Vintage drum machines – and their colour palettes – are things of beauty. Not only have they shaped popular music in more ways than anyone could have imagined when the Wurlitzer Side Man was first brought into the world back in 1959, but they have acted as a canvas for designers working for instruments designers to grow and experiment alongside the technology itself.

From the red, black and orange of the TR-808 to the beige, grey and baby blue of the AKAI MPC60, the colour palettes of vintage drum machines are unmistakable. Here are some of our favourites.

Diving into the bold monochrome to dazzling technicolour colour palettes that make vintage drum machines so goddamn drool-worthy.

Maestro Rhythm King MK-2 (1966)

Oberheim DMX (1981)

Roland CompuRhythm CR-78 (1978)

Linn LM-1 (1980)

Roland TR-808 (1980)

Boss HC-2 (1984)

AKAI MPC 60 (1981)

Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-8L (1972)

Roland TR-909 (1983)

Hammond Auto-Vari 64 (1974)

Maestro Rhythm & Sound (1968)

Emu SP-12 (1965)