via this auction
"This is a premiere example of a vintage Oberheim OB-8 synthesizer. It is cosmetically and functionally in great condition, and features a few custom mods that you will not find on any other vintage Oberheims for sale. It also comes with the original owner's manual, a super heavy-duty custom transport case, and a custom dust cover. I will list all of the details below:
Modifications (Please check out demo video I have attached to this listing):
This OB-8 has had some truly one-of-a-kind modifications done to it. They were done by the previous owner in between 2013-2016, but fortunately he gave me some of the original receipts for the work, which was done by two well established companies at the time -"Retro Linear" and "New England Analog". For all of the purists out there who cringe at the sight of any mods being done to a classic synth like this, this may not be the synth for you... but I personally found that these mods take the playing experience of this OB-8 to another level.
The first mod done was replacing the original keys with a Fatar keybed. This keybed plays extremely smoothly and effectively - it is quite easy to do runs up and down, and the keys are also not clicky and operate quietly.
On top of this, a very unique mod called "Pyxis Aftertouch" was installed which adds aftertouch to the fatar keybed! This aftertouch is routed to a very ingenious system that plugs into the back of the OB-8 via two small jacks. The system allows you to control various parameters of the aftertouch such as LFO speed & wave shape, filter cutoff, VCA settings like volume or tremolo, & more. This aftertouch system has a main module with knobs/switches for adjusting these parameters, and there is also a second touchpad module you can use to trigger these parameters. I showed examples of using this aftertouch mod in the demo video I included in this listing. You can see me using the aftertouch to trigger an increase in LFO speed/intensity at 0:21 and 0:55. At around 2:10 I demonstrate the aftertouch in combination with the portamento (which is an amazing feature of the OB-8). It can get a little wild sounding (2:12) if the portamento is a slow build ! At around 3:00, I use the touchpad module, which does the same thing as the keyboard aftertouch.
The video shows a basic demonstration of the aftertouch in use, but you can route it to a bunch of different parameters besides the LFO. It is a very sophisticated mod that you will not find in any other vintage Oberheims, and probably not in many vintage synths in general. I don't believe the company who built it (New England Analog) offers the mod anymore. Based on the receipts I have, it looks to me like "New England Analog" originally built the Pyxis Module and "Retro Linear" helped implement it into the OB-8. It really does take the playing experience to another level - it adds a level of expressiveness that you just can't find in most vintage synths... ultimately you are able to marry the undeniable tone and weight of the vintage OB-8 sound with a more smooth and expressive playing ability using the fatar aftertouch keybed.
A third mod that was done was a bass boost mod that makes this OB-8 have a more desirable low end, similar to the lows of the OB-XA. Whether this is a subtle or noticeable difference is hard for me to gage, but I can say with certainty that the low end on this OB-8 sounds phenomenal.
In totality, these mods were over $4,000 in cost. I have receipts for around $1,700 of the work, and I am including these receipts in this listing. On top of these main mods, this OB-8 has MIDI and Page 2 functions. It also features the classic 8 pot voice panning options on the right side panel.
This synth was last serviced in 2017, which was a general servicing done by "Analog Labs" in New York City. As far as I can tell, everything is working properly on the OB-8 in its current state. As with all vintage synths, they can sometimes be finicky and will need maintenance over their lifetime, so please keep that in mind. Being that this synth was last serviced in 2017, it wouldn't hurt to have it lightly serviced again if you do buy it, although it does function great in its current state. From my experience this usually costs between $400-$600.
Oberheim Accessories:
On top of the awesome mods, this synth comes with some great accessories. The first is the original owner's manual. This is the first edition owner's manual, which can he hard to find these days. The manual is well intact - it is not missing any pages and it even comes with the original factory patch sheet. The physical condition of the manual does have some age-appropriate wear, with some light stains/markings on the exterior and pages, and some separation on the spine of the booklet.
The second accessory is a custom OB-8 dust cover made by Stardust Synth Covers, which is made of high quality material (not that cheaper stretchy typical dust cover material) - it features a nifty OB-8 scheme on the front with the Oberheim logo and name. The edges where the back and sides meet have velcro which allow you to secure the dust cover tightly.
The third accessory is a very high quality custom sized travel case. I don't know who originally manufactured this case, but it is custom fit to the OB-8 specifically. It has a well protected soft foam interior and a rock solid exterior with metal edges. Additionally, there are 3 closing latches on the front, and 2 heavy duty locking hold latches on the sides. I would estimate that this kind of custom case would easily cost $400-$500. The case does have some wear and tear on it from usage, including an indent on the front center, some rips/tears in the exterior, and some bending in the metal lining. The latches are all functioning well. Overall, the case is fully functional and is a lifesaver when you are in need of transporting the OB-8.
Physical/Cosmetic Condition
The physical condition of this synth is excellent overall. There are only minimal signs of wear and tear, with one light scratch mark on the front panel, and one light scuff mark that is only noticeable upon close inspection. The wooden sides have very minimal signs of wear and tear, and of course the key-bed is in excellent shape being that it is a new fatar installation. The bottom of the synth has 4 high quality rubber stops that prevent it from scratching table surfaces. There is some light surface dust buildup in and around the pots and buttons. Additionally, some of the pots are a little scratchy when adjusting their position."
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