Q: So who made the tb303?
A: Well the answer can be Roland the musical manufacturer (who started off by making traditional musical instruments) or Tadao Kikumoto who worked for Roland and invented it. He also made the TR-909 (analog drum machine).

The TB303 stands for transistor bass 303 .It was invented and released in the same year 1982. It was designed as a bass for singer guitar players. Due to its difficult method of programming it never really took off as the desired use was intended.However didn't it do well for the techno and Acid scenes :) . Production was stopped in 1984 as sales just werent doing well. This is where it takes off. It was being sold off really cheap in music shops and djs and musicians started picking them up and playing around with them. It was at this point when DJ Pierre was playing around madly twiddling the knobs and was heard - after a request to keep doing it they realised it was a crazy hypnotic sound and we could say acid was born.


Q: Where is the inventor now ?
A: Tadao is now the Senior Managing Director in Japan.


Q: What does he get involved with nowadays?
A: Well the anechoic chamber. What on earth is this you ask ? Well The room produces no echo. they record vocals and instruments. They study the sound by separating its layers. This 'pure sound' has noises added as sound we here everyday has lots of extra background noise. SO they add reverb otherwise it does not sound natural to us. Clever stuff eh.


Q: Are they still made ?
A: Nope finished production in 1984


Q: How many are there ?
A: less than 20 000 units were manufactured in the 2 years [lol and we know at least one of them has a blim-burn! - ED]


Q: DO they all sound the same ?
A: You gotta be joking :)