http://cgi.ebay.com/ARP-Odyssey-Lumina-b...1QQcmdZViewItem

I just feel I have to weep....

With the exchange rate, thats only £1250.

....and its location is not that far away.

Thats exactly what i thought when i seen this quote on the bay - Its also a 'prototype' thats already been 'restored'.

Ive been looking into it more, cos £1250 is still quite a bit in Englishy Dollars.

NICE!

Never seen this one before!
It looks like my son's toy keyboard

Famous fingers on the other versions:

Mark I (white) - Jeff Wayne
Mark II (black and gold) - John Foxx, Dave Formula
Mark III (black and orange) - Billy Currie, Chris Payne, Bernhard Lloyd, Ian Burden....the most famous version of them all!

Chris

I wonder what the final bid will be

Yeah Helen - we have to talk soon!

Chris - well this is THE only version of this one, a modified Mark 1.
About the famous fingers on the different models I am sure you are not entirely correct:
I am pretty sure Dave Formula only used the Mark 1 (White face). You can find some clips on Youtube. And Billy - well, he certainly used the Mark 3, but only in the Foxx-days, I think. I´ve never seen him use the Mark 3 with the Midge-line up:
His all time fav Arp Odyssey was without doubt the Mark 2(grey/golden).

All The Best!
Jesper

Hi Jesper

Yeah Dave Formula used the white Mark I and Billy Currie used the Mark II and Mark III both with Ultravox and Numan.

Jesper why do you think he went back to the Mark II version? I thought the Mark III was an improved version in particular the sliders.

Another question on Billy's synths, Oberheim OBX, Oberheim OBXa and Oberheim OB8, which is the best version?

Takk!

Chris

Hi Chris!

You are welcome!!!
I don`t know why Billy switched to the MK 2.
One reason could perhaps be, that he liked the sound a little bit better - as far as I know the MK 2 is able to sound a little bit "dirtier" with a little bit more punch. Or perhaps he wasn`t that happy about the PPC-pads (Proportional Pitch Control)on the MK 3. I don`t know.

Oberheim OB-X VS OB-Xa and OB-8:
Well, as far as I know, there are some major
differences. One of them: The OB-X has a SEM filter (like the earlier and very famous Oberheims). The OB-X was the last Oberheim that had the SEM filter. The later Oberheims, like OB-Xa and OB-8, has the CEM filter. The result is a different sound, to some people the OB-X is the fattest and best sounding of the three (it`s always a matter of taste of course).
One of the best things about the OB-X in my opinion, is that it has X-modulation (also called Cross Modulation)which Oberheim dropped for some strange reason on the OB-Xa and OB-8.
To me the OB-X is without doubt the best of them.
Billy used it a lot!

Here is a quite interesting discussion about it:
http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:cYsOM7hNUIQJ:acapella.harmony-central.com/archive/index.php/t-912794.html+oberheim+ob-x+vs+ob-xa&hl=da&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=dk

OB-X are very very rare and expensive these days and hard keep in shape too. But there is hope:
The great VST OP-x or OP-X Pro with a great multimode filter. One of the best VST´s out there! And rather cheap! The Stringer is really really great too.
http://www.sonicprojects.ch/obx/welcome.html

Cheers!
Jesper

Thanks Jesper!


It's amazing how a chip can make a difference. Same story with the Prophet 5. The Rev 2.2 with a different chip to the Rev 3 is heralded as the better version.

The Oberheim OBX seems to be a cool alternative to the Prophet 5 Rev 2.2 if you are after some classic strings at a more economic price. Japan's Quiet life and Talk Talk's The Party's Over rely heavily on the OBX.

I have a Roland Juno 60 for strings which does the trick for the time being. Just going up the learning curve with synths at the moment. There's more to the Juno-60 than meets the eye. Although I find the string sound is a bit spacey. Just need to work my way through those filters.

My main synth set up:

Jupiter-4
Juno-60
SH-09
Pro-one

I need to get a drum machine, possibly an R8 or a TR-707.

I went for a Jupiter-4 as the Jupiter-8 is too brassy for my taste.

What's your main synth set-up like?

Thanks again!
Chris

Yes, you are right about the chips and the difference they make! I`ve never played a Prophet 5...but I would really like to!
The Prophet 08 seems to be a very interesting
synth too! I didn`t know, that Talk Talk used
the OB-X!

It´s an awesome setup you got there Chris! Really really great synths!!! I don`t now much about the SH-09 though. How is it?

Well, my own setup. I´ve downgraded a lot lately.
I´ve sold a lot my hardware synths. First of all because they didn`t sounded like I wanted, space problems and because my brain went into overload mode! Just too many synths to deal with.
I´m really really satisfied with the setup I got now:
Oberheim/Viscount MC1000 masterkeyboard
Minimoog Voyager + some Moogerfoogers
Waldorf MicroWave 1 (the one with analog filters)
Yamaha AN1x (the most positive surprise in my life with synths ever!)
Yamaha DX7 MKII (needs to be repaired)
Yamaha P-50m piano sound module

Sounds good about the drummachine. I would go for a R8 with the CR78/808 cards. I once owned one. A really good drum machine! They go pretty cheap too at the moment, I think.

What sort of music do you do?

Hi Jesper

Interesting set up. You have the Rolls-Royce of synths, the Minimoog. Yamaha is another great make of synths.

The SH-09 is a versatile bass synth as is the Pro-one. It has some interesting leads eg repetitive drones. Early Talk Talk and OMD used one.

As I said earlier I'm just beginning to find my way through the synths and at the same time learning to read and play music.

My first sounds are the Jupiter-4's arpeggiator and/or the Pro-one's sequencer acting as percussion-like sounds until the moment arrives when I can buy a fairly decent drum machine. Then some basic string melodies from the Juno-60. All very basic.

There's a lot that the Jupiter-4 can do like some fantastic leads but that remains to be discovered. Exciting times ahead.

I also have a miniKorg 700S and a Korg M500 Micropreset just for some quirky sounds.

All these synths would have a better sound if passed through an effects unit. Which one would you recommend?

Takk og god kveld!

Chris

Hi Chris!

Very interesting - the SH-09!
Your basic setup is very interesting too!
I know the JP4 - I especially like the percussive
synth sounds the old Roland are able to do!
A special sound! Really really nice!

I don`t know the Korgs you mention that much
- I will check them out!
Regarding Korg: I´ve just bought a MS-20 filter clone, the analog Resonator from Frostwave in Australia. Very very cool filter!

Well, effectsprocessor. It depends on how much money you are willing to spend and how much you are into programming.
Very cheap and good with knobs on the front but a little bit limited (only two effects at one time):
Lexicon MX200 (the new one from Lexicon)
TC Electronic M350 or the older M300
TC M-One or M-One XL (not as easy to program
- you have to go into menus).

A little bit more expensive but my personal fav:
Lexicon MPX-1 (an outstanding efx-processor and rather complicated). Dolphin Music in Liverpool
has a really good deal - about £450. It`s the lowest price I´ve ever seen for a new one.

Tak - og ha`en god aften!
Jesper

PS:
TC Electronic M-One or M-One XL:
I can´t remember how many effects they are able to do, but I think it´s more than two at a time).

The Lexicon MPX-1 is able to run 6 effects and has effects the others don`t have.

I personally prefer the Lexicon sound, but again it`s a matter of taste.

I've spoke to quite a few people who have owned or played either the OB-Xa & the OB-8.
A few people have said the latter was a waste of space!

The OB-Xa came up with the best sound & functionality.

The OB-X is a lovely synth, just listen to the hook re the chorus of 'The Thin Wall'
I've seen them for sale on SOS & ebay going for anything between £500 - £1500!!!...scandelous!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Oberheim-OBX_W0QQi...bayphotohosting

The Roland JP-4 is an all time fave of mine, great strings & pads...I used to have one of those

Hi Sleepy!

Thanks for the info!
How is it going with your MicroWave
- did you find a couple of good PPG-presets?

PS:
I`ll have to join the Monument-site/forum
- I`ll join this week!

Thanks Jesper. There's plenty here to read about. The Lexicon could do the trick.

Thanks also Sleepwalker for your comments on the OBX and the OBXa. The OBXa was probably their most successful keyboard. Talk Talk used one on The Party's Over. I thought it was the OBX initially. It's also all over Feline by the Stranglers in particular Midsummer's Night Dream (album version)their most Ultravox-sounding track.

The Prophet 5 is still top of my wish list with the OBX or OBXa a close second.

Other fantastic synths...vintage analogue :

Minimoog, of course
Polymoog Keyboard
Arp Omni 2
Arp Odyssey(Mark III)
Arp 2600 (Blue meanie)
OSCar
Yamaha CS80
Yamaha CS40
Elka Synthex

Chris

You are more than welcome Chris!
It`s nice to give a little helping
hand if needed!

Yes, realy nice synths you name.
Not long ago there was an OSCar for sale
here in DK - £1000. I think it was too
expensive, and I am more into the sound
of the Odyssey. But the OSCar is cool too!
If I ever am going to buy a synth again,
it will be the Odyssey MK 2.
A CS-80 would be awesome!!! But way too
expensive. The guy that runs the matrixsynth website (perhaps the best synthsite on the net:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com )wrote something
very very interesting not lang ago on his site.
The guy owns a CS-60 and had gotten his hands on
the Yamaha AN1x - just for fun - and went into
completely shock, when he realised, that the AN1x
is able to do match his CS-60 about 90%!!!
Well, everything is relative, but I had to try the AN1x out myself and bought one not long ago.
The guy is right - I went into completely shock too he he...the AN1x is without doubt the best kept secret in the synthworld today!

.....and Rrussel Bell 'played' the Ody Mk III

Wish list???

This is what happens when you've too much time on yer hands eh!

Here's mine then:

Mono's:

ARP Odyssey (MK1 or MK3)...Had a MK3
ARP 2600
Osc Oscar...(MIDI 7, had one)
Moog Mini-Moog Model D
Moog Voyager...(50th Anniversary Edition)
Moog Little Phatty...(Tribute Edition)
SCI Pro One
Korg Micro Preset, MS20
Yamaha CS40m...(Had one)
Roland SH-2 & SH-09

Poly's:-

Yamaha CS80, GS1 & DX1
SCI Prophet-5 (Rev 3.3), Prophet-10 & Prophet-T8
Oberheim OB-X or OBX-a
Oberheim Xpander
Roland Jupiter-8a, JP-4 & Juno-60
PPG Wave 2.3...(Had one)
PPG Waveterm B
Rhodes Chroma
Moog Memorymoog
Waldorf Wave
Hartman Neuron

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!

Yeah, defintely too much time Sleepy....

WHY on heavens earth did you sell
those synths???

Sleepy ->

I sold those synths mainly because I either needed the money to upgrade equipment.

I forgot to say that I sold my Roland JP-8a for a Roland D-50

The PPG Wave 2.3 was going to cost me £500+ to get it sorted.
I had an ongoing problem with the OSCar, any keyboard tech will tell you, they are a pain in the arse to repair, some guys won't even entertain the thought of an attempt to repair them!!!

The JP-4 was shared ownership as well as the Oberheim 4 voice.

I had a JP-6, but I didn't rate it at all

What a tit eh! Mind you, that was way before what we know what the old analogues are worth now!

I sold a Roland TB-303 for £30 once!
I couldn't justify keeping the CS40m, because I got £600+ for it

As for the ARP Odyssey, you'll need to ask our Chappie about that one Jesper
There's no way I could have afforded to keep her as a museum piece & gigging the synth wasn't up for question either.

Chappie has added her to his quality elite synth collection to go with his Moog Voyager, OSC Oscar etc

What, you mean I should have asked for more than £50 for that Moog???
Bugger.... <img border="0" alt="[Puppy dog eyes]" title="" src="graemlins/sad5.gif" />

It`s getting worse and worse...

Yes, I´ve heard and read about the PPG and OSCar problems - It`s a shame they are so hard to repair and keep on going.
There is a PPG Wave 2.3 for sale in DK right now,
£2000! I don`t have the money! But it shure would fit as a great new table in my living room!

Where does Chappie live???

Oh my God...no no no....

Hey, I posted a reply yesterday - here did it go???

Prices for these analogue synths are indeed escalating.

To complete my other rack ie Sequential Circuits it's going to cost me an arm and a leg. A well serviced Prophet 5 Rev 2.2 can fetch well over £1K!

...and getting to understand that complicated Sequential circuitry. Hopefully, my understanding of the Pro-one would surely help. Best of all it has an awesome sound.

Chris
PS A Moog sold for £50! I don't believe it!

Yeah, you are right Chris! But I don`t know if it`s just me...but I think the market is a little bit strange at the moment. I don`t know if it`s the same in other countries, but here in DK some old vintage synths are extremely expensive like the Roland JP-8, while other cheaper "vintage" synths like Yamaha DX7, Korg DW-series and even Roland Juno 106 etc go extremely cheap. I´m talking about prices around £70 (and upwards). And I`ve never seen so many vintage synths for sale before in DK (only during the "we all switch from analog to digital-wave in the 80`s). Emu, Sequential, Korg, Arp, Moog, Yamaha, PPG....they are all there!

And he he....I fully understand, what you mean
considering the complicated Sequential circuitry
- I feel the same way, when I look at my Moog-system, which I`ve just completed with CV-expander, control processor and moogerfoogers.
You just stand there and think..."What the fick was I thinking about....". But it sounds awesome...yes!!!

Check out the Oddy Free VST if you are after a decent freeware Arp Odyssey clone