I am a vintage synth buff and with help of the information on Fredd-E's bocpages, and what I know about vintage synths I think I can make a pretty accurate guess as to what the 'secret weapon' may be. As a matter of fact I don't think it's pretty 'secret' at all.
Let's use what we know about the 'secret weapon' from bocpages:
Secret weapon
BoC themselves have, in multiple interviews, mentioned the use of a "secret weapon" they use to generate their unique sound. As the name implied, they have declined to provide any specific information on what this "weapon" might be, but most expect it to be some sort of old analog synth.
Many believe the Yamaha CS80 to be this weapon. In the WATMM thread "ATTN BOC-sessives, CS-80 on eBay, however, jbible refutes this, saying
"The synth used by BOC often mistaken for a CS80 is a Crumar with a BOC emblem covering the name of the synth on the back."
.
Since jbible has seen BoC live (and is the source of the Live @ ATP bootleg), his comments hold some weight.
Here is a detailed "write-up" of the CS-80, courtesy of the SynthMuseum.
What kind of special equipment do you use? I understand some of your machines are quite big. And you have something what you call 'the SecretWeapon'.
"If I told you what the secret weapon is, it wouldn't be a secret anymore. We have more than one really. We use a mixture of old and new equipment. We don't have lots of synths, we use hi-fi gear and other tricks to achieve our sound."
Forum: WATMM
From: cob
Date: 16 Apr 2004
Link: http://forum.watmm.com/index.php?showtopic=3935 (defunct; no known copy)
Note: The topic was asking about what instruments/equipment used to produce their unique sound. At some point, cob made a comment. Shortly thereafter, possibly after libelous comments from other users, the thread was deleted. Some report that the original topic was strictly gear related and that the offensive comments were in another (also deleted) thread. In the gear comment, it is suggested that the Yamaha CS80 was the bands "secret weapon", but that cob indicated it was not. It has also been suggested that user mosca posted specific information on equipment that the band had purchased from him (or his store), which led to the deletion. Some comments from those who read the thread: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
1988: michael bought what he now describes as the band's "secret weapon" synth from a friend for �100 whilst travelling on a bus.
OK, going from what we know about the 'secret weapon' given that the information on bocpages is accurate, which i believe it is:
1. The secret weapon is most likely a synth. (going from how synths are brought up after the interview question in the second quote, and how in the biography it states that in 1988 michael bought the 'secret weapon' synth.
2. The secret weapon was purchased for 100 (pounds) im guessing.
3. The Yamaha CS80 synth is not the secret weapon. (There are only about 2000 in existence and no one in their right mind even in 1988 would sell this synth for 100 pounds, they go for over 18,000US on ebay and were over 5,000US launch prices)
4. No Crumar Synth could ever be mistaken for a CS80. (This doesn't mean they didn't use Crumar, just that the CS80 is close to 100kgs. while all Crumar models [Stratus, Performer, Spirit, Orchestrator, Multiman-S, Bit 01, DS-2 Bit 99] are relatively small or average in size.)
5. There may be more than one, but it seems like they refer to a specific original.
So let's ask ourselves, which synth most defines the BOC sound while being reasonably purchased for 100GB in 1988?
Answer:
It's really simple and obvious if you think about it... if you had to purchase one piece of gear to emulate the BOC sound would the SH-101 not be it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSchTzFj9kg
