Pollard Syndrum

Pollard Syndrum

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Also known as: Syndrum, Pollard Industries, Pollard International

Unclaimed

Pollard Syndrum was an American electronic drum manufacturer founded in 1976 by session drummer Joe Pollard and engineer Mark Barton, who incorporated Pollard Industries in Culver City, California along with Donald Stone. The Syndrum is widely credited as the first commercially available electronic drum, debuting at the 1977 NAMM show. Each unit paired a drum shell fitted with a Kevlar head and...

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Pollard Syndrum was an American electronic drum manufacturer founded in 1976 by session drummer Joe Pollard and engineer Mark Barton, who incorporated Pollard Industries in Culver City, California along with Donald Stone. The Syndrum is widely credited as the first commercially available electronic drum, debuting at the 1977 NAMM show. Each unit paired a drum shell fitted with a Kevlar head and a velocity-sensitive sensor with an outboard analog synthesizer voice tailored to drum sounds.

The company produced three main models: the single-pad Syndrum 1, the Syndrum TwinDrum, and the four-pad Syndrum Quad, the last of which became the line's most recognized configuration. The instrument's signature descending-pitch sweep — often described as a "deooom" — became a hallmark of late-1970s disco, pop, and post-punk records, including Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street," tracks from Sparks' No. 1 in Heaven, Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Rydeen," and material from Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures.

Despite a strong roster of endorsing drummers, Pollard Industries struggled financially due to consignment sales arrangements with retailers, and all Syndrum models were out of production by 1985. Original Pollard Syndrums remain sought-after on the vintage market, and the design's voice has been emulated in numerous later hardware and software drum synthesizers.

Pollard Syndrum has 3 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Drum Machines and Electronic Pads. Their gear is featured by 12 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Electronic, and Pop. Notable users include cEvin Key, Prince, and Kraftwerk.

Artists Who Use Pollard Syndrum

cEvin Key uses 2 Pollard Syndrum products

cEvin Key

Drummer, Keyboardist · Skinny Puppy

Prince uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Prince

Singer, Guitarist · Prince

Kraftwerk uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Kraftwerk

Composer, Music Producer · Kraftwerk

Ryuichi Sakamoto uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Keyboardist, Composer · Yellow Magic Orchestra

David Robinson uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

David Robinson

Drummer · The Cars

Mathew Jonson uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Mathew Jonson

Music Producer · Cobblestone Jazz

Frank Beard uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Frank Beard

Drummer · ZZ Top

Yukihiro Takahashi uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Yukihiro Takahashi

Singer, Drummer · Yellow Magic Orchestra

Tommy Mars uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Tommy Mars

Keyboardist · Western Vacation

Graeme Edge uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Graeme Edge

Drummer · The Moody Blues

Ali Score uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Ali Score

Drummer, Composer · A Flock of Seagulls

Alan Myers uses 1 Pollard Syndrum product

Alan Myers

Drummer · Devo

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