I have done compositions and had people ask me what vintage analogue synths I used for strings and especially bass. The 77 is magical, the only let down is the drums. But I use an Akai MPC1000 and a Yamaha RX5 for them. I really recommend the 77 to anyone who wants a great, great synth at a bargain price second hand. It has an excellent 16 track sequencer onboard too for putting your compositions together. Don't confuse this with the DX7 which gets too much credit for its timing more than its capabilities. The 77 sounds 10 times better. Check it out.

So I guess they are getting on a bit, but who needs a floppy? (well it would be handy) and who needs a backlit screen? (I guess it too would be handy).

But The sound is all there, along with the UI which I don't need to grasp too much due to PC editor (SY manager & soon to be 'midiquest' ). Luckily operators and algorithms make sense to me, but then, engineering is my bent along with music & creative fun. The thing is with the interface is it really doesn't allow easy editing of even basic elements that are often used in todays music like filter and envelopes etc.. its a number of button pushes/submenus to do so! (and I'm writing this in case other potential SY owners needed a board which provides maximum tweakability where no software is available...the SY doesn't walk this path! but of course it has so many other strengths).

I was surprised to find SY with aftertouch! At the very least, I got a very nice controller for Xmas with aftertouch :) that I was well happy about. But under that cryptic SY hood lies the early wonders of FM mingled with experimentatal AWM elements. Which sounds, at its worst, terrible! But at its OKest, and betterest, and best, it sounds awesome! It it diverse and shocks me with the range of shit 2 brilliant sounds. Enough has probably already been said here...

I guess once again the only caution is the the age of these guys and inevitable breakdown of digital & electronic components. It may only be cosmetic anyway. Mine was original owner and luckily in excellent condition apart from the floppy disk drive & backlit screen which I consider unessential things. I only hope she holds for years to come :)

Im obviously spoiled by invincible soft-synths & DSP cards where the synths never really have these issues.. (more the DAW's that house them -ed)

I'm giving it a FOUR & A HALF due to the fact that for the time and even for now the idea of its synthesis engine was/is brilliant and well executed. BUT the UI could've seriously done with some more accesibility HOWEVER that was the trend of the time (unfortunately for many!) SO is easily forgiven...

4.5 Outta 5 ... pros: Good sound, smooth k'board with vel & aftertouch (makes good basic controller), solid build that seems to last, tho some innessential functions seem prone to 'obsolessence' at perhaps the current time, DAW editors available for SY series like 'midiquest' & SY manager, which make editing easier.

Cons: see above re: functions breaking down, some sounds in there are really quite bad and may steer some prospectives away. All I can say is too bad, if you get steered off by that, you didn't dig deep enough! :)