The Timeless Pulse: A History of the Roland TB-303 and Its Clones

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🔁 Birth of an Icon

In 1982, Roland Corporation released the TB-303 Bass Line, a small, silver, monophonic synthesizer designed to emulate bass guitars for solo musicians. “TB” stood for “Transistor Bass.” It was originally considered a commercial failure and discontinued by 1984 after just about 10,000 units were produced.

But what began as a failure soon became the foundation of a movement.

💥 Acid Explosion

In the late 1980s, underground Chicago producers like Phuture, DJ Pierre, and Adonis rediscovered the TB-303. Its squelchy resonance, sliding notes, and unpredictable sequencing made it the heart of a new genre: acid house.

Tracks like “Acid Tracks” (1987) by Phuture immortalised the 303 sound.

📈 Cult Status and Cloning Begins

As demand surged and vintage units became rare, manufacturers stepped in to clone or reimagine the 303.

🛠️ Key Clones and Inspirations Over the Years:

🧪 Novation Bass Station (1993)

Novation Bass Station 1
Novation Bass Station II

While not a direct 303 clone, Novation’s Bass Station offered acid-like tones and portable design, igniting the rebirth of analog monosynths. Novation also released the Bass Station II in 2013 with a vast amount of improvements to the original but kept the acid filter feature!

🧬 Future Retro 777 (1997)

A more feature-rich analogue synth inspired by the 303 with MIDI, CV/Gate, and filter drive.

🔁 x0xb0x by Adafruit / Ladyada (2005)

The x0xb0x was an open-source hardware project that replicated the original circuitry, even using rare parts where possible. It became a favourite for acid enthusiasts and DIYers.

🧪 Cyclone Analogic TT-303 (2013)

A faithful 1:1 clone of the original TB-303 with added MIDI, USB, and memory improvements. Later rebranded as Bass Bot.

🎛️ Roland TB-03 (Boutique) (2016)

Roland’s own digital reissue with modern features.

As part of Roland’s Boutique series, the TB-03 used their ACB (Analog Circuit Behavior) modeling to digitally emulate the original TB-303 sound. It added USB, delay/reverb FX, and step sequencing.

Roland also released a TB-3 as part of their AIRA series – which offered the ACB modelling for the TB-303 – but with a modern sequencer and performance interface.

🧠 Behringer TD-3 (2019)

A true budget clone in various colours.

Behringer brought an affordable analog clone to market with great success. The TD-3 was even released in multiple colours and variants, including the TD-3-MO (Modded Out) with Devil Fish-style modifications.

🎹 Software Clones & Emulations

Not to be left out, software developers have also created countless 303-inspired plugins:

  • AudioRealism Bass Line 3 (ABL3)
  • D16 Phoscyon
  • Roland Cloud TB-303
  • ReBirth RB-338 (Propellerhead – 1997) – A cult-favourite discontinued software

AudioRealism Bass Line 3 – A respected soft clone.

🧬 Evolution in the Modern Era

The TB-303 legacy now spans more than four decades, and its signature acid sound continues to influence genres from techno to trance, electro, and beyond.

Today, 303 clones can be found everywhere from modular systems (e.g., Erica Synths Bassline, DinSync RE-303) to iOS apps and Eurorack modules.

🧡 Final Thoughts

The TB-303 is a story of rebirth: a forgotten machine turned cultural catalyst. Its influence continues to pulse through dancefloors, studios, and DIY labs across the globe.

If you’re chasing that squelchy, hypnotic acid sound – there’s a 303 for you, whether original, clone, or software.