ARP Rhodes Chroma for Auction

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Update: Peter originally had this listed as one of the first 50 by Phillip Dodd's ARP team. It turns out it was not.

Updated description:
"NB I've just had an authoritative source tell me that my naive and un-researched belief that 2101 would be the first run (since other runs were 2102, 2103, 2104...) could well be complete bollocks. I am researching this now and will make changes in the listing as soon as I know more.

This particular machine sounds totally gorgeous - rich, powerful, and all of course controlled by one of the best keyboards in the world. Wooden, beautifully weighted, and much nicer than the CS-80. (Of course it doesn't have the rare optional polyphonic aftertouch sensor, and it would be lovely to know if those are possible to find or reproduce.)

It has been fully serviced within the last 8 weeks by Roy Paynter, who is the UK's number one Chroma service guy, and universally recommended. He has a Chroma permanently in his workshop as a test-bed, and knows the machines inside out. His servicing warranty is three months, so there will be ample time for you to check the Chroma out within the warranty period.

This machine is European voltage. It was originally bought by Ken Freeman, famous inventor of the String Machine, who used it extensively in his music. It still has his little 'Ken' sticker on it. He eventually sold it in 1994 at the first VEMIA auction, where it was bought for £2000 by Global Communications (Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton).

They then used it in their music for years, but Mark has now emigrated to Australia, and the Chroma was one thing that he couldn't fit into his suitcase.

It is in decent cosmetic condition - see the photos. A very reasonable 7/10, with some little knocks to the wood, and a few minor blemishes. The wood could easily be re-finished for certain, as it's solid..... but who knows if that's the right thing to do?

It works beautifully, and has the original factory presets loaded. Some of these are maybe a bit dated, and some definitely need a reasonable velocity to sound at all - unlike a standard plastic synth keyboard, this one has to be played like a piano, and just like a piano if you put your finger on a key and press slowly no sound will come out - but most are brilliant - powerful, full, meaty, smooth... altogether wonderful.

One of the nice things about this machine is that it comes with all the original literature - the Programming Manual, Performance Manual, Interface Manual, fold-out four side parameter map, and, best of all, the original preliminary Service Manual, complete with all schematics with ARP logos.

It has its original flight-case, which is in good condition except for the foam, which has started to deteriorate. We will cover ithe Chroma in plastic and pack it in polystyrene and bubble-wrap inside the flightcase, or pack it perfectly safely in polystyrene inside a carton without the flightcase, at the buyer's choice.

This is an absolute pleasure to play, and it would be a great thing to own.

For more information about Chromas generally, please check out the excellent rhodeschroma.com.

This machine isn't cheap, but it is very very special, and if you value beautiful keyboard feel and great rich analogue sounds you will love it.

I run the VEMIA online auction (Vintage Electric Musical Instrument Auctions). But the owner needs to sell now.... so here this is on eBay. (The next VEMIA auction isn't until November 4-11.) We are expert shippers at decent prices - please look at my feedback.

I also write the A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers books."