Pollard Syndrum
22Also known as: Syndrum, Pollard Industries, Pollard International
UnclaimedPollard 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...
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.
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