via this eBay listing
From the listing:
"Serial Number 383193Ahhhh the Jupiter 8, one of the cornerstones of greatness in this wonderful synth world of ours.
This is not going to be the best looking jupiter you might find, but it has been fully brought back to life recently.
This particular unit had been quite mistreated and left unused and unusable for many years.
I actually purchased this unit from a guy in Sri Lanka, it was in a sorry state, cig burns, no signs of life at all.
This is a 14-bit DCB model, I do have an original Roland DCB to midi interface in another listing.
This also has a MIDI interface which I will include separately, that I have never gotten around to installing.
This Jupiter will also come with an ORIGINAL Roland service manual which includes the large, fold out schematics. A rarity in itself!
We have.
converted it to a 110V model from 220V, purchasing an application specific transformer intended as an OEM replacement for the JP8 (with warranty) from mercury magnetics.
Replaced tactile switches for the pushbuttons.
Removed, stripped, cleaned and re-assembled all the slide pots and switches. (They feel like new
All pcbs individually removed and cleaned
Stripped and cleaned the keybed.
Made several repairs, mostly replacing logic ICs and many BA662 (using readily available clones) along with a fairly extensive capacitor replacement where it warranted it. (PSU, Power rails etc)
Fully Re-calibrated, fresh battery, factory presets loaded.
The (outstanding) bad.
In terms of playability, this feels like a new Jupiter 8.
I was going to send the metal enclosure to have it re-done by sweet descrete, I believe the quote was $1400 to get back an essentially brand new powder coated metal enclosure with new silkscreened graphics, but once it was all working nice and put back together, I just never got around to it.
There is a vanity strip of metal profile that should run along the bottom of the keys that is missing. I've never had it.
You can see in the photos, this can't even be seen, especially if the keyboard is tilted on a stand.
Two of the keys have been replaced with new keys (the old ones had cig burns) they have a slightly whiter hue than the rest of the keys, as can be seen in the photos.
So there it is, mechanically and electronically she is 100% fit and a dream to play, she just looks a bit like she was dragged through a hedge backwards in terms of paint job.
I can probably upload a demo video on youtube, if you are seriously considering it.
Thanks for looking
Brad Holland
ISLA Instruments / GearTrader
The Roland Jupiter-8, released in 1981, is one of the most iconic and sought-after polyphonic analog synthesizers of all time. It became a cornerstone of 1980s electronic music, widely used by artists across various genres due to its rich, warm sound and impressive array of features. The Jupiter-8 is renowned for its eight-voice polyphony, making it capable of producing lush pads, powerful leads, and complex, layered textures.
Each voice of the Jupiter-8 features two voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), offering a range of waveforms, including sawtooth, square, pulse, and triangle. The oscillators can be detuned from each other for thick, fat sounds, and can be synced or cross-modulated for more complex and evolving tones. The 24 dB/octave resonant low-pass filter allows for classic subtractive synthesis, and the addition of a high-pass filter provides even more tonal shaping.
One of the key strengths of the Jupiter-8 is its dual-mode operation, which allows users to split the keyboard into two independent sections or layer two different patches together, effectively doubling the sound complexity. This made it particularly useful in live performances, as players could quickly switch between or combine sounds.
The LFO (low-frequency oscillator), envelope generators, and modulation matrix provide deep control over the oscillators, filters, and amplifiers, allowing for a wide range of modulation possibilities. The Jupiter-8 also features arpeggiation, adding rhythmic complexity to its already versatile sound palette.
Another groundbreaking feature of the Jupiter-8 at the time was its ability to store patches—up to 64 user-defined presets—which made it easy to recall complex sounds during live performances. While it lacked built-in MIDI (it used a proprietary DCB interface for connecting to Roland sequencers), MIDI retrofit kits have since been developed to integrate the Jupiter-8 into modern setups.
The Jupiter-8 is celebrated for its fat, rich analog sound and its ability to cut through a mix, making it a favorite for iconic 80s artists like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, and Prince. Despite its age, it remains one of the most desired vintage synthesizers, known for its reliability, sound quality, and iconic status in electronic music history."
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