The Roland TB-303 is a machine like no other. With an unmistakable sonic signature brimming with warmth, energy and character, the iconic silver box defined the acid house movement of the late 1980s. Widely misunderstood when launched in 1981, the true revolution began several years later when electronic music producers rediscovered the quirky box, unleashing the hypnotic, liquid sound that captivated a generation. While we may never really understand why the 303 sound makes people want to dance, there is no denying its power, influence, and unwavering ability to get a party started. It just works, even after all this time.

‘LONGEVITY HAS TO BE CONNECTED TO SOMETHING UNIQUE’

DJ Pierre on the enduring sound of acid house and the Roland TB-303.

Back in 1981, the tools used to create electronic music were fewer, and less evolved, than those used today. The technologies used in electronic musical instruments were primarily analog circuits that generated its sound. Digital technology was just starting to make an appearance in instrument design which sparked the beginning of a new era of innovation and experimentation. At the time, Roland was less than 10 years old, and still based in Osaka, Japan.

Although it was a valiant attempt to capture the tone of a bass guitar, the TB-303 didn’t really sound like one. It was only years later, with the advent of sample-based technology, that electronic instruments could convincingly replicate their acoustic brethren. So, after launching in 1981, the TB-303 was discontinued less than two years later, with around 10,000 units being made. And usually, that would be the end of the story... but then something amazing happened.

Nathaniel Jones, known on Chicago’s club scene as DJ Pierre, had a problem. Along with partners Spanky and Herb J, the trio wanted to get into music production and had formed a group called Phuture but they needed an angle. They scoured the local stores looking for interesting pieces of music equipment, figuring out how to get the best from their limited studio and eventually release a record. One fortuitous day, they found a cut-price TB-303. They bought it, took it back to the studio and started learning how it worked and what it could do.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly how the TB-303 sound crossed over and became a cultural movement... but everyone agrees when it happened. By the summer of 1987, house music had made its way across the Atlantic and one sound attracted a lot of attention. While house music often included vocals, traditional basslines and piano, the acid house sound was a mutation and sounded like nothing else before or since. The slippery, hypnotic tone was naturally subversive, with an underground feel that made people want to dance. It was the perfect soundtrack to the excitement of the illegal warehouse parties of ’88: the second summer of love was underway.

Although the mayhem of the late 80s is a distant memory, the music and the machine that inspired it is very much alive and kicking. The TB-303 sound still has the power to demolish a dancefloor like nothing else, and at a club or party, you’re never far away from that alien, liquid squelch. It is unusual for a sound to stay around for so long, especially in electronic music where 12 months feels like an eternity. This is a testament to the artists and producers who love the sound and help to keep it current. And it’s definitely a salute to the spirit of forward-looking party people all over the world—the soundtrack of good times gone by, and also yet to come.

THE 303 SOUND TODAY

There are several ways to attain the classic Roland TB-303 sound. If you can find one—and afford one—an original issue, early-eighties 303 will do just fine. But there are also several other current options which are more affordable and surpass the capabilities of the original.

TRY THE TB-303 IN YOUR BROWSER

Roland has collaborated with sound designer Yuri Suzuki to create Roland 50 Studio, a digital reworking of some of our most famous and influential devices. Explore the TB-303 right now, along with the SP-404MKII sampler, SH-101 synthesizer, and a host of TR rhythm machines. You can even save the results to share with the world!

ROLAND 50 STUDIO