Here we take a look at some of the earliest and most obscure analog drum machines, most of which are well nigh impossible to obtain these days, but which set new standards in synthesis and are just some of the important instruments on the journey.
EKO Computerhythm (1972)
The EKO Computerhythm (1972) is one of the earliest programmable drum machines, made by the Italian company EKO. It was highly innovative for its time, offering a level of control over rhythm patterns that was rare in the early ’70s.
Key Features
- Analog Drum Synthesis: Unlike later sample-based drum machines, the Computerhythm generated its drum sounds using analog circuits.
- Push-Button Programming: It featured a unique set of 32 square push buttons, allowing users to manually program rhythm patterns—a revolutionary feature in 1972.
- Preset Rhythms: In addition to user-programmable patterns, it had built-in preset rhythms, making it versatile for various musical styles.
- Rare & Expensive: The Computerhythm was produced in very limited numbers, making it highly collectible today.
Sound & Usage
The drum sounds are warm, punchy, and raw, with a characteristic analog charm. Think of early Kraftwerk or experimental electronic music, with deep kicks, snappy snares, and metallic hi-hats. It was more advanced than many of its contemporaries, but due to its rarity, it never became a household name like Roland or Korg drum machines.
BME Rattlesnake (1970s)
The BME Rattlesnake is one of the most obscure vintage analog drum machines, made by BME (Baldwin Music Europe), likely in the 1970s. Very little documentation exists, making it somewhat of a mystery.
Key Features & Sound
- Fully Analog Drum Sounds – Like other drum machines of the era, it generates sounds using analog synthesis rather than samples.
- Aggressive & Metallic Tone – The Rattlesnake is known for its harsh, almost industrial drum sounds, which can be more aggressive than Roland’s classic rhythm boxes.
- Unusual Percussion Palette – It features distinct snare, kick, hi-hat, and toms, with a character that’s more raw and cutting than, say, an EKO Computerrhythm.
- Extremely Rare – Almost no units are known to be in circulation, making it highly collectible.
Godwin Drummaker 45 (1981)
The Godwin Drummaker 45 is a rare Italian drum machine from the late 1970s or early 1980s, made by Godwin, a company better known for its string machines and combo organs. The Drummaker 45 is a unique analog rhythm boxwith a quirky, warm, and somewhat lo-fi sound.
Key Features
- Analog Sound Engine – Generates drum sounds using pure analog circuitry, giving it a warm, punchy character similar to early Roland and EKO drum machines.
- Preset Rhythm Patterns – Like many drum machines of the era, it comes with built-in preset rhythms (likely in the style of bossa nova, waltz, rock, samba, etc.), rather than full programmability.
- Unique Drum Sounds – The kick, snare, and hi-hats have a crunchy, almost organ-drum style, somewhat like early Ace Tone or Rhythm Ace machines.
- Combo Organ Integration – Some sources suggest it was designed to be paired with Godwin organs, meaning it may have been built into or sold alongside certain keyboards.
- Extremely Rare – Almost no information is available on this unit, and very few recordings exist. It’s one of those forgotten Italian rhythm machines that vanished into obscurity.
Elka Drummer One (1969)
The Elka Drummer One is a vintage analog drum machine from the late 1960s to early 1970s, made by the Italian company Elka, which is better known for its organs and string synthesizers. It’s one of the earliest drum machines produced and has a warm, raw, and distinctly old-school sound.
Key Features
- Fully Analog Drum Sounds – Like other drum machines of its era, the Drummer One generates its percussion using simple transistor-based analog circuits, giving it a deep, warm, and slightly fuzzy character.
- Preset Rhythm Patterns – It comes with a selection of preset rhythms (like waltz, samba, bossa nova, tango, and foxtrot), which was common for drum machines in the 1960s before programmability became widespread.
- Lo-Fi, Crunchy Sound – The bass drum has a rounded, warm punch, while the snare is snappy but not overly aggressive. The hi-hats and cymbals have that classic “chhhhh” analog hiss, much like early Ace Tone and Roland drum machines.
- Wooden Cabinet – Many of these early drum machines were housed in wooden enclosures, giving them a classy, vintage appearance that matched the organs and electric pianos they were designed to accompany.
- Rare & Collectible – Like many Italian-made rhythm boxes, the Drummer One wasn’t widely exported, making it quite hard to find today.
PAiA Programmable Drum Set (1975)
The PAiA Programmable Drum Set (circa 1975-1977) was an early DIY analog drum machine made by PAiA Electronics, an American company known for its affordable and kit-based synthesizers. Unlike many preset drum machines of the era, the PAiA drum set was one of the first user-programmable analog drum machines, making it a hidden gem for experimental electronic musicians.
Key Features
- Analog Drum Synthesis – The PAiA drum set generates drum sounds using simple analog circuits, giving it a raw, punchy, and often noisy character.
- DIY Kit Format – PAiA was famous for selling electronic music gear as build-it-yourself kits, meaning that users had to assemble and solder their drum machines, leading to variations in sound depending on build quality and component choices.
- Programmable Step Sequencer – Unlike many preset-based drum machines of the era (such as the Roland CR-78 or Ace Tone Rhythm Ace), the PAiA drum set let users program their own drum patterns, making it a forerunner to modern sequencers.
- Limited Sound Palette – The sounds were basic but raw and punchy, featuring kick, snare, hi-hat, and tom-like tones. The circuit designs were simple, meaning the drums could sound unpredictable or be customized by modifying the components.
- CV/Gate Compatibility – Since PAiA was closely linked to modular synthesizers, their drum set was often CV-controllable, allowing it to integrate with early analog synth setups.
- Lo-Fi & Experimental Aesthetic – The PAiA drum set had a very gritty, almost industrial sound, making it appealing for noise artists and experimental musicians.
Pollard Syndrum 878 (1976)
The Pollard Syndrum 878 (1976) was one of the first commercially available programmable drum machines, designed by Joe Pollard and manufactured by Pollard Industries. It was an analog drum synthesizer, meaning it didn’t rely on traditional drum samples or acoustic drum sounds but instead synthesized electronic percussion using oscillators, filters, and envelope shaping.
Key Features
- Early Analog Drum Synthesis – Unlike preset rhythm boxes (like the Roland CR-78), the Syndrum 878 generated percussive sounds through analog synthesis, similar to later drum synths like the Simmons SDS-V.
- Programmable Patterns – Unlike many machines of its time, the Syndrum 878 allowed pattern programming, a feature that became standard in later drum machines.
- Iconic ‘Disco Drum’ Sounds – The Syndrum series (including the single-pad Syndrum 1) was heavily used in late ‘70s disco and rock, creating the famous “dooooom” tom sound heard on many records from the era.
- Four Drum Channels – The 878 had four independent drum voices, each capable of producing a range of percussive sounds, from deep kicks to high-pitched electronic toms.
- Trigger Inputs – It could be played via drum pads, making it one of the first electronic drum kits, influencing later designs like the Simmons SDS series and the Roland electronic drum pads.
- Extremely Rare – The Syndrum 878 was expensive and short-lived, making it highly sought after today. The Pollard company quickly collapsed due to poor sales and competition from Roland and other brands.
The Pollard Syndrum series (including the 878 and single-pad versions) was used by many artists in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including:
- Steely Dan (Aja)
- Bozz Scaggs
- Pink Floyd (The Wall)
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- The Cars
Ace Tone Rhythm Producer FR-20 (1972)
Photo coming soon.
The Ace Tone Rhythm Producer FR-20 is a rare and somewhat mysterious analog drum machine from the early-to-mid 1970s, manufactured by Ace Tone, the precursor to Roland. Ace Tone was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi, who later went on to establish Roland and create legendary drum machines like the TR-808 and TR-909.
Key Features & Design
- Fully Analog Drum Sounds – Like other rhythm machines of its time, the FR-20 generates drum sounds using pure analog synthesis, giving it a warm, organic, and slightly lo-fi character.
- Preset Rhythms – It includes built-in drum patterns such as bossa nova, tango, waltz, samba, and swing, typical of early drum machines designed for organists and lounge musicians.
- Larger & More Advanced Than Early Ace Tone Models – Compared to smaller Ace Tone drum boxes like the Rhythm Ace FR-1, the FR-20 had more sounds, a fuller tone, and potentially some programmability (though exact details are scarce).
- Rich, Punchy Sound – Ace Tone drum machines were known for their snappy snares, deep toms, and smooth hi-hats, which later influenced Roland’s legendary drum machine designs.
- Rare & Little-Known – Unlike the more famous Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-1 (1967) and FR-6 (1972), the FR-20 remains largely undocumented, making it one of the hardest-to-find Ace Tone drum machines.
Chamberlin Rhythmate (1957)
The Chamberlin Rhythmate (1957) is one of the earliest known drum machines, designed by Harry Chamberlin, the inventor of the Mellotron. Unlike later analog drum machines, the Rhythmate used tape loops to produce its drum sounds, making it a direct ancestor to both the Mellotron and early samplers.
Key Features
- Tape-Based Drum Machine – Instead of analog synthesis, the Rhythmate used magnetic tape loops with pre-recorded drum patterns. These loops would physically play back through a tape head, similar to how the Mellotron worked with orchestral sounds.
- 14 Drum Loop Tapes – The machine contained 14 different tape loops with various drum patterns, including swing, jazz, Latin rhythms, and more.
- Adjustable Speed – Users could control the tempo by adjusting the tape playback speed, making it possible to customize the feel of each rhythm.
- Basic Sound Manipulation – Some versions allowed slight mixing or filtering of the drum sounds, but customization was very limited compared to later drum machines.
- Handcrafted & Extremely Rare – Only around 10 to 20 units were ever made, making it one of the rarest drum machines in history. Each one was handbuilt by Harry Chamberlin himself.
Roland CR-78 (1978)
The Roland CR-78 (released in 1978) is one of the most iconic and influential analog drum machines in history. It was one of the first programmable drum machines and is often credited with helping to shape the sound of early electronic music and pop in the late 70s and early 80s.
Key Features
- Preset Rhythms & Programmability – The CR-78 came with preset rhythms like bossa nova, waltz, samba, rock, jazz, and more. It also had the ability to program custom rhythm patterns, which was a revolutionary feature at the time.
- Analog Drum Sounds – The CR-78’s drum sounds were analog synthesized, not sample-based, giving it a distinctive warm, rich, and slightly organic tone. The bass drum has a deep, thudding punch, while the snare and hi-hats are crisp and bright.
- Pattern Programming – You could create your own rhythms using a step-sequencer, which allowed for some basic editing of the preset rhythms. This made it more versatile than earlier rhythm boxes, which typically had fixed patterns.
- Accent & Tempo Control – The CR-78 allowed for accenting specific beats within a pattern and tempo control for adjusting the speed of the rhythms, which made it more flexible in musical contexts.
- Individual Sound Outputs – It also featured individual outputs for each drum sound (kick, snare, toms, etc.), which gave musicians the ability to process them separately using external effects and mixers.
- Sounds Included – The CR-78 featured kick, snare, hi-hats, toms, and cymbals, with some very unique and distinctive drum sounds for the time. The hi-hat sounds were a standout feature—more complex than simple open/closed variations.
Simmons SDS-3 (1978)
The Simmons SDS-3 is one of the earliest analog drum synthesizers produced by the Simmons Electronic Drum Company. The SDS-3 is a highly regarded instrument, especially in the realm of electronic musicand drum synthesis, thanks to its powerful, raw sound and distinctive “electronic” drum tones. It’s often associated with the rise of electronic drum kits and synthesizer-based percussion in the early ’80s.
Key Features
- Analog Drum Synthesis – The SDS-3 is fully analog, meaning each drum sound is generated using oscillators and filters, giving it a warm, punchy, and highly customizable sound.
- Four Drum Voices – The SDS-3 features four independent drum sounds: Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Tom 1 & 2. Each voice has its own oscillator, filter, and envelope, giving the user deep control over the tone of each sound.
- Sound Design Flexibility – Each drum sound has extensive parameters such as pitch, decay, and filter resonance, allowing for detailed shaping of each drum sound. This level of control made the SDS-3 popular with musicians who wanted to create unique, custom drum sounds that weren’t just limited to basic acoustic simulations.
- Programmable Sequencer – The SDS-3 features a step sequencer, allowing users to program their own patterns. This step sequencer was essential for creating rhythms, and combined with the synthesizer features, the SDS-3 allowed for complex, evolving drum patterns with lots of movement and variation.
- Trigger Inputs – The SDS-3 could be triggered via external drum pads or triggers, making it compatible with a wide range of drum kits and sequencers. It also included individual outputs for each sound, which was ideal for mixing or processing each sound separately.
- Distinctive Sound – The Simmons SDS series, including the SDS-3, was known for producing squelchy, punchy, and very electronic drum sounds that became a hallmark of the early 80s electronic music and industrial musicscenes. Its synthetic sound made it stand out from both traditional drum kits and other drum machines of the time.
