Suzuki Omnichord Model Comparison

Quick comparison

Every Omnichord shares the same inviting idea: press a chord button, then play the electronic strings. The differences are in the number of chords, the strumplate design, the sound engine, rhythm features and whether MIDI is included. Use this as a first-pass guide, then follow the model links for deeper detail.

Model	Era	Chord system	Strumplate and sounds	MIDI / extras	Good to know
PC-27 Tronichord / Portachord	Early 1980s	27 chords: major, minor and 7th.	Horizontal touch-sensitive SonicStrings plate with simple Chord Volume and SonicStrings Volume controls.	No MIDI. Built-in speaker, battery or DC adapter operation.	The rare early sibling of the Omnichord idea, functional but less ergonomic than the OM-27.
OM-27	1981	27 chords: major, minor and 7th.	Harp strumplate voice across four octaves. Early metal touchplate examples used a conductive plectrum; later membrane versions were easier to play by hand.	No MIDI. Six rhythms with automatic bass and chords.	The first major Omnichord success and still the classic starting point for many vintage collectors.
OM-36	1984	Production model uses the later 84-chord button system.	One harp strumplate voice with sustain.	No MIDI. Ten rhythm styles with auto accompaniment.	System One bridges the OM-27 era and the richer 84-chord layout.
OM-84	1984	84 chords: major, minor, 7th, major 7th, minor 7th, augmented and diminished.	Twin strumplate voices with variable sustain and blend control.	No MIDI. Includes chord computer recording and playback.	System Two established the expanded chord layout that shaped much of the later Omnichord family.
OM-100	1989	36 chords: major, minor and 7th.	Angled membrane strumplate with ten sounds and adjustable sustain / vibrato.	No MIDI. Ten rhythm styles with auto accompaniment.	A redesigned body with improved playing position and optional strap buttons.
OM-200M	1989	84 chords plus a 19-note melody keyboard mode.	Ten strumplate sounds with the updated OM-100 / OM-200M body shape.	MIDI OUT. Chord computer retained from the OM-84.	The first major MIDI Omnichord, useful for external sound modules and sequencing.
OM-150	Early 1990s	84 chords.	Updated sound engine with ten strumplate voices including Omnichord, Guitar, Harp, Banjo, Strings, Piano, Organ, Celesta, Marimba and Steel Drums.	No MIDI. Includes the familiar OM-27 style Omnichord voice mode.	A richer non-MIDI model with the expanded chord system as standard.
OM-250M	Early 1990s	84 chords plus melody keyboard mode.	Same main strumplate voice family as the OM-150, with additional keyboard voices.	MIDI OUT with strumplate, bass, chord, chord plus and melody keyboard on separate channels.	A strong choice for vintage MIDI use, with 120-step chord computer capacity.
OM-300	1995	84 chords plus melody keyboard mode.	Ten revised strumplate sounds and updated rhythm styles.	MIDI OUT, chord computer and intro / fill features.	The final classic Omnichord before the Qchord era, with MIDI as standard.
QC-1 Qchord	2000	84 chords using the familiar 36-button layout.	Up to 100 strumplate voices, 100 melody keyboard voices and a refreshed digital sound palette.	MIDI IN and OUT, QCard slot, pitch bend and expanded rhythm / song card options.	The millennium redesign, visually different but still recognisably part of the Omnichord family.
OM-108	Current Suzuki model	108 chords: adds Sus4 and Add9 to the familiar extended chord family.	Dual strumplate voices, including analogue Omnichord voicing, with a new sensitive strumplate area under the upper panel.	MIDI OUT, headphone output, transpose and octave shift.	The modern Omnichord, travel-friendly, new from Suzuki and available through the Omnichord Heaven shop.

Which Omnichord should I look at first?

New and current

OM-108

If you want a new Suzuki Omnichord with warranty, modern availability and the expanded 108-chord system, start with the OM-108.

Buy the OM-108

Before you buy

Buying guide

Check the practical repair-bench notes before buying a vintage Omnichord or Qchord, especially if a listing mentions faults.

Read buying advice

Vintage character

OM-27, OM-84 and OM-300

The OM-27 gives the simple early sound, the OM-84 brings the classic 84-chord system, and the OM-300 is the final classic-era model with MIDI.

Read the history

Try before buying

Omnichord Online

If you are new to the idea, try OH-84 Lite or OH-27 Lite first. You will understand the chord-and-strum approach very quickly.

Play online