Korg PS-3200 (1978) - Professionally Restored Full System

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via this Reverb listing

"Korg PS-3200 - A fully configured system that's been fully cosmetically and operationally restored.

One of the finest fully configured surviving examples of Korg’s iconic PS-3200 — a true masterpiece of 1970s analogue engineering, fully restored for the modern collector.

Servicing Status

KSR has undertaken an extensive cosmetic and operational restoration of this PS-3200, a project spanning several years but largely completed by the end of 2024 — thanks to the exceptional work of Kent Spong of KSR. The Korg has been held in our secure facility throughout 2025, so post-sale, we will have the instrument and all accessories fully checked before shipping or delivering to the new owner. This process will add approximately 10 to 14 days to the post-sale completion time.

Remarks

We have decided to offer for sale our complete Korg PS-3200 System, which forms part of the RL Music Vintage Synthesizer Collection. Over the last 22 years, we’ve retained a small number of the finest vintage synthesizers to pass through our hands — instruments we found particularly inspiring or significant. This PS-3200 is one such example and has been the subject of a full and detailed cosmetic and operational restoration by our trusted vintage synth technician, Kent Spong of KSR.

It is generally accepted that Korg produced only around 200 units of the PS-3200, although the exact number is difficult to verify. Whether 100 or 500 were made, production was certainly very limited, making this an exceptionally rare, hand-built instrument by any measure.

Due to the rarity and individual nature of instruments like this, we’ve taken great care to provide a comprehensive and honest description of this PS-3200. We encourage any prospective buyer to ensure they have all the information needed to make an informed purchase decision — and of course, we are happy to answer any questions directly.

Provenance

We purchased this PS-3200 from a UK seller (an experienced user) in 2015 and collected it personally from their studio in the South of England. At the time, the instrument was fully working but had not been professionally serviced, so we decided to retain it within our PS-series collection — completing the full lineup — and plan its restoration later.

The overall condition was original and very good but showing signs of cosmetic age typical for a 35+-year-old synthesizer. We therefore elected to undertake a full operational and cosmetic restoration. While the market for highly restored vintage synths has cooled in recent years — as values for unrestored examples have climbed — our motivation for this restoration was personal rather than commercial, as the PS-3200 has always been part of our private collection.

System Configuration

PS-3200 Main Frame
PS-3010 Keyboard Controller
PS-3001 Interconnect Cable
PS-3030 Remote
PS-3001 Interconnect Cable (second)
PS-3040 Dual Pedal
Kenton MIDI Retrofit Kit fitted
This particular PS-3200 includes the extremely rare PS-3030 Remote, a unique device allowing live performers access to the patch memories — a groundbreaking feature for 1978.


The PS-3040 and second PS-3001 cable were sourced later from private collections, completing the top-spec configuration that Korg could have supplied in the late 1970s.

A brand-new Kenton MIDI retrofit kit was purchased and professionally installed by KSR during restoration.

Historical Context

The Korg PS-3200 is a landmark in the evolution of analogue polyphonic synthesizers. Released in 1978 as part of Korg’s PS (Polyphonic Synthesizer) series — alongside the PS-3100 and PS-3300 — it combined 48-note polyphony, programmable presets, and unison detuning, placing it among the most technologically advanced synths of its era.

Built entirely by hand in very limited numbers, the PS-3200 was aimed at professional musicians and studios, and its cost placed it firmly in the high-end market. Its rich, layered analogue tone made it a favourite among those who could afford it, and today it remains one of the most collectible and musically significant instruments in Korg’s history.

About Restoration & Servicing

This PS-3200 has undergone what we term a Total Restoration — a complete operational and cosmetic overhaul. New solid-walnut cabinetswere crafted by Ross Lamond (Lamond Design) for the mainframe, PS-3010 Keyboard Controller, and PS-3030 Remote. The original faux-wood cabinets were provided to Ross as reference for accurate reproduction. The result is visually stunning and structurally far superior to the original.

Restoration work undertaken includes

Complete disassembly of all control surfaces; all potentiometers and jack sockets removed and replaced.
Mainframe, PS-3010, and PS-3030 panels professionally powder-coated.
Custom screen printing using artwork commissioned and funded by RL Music.
New Switchcraft ¼-inch jack sockets throughout.
New power socket on the mainframe control panel.
Complete re-capping of the PS-3200, including PSU.
Cleaning and treatment of all PCB edge connectors.
Installation of Kenton MIDI Retrofit Kit.
Full system testing, calibration, and final assembly by KSR.
The edge connectors were found to be in excellent condition and were retained.

While KSR does not issue formal restoration reports, the scale and quality of this work are exceptional — the instrument now presents and performs closer to a brand-new PS-3200 than any unrestored example we’ve encountered. The project spanned several years, with hundreds of hours of expert labour and thousands of pounds invested.

This PS-3200 features the factory switchable power supply (100V / 110V / 220V) and is currently configured for 220V UK operation."