Blacet SYN-BOW (1980–?)
The Syn-Bow is one of the stranger instruments to come out of the early-1980s synth kit boom. It is a handheld, keyboardless synthesizer controlled by a rotating lever that you bow with your hand. Blacet Music Research introduced it in May 1980 as something genuinely portable and intuitive. The few period reviews describe an instrument that rewards physical expression over precise note selection.
Polyphony (May 1982, p.18) noted that carrying the Syn-Bow around attracted immediate attention, and the first question was always "what's that?" The instrument lived in a redwood case that the builder epoxied together, topped with a stenciled plate. All controls except the power switch mounted directly to the PC board, which in turn fastened to the top panel. This cut down on wiring and kept the battery compartment accessible. The whole thing measured 27 inches long, 2 inches wide, and just 1 inch deep, and it weighed little enough to hold comfortably without a strap.
The main control was a potentiometer called the "frequency bow" at the right end of the case. You swept it with your hand or finger to change pitch. It was paired with a filter scheme that Blacet trademarked as the "natural filter patch." Polyphony described it as replacing conventional filtering altogether and giving the Syn-Bow its live, acoustic quality. A suboctave circuit and pulse-width controls rounded out the voice. The same review noted that the suboctave circuit could misbehave at narrow pulse-width settings and nearly mute the output. It also said pitch acuity was a real requirement, because this was no preset machine.
Studio Sound (February 1981, p.52) listed the technical details: dual oscillators covering 0.25 Hz to 7 kHz (the second in two selectable ranges), phase locking, and separate voltage control of harmonic intensity, order, and symmetry. Modern Recording (March 1981, p.28) reported its introduction as a low-cost kit. Polyphony estimated assembly at "two light evenings of work" and praised John Blacet for creating an instrument "accessible to anyone wanting to express themselves musically."
Surviving examples are scarce, and production years beyond the 1980 launch aren't recorded. What documentation exists comes almost entirely from those few magazine features.
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