Nauts!
Got hooked on the Roland SHs (preferably vintage models).
Anybody using an SH2 or a Model 101 instead of an SH-101?
Got an offer for a Tubbutec-ed blue device, but am not sure if it adds so much value in addition to my 2oh2.
But yeah - I absolutely love the Tubbutec stuff.
Would be grateful to hear your opinions.
Cheers!
flo
Through the years I’ve had all the 70s Roland SH synths, and have a lot of love for the series. Never owned a 101. Here’s a rundown of the 70s SHs, plus my opinion in one or two sentences:
SH-09: A killer little bass++ synth. Superb sound, very musical and with just the right amount of controls and versatility.
SH-1: The forerunner of the 09, just about identical soundwise though a tad less punchy (the AR env isn’t as choppy as the 09 VCA gate). Beautiful interface but the extra controls don’t really make it significantly more versatile than the 09.
SH-2: 09 with an extra VCO. Even though it lacks any intermodulation of the VCOs, the added power is significant. A superb little synth.
SH-3a: Intriguingly original/unique design and nicely warm and dark tone, but the single VCO, awful sounding envelopes and high noise floor killed this one for me.
SH-3: Never tried it, very rare. Identical to the 3a except it has the diode ladder filter from the SH-1000, instead of the transistor ladder of the 3a.
SH-5: A gem of a synth with a superb vintage oscillator tone and excellent low pass filter, in spite of a whole range of disappointments: the AR and preset envelopes are useless, the band pass and high pass modes of the VCF are useless and the extra BPF is nasal and annoying. Still a great synth though!
SH-7: Another gem. Just about the same basic sound as the SH-09/1/2, with a lot of added functions. Excellent ergonomics and a joy to use, with many unique functions This is the only SH synth I kept, and my personal favourite by far.
SH-1000: Semi-preset but with some control of basic parameters. In spite of its simplicity it sounds great wit a sweet oscillator tone and that nice diode ladder filter.
SH-2000: Preset synth with pressure sensitivity. I found this to sound anemic and sold it within a week. It has a Moog style ladder filter.
System-100. I’ve only had the the 102. Surprisingly simple for the price tag, but the low pass filter and VCO sound are top notch. Same circuitry and sound as the SH-5.
Conclusion: Don’t buy any of them at today’s silly prices, unless you can find a superb deal on an SH-2 or SH-09. There are great sounding and more affordable alternatives today.
CV/gate
The ones that don’t have CV/gate interfacing (3, 1000, 2000) can be modded. Other mods are fairly simple. I’ve had a cv in for the second VCO added to my 7, for independent/duophonic sequencer control of the VCOs.
Here’s a track I did exclusively with the SH-5 
Sequenced with the Octatrack, multitracked in Live.
Edit @chiasticon probably has some opinions on the matter too
This is one of the first synths I got, and it’s a classic sound, while very limited - though the cv/gate i/o is very useful, as is the old headphones out into the input trick too for extra girth. It has a very recognisable growling sound, one that is particularly familiar to me from Chris Carter’s use of the SH-1 in Throbbing Gristle.
Sadly the VCO on mine is a little borked and the PWM in particular has become flaky in the extreme, so I don’t use it as much as I once did. One day I’ll ask the local synth repair tech just how expensive it might be to fix it.
Thank you so much! That’s really a lot of information!
101 is already sold, SH-2 and SH-101 still on the fence (maybe?).
Always surprised how different the mono synths sound in the end (compared against the A4) 
I do indeed!
I disagree about the filters. the SH-5 is my favorite among the SH’s because of the BPF and the BPF/HPF. I find them quite useful, and it’s a very versatile synth because of them. but yeah, it’s annoying the dedicated BPF can’t be modulated, the envelopes are slow and the stereo output is basically useless. excellent sounding though, and like 90% of what you’d like to do with a mono synth you can do with the SH-5 because of the extensive audio path and modulation options.
SH-7: agree with much of what @Nils said. and again, there’s very little it can’t do. much faster and more functional envelopes than the SH-5. beefier filter, but less versatile. lots of interesting and unique features like VCO-1 A, autobend and duophony. favorite feature: being able to choose whether the keyboard functions or CV/gate input does. 
System 100: I’ve got the whole system except for the speakers. and it’s just phenomenal; the sequencer and mixer are far more useful than I expected. however, it’s also somewhat handicapped in what you can actually do with it; it’s a very early semi-modular after all. lots of things you’d think would be possible on a semi-modular are not; the patch points are just not there. that said, you can still do a ton with it and the options that are available are still quite functional and well thought-out. stupid expensive though. the Model 101 by itself with the G Storm Electro SH-5 filter would be quite a powerful synth. and the 101 is the most common and affordable of the system.
SH-101: totally different from the above synths in sound. but a really great sound nonetheless. if you’ve got an MC-202 there’s likely no need for it, and you probably know the sound very well. I don’t have the Tubbutec mod with mine, but I wouldn’t hate having it. I do run an external switch so that I can toggle between using the keyboard or CV/gate (likewise for the SH-5). favorite feature: random/noise being able to modulate the VCO. I also love just playing a random melody into the sequencer and then playing around at firing gates at it to clock it in a semi-random fashion. always yields results I wouldn’t otherwise have come up with.
conclusion: as @Nils said they’re all quite expensive these days so it’s not an easy decision. but I would go for the SH-09 or 2 if you can get a reasonable price on one (around $1k or so). you’ll have that core sound then; and it’s really quite beautiful. the SH-5/7/System 100 are my favorite mono synths (even though there’s a ton of overlap, having them all) because of that sound. I would HIGHLY suggest getting one that has been serviced, or get it serviced after you get it. there are lilac Matsushita capacitors on the inside of all of these (except the SH-101, I think) that eventually leak and destroy the traces on the boards. trust me, you don’t want this happening. re-capping one shouldn’t cost more than a couple hundred bucks (especially the simpler ones) if there’s no damage to work around. also watch out for cold solder joints; check every feature on it when you get it. for the SH-101, the power switches notoriously die because people often just leave them on and never exercise the switch. ask if it’s been replaced, or expect to do it some day. and toggle the switch every now and then. also don’t be afraid to get one from Japan (tariffs notwithstanding). they’re usually in dead-mint shape. but be aware that it likely hasn’t been serviced and will run on 100V so you’ll need a transformer.
I keep on meaning to open the SH-1 to see if I can see what might be wrong with it before asking a tech who (reasonably enough) charges 50€ just to have a look what’s wrong before doing any work, assuming it can be fixed in the first place; so that’s useful information to start with - thanks.
I would start by opening it up, plugging out all connectors, clean them and reconnect them. That fixed an 09 with some weird issues for me once.
Then go on to clean the PW fader and perhaps the waveform selector switch. And check the caps while it’s open.
Just be careful to unscrew the screws in the chassis bottom gently! The screw bosses are moulded into the front panel and can break off easily with too much torque (happened to me). Maybe spray in a little crc-56 first and let it work for a couple of hours before unscrewing? At least if it hasn’t been opened in a while.
I would be careful to buy vintage synths, anyway.
Analog electronic parts do age and after decades may brake. It’s like buying vintage cars. Collectors price tags and the need for experts to repair them.
It might be not for you, but I have quite a good experience with Rolands Aira technology. There are models for SH-2 and SH-101. Since we get “simulators” rather than “emulations” the synths sound very authentic and cost a fraction of the price compared to original hardware.
Advantage beside the cost … the Aira electronics will not age as the originals already have done … 
Yeah, I agree.
It depends on what you like to do etc. But if your goal is to produce music, I think a good VST / modern hardware remake is better. Easier to work with, and you won’t waste time on fixing electronics etc.
And when it comes to sound, I doubt people are able to hear the difference from VST vs real hardware when it’s in the mix. Maybe if it’s a solo A/B test, but in the mix I really doubt it.
Hey thank you all for those detailed explanations!
I guess times are over to get those devices around 1k.
My lessons learned from 2025: Don’t buy vintage gear that is not refurbished and re-capped! Costs more but saves lifetime and a good mood!
No way for plugins, though (as I completely work outside the box)
Cheers
flo
I love the SH5 always wanted one bitd but never got one until Behringer did their clone, which coincidentally Nick featured on sonic state last week as I loaned it to him for his Friday fun…
For sure - an awesome price for what you are getting (holds probably true for almost all Behringer products).
I have and love my Poly-D - but would look out for an OG SH (call me nostalgic 
)
Ok - went for an SH-2! (Hopefully will arrive next week).
Striking (!) sound examples that convinced me:
(Article should be translateable):
And this walkthrough:
Cheers
flo
(extreme GAS warning)
Alex Ball on various SH-series Rolands:
Nice, congratulations! Honestly the SH-2 is the best choice imo. The 5 and the 7 are both too expensive imo, and the 2 is no doubt “the best of the rest”. It’s a great little synth with a huge sweet spot. Almost any sound it makes can be useful in one way or the other. Hope you got it for a decent price
I don’t know how you plan to play and control it, but CV/gate inputs for the VCOs and envelopes are already there. It’s also very simple to modify it with a CV in for the filter. All it takes is a cable, a break jack and a simple drawing which I guess you can find on the web.
Hey Nils - thank you so much!
I bought a refurbished and recapped unit at analog.pl - including a case 
, cv filter mod and oscillator sync !
No bargain for sure, but as mentioned above: I have my lessons learned in 2025 and only buy refurbished vintage gear.
Plan is to use CV out on the MC-2oh2 as a sequencer - or trying to play it like a keyboard (trying, as I am not a keyboarder or pianist and usually program my music on the Elektrons).
I think the SH-2 probably will complement the 202 very well.
NICE! awesome score! analogia.pl do excellent work and will pack the living hell out of the thing. set aside an hour to unpack.
haven’t played an SH-2 personally, but have seen many videos and it certainly has that sound. you’re going to adore it, I’m sure.
now go listen to some early Autechre for SH-2 sounds while you await delivery.
Great! I’ve only heard nice things about analogia, sounds like a safe buy 
Thank you!
Maciek is an incredible guy!
(Answers instantly via IG).
Bought a Juno 6 from analogia - really an awesome address
Didi’t even know that also Autechre were using an SH-2 