Vintage Synth Explorer

Sequential Circuits • Fugue

The Fugue is a very rare synthesizer designed by Sequential Circuits and built by Siel. (Actually it is a Siel Cruise, in disguise.) It doesn't sound very good and is pretty low-end, however it's worth a look. It was built when Sequential was still a small company and didn't have the finances to build it on their own. Unlike most of the synths from its era during the mid 1970's, the Fugue was a real editable Combo synthesizer. It is actually two synths in one - a "Poly" synth and a "Mono" synth. There are even two individual outputs for each section on the back.

The "regular" Poly section has no limit to its polyphony! Some Preset sounds it features include Piano, Strings, Brass and Organ sounds. All sounds and presets can be combined together for a richer sound with the 4 push buttons (polyphony is not reduced when combined either). There is also a "Poly Effect" section with a Chorus and VCF Filter section.

The most unique feature of this synth is the Solo/Mono section. It is an independent Mono Synth with a waveform section that includes 10 preset waveforms and 10 variable waveforms. You can edit all 20 of the waveforms/presets to your liking. The sliders provide fast and easy hands-on access to tweaking sounds while performing. The Solo/Mono mode also has its own filter that can self-oscillate, with full VCF Envelope Attack/Decay/Sustain/Release, Frequency and Resonance sliders. There is a Vibrato slider control for use in the Solo mode. There is also a Priority Left/Right control for the direction note priority.

The Fugue has many red and green lights for easy operation within the sections...and it looks cool in the dark too. A cool joystick is used for Pitch changes. But the main power behind this synthesizer is the ability to play a chords with your left hand while soloing with your right hand (or vice/versa with a nice sounding bass-line). By layering both sections you can create an interesting sound for solos or for chords with the mono sound taking priorities for Right or Left notes. And you use a level slider control to split or layer the sections. It's a fun synth that can easily create that classic disco-70's sound.

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John

Posted 468 days ago

"It doesn't sound very good" is certainly not a statement I agree with. As an owner of the Siel Cruise, and having the pleasure of also owning Arp's, an Oberheim and several old Rolands and Korgs for comparison, this thing holds up to its own. It is actually a really decent string synth (several sounds), capable of mimicking a Solina. It has got some nice brass pad sounds with variable filter and attack to kick in. And the solo section can with some delay/reverb be a very expressive lead instrument. (I often get a Flaming Lips vibe when tinkering with the portamento and vibrato effect).
Mine is still working flawlessly, and if you get the chance to buy one - good for you (and hopefully your music as well).
John

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