Buchla USA Music Easel

Buchla Music Easel (2019) for sale. Genuine USA made, the real deal – not a clone/BEMI version!

Complete with accessory pack (pictured) and various additional items for the Buchla user including modular interface, patch card, cables etc.

This has had light use only and is pretty much “as new”. The owner traded it in with some regret for a Roland System 100 from us. His review of this very unit is below.

Tested and working well. Very sad to see this go…

Read the full details on the Buchla website.

Uses a 12vDC power supply. UK version included.

Former owner’s review of this unit:

“Having sold off much of my hardware synth collection a while back, I set about purchasing a much tighter collection of synths, made up primarily of ‘systems’ that we often Dream of. I settled on the Make Noise B&G System, an EMS Synthi A, and set about completing my trio with a Buchla Music Easel.

I have followed the dramas of the previous owners of the Buchla name, and noted that a lot of people were unhappy with their ‘BEMI’ era systems. Reporting issues with build quality, delivery times and general support and so I set about tracking down a newer (2019) BUSA (Buchla USA) build edition. That is the one I purchased, and that is the one that I review here. I have no experience of either an original Buchla system, or a BEMI re-issue.

So, the sound. I pride myself on sourcing equipment that have distinct sounds. I source rare outboard, run a lot of tape, and am perfectly happy to sell on the latest purchase if I feel it lacks that certain something. I was pleased then, to find the Buchla sounds every bit as unique, characterful, and dare I say ‘Organic’ as what I had been swooning over on Alessandro Cortini’s Forse releases. It has that ‘Electronics passed through wood’ sound I had been after and find it compliments my productions and other synths perfectly. Build quality is just fine. The knobs come straight off of the PCB and are not bolted to the faceplate as I would always prefer, and although they wobble if forced, it feels nicely balanced, and not at all cheaply made. I have had zero problems with it so far. No clicks, pops, patching faults etc. Even the MIDI side seems sorted on these later BUSA versions (Some, if not all BEMI versions received on all MIDI channels and came with their midi connectors incorrectly wired, forcing the user to open the unit up and swap a small connector around).

The two comments you always seem to come across when researching an Easel are its unique sound, and the fact that it is definitely designed as a stand-alone instrument to be experimented with. I have had modular synth walls, but these days prefer to buy my modulars as complete manufacturer units (ala Black and Gold Shared System). Although these units often have a complete feel to them, non in my experience begs to be played solo quite as much as the easel. It’s not that is doesn’t play well with others when synced, it’s unique sound sees that it pops through wherever it’s used in a mix, it’s just designed in such a beautiful way, they you simply get lost in it. For me, it is the exact reason that I chose to buy my modulars as complete systems these days. Yes, all Eurorack uses the same voltages and connectors, but when you lay your hands on the Easel, you get to feel what a complete, well designed SYSTEM is all about. Only the EMS Synthi comes close to sucking your time in like an audible Dyson.

You loose HOURS with this thing… just closed eyes, riding one or two faders and surfing the harmonic interplay between the two oscillators. It seems so simple, and in some ways restrictive, but it is a thing of absolute beauty to experiment with. With it’s colourful layout, and it’s childhood science set appearance, one could be forgiven for thinking this was some kind of toy… the best compliment I can give it is that it brings the exact same sense of naive experimentation and wonderment that a beautifully designed toy does to a child. Think Lego with sound. It is guaranteed to leave you with a massive smile on your face. Yes, Eurorack can also suck your time and blow you away with it’s tone, but to me it always feels like work. Like one needs to break the creative cycle to think about the next patch. With the Easel I find myself creating a patch within a few minutes, and then playing that patch for hours. Just mesmerising.”