Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer
The original behind the Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer is the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer — $494.99 retail vs Supreme's $568.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
About the original
The Roland TR-08 is a compact recreation of the TR-808 Rhythm Composer in Roland's Boutique format, using Analog Circuit Behavior modeling to replicate the original's bass drum, cowbell, and rimshot voices. It carries a 16-step sequencer with sub-steps, individual trigger output, audio output, and USB-MIDI in a palm-sized chassis. The original TR-808 was produced by Roland in Hamamatsu, Japan from 1980 to 1983 in fewer than 12,000 units and is widely credited as the defining drum machine of hip-hop, electro, and house music. Roland introduced the TR-08 in 2017 for the 808's 30th anniversary. The SS24 Supreme version prints the box logo on the face panel and retailed at $568; the circuitry matches the standard TR-08.
About Roland
Roland Corporation is a Japanese electronic musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1972 by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka. The company produced the TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines, the TB-303 bass synthesizer, and the Jupiter-8 and JUNO-60 polyphonic synthesizers, instruments heard across hip-hop, house, techno, and pop production. Roland also developed the MIDI protocol in 1983 alongside Sequential Circuits. The current product range covers synthesizers, V-Drums electronic kits, digital pianos, and guitar processors. Supreme released a co-branded Roland TR-08 drum machine as part of its FW20 accessories lineup.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $568 |
|---|---|
| Roland retail | $494.99 |
| Hype tax | +15% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer just the regular TR-08 Rhythm Composer?
The Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer, released in Spring/Summer 2024, is based on the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer. Supreme sometimes changes the colorway or materials, and the description on this page covers the original's specs and any differences. If you want the product without the box logo, the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $568 for the Supreme x Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer, and the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer retails for $494.99. That's a 15% markup. Buying the original saves you $73.01, or 13% off the Supreme price.
Where can I buy the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer?
You can buy the Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer from Amazon. Retail price is $494.99. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
