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Average rating:
4.4 out of 5
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This was my second poly. In fact at the time it was great, modulation is near perfect.Filters similar to mirage and envelopes generator satisfying. When i buy it i used the sequencer a lot with pleasure. It was built to stay a long time only the keyboard seem a bit anaemic
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The ESQ1 is yet another highly underrated and underpriced Hybrid digi/analog poly. the Curtis VCF doesn`t quite hit self oscillation but at least doesn`t rob all the bass end when resonance is pushed up like the DW8000/DSS1 does, Sync and AM are a welcome addition as are the 4 EGs and 3 LFOs per patch, big and gritty, not as smooth as a DW8000 or Prophet VS (listen to Jarre`s Revolutions, 1st track 7-mins in for an ESQ1 workout with Oscar). they`re usually metal cased though the last ones are plastic cased like the SQ80 apparently, latest software is 3.5 though there are no massive bugs regarding the actual synth in earlier incarnations.
You can actually get 80% of the ESQ1 sounds from an SD1, in fact the SD1 (can`t account for the rest of VFX-line though) can mimick the ESQ1`s sound absolutely cock-on so long as the patch doesn`t use resonance, Sync or AM (ring mod) and of course does a million things more than the ESQ. The SQ80 is an ESQ1 with 70-odd waves as opposed to 32, a Diskdrive, Poly aftertouch and a bigger sequencer, I`ve heard that it sounds brighter though haven`t been able to compare them, otherwise it`s a better buy and worth a bit extra, the ESQ-1 Rack (ESQ-M) has a painfully small readout and no sequencer but practical in a MIDI setup.
Buy`em while they`re cheap and if you need aftertouch either mod it (using an op-amp circuit, the CV input and a touch sensor strip out of a dead DX7) or run it from MIDI where it responds to POLY Pressure. The ESQ1 has dynamic voice allocation in Multi-mode which must have been unique in 1986. Excellent MIDI spec.
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for the going rates, this is a classic that should be scooped up! i wish you could slam a MATRIX 6 and this beast together, what a mother that would be! the ESQ is a great synth for attacking with an edit/lib. randomizer, cheating in one way but time saving in others. ripping leads and lush "pods", the mod. routings can lead to modular madness! i was lucky, just scored one with seq. expansion and new battery in great shape for $375, added 4 patch carts. for $50. alot of hybrid for the $$$!
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I could go on for hours on how kick ass the ESQ-1 is, but I don't have time. However I've noticed most people have said they can't comment on the sequencer since they don't use it. Well, I CAN comment on the sequencer. Since I don't have a computer that can sequence or do any MIDI stuff, I use the ESQ-1 not only as my master synth, but also as my master sequencer, and I have to say, the sequencer does everything you could ever want in a seqencer. I also sequence all of my many other synths on this thing. I got mine used and will never get rid of it. It is totally kick ass!!!
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I've had my ESQ-1 for about 6 months, and I cannot belive how anyone could live without it. As other people have said, it is built like a tank. Secondly, I can't tell you how valuable the flouressant screen is in life situations! YOU CAN READ THE FUCKER FROM 50 FEET AWAY!. (hey, its true!). The sounds are analogue yes, but they do have that 'digital grainy' sound. This isn't to complain at all, merely a statement of fact. I must say though, this synth will make you angry: -angry that other 'modern' synths aren't this straight-foreward. If you decide to make a change on a patch, what you do is what you get. Totally predicatable. I cannot comment on the sequencer, mainly because I don't use it (why bother when you have access to so many software sequencers?) All I can say is, the ESQ-1 has great sounds, great reliability, solid construction, and anyone is hurting if they don't own one.
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