ARP 2600 SYNTHESIZER w/ 3604 KEYBOARD GREY MEANIE

via this auction
"Original owner selling his long time friend...
In 1973 J.B. Shurtleff went to Massachusetts to obtain an ARP 2600 from the factory. At the time ARPs were going for about $2600, that was real money in those days. JB asked the folks in the factory if there were any used ARPs for sale, they said no, but they knew of one they had sold to a music store in East Newton.
JB jumped in his car and sped over to the music store where he verbally used magic on the storeowner, telling him he would have that thing sitting there another two years collecting dust, so why didn't he sell it to him for a more affordable price, which he did. The serial number on the keyboard is 11002, so this might be the second grey meanie built and was probably built in 1971. JB's live ARP performances with his band where they knocked the plates off the wall at Paradise Corners Cafe with much fanfare and spl are retired now, and JB was slightly disappointed that he didn't reach a level of notoriety similar to Ozzie Osbourne. Just the same, this grey meanie ARP needs the doctor Phil Cirocco of CMS systems to go over it and bring it to factory specs. Being a member of the band, I have agreed to try to sell it for JB, we are selling it "AS IS".

After acquiring the machine, JB stayed in Massachusetts for a few months. He lived in a stable under a barn where he played with the ARP and where he found a branding iron with his name on it. As you can see in the pictures, he branded the back side of the hardwood machine handle, and the underside of the keyboard handle.
When JB got the machine back to California, after he played his way across the country, he put "lift and rotate" sticker over the logo, and a "rockola" jukebox sticker over the 3604 keyboard logo. In those days mystery pervaded the air around synthesizers. JB did not want lookers on to know what planet this weird sounding machine came from.

Service history, rebuilt ADSR 1975, replaced sliders with broken stems several times. The grey meanies were easily damaged when moving to different locations. Alan Pearlman evidently had a vision the meanie machines would be sitting in a University environment, safe from damage instead of knocking around in small esoteric nightclubs, sometimes moving from state to state.

Sample and hold module replaced, ocillator three module replaced, all modules acquired from CMS. Power supply rebuilt, (new caps, etc.)

All old parts in bags, including the black potted modules that have been replaced are included.

All sliders are intact, all black buttons are in a bag, most of the little black caps that cover the trim pots are in a bag.

5 patchcords included, the keyboard attaches to the console at both ends unlike later ARPs and two sets of jones-cinch connector cables are provided, new jones-cinch connectors installed (male and female), original owners manual, original technical manual, original 100 patch book with JB's personal patches included. Note finger wear on keyboard faceplate below low D, some finger wear on face panel under upper filter slider.

The magic of the 3604 keyboard is the tunable option. The player can tune the keyboard to any key, making it possible to only play the white keys.

All oscillators work, pre lawsuit ladder filter works perfectly, machine plays but needs alignment and treatment by Phil Cirocco at CMS

JB made a big mistake in taking the machine to a guy in California in 2000. He did something to the keyboard that needs looking at. The keys require more pressure than they should, slowing the action. Phil is the best, don't waste your time elsewhere."