Are Vintage Synth Clones better than the Originals?

Are Vintage Synth Clones better than the originals? This is a debate that has been ongoing among music enthusiasts for years.
On one hand, you have the originals - the iconic Synthesizers that have been used on countless hit songs and have a unique, irreplaceable sound.
On the other hand, you have the clones - modern recreations of these vintage synths that claim to capture the essence of the originals while offering modern features and reliability. So, which is better? It really comes down to personal preference. In this video I am giving you my reasons why I now prefer Vintage Synthesizer Clones over their original counterparts.

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[RalphBaumgartl]

Learn everything about the Behringer 2600 here:
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Best regards, Ralph

[jeffryarchambeau]

I'm a Boomer who could never afford a synth. Now I've surrounded myself with inexpensive modern synths and clones, including a B2600. Your videos have helped a lot!

[audioillustrator]

Hi Ralph, YES...I agree wholeheartedly! I used to have a plethora of vintage synths including several Oberheim OBXa's, OBSx, Arp/Rhodes Chroma and Chroma expander, the complete Korg MS series, and various other Moog, Roland, Korg, and Yamaha synths, (even a Pi Technos Axcel)...and sold them all!

Like you, I found that the cost even back then was getting too expensive to maintain these units.

These days I have a wonderful studio full of hardware synths (mainly from Behringer) and I'm quite happy with all of this modern gear. :) It allows me the ability to keep composing and producing my albums.

Keep up the great videos, Ralph...it's a joy to watch them!

[scubyfan]

Some of us like vintage synths as we do vintage cars. It's never about reliability or cost.

[RayyMusik]

Totally agreed, Ralph. I would never buy a Prophet 5 Rev 3, let alone Rev 1/2, but when Dave Smith released the Rev 4, I went for it. MIDI, velocity sensitivity, aftertouch, and - last but not least - reliability is what I need on a great synth. Even greater: the OB-X8, additionally combining three of the vintage behemoths in one instrument.
I also ❤ my BARP 2600. Thanks to your tutorials I can even operate it, and it sounds so fantastic.
The only company causing sadness deep in my heart is Roland. No reissue of the Jupiter-8/-6, no JX-8P, ZenCore crap instead. I love the sound of the vintage Rolands so much!

[IanWaugh]

Hey Ralph - Totally agree 👍
I'm pre- Gen X - that's probably Gen W 😄 - but not at all nostalgic or sentimental and don't regret selling any gear.

[TheOuterLimit]

Fully agree with you. But still i have hard time decide to sell the old ones

[Synthfidel]

Your thoughts and comments, definitely align with my own. I am also Gen X, and have grown to appreciate not only vintage clones, but also software synths that clone the vintage gear. There is a lot of emotional attachment and nostalgia, with the original synths, but as you said, along with those feelings comes a commitment to keep them going, which can be painfully expensive. Today’s vintage synths clones, while causing an uproar with some elitist, are the next step into the future. Everyone has access to sounds, that once upon a time, only the rich could afford. Do I think there is a moral issue, from a company bringing back synths that haven’t been produced in decades, and bringing them back with features the originals never had? Nope, sure don’t. Pac-Man was once an arcade only game to us Gen-Xers, but then it came to consoles, handhelds, MAME, PC’s, and it is even on my phone. I love the original arcade version, but I cannot afford it, and I’m super happy using MAME. Purists may hate it, but technology is still advancing, and if we can enjoy modern, reliable, inexpensive versions of our past technology, then, in Captain Picards words, engage!

[xaviercorbel]

If it wasn't for Behringer, I would have never had a MiniMoog… way to pricy. Music is just a hobby for me. So making a clone at 300€ rather than 2000€, I'm a happy man. As for the 2600, I love it and at 555€, it's a bargain. even a steal comparing to a rare ARP 2600. I can't even imagine the price. Now I'm just waiting for the holy grail, the VCS3. vielen Dank schön for the video. Un grand merci 🙂

[gregtheyankee]

We love you Ralph!!! Your passion and knowledge is inspiring, brother.

[ionian]

A synth tech once told me that vintage synths are vastly easier to repair due to their through hole components, as opposed to the current synths’ surface mount. 

I’m cynical of the durability of modern synths, like any modern manufactured items, where profit margins and mass production eat into quality control. I have a few synths from the 70s-90s that are still going strong (serviced when needed), and a couple of new ones that have irreparably malfunctioned under warranty.

For me, the cost factor, as well as availability are the main drivers for purchasing clones.

[Sonikbytes]

The younger generation will never know how it felt almost impossible to poses any of these modern marvels back then especially if you leaved outside of US.
These vintage classics belong in the hands of ones who earned them over time, know basic electronics to troubleshoot or in the museums.
The clones is the ultimate compromise for newer generations owning hardware vs. Vsts.

[neuzethmusic]

Hallo Ralph, ein sehr später GenXer hier (1980) Ich mag deine Videos über die 2600er! Ich besitze seit kurzem den Korg ARP2600M und er ist fantastisch. Ich besitze ihn vor allem, weil für mich persönlich der 2600er "DER" Synthesizer Klassiker ist. Für viele ist es ja der MiniMoog, der MS-20 oder der Juno-60. Für mich geht damit tatsächlich ein Lebenstraum in Erfüllung. Ich hab zwar auch ein gut bestücktes Eurorack und ein paar andere Hardware Synths, aber der ARP2600 hat einen ganz besonderen Platz in meinem Herzen.

[noisetheorem]

I’m also GenX and have had many vintage synths over the years. I have a fascination with the 80’ hybrids like Korg DW8000 and Ensoniq ESQ-80. I’ve had jupiters and Juno’s and moogs….and all of them had service issues. I finally just got fed up with it and, with a few exceptions, let it all go. It felt like the gear was owning me and not the other way around.

I’m much happier with the clones and virtual instruments I use now. The sound good enough to my old burned out ears.

And to those who say that the clones are cheap and won’t be around 50 years from now….well, neither will I do that’s fine with me.

[cerebralkaos]

Hi Ralph, I really enjoyed this video, being a fellow Gen X with similar interests to you, the video really resonated with me. I have decided not to buy any more vintage synths because of continuous maintenance issues. My Roland Juno 106 being a perfect example, replaced the filter and ocillator chips and then installed a Kiwi 106, now hve capacitors and other minor IC failures over time. I now have a Roland Jupiter Xm and have decided the 106 sounds on the Xm are plenty good enough in their own right so will be offloading the 106 once it returnes from the synth tech.

I also have an old Kurzweil K2000 which I have fully maxed out and have a SCSI to USB flash drive. It's a keeper, although the problem with it has been the bottom case plastic has become brittle and I have had to buy another non working unit just to salvage the bottom part of the case.

[Jiuhuashan]

I have a vintage MiniMoog from 1974 that rapidly goes out of calibration. I'm considering the Behringer model D, I wonder if that's more stable. The Behringer 2600 I just received seems to be a solid unit. Your videos on that subject are extremely helpful.

[unclemick-synths]

I ignore the people who whine about clones - especially the ones who possess VSTs of those same synths! 😂

My vintage monosynth I bought in 1985 and built from a kit. I started refurbishing it but the Neutron came out and although not a clone had a very similar sound to mine and the refurb has been stuck on my to-do list ever since! I have no wish to add to that list.

The only other vintage synths I own are a DX27, TX7, DX7 IID, and E-mu Proteus/1. The latter I only keep to as a harsh reminder to never settle for less because I should have kept saving for the vastly superior Roland U-220 that I really wanted 😢

[ChristopherOrth]

Well said! Anyone claiming superiority and exclusivity of "vintage" synths is doing nothing short of gatekeeping. To not embrace the wealth of synth options today and a range of prices accessible to everyone is just ridiculous.

[js-hlhv]

I have an original Yamaha Sy22 which I have had since 1990. It still sounds wonderful, however bits are failing - mainly the buttons. It needs a service. You cant buy the memory cards any more either. I have a Blue marvin, and love it. From what I understand of the original, it could be temperamental on occasions. I probably would never have bought an original 2600 due to the price (if the clones weren't available) so my experience with the 2600 is purely due to it being a clone. I also have a Roland s-1, a modern digital recreation of the famous sh-101. It sounds great, and I have a lot of fun with it. If it means I can play a "vintage" synth to get *that* sound, then I will get a clone. I can't wait for Behringer's enigma to be released (buchla clone). I can't afford an original, or even the new buchla.

[herberdth]

Modern components. Like paired transistors in dual packages, C0G capacitors, opamps which are having low dc offsets and more linear responses, better sliders and potentiometers are making "clones" better that originals. Barp2600 gray and blue are great. Pro800 are amazing. Bolina is perfect. Kobol is as dynamic as the original.