The Roland TB-303 Bass Line is a
synthesizer with built-in
sequencer manufactured by the
Roland corporation in
1982 and
1983 that had a defining role in the development of contemporary
electronic music. The TB-303 (named for "
Transistor Bass") was originally marketed to guitarists for bass
accompaniment while practicing alone. Production lasted approximately 18 months, resulting in only 10,000 units. It was not until the mid- to late-
1980s that
DJs and electronic musicians in
Chicago found a use for the machine in the context of the newly developing
house music genre. At the time they were very cheap, which helped to contribute to their popularity. The TB-303 is considered a collector's item today, often valued at
US $1000 to $3000. An example recently sold on eBay for US $2,275.00.
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