Roland • SH-2

Roland SH-2 Image

The SH-2 is one of Rolands' early synthesizers. It is very simple in design, look and function. It sounds much like the SH-101 synth, including the typical SH-style sub-oscillator. But the SH-2 employed 2 oscillators for a much fatter sound. It has the typical Roland SH sound - it's a monophonic bass synth that's flexible enough to provoke punchy analog basses, leads and squelchy sounds. The oscillators can be de-tuned as well, another feature the popular SH-101 lacks. But it isn't very pretty to look at as it shares the same design and layout as the SH09. Still it makes a simple and easily programmable mono-synth that can be used in place of the more common SH-101. However the SH-2 is harder to find and so it usually has a higher price than other SH-type synthesizers from Roland. It has been used by Duran Duran, Groove Corporation, Eat Static, OMD, Men Without Hats, and the Eurythmics.


VISITOR COMMENTS (21)

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Patrick K
Posted 13 days ago
Somewhere between the SH-2 and the SH-101 is the perfect Roland monosynth. The discreet oscillators on the SH-2 are no joke. . . this is the only synth I own were the filter almost gets in the way of the beauty of the oscillators, rather than being the key ingredient in making the oscillators bearable. If you could drop these 2 discreet oscillators and excellent filter input option into a 101's improved keyboard logic, portamento options, sequencer, more distinctive filter resonance, and slightly more versatile envelope. . . (with x-mod and sync thrown in while you're at it). . . you'd have a Japanese monosynth I'd gladly pay top dollar for.
Diliup Gabadamudalige
Posted 39 days ago
In my career of 28 years I have used a Roland Sh101, Sh-2, Sh-5, Juno 106, Juno 60, Jupiter 4, Jupiter 8 and D 50. I must say that the SH-2 delivers a fat sound and with a little bit of creative synthesizing can produce amazing sounds. The Sh-2 stands rpoud and tall by itself.
Diliup Gabadamudalige
Posted 39 days ago
I have A Roland SH-2 in working condition for sale. contact:diliupg@gmail.com
Dewi
Posted 63 days ago
@Skatta: The Roland used in the video 'I Ran' from A Flock of Seagulls is a Roland SH-09. Wish I could only find one for real. ;)
bunnycat
Posted 161 days ago
People often talk about the filters in vintage analogs, and while this synth does have a very nice, powerfully resonant roland filter, it is not the main thing that makes it stand out. Rather it's the *oscillators* in this thing that sound so distinctive and fantastic. I always find myself backing off the filter cutoff to the point where I'm playing more of the raw oscillator sound, especially the sawtooth. Just *so* electric and raw sounding, sort of like it has a subtle pulse wave mod built into the oscillator that makes the sound alive and dynamic but without any obvious modulation/LFO. Think Dimension D (spatial chorus effect) but with PWM. Beautiful synth, and my main left-hand board in my live setup. And a little bit of 64' sub osc goes a long way. Our 900W 18" 3-way TOA PA can't even reproduce the low end accurately (though it still sounds amazing) - you really need a serious amp and speaker system to understand what it's capable of.