Roland TB-303

Roland designed the TB-303 as a bass guitar substitute for solo performers. It was a commercial failure — discontinued after 18 months. Then Chicago DJs started cranking the resonance and filter cutoff, and acid house was born. Phuture's "Acid Tracks" (1987) unleashed the 303 squelch on the world and spawned an entire genre. A machine that retailed for $395 in 1982 now sells for $5,000+. No other instrument has so completely failed at its intended purpose and so completely succeeded at something else.