Impressions of the RSF Kobol Synthesizer

The RSF Kobol – that “French Minimoog” (ok … the association is not entirely correct) – is one of the very special specialities in synthesizer history. Two main aspects characterize the Kobol: The combination of high-quality workmanship and excellent sound, and the striking contrast between original price and the instrument’s value on the used market today.

Approximately 200 Kobol synthesizers (keyboard version) were built between 1978 and 1982. Due to the robust design, many models are still in excellent condition and have thus passed the test of time.

Filed under 2019, General, Stories

“Es genügt, einen Ton schön zu spielen” sagte der Komponist Arvo Pärt im Jahre 2005. Diese Aussage ist ebenso einfach wie ich auch exzellent: Es braucht kein Meer an Tönen, denn entscheidend ist der Klang. Dass so mancher Vintage-Synthesizer der 70er und 80er Jahre teils unerreicht hochwertige Klänge liefert, steht außer Frage. Doch tatsächlich leben wir “heute” in einer nahezu perfekten Zeit. Einerseits hat man – mehr oder weniger – noch Zugriff auf die Vintage Analogen, andererseits wird auch bei Neugeräten die wichtige Komponente des hochwertigen Klanges wieder zunehmend berücksichtigt. Doepfer, Cwejman, Synthesizers.com, MacBeth, Moog, GRP, Studio Electronics, COTK, John Bowen und andere Hersteller bauen hervorragende Synthesizer, die den “Klassikern” in nichts nachstehen. All diesen (alten wie neuen) “großartigen” Instrumenten ist Great Synthesizers gewidmet. _________________________________________________________ In 2005 composer Arvo Pärt said: “Playing one tone really well is enough”. In other words, it is sufficient to play one tone 'beautifully'. I agree with that. All musical efforts are focused on the sound itself. Although I studied classical music (piano and drums), it’s the electronic sound that inspires me. Synthesizers are the epitome of new sounds and exciting tonal spheres. Today, many companies produce high-quality - excellent! - synthesizers: Doepfer, Cwejman, MacBeth, Moog, GRP, Synthesizers.com, COTK, Studio Electronics, John Bowen and others. It's their products I'm really interested in ... apart from Vintage Synthesizers, which I have been collecting for 20 years. Subsequent to our former websites Bluesynths and Blogasys, Peter Mahr and I have now created GreatSynthesizers. We hope you like it.

2 Comments

  1. I had one of these and also the Expanders. They are great. Amazing tone, the sync sound is great. Certainly not worth today’s prices, but one of my favourite synths.

  2. Theo Bloderer

    … yes, amazing instruments. I wonder why there is no re-manufacturing of the original RSF products today. Companies clone everything, but why not building new batches of Kobol Expander / Expander II / Programmer? It would be just perfect.

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