Roland TB-303
The silver box that birthed Acid House
Origins (1981-1984)
Designed by Roland engineer Tadao Kikumoto, the TB-303 Bass Line was released in 1981 as a companion to the TR-606 drum machine.
Intended for guitarists to practice basslines, it used analog circuitry to emulate a bass guitar — but its sound was far from realistic.
Failure and Rediscovery (Mid-1980s)
The TB-303 sold poorly and was discontinued by 1984, with units ending up in pawn shops for cheap.
A few adventurous producers — notably in Chicago — discovered that tweaking the knobs while it played produced wild, squelchy tones.
The Acid Revolution (Late 1980s)
Tracks like Phuture’s “Acid Tracks” (1987) defined the new acid house genre, powered by the hypnotic resonance of the 303.
The TB-303 became a cultural icon — a symbol of underground dance music and sonic rebellion.
Legacy
Decades later, its influence remains: countless software clones, hardware reissues, and entire genres owe their existence to its sound.
From acid techno to trance and modern EDM, the 303’s squelch still pulses through global dance floors.