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.

derd niff

September 27, 2012 @ 2:38 pm

SH-2 has the best bass sound i've ever heard before.. and i have quite a lot of synths. It wasn't until I sequenced it did I notice the true power of it (Kenton midi to cv converter). It can be super smooth/rounded out or really deep, low, and dirty.. Kinda reminds me of my MS-20 but much much better IMO.. much more stable and easier to control. The SH-2 is extremely powerful for such a tiny little synth :)

Jamie

September 15, 2012 @ 8:03 am

Amazing synth. Also used by squarepusher i believe! Better than a minimoog? More versatile for me, a keeper and getting quite rare these days which unforunately means rising value

Gumby Dammit

September 12, 2012 @ 2:54 am

BTW... I also have a Moog Liberation (the rare "white rhino" version) that I purchased brand new in the very early 80's. It still smells like tour bus diesel but still kicks all kinds of [beep] when it comes to raw analog synth power especially when you learn to love the pitch ribbon. I plugged it into a Marshall half stack once, busted into a Van Halen thing and I still can't see straight. Just sayin'.

Gumby Dammit

September 12, 2012 @ 2:39 am

Follow the Envelope to discover one one of the hidden gems of this instrument. Oh, and by the way... I got the impression that Bob Moog was suspicious of the 4 pole filter design which I believe was reverse engineered from one his dual OSC synth designs. You be the judge. http://pricebeatmusic.blogspot.com/2012/09/roland-sh-2-synth-mysteries-at-museum .html

systemlfo

September 12, 2012 @ 1:13 am

Solstice: I'm pretty sure 'Sweet Dreams' famous bassline is an SH-2 not an OB.
It does sound kinda rich like the slightly unstable oscs of an OB-Xa but put the SH-2 through some chorus, maybe a Dimension D ...
Maybe the lead in the bridge & drones are the OB

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