sound all of its own.“
Unobtainable for many years
Peter Forrest’s reference books on synthesizers are nearly as interesting to collectors as the instruments they describe. The books were originally published in the mid-1990s. The first edition quickly sold out. The author later made a revised edition of both volumes, and these are the basis for the edition available for purchase today. The first volume (A-M) was revised in 1998, while the second volume dates from 2003. And for many years, both editions have been virtually unobtainable – and very expensive. But that has now been changed.
The current edition, which is now purchasable online, is based on the two revised volumes from 1998 and 2003 respectively. In other words, no new descriptions have been added in the past 20 to 25 years. The same applies to the layout, which is characterised by having been created at home on the desktop using the word processing systems of the time.
The books are 322 pages and 384 densely described pages respectively. It’s neither pretty nor particularly clear, and most of the images appear to have been scanned from photocopies. However, each book contains 16 inserted colour pages with colour photos of the most interesting synthesizers.
In a way, you could say that Peter Forrest’s books are like the internet we were promised when it became generally accessible in the 1990s: a deep and comprehensive collection of information that you can access and sift through. A treasure trove of geek knowledge with no purpose or pretension other than knowledge itself.
Every detail is included
However, it’s not the aesthetics that are the reason to buy the A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers, but the almost obsessive completeness with which the work was created. If a synthesizer is important (or just exists), you can read about it in one of the books. If you want to know how many oscillators there are in a Syntrol College (there are two) or the steepness of the filter in a Korg Delta (24 dB/oct), this is where you’ll find the information.
Each book has not one but two indexes at the end, one for the synthesizers described and one for the musicians who have used them. So if you have a dream of becoming the next John Lord, you will find the 10 synths and keyboards you need to put on your shopping list.
It’s been almost 30 years since the first edition of the work, and in the meantime we’ve become accustomed to finding this type of information on the internet. But even today, it’s hard to find such complete – not to mention trustworthy – information on the global web.
As the internet should have been
In a way, you could say that Peter Forrest’s books are like the internet we were promised when it became generally accessible in the 1990s: a deep and comprehensive collection of information that you can access and sift through. A treasure trove of geek knowledge with no purpose or pretension other than knowledge itself.
The books are a snapshot in time of the development of the analogue synthesizer, and for that alone they are worth getting. And if you still harbour the hope of one day making that unique synth flea market find, these are the books to carry in your bag.
Cons: The books were last revised in 2003 (the first volume even in 1998), so the information is 20-25 years old. The layout looks like something made on a home computer in the 1990s. Which is exactly what it is. Most images are in black and white and in photocopy quality. The reviews are solely the responsibility of the author.
Pros: Unique encyclopedic work of more than 700 pages. No other reference work offers such a comprehensive overview of classic analogue synthesizers and their most important data. Indispensable for collectors and music nerds.
The books can be purchased at the address below. The price is £25 each – or £45 for both. Since there’s not much point in owning half an encyclopedia, my guess is that most people will opt for the complete package.
The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part One: A-M
322 pages
ISBN: 0-9524377-2-4
The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part Two: N-Z
384 pages
ISBN: 0-952437-73-2
More info at the A-Z analogue synthesisers website.