Abbey Road adds 16 synths and seven drum machines

Abbey Road Studios expands its rare and vintage gear collection by acquiring an impressive array of new instruments and equipment. This expansion includes the addition of 16 synthesizers and seven vintage drum machines to their extensive collection. In addition, the studio has obtained 40 guitar pedals, enhancing the musical possibilities available to artists. The Gatehouse studio at Abbey Road is now equipped with a six-tier synth rack, further augmenting its capabilities. This development is part of a significant investment to offer new creative tools to users at the iconic studio.

Abbey Road Studios has significantly expanded its collection of musical equipment through a carefully curated process spanning 18 months. During this period, approximately 100 pieces of desirable equipment were identified, guided by input from industry professionals and artists. Vintage gear specialists, particularly SoundGas and Tony at SoundGas, played a crucial role in sourcing key items.

Among these are iconic synthesizers like the Minimoogs and Jupiter-4s, as well as classic drum machines including the 808s. Notably, this expansion includes instruments that were once owned by prominent musicians such as John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Adrian Utley of Portishead. Additionally, many of the new additions to the collection have been retrofitted with Kenton MIDI, enhancing their functionality for modern use.

This extensive investment is aimed at enriching the creative resources available at Abbey Road, providing artists with an unparalleled selection of tools to inspire and facilitate music production.

Mark Robertson from Abbey Road Studios expressed a vision for enhancing the studio’s collection, noting the desire to create a space filled with vintage gear that could inspire artists. Robertson emphasized the importance of expanding beyond existing vintage equipment at Abbey Road to include various synthesizers and drum machines. To achieve this goal, the studio engaged in a robust collaboration with artists, including Kid Harpoon, Two Inch Punch, and Jordan Rakei, to gather opinions on desirable gear assets.

The process highlighted the aim of establishing a comprehensive “creative playground” where artists could explore and engage with the equipment. The Gatehouse studio became a central feature in this effort, now housing a six-tier synth rack filled with a diverse range of synths and drum machines, ready for artists to “plug and play.” This initiative demonstrates Abbey Road’s commitment to creating an inclusive and dynamic environment for artistic creation through strategic enhancements to its gear collection.

The newly expanded collection at Abbey Road Studios features several notable and rare instruments, adding a unique range of sounds and historical significance. Among these is the Suiko ST-50 Poetry Trainer, a Japanese synthesizer traditionally used during poetry recitals. Its rarity and distinctive sound, which includes effects similar to a Koto and other vintage synth pads, make it a standout piece in the collection.

In addition to this, the studio has acquired instruments formerly owned by legendary musicians. Key pieces from John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Adrian Utley of Portishead are part of the collection, offering both historical value and unique sonic characteristics. These instruments have been retrofitted with Kenton MIDI, allowing contemporary artists to experience vintage sounds with modern connectivity. This blend of rare and historically significant pieces contributes to the dynamic and inspirational environment that Abbey Road Studios aims to provide for its artists.

Abbey Road has placed a curated display of new gear outside Studio 2 in a cleared area that formerly housed tape machines. The items on display are available for visitors and session users to pick up and take into sessions, enabling immediate hands-on experimentation. Staff facilitate pre-session access so artists can assemble pedal boards and other equipment before recording. The accessibility aims to inspire creativity by making gear visible and physically available to users.

The selection includes pedal boards and boutique pedals from makers such as Chase Bliss, Holograms and EarthQuaker Devices, alongside a range of SOMA instruments including the Terra, Lyra, Pulsar and Super. Users can select and remove pedals to form custom boards for sessions, with the same space offering synthesizers, drum machines and other vintage equipment for plug-and-play use. This arrangement reflects the studio’s stated goal of providing a hands-on creative environment for both visiting artists and session personnel. The initiative is designed to lower barriers to trying different sounds during recording appointments.

CONCLUSION

Abbey Road Studios describes the expansion as its single largest investment in new creative tools and frames it as part of an aim to create a truer home for music making. The project pairs original, pedigree instruments with retrofitting such as Kenton MIDI, bringing vintage authenticity together with updated studio connectivity. Much of the gear is on display outside Studio 2 and can be picked up by visitors and taken into sessions, providing immediate, hands-on access to rare synths, drum machines and pedal boards. The collection is presented to offer artists both historical sound sources and practical tools for contemporary creative work.