Vintage Synth Explorer

ARP • Solina String Ensemble

(click to enlarge)

The Solina String Ensemble is often thought of as THE String Machine of the late 1970's disco era. It's a multi-orchestral machine with violin, viola, trumpet, horn, cello and contrabass. Instead of attack and decay there are crescendo and sustain controls (which sound more orchestral but are the same thing). Apparently this synth really makes a great string sound, but that's all really... It has gate and trigger outs from the polyphonic keyboard. Completely cased in wood (or wood-like) panels with a clean and discrete layout. It's old, it's vintage, and it's been used by Air, The Eagles, Elton John, Pink Floyd, The Cure, Joy Division, OMD, Josh Wink, STYX, Tangerine Dream, Keane, Japan, and New Order.

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shaft9000

Posted 53 days ago

Joy Division used a Solina on "Atmosphere'; Bernie Sumner confirms this in the 'Synth Brittania' doc.
Solinas are one of the easiest 'synths' to spot in a mix...solina chorus has that icy, airy, not-quite-a-wobble happening that is so very different from all the other stringers. 'Sound&Vision' by Bowie probably the most obvious example.

Jef

Posted 223 days ago

What....no mention of Bernie Worrell? Check out Prelude on The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein and the string parts on Flashlight. Classic sounds.

elang eby

Posted 302 days ago

i have this one and this is my second strings after roland rs 202...but i never use roland rs 202 anymore...;p...you'll know the reason after you've try both of them...i bought this cos darkel from AIR...i'm a huge fan of him...an yess mr jarre always have the first thing first...see the oxygene instrument explanation from him and he always said this is my first...ems,theremin,etc...yess his a pioneer...doesn't matter what he use but see how he used and threat his equipment...that's the important things...;p


elang eby
Bandung,indonesia

David Johnson

Posted 402 days ago

Mike Oldfield also used the Solina String Ensemble; you'll see him pictured with it in the booklet that came with the BOXED set.

Erwin

Posted 428 days ago

Jean-Michel Jarre did not play the Solina, but the Eminent 310 Unique organ. But the confusion is easily made; The Solina's circuitry is taken directly from the Eminent.

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