Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Sonic Charge Synplant 2
Software & Apps "This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative plugin synths for sound design
Superbooth 2025
Synths 12 new instruments and effects you need to know about from Superbooth 2025
synths
Tech 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
Behringer Model D
Soft Synths 10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
PPG 1002
Synths The ultra-rare PPG 1002 has been rebuilt for the 21st century - and it comes with a jaw-dropping price tag
plugins
Tech The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best?
Superbooth live
Synths Superbooth 2025: all the latest synth news from Berlin, as it happened
  1. Tech
  2. Synths

The top 10 greatest custom synth creations

News
By Chris Barker published 24 October 2011

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Top 10 custom synths!

Top 10 custom synths!

Jeff Toman from custom synth is the go-to guy for getting your synth modded. His creations have been on stage with everyone from Kaiser Cheifs to Chromeo.

After the jump check out his current favourite creations and be sure to head over to his website and flikr account for even more pimped up synths.

Some words from Jeff Toman about selecting this gallery:

"Just picking 10 was impossible as every customsynth is unique and special . The 10 on the list were chosen as new techniques were used to create them. See more over at my

website

and feel free to choose your own top 10!"

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Serge Modular

Serge Modular

Designed to be used sitting down and able to split so it can be transported, removable backs for access and modules had their rack ears removed to streamline the look.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjc96MtV

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Arp 2600

Arp 2600

Re-tolexed in white with black hardware added, metalwork refinished in cream with brown print. Made as a one off and restored one at the same time back to the original for the same studio.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjsCFeVx

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Moog Voyager

Moog Voyager

Lunar used to save time on the makeover, case was refinished in chrome to match the rest of the synth rig.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjw613i6

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Arp Odyssey

Arp Odyssey

Inspiration taken from the Blue Meanie or Blue Marvin styled synths.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjp5vWon

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Roland RD-700 GX

Roland RD-700 GX

Wonderful keyboard to work on and a fun design made as a one off.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjnTrVTK

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Roland JX3P + PG200 Programmer

Roland JX3P + PG200 Programmer

Here we integrated both units into the JX3P case with added MIDI upgrade and operating system , they have been a few versions this being the latest.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvhfBDA

...

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Arp Axxe

Arp Axxe

Original synth had been left in a garage and all metalwork rusted. This was then painted with gloss paint which crazed and went like bad artex, the Axxe was then sanded down and spent a few months being used with dynamo labels for the text ,
we then gave it a white and blue makeover and replaced the end panels with cream leather.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvmrW9G

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Yamaha CS30L

Yamaha CS30L

This was bought off an auction site listing it in great condition, it arrived and it wasn’t in good condition at all, so rather than restoring it the synth, it had a white makeover. One of my all time favourite synths.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjunZy8X

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Nord Lead 2

Nord Lead 2

This was covered in stickers that had been super-glued on; once they were removed they took the paint off. So the synth was customised with a black finish and two tone screen print black on black with silver text and legends.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwC2aTh

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Roland SH-101

Roland SH-101

Added nova mod by James at synth repair services then the rotary pots were sunken into the case to give the mod more of a factory feel. Then the case was refinished and given a unique look.

See more photos at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjrXGtCN

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Chris Barker
Read more
Sonic Charge Synplant 2
"This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative plugin synths for sound design
Superbooth 2025
12 new instruments and effects you need to know about from Superbooth 2025
synths
5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
Behringer Model D
10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
PPG 1002
The ultra-rare PPG 1002 has been rebuilt for the 21st century - and it comes with a jaw-dropping price tag
plugins
The ultimate soft synth showdown: Serum 2, Pigments 6, Phase Plant, Vital and Massive X: But which is best?
Latest in Synths
Fors Pivot
Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
Odin 2
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
Excite Audio Bloom KSHMR
Excite Audio collaborates with KSHMR to create a new Bloom instrument that brings the sound of Indian music to any DAW, and you can grab the Lite version for just $5
Lorde
Lorde on the Frank Ocean collaborator who helped to humanise the synths on her new album, Virgin
Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer on the synth plugin that he's been working with "for years"
Cherry Audio Novachord and Solovox
How Cherry Audio recreated the sound of the world's first commercial polysynth in software
Latest in News
Joe Armon-Jones
Ezra Collective’s Joe Armon-Jones on the imagined musical apocalypse that inspired All The Quiet
Melbourne Instruments Roto-Control
Melbourne Instruments' Roto-Control gets Bitwig Studio integration following 2.0 firmware update
Waves 4th of July
Waves just made building a pro-level plugin chain a lot cheaper - grab 2 for $59.99 or 4 for $99.99
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Celebrate the 4th of July in style with hundreds slashed off gear from Gibson, Fender, Alesis, Roland, Yamaha, Boss and more
Paul McCartney at the piano at Live Aid
Bob Geldof on how Paul McCartney’s Live Aid performance was almost a disaster
ai band
Who is behind The Velvet Sundown, the AI-generated band that blew up the internet?

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...