SynthAxe

The SynthAxe is a pioneering MIDI guitar synthesizer controller, designed as a fretted instrument that enables guitarists to perform polyphonic synthesizer sounds with expressive control over pitch, velocity, and modulation. Invented in the late 1970s by British engineers Bill Aitken, Mike Dixon, and Tony Sedivy, it was developed as a response to the limitations of early guitar-to-synth interfaces, such as unreliable pitch-tracking systems, and launched commercially in 1985 after partial funding from Richard Branson's Virgin Group.^[1]^[2]^[3] Featuring a distinctive "checkmark"-shaped body with a sharply angled fretboard with evenly spaced conductive frets, the SynthAxe uses electrical sensors to detect string and fret contact for precise note selection across six voices.^[1]^[3]^[4] It incorporates two sets of six strings—one over the fretboard for triggering notes and another lower on the body for controlling parameters like volume, timbre, and pitch bend—along with nine programmable keys, a tremolo bar, and foot pedals for real-time MIDI data manipulation.^[2]^[3] This design allowed for unprecedented expressivity, enabling techniques like rapid chord changes and fluid glissandos that were challenging on standard keyboards or guitars, though it demanded a steep learning curve due to its non-traditional ergonomics and sensitivity to player technique.^[1]^[2] Despite its innovative potential, the SynthAxe achieved limited commercial success, with only around 100 units produced at a price exceeding £10,000 (approximately $13,000 USD), making it inaccessible to most musicians and prone to maintenance issues from its complex electronics.^[1]^[3] It gained a cult following among progressive and fusion artists, notably jazz-rock guitarist Allan Holdsworth, who used it extensively on his 1986 album Atavachron to create layered, synth-orchestrated solos, and session player Lee Ritenour on his 1986 album Earth Run.^[2]^[1] Additionally, percussionist Roy "Future Man" Wooten modified a unit into the "Drumitar," a drum-triggering variant employed by Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, extending its influence into percussion synthesis.^[1] Today, surviving SynthAxes are rare collector's items, emblematic of 1980s MIDI experimentation and the challenges of bridging guitar tradition with digital synthesis.^[3]^[2]

History

Invention and development

The emergence of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) protocol in 1983 revolutionized music technology by standardizing communication between electronic instruments, paving the way for advanced guitar-synth interfaces that could overcome the pitch-tracking limitations of earlier systems reliant on string vibrations.^[2] This breakthrough inspired developers to create more expressive controllers, as existing guitar synthesizers like Roland's GR series struggled with accurate note detection and polyphony due to their dependence on physical string frequencies.^[3] The SynthAxe's primary designer, Bill Aitken, a former BBC music producer with experience in audio engineering, collaborated with engineer Mike Dixon and digital designer Tony Sedivy, both of whom had backgrounds in pre-MIDI synthesizer interfaces and electronic prototyping.^[5] Their combined expertise in music production and circuit design addressed the frustrations of guitarists seeking synthesizer control without compromising traditional playing techniques. Aitken, in particular, envisioned a fretted instrument that would prioritize performer expression over mechanical string analysis.^[3] Development began in 1978 as a response to limitations in early CV/gate-based guitar synthesizers, evolving into a fretted MIDI controller by the early 1980s to enable precise polyphonic input and dynamic control independent of strings, directly tackling the intonation and tracking issues plaguing devices like the Roland GR series.^[2]^[5] This idea evolved from earlier experiments with custom electronics, aiming to blend guitar ergonomics with synthesizer versatility, including an initial prototype nicknamed "Frankenstein." Prototyping started in the late 1970s with rudimentary test rigs and a Data General Nova mini-computer, leading to a playable model by October 1983, which was rigorously tested with synthesizers such as the Yamaha CS80 to refine responsiveness.^[5] These tests highlighted the device's potential for complex performances while revealing challenges in real-time processing. To advance commercialization, the team focused on further refinement under the newly formed SynthAxe company.^[3]

Production and commercial aspects

Production of the SynthAxe began in 1985 under SynthAxe Limited, a company based in Witney, England, founded by inventors Bill Aitken and Mike Dixon with technical input from Tony Sedivy.^[1]^[6] Initial units were priced at approximately £10,000 (equivalent to about $13,000 USD at the time), reflecting the instrument's advanced MIDI technology and custom-built components.^[1]^[3] Later models saw a reduced price of around £6,000 to £9,000, often bundled with synthesizers from partners like Akai, but this still positioned it as a luxury item for professional musicians.^[3] The production run was limited to fewer than 100 units, constrained by exorbitant manufacturing costs and a highly specialized market that demanded both technical proficiency and significant financial investment.^[1]^[6] Marketing efforts focused on demonstrations at major trade shows, including the NAMM convention in the United States and the Frankfurt Musikmesse in Germany, where prototypes and early models were showcased to industry professionals.^[6]^[1] The company also leveraged endorsements from prominent artists such as Allan Holdsworth, Lee Ritenour, and Gary Moore, and collaborated with synthesizer manufacturers like Fairlight for integration and promotional support, including a dedicated demo video released in 1985.^[3]^[6] Initial backing from Virgin Records, led by Richard Branson, provided crucial funding during development, but sales remained low due to the instrument's steep learning curve and the need for external MIDI synthesizers.^[7]^[3] Financial difficulties plagued the venture from the outset, with high research and development expenses—estimated to rival a portion of the Fairlight CMI's cost—outpacing revenue in a niche segment of the music industry.^[7] Competition intensified from more affordable and user-friendly MIDI guitar controllers, such as Roland's GR series, which offered simpler pitch-tracking without the SynthAxe's complexity.^[1] Broader economic pressures in the UK during the mid-1980s, including a recession affecting consumer spending on high-end audio equipment, further hampered adoption.^[3] By 1987, cash flow issues were acute, with staff reportedly compensated in instruments rather than salaries, leading to the company's closure and the termination of official production and support services.^[6] This abrupt end left owners without access to replacement parts, contributing to the instrument's rarity today.^[2]

Design

Physical construction

The SynthAxe is a fretted, six-string guitar-shaped MIDI controller featuring a neck with 25 equally spaced frets spanning two octaves, designed without any internal sound generation capabilities.^[8] The instrument's body and neck are angled at approximately 36 degrees to facilitate ergonomic play, with the neck housing six pitch strings—conventional metal guitar strings—that the player depresses against conductive frets to select notes.^[4] The body accommodates six shorter trigger strings parallel to the pitch strings, enabling note initiation and velocity sensitivity through individual string activation.^[4] Construction emphasizes durability and functionality, utilizing a fiberglass-reinforced plastic (GRP) body for the casing and a cast aluminum neck, which contributes to the instrument's relatively substantial weight—described as heavier than a typical electric guitar even after a 30% reduction from pre-production prototypes.^[8] The fingerboard consists of a black plastic board with 25 frets, each divided into 11 conductive sections (pins) to detect pitch and lateral string bending for expressive control.^[8] A hexaphonic pickup system employs magnetic Hall effect sensors and embedded coils to track individual string positions and deflections, providing precise per-string MIDI data without traditional magnetic pickups.^[4] Additional features include a vibrato arm (whammy bar) for pitch bend and other modulation effects, enhancing playability beyond standard string bending.^[4]^[9]^[10] Ergonomically tailored for guitarists, the SynthAxe incorporates a chunky, Les Paul-style neck with higher string action and an upward-angled fretboard extension to accommodate the extended equal-tempered fret spacing, allowing access to a broader range while minimizing elbow strain compared to conventional guitars.^[8] It can be supported via a strap or rested on the knee, promoting a familiar posture despite the non-traditional layout.^[4] Accessories include a foot pedal unit for sustain and decay control, connected via a proprietary 14-way cable to the main unit and an optional separate console.^[4]^[7]

Console and interface

The SynthAxe control console is a separate desktop unit designed to serve as a programmable interface for configuring and managing the instrument's parameters in real time. It features a compact layout with manual controls and a display to facilitate adjustments, while footpedals are provided in a separate pedalboard. This dedicated console enables users to fine-tune settings for multiple connected synthesizers, distinguishing it from the handheld guitar controller by providing a centralized hub for system-wide customization.^[4] At the core of the interface is a multi-zone LCD display that provides visual feedback on system status, including tuning configurations, transposition values, Capo positions, decay modes, and hold pedal states, with dedicated indicators for each parameter. Surrounding the LCD are dedicated controls, including a matrix of buttons for string-specific operations: six individual string indicators (230) paired with step up/down buttons (232, 234) for precise pitch adjustments, a store button (236), and eight recall buttons (238) for accessing saved setups. Additional elements include a normal tuning button (240), a two-octave piano keyboard (244) for chromatic transposition in semitone or octave increments, and toggle buttons for features like retrigger on/off (248, 250). Footpedals integrated into the pedalboard handle dynamic controls, such as the Fret/Slide pedal (260) for pitch gliding, Capo engagement (266), fast/slow decay selection (270), and hold sustain (276).^[4]^[11] Programming capabilities center on customizable presets and per-string configurations, with the console supporting up to eight non-volatile memory slots for storing complete setups that encompass master and individual string tunings, transposition offsets, Capo positions, and synthesizer-specific mappings. Users can assign unique MIDI channels to each of the six strings in polyphonic mode or consolidate them onto a single channel in monophonic mode, alongside adjustments for velocity sensitivity curves to simulate polyphonic aftertouch and map string dynamics to filter or envelope parameters on external synths. Patch selection draws from these memories, allowing rapid recall via the button array to switch between configurations tailored to different performance needs, such as detuned strings for alternate tunings or layered synth patches. These features enable detailed MIDI programming, including inversion of pitch bend data and legato handling, ensuring compatibility with diverse synthesizers like the Fairlight or Emulator II.^[4]^[8]^[11] Connectivity is handled through multiple DIN MIDI output ports on the console, providing up to eight independent outs for simultaneous control of external synthesizers, plus a MIDI thru and input for daisy-chaining or sequencer integration. A 14-way cable links the console to the guitar controller and optional pedalboard, transmitting configuration data while the MIDI outs route polyphonic note information, velocity, aftertouch, and control changes to synths. Power requirements for the console and overall system are met via a 12V DC supply housed in the pedalboard, ensuring stable operation for the microprocessor-driven scanning and processing.^[8]^[11] User workflow begins with a boot-up sequence where the LCD initializes to display default settings, followed by menu navigation through the button matrix to access tuning, transposition, or MIDI assignment screens. Operators typically start by selecting a preset via the recall buttons, then refine parameters—such as per-string tuning or velocity mapping—using the step buttons and keyboard before storing updates. During setup for performances, the console allows pre-configuration of all eight synth outs, enabling seamless switching between patches mid-session via footpedals or manual buttons, thus streamlining the transition from traditional guitar play to synthesized control.^[4]

Functionality

MIDI implementation

The SynthAxe employs hexaphonic MIDI output, transmitting independent note data for each of its six strings across separate MIDI channels numbered 1 through 6, enabling precise polyphonic control when connected to compatible synthesizers.^[8]^[3] This configuration allows each string to function monophonically, avoiding polyphony conflicts within a single channel and facilitating individual string processing by external devices.^[8] Note on and off messages are generated through fretboard scanning and contact detection between the string and frets, with velocity values ranging from 0 to 127 determined by the force of plucking the trigger strings.^[8]^[3] Additional MIDI data includes pitch bend messages generated from deflection of the fretting strings and the electronic tremolo bar, typically offering a range of ±2 semitones for expressive bending, as well as continuous controller messages for modulation, which can be assigned via the instrument's console to parameters like filter cutoff or volume on receiving synths.^[8]^[3] The system adheres to the standard MIDI baud rate of 31.25 kbps, which, while sufficient for the era, introduces inherent latency of approximately 10-20 milliseconds when interfacing with synthesizers, potentially affecting real-time responsiveness in performance settings.^[8] Compatibility extends to any standard MIDI sound module, though it is particularly optimized for polyphonic synthesizers such as the Fairlight CMI—supported through dedicated MIDI retrofit protocols—and early Roland units, allowing seamless integration for multi-timbral setups.^[8]^[12]^[3] A key limitation is the absence of internal sound generation, necessitating an external synthesizer for audio output, and the per-string monophonic design, which restricts true polyphony to one note per string regardless of the receiving device's capabilities.^[8]^[3]

Performance techniques

The SynthAxe is played by fretting notes on its neck using the left hand, similar to a standard guitar, where metal frets and sensors detect string-to-fret contact to generate precise pitch information across a two-octave range with equally spaced frets.^[7] Automatic string detection occurs via magnetic and contact sensors, rendering traditional tuning irrelevant as the instrument relies on positional data rather than string vibration frequencies.^[3] Notes are triggered by plucking or strumming the right-hand string set on the body, which is velocity-sensitive and sends MIDI data to external synthesizers upon detection of the strike, enabling responsive sound generation.^[10] Advanced techniques leverage the instrument's polyphonic capabilities, such as string skipping to form chords by fretting multiple notes simultaneously while selectively triggering individual body strings, or using the fretboard's continuous scanning mode to detect and output all active string-fret contacts at once for complex harmonies.^[7] Independent string bending is achieved through side-to-side deflection of the left-hand strings, with sensors measuring the bend distance to apply pitch variations per string, allowing nuanced expressive leads that exploit the neck's extended range beyond standard guitar scales.^[3] The built-in nine-key keyboard on the body can supplement these techniques, assigning specific notes or functions to facilitate rapid polyphonic passages or alternative triggering without relying solely on strings.^[1] Expression is enhanced by dedicated controls, including the electronic tremolo bar for real-time pitch bending and pressure-sensitive elements on the keys and strings for dynamic velocity and aftertouch effects like filter sweeps, foot pedals for sustain (hold) and capo-like transposition.^[10] These allow performers to shape synth parameters intuitively, such as damping or muting with hand techniques akin to guitar palm muting.^[3] Guitarists adapt to the SynthAxe through familiar fingerstyle fretting and strumming, but must adjust to the angled, evenly spaced fretboard—which lowers playability in higher registers for some chord shapes—and incorporate synthesizer-oriented phrasing to maximize its polyphonic potential.^[1] The instrument's low inherent latency supports guitar-like responsiveness, though users often refine techniques to emphasize sustained, layered sounds over percussive attacks.^[10] Common challenges include a steep learning curve for achieving precise polyphonic control, as the scanning system demands careful fretting to avoid unintended note overlaps from residual contacts, and the delicate sensor setup requires deliberate hand positioning to prevent misfires.^[7] Experienced players may initially struggle with the separation of pitch selection (left strings) from triggering (right strings), necessitating practice to integrate these for fluid performance.^[3]

Adoption and legacy

Notable users

Allan Holdsworth was one of the most prominent advocates for the SynthAxe, incorporating it extensively into his performances and recordings from the mid-1980s onward. He featured the instrument on albums such as Atavachron (1986), Sand (1987), and Flat Tire (2001), where it allowed him to explore fluid, saxophone-like legato lines and complex harmonic textures beyond traditional guitar capabilities.^[13] In interviews, Holdsworth praised the SynthAxe as an "exquisitely unique instrument" that functioned as a MIDI controller, enabling a "whole world of sonic textures" unattainable on guitar alone, though he noted its high setup costs limited onstage use later in his career.^[13] He also demonstrated the device at NAMM shows, helping to showcase its potential to jazz-fusion audiences.^[3] Jazz fusion guitarist Lee Ritenour adopted the SynthAxe for its ability to create layered synth textures in his recordings. On his 1986 album Earth Run, Ritenour played the instrument on multiple tracks, including "Soaring," "Earth Run," and "If I'm Dreamin' (Don't Wake Me)," blending it with acoustic and electric guitars to enhance the album's melodic and atmospheric elements.^[14] He appeared in 1980s demo videos alongside Holdsworth, highlighting the SynthAxe's responsiveness in live settings for fusion jazz contexts.^[15] Other notable users included session musician Chris Currell, who employed the SynthAxe to control a Synclavier during Michael Jackson's Bad world tour (1987–1989), integrating it into high-profile pop performances.^[3] Guitarist Gary Moore featured it briefly in the 1985 music video for "Out in the Fields," using it to add synthesized elements to his rock tracks.^[3] Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera provided early endorsements, supporting its adoption among progressive rock circles.^[3] Percussionist Roy "Future Man" Wooten modified a SynthAxe into the "Drumitar," a drum-triggering variant that adapted the instrument's fretted interface for percussive MIDI control. This customization was employed by Béla Fleck and the Flecktones in their performances and recordings starting in the late 1980s, extending the SynthAxe's applications into percussion synthesis and demonstrating its versatility for non-traditional users.^[1]^[3] These high-profile endorsements and demonstrations by musicians like Holdsworth and Ritenour contributed to the SynthAxe's niche visibility within fusion and rock communities, despite only around 100 units being produced and limited commercial success.^[3]

Modern preservation and influence

Due to its limited production run of approximately 100 units in the 1980s, the SynthAxe remains extremely rare today, with functional examples numbering in the low dozens and commanding premium prices on the collector's market.^[3] As of 2025, surviving units have been listed for sale on platforms like Reverb at prices ranging from $12,000 to $18,000 USD, reflecting their status as coveted artifacts of early MIDI technology.^[3]^[16] This scarcity has driven dedicated preservation efforts, including the Synthaxe.org initiative, launched around 2012 by engineer John Vullo, which focuses on repairs, firmware updates, and open-source adaptations to keep existing instruments operational.^[17] The SynthAxe's innovative design has exerted a lasting influence on subsequent MIDI guitar controllers and digital audio tools. It served as a conceptual precursor to modern hardware like the Boss SY-1000 Guitar Synthesizer, which builds on fretted-string MIDI triggering for polyphonic synthesis, and inspired software emulations such as Jam Origin's MIDI Guitar plugins that integrate guitar input into digital audio workstations (DAWs) for real-time sound generation.^[18]^[19] These developments echo the SynthAxe's emphasis on expressive, guitar-like control over synthesizers, paving the way for hybrid instruments in contemporary music production.^[20] Culturally, the SynthAxe symbolizes the burst of MIDI-driven creativity in the 1980s and has appeared in educational and archival contexts, including a 2013 feature on the Computer History Museum's curator wish list, where it was highlighted as a pioneering example of computer-musical instrument integration.^[1] It has also been profiled in documentaries and articles exploring synthesizer history, underscoring its role in bridging traditional guitar performance with electronic innovation.^[2] However, ongoing preservation faces significant challenges, including the scarcity of replacement parts for its custom electronics and compatibility issues with aging vintage synthesizers, complicating maintenance and full functionality restoration.^[21]