ROLAND Jupiter-X & Xm

When it comes to vintage and classic polysynths, there are few products that have become as highly sought after as those of Roland. Time has been kind to these sleek black boxes. These days, a second-hand Roland Jupiter-8 in reasonable condition could command a price tag in excess of £10,000. Is it worth it?

That, of course, depends on your views on the synth. For many, Roland products of this period are laced with nostalgia for both their aesthetics and their sound. What makes Roland’s latest Jupiter offerings so intriguing, then, is their clear retro stylings. The Jupiter-X and Jupiter-Xm make no apologies for looking like their forebears.

HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF

This writer happens to be the lucky owner of a Jupiter-8 synthesiser, having bought it back in his student days. Would he pay £10,000 or more for one now? Absolutely not. Would he miss it if it was gone? Yes. But then, for many, these instruments represent far more than just a synth.

For this musicians and many others, the Jupiter-8 formed part of our musical educations. It’s no surprise that there have been cries for Roland to remake the Jupiter-8 for many years, and there have been some interesting attempts at recapturing its particular brand of magic, as well as a few attempts that will be remembered less favourably. Some of the most impressive were Roland’s Boutique JP-08 and its System-8 Plug-Out synths, which made wonderful use of the Japanese company’s