The Cult Classic Reborn: A Deep Dive into the Suzuki OM-108 Omnichord

Bring Home the Legend

Well hello there, gearheads and sonic adventurers! Musical Demon here, and boy, do I have a treat for you today! An icon, a legend, a quirky little slab of pure joy has returned from the mists of the 80s to grace our studios once more. That’s right, we’re talking about the one and only Suzuki Omnichord, reborn as the magnificent OM-108. Let's plug this thing in and see if the magic is still there!

Overview

The Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 is a modern reboot of the cult-classic electronic instrument that first charmed its way into our hearts in 1981. It’s an instrument designed for everyone, from the seasoned pro looking for a spark of inspiration to the absolute beginner who has never touched a key in their life ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 review"). The core concept is simple and brilliant: press a chord button with one hand and glide a finger across the touch-sensitive "strumplate" with the other to create beautiful, arpeggiated melodies in perfect key. The OM-108 faithfully resurrects the soul of its predecessors while packing in modern features requested by its dedicated community for years ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 Review"). It’s a wonderfully tactile instrument that combines an auto-accompaniment section, a rhythm machine, and a unique synth, available for purchase right now from zzounds.com.

Key Features

• Chord Buttons: 38 buttons providing a total of 108 chord types, including major, minor, 7th, sus4, and add9 ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108: This Classic").
• Strumplate Voices: 10 selectable voices, each with a main and a blendable sub-voice.
• Sound Generation: A hybrid system featuring true analog circuits for the classic "omni" sounds (recreating the beloved OM-84) and high-quality PCM samples for other tones like Harp, FM Piano, and Celeste (Dobbs).
• Rhythm Section: 10 built-in rhythm patterns with adjustable tempo and volume, including classics like Rock, Swing, and Bossa Nova.
• Controls: Dedicated rotary knobs for Master, Chord, Main Voice, and Sub Voice volumes, plus Sustain control.
• Connectivity: MIDI OUT, 1/4" Line Out, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. A unique switch allows the internal speaker to be used for monitoring even when the line out is active ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108: Hands On").
• Power: Can be powered by 8 AA batteries (for up to 8 hours of use) or an AC adapter (sold separately).

Professional Reviews Summary

Experts agree that the OM-108 is a triumphant return for a beloved oddball. It is celebrated for being incredibly fun and intuitive, serving as an "instant ideas machine" that requires zero prior musical experience to enjoy ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 review"). Reviewers praise Suzuki for painstakingly recreating the original analog circuitry of the fan-favorite OM-84 model, which delivers that authentic, warm, retro tone (Dobbs). The blend of these classic analog sounds with new, high-quality digital PCM voices has been lauded as a success. The upgraded, wider strumplate is more ergonomic, and the inclusion of modern necessities like MIDI out makes it a genuinely useful studio tool ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 Review"). The primary criticism noted is its relatively high price for an instrument that is, at its heart, quite simple ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 review").

User Sentiment Summary

The dedicated Omnichord community is thrilled with the OM-108, viewing it as a thoughtful and respectful update that incorporates many long-requested features. The design consciously mimics the size and feel of the most popular vintage models, the OM-27 and OM-84, making it instantly familiar ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 Review"). Users are particularly excited about the re-introduction of rotary control knobs for on-the-fly adjustments and the addition of new chord types like sus4 and add9, which expand its musicality. The excellent sound quality of the built-in speaker and the wider, more responsive strumplate are other common points of praise. It’s seen not just as a nostalgia trip, but as a well-rounded and improved version of the instrument they fell in love with ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 Review").

Ideal For

The Suzuki OM-108 is ideal for a wide range of users. It's perfect for songwriters and producers seeking a unique source of inspiration to break creative blocks. It's also an exceptional instrument for beginners and non-musicians who want to start making music immediately without getting bogged down by theory or difficult techniques. Finally, it’s a must-have for nostalgia buffs and collectors who have long awaited the return of this iconic instrument.

Competing Products

The Omnichord is a truly unique instrument, and as one reviewer put it, "There's honestly nothing quite like it" ("Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 review").

• Vintage Suzuki Omnichords (OM-27, OM-84, etc.): The most direct competitors are its own ancestors. While they offer the original vintage vibe, they often sell for high prices on the used market and may come with reliability issues, lacking the modern benefits of the OM-108 like MIDI out and expanded chords.
• Auto-Accompaniment Keyboards: Instruments from brands like Yamaha and Casio offer chord and rhythm features, but they lack the Omnichord's distinctive strumplate interface, tactile charm, and signature sound.

Works Cited

• Dobbs, Adam. "Suzuki Omnichord OM-108: Hands On With The New Omnichord!" Gearnews, 6 Apr. 2024, www.gearnews.com/suzuki-omnichord-om-108-hands-on-with-the-new-omnichord/.
• "OMNICHORD OM-108 Make Your Own Kind of Music." Suzuki Musical Inst. Mfg. Co., Ltd., 2024, www.suzuki-music.co.jp/special/omnichord_om-108/en/index.html.
• "Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 review." Juno Daily, 7 Aug. 2024, www.junodaily.com/reviews/suzuki-omnichord-om-108-review/.
• "Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 Review." Omnichord Heaven, 2024, www.omnichord-heaven.com/suzuki-omnichord-om-108/.
• "Suzuki Omnichord OM-108: This Classic and Quirky Synthesizer Gets Modern Upgrades." Loopazon, 12 Apr. 2023, loopazon.com/blog/suzuki-omnichord-om-108-this-classic-and-quirky-synthesizer-gets-modern-upgrades.