Another example of things built the hard way before the technology to build them was available.
So the sound is quite analog, it's an exponentially decaying voltage as the capacitor charges :)
It's interesting that they released this as Panasonic and not Technics which was already an established Panasonic brand for audio equipment since 1965.
Looks safe to bend... it's interesting to bend drum machines bc the sound and sequencer circuits are quite different. I did that on a tr-626 and it was wild :)
808 has a modern clone, the TR-08.
Also the MC-505 is the predecessor of the 808, can do most of what it does, and was used in a bunch of electronic and alt rock music.
Here's an homage album to the 505 on the Beastie Boys' label:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP4Yga72IIqPRaDpnKiwP...
If you want a full MIDI piano keyboard + a 505, the JX-305 is a better option.
The preset reminds me of a somewhat obscure single by an act called Perfect Jewish Couple, which features similarly hissy percussion. I lit up when I first heard it, because I thought they might be the same, but listening again it's clearly a different device.
