If I have a favorite hardware synthesizer, it would have to be my Yamaha SY77. It's not the most used synthesizer in my studio but I have a special bond with it, and a similar connection with its FM-only sibling, the DX11.

I use my SY77 for everything from pads and basses to glitch and percussion. It throws out a seriously mean synth kick. It's one of those synthesizers which houses such vast possibility, you expand beyond your own preconceptions just by tweaking the controls for awhile.

I purchased this SY77 sight unseen some years ago, through a seller on eBay. Of my many eBay synth purchases, only two have been problematic in any way. The Virus kB was difficult to pry free from someone who, unbeknownst to me at the time of bidding, had been absconding with lots of buyers' cash. It eventually showed up in pristine condition after several months of lesser black magic over IM. But this SY77, billed as "immaculate, perfect, like new" was in bad shape. It came out of the box with a layer of grime and filth so thick text on the chassis was unreadable. The LCD was kaput and, worst of all, low C was broken and unplayable.

But it turned on. And sound came out. And I was taken.

After extensive dismantling, disinfecting and parts replacement, I had a keyboard that actually was in pristine condition again and I now knew inside and out. After saving its life, I have to look after it, and it looks after me.