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Monochrome and technicolor: The unmistakable colour palettes of vintage drum machines

Diving into the bold monochrome to dazzling technicolour colour palettes that make vintage drum machines so goddamn drool-worthy.

Vintage drum machines – and their colour palettes – are things of beauty. Not only have they shaped popular music in more ways than anyone could have imagined when the Wurlitzer Side Man was first brought into the world back in 1959, but they have acted as a canvas for designers working for instruments designers to grow and experiment alongside the technology itself.

From the red, black and orange of the TR-808 to the beige, grey and baby blue of the AKAI MPC60, the colour palettes of vintage drum machines are unmistakable. Here are some of our favourites.

Maestro Rhythm King MK-2 (1966)

Oberheim DMX (1981)

vintage drum machines colour palettes

Roland CompuRhythm CR-78 (1978)

vintsge drum machine colour palettes

Linn LM-1 (1980)

vintage drum machine colour palette

Roland TR-808 (1980)

vintage colour palette

Boss HC-2 (1984)

vintge drum machine colour palettes

AKAI MPC 60 (1981)

vintage colour palette

Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-8L (1972)

vintage drum machines colour palettes

Roland TR-909 (1983)

Hammond Auto-Vari 64 (1974)

Maestro Rhythm & Sound (1968)

vintage drum machines colour palettes

Emu SP-12 (1965)

vintage drum machines colour palettes