Teisco 60F

Doesn't get any easier than using sliders, and there's not enough features for things to get too confusing even for a beginner. The only thing that's not easy to use is the rubber pitch-bend "controller", which only works if I put my entire body weight on it, and even then doesn't really have enough of an effect to be of much use.

Ok, only one oscillator and only a single envelope for both VCF and VCA, but on the plus side, there's a few nice things you might not expect to find on a cheapo synth like this: for example, the way you can change the shape of the saw & square LFO waveforms, modulate the VCO with the envelope, and finally the external input is pretty useful (although it'd be nice if there was the option to mix it in over the VCO rather than switching between them). Basically, cheap and cheerful, but with enough features to make a surprisingly wide range of sounds, and not as limited as you might expect.

It has CV & Gate inputs which work with the V/Oct rather than Hz/V type of CV. Basically, it'll work fine with Roland sequencers like the MC-202 etc, but won't work with Korg ones or other Hz/V ones. Or you could be a p***y and use a midi/CV converter.

As I said, the pitch controller pad is rubbish, and there's a delay vibrato slider (modulates VCO with sine LFO, fading in) which is not much use either - for performance features, that's about it, so if you want a synth to do wacky solos with, you're out of luck.

The portamento slider seems to be set on a bit of a funny scale - at maximum it takes about 30 seconds from note-to-note, which is odd. Not a bad thing though, it works fine at the fast end too.

Looking at it objectively, the sound quality is OK for a cheapo synth I reckon, but don't believe all the "Arp-built" hype. I've only got an MC202 (which is very clean and sharp because it uses a CEM chip rather than transistors in the VCO like the 60F) to compare it with, but to me the 60F sounds warm and dirty. Actually, and this is a downside, there is a fair bit of background noise (at least with mine). You can hear the LFO cycling as a quiet buzz. This is especially noticeable when you put it through distortion of any kind. The static high-pass filter can be useful for getting rid of this hum, as long as you're not playing a bassline. Anyway, personally I like the rawness of the sound, and although the bass isn't particularly sharp sounding, it's all there. Filter cutoff doesn't sound very steep to me, but does the job and will self-oscillate nicely when resonance is at full. The pulsewidth modulation on the square wave sounds satisfyingly evil in the lower registers, and will shake the walls and disturb your friends.

So yeah, there's some grit and grime, but you couldn't fake it with virtual analogue, and for me at least that is a good thing.

Mine looked like it had been used and not well looked after (few scratches and whatnot) but worked fine, apart from being the tuning being not quite 100% perfect from one end of the keyboard to the other. It weighs a ton, and the casing is pretty solid metal with stylish 70s throwback wooden sides (a major selling point IMO), so I reckon it can take a beating without too much trouble.

I would caution against messing around inside though: to get to the circuit boards, you have to pretty much take the whole thing apart; back, sides and all. And it's extremely tricky to put back together again. Take it from someone who learnt the hard way - if it's 25+ years old and still ain't broke, don't be a smartarse and try to fix it.

Good luck trying to find someone who'll service it without having to pay more money than the synth itself is worth! Something to consider ...

Well, it was the first synth I got when I bought it secondhand about 6 years ago. I got ripped off a bit (??200 is definitely too much for one of these I would say), but I've had so much fun playing with it that I have absolutely no regrets about spending too much on it. I love the scuzzy, crazy sounds it makes, I love the wood on the sides, and I love the ugliness of it. But then maybe this is just because I love analogue synths so much.

The ratings I've given it still haven't been that high overall though, because I've got no illusions about it: I know the 60F isn't a "great" synth by any stretch of the imagination. It's probably pretty near the bottom of the pile as far as real old analogue monosynths are concerned, at least in terms of the status of the brand. But if you see one for a reasonable price I'd certainly recommend having a play with it. It all depends on the price.

I'd never get rid of mine personally, but I can imagine that not everyone would feel the same, and that some would see it as an inferior synth. Certainly if you want clean & clear & stable, this is probably not for you. If you like it raw and freaked-out, it'll do the job.

no manual needed

no poly, only monophonic
it's ancient what do you expect

very limited, nice for background soundeffects, bass
with a delay-machine added makes it sound more full/fat
I invented hypnodance with it 20 years ago with only 60f/delay and drums

however since I have it for 20 years the slides need grease

not worth what I paid(maybe $1.95), would buy supermodern keyboard/synth anyway
I used it realy only for 2 years in a (the cure wannabe)band as bass
love lightning ease, hate monophonic/no key-sensitivity
it doesn't tingle my creativity
I have a acoustic western guitar,flute

it took a little while to figure it out but after a couple of days trying it out it was really easy to use
i simply love it.

it got almost ewery thing i need.

it sounds great!!! thats all i can say...=)

i can almost bet my life on it almost!
i havent had any trouble with it!

i havent dealt with the company.

If it were lost or stolen, would you buy it again or get something else? Is it worth what you paid?

My singer paid less than 10$ for it...=) i vould pay at least a 110$ for it any given chance if had i had the money at that time, if i dont have any money when(if) i find one for 110$ or less i'd go home and be deprest...=)

How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own?

a couple of years.

what do you love about it? What do you hate?

love: almost ewerything hate: the weigth

Did you compare it to other products? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?

yes, "korg eps-1" "casio ctk-120" "casio ct-670", because of it's sound and it's ease of use.

Anything you wish it had?

a one track sequencer.

Does it help you make music, or does it get in the way?

it help a little.

Anything else you'd like to share?

yes, my band HACKFLEISCH uses it on the 3 latest songs...=)
-pyro (synth/keyboardplayer in swedish HACKFLEISCH)

A very easy to use 1 vco analog monosynth.
it features a signal flow chart wich makes it easy for beginners to know were the soun is being processed.

monophonic keyboard wich feels pretty good. a lot of features for a single vco synth. a very flexible lfo that provides variable squarewave,triangle and an sample hold function. it has a hold function and an external input. range of the oscillator is extremely wide. from skyhigh to the extreme low!!

despite the fact that it has only one vco the sounds can be very cool. realy great flute sounds, great resonance fx, nice filtersweeps. with the resonance modulated by the lfo you can get some realy ems like fx thanks to the extremely flexible lfo.

the model i own is practicly new and it has never let me down.
i use it at gigs al the time. and its a real performance synth.

i never had contact with the factory. wich now is kawai. the synth was made under license from Arp instruments by the way.

i absolutely love this synth and if it got stolen or something i would do anything to get another. i paid a very low price for this peace of kit but i will pay aprox.400$ for another.
if you find one check it out!!!