Synths are pure joy! Everyone should have at least one, with a knob and a slider or 50! I’ve been through a few of them now and picked up a couple samplers as well.

If you want a good cheap starting synth, check out the electribes, Korg’s Poly800, Casio CZ101, or if you’re very patient and nerdy, the Yamaha TX81Z and their other FM synths. You can get a synth that will bring you many hours of fun for under $100 these days.

There’s always software, too, which can sometimes be had for free (see: buzzmachines.com) but is still not nearly as fun as having a synth on your lap or desk.