"Serviced a few years ago and given a new membrane which is known to go bad on these. For this listing, we had it serviced and given new batteries. With that, all the factory patches were erased and about 50% of them were located and installed. Banks G-K only play an initialized saw patch. All other factory banks are loaded, and all features and functions work very nicely!"
00:00 Opening Titles
00:17 Introduction
01:26 Switched On 80s
13:36 Little Black Boxes
16:07 Commercial Break
18:42 Synthesiser Club
21:40 Patching Today
33:44 Video Lab
40:06 Outro
"Episode two of the third series of the TV program from Benge, made at his Memetune Electronic Music Studio
The series explores his passion for vintage synthesiser instruments and studio gear and how he uses them in his productions and collaborations"
"In THIS episode:
SWITCHED ON 80s - A detailed presentation on the Arp / Rhodes Chroma, the mega-poly-synth that nearly took over the world
LITTLE BLACK BOXES - A look at the Korg M3R, a slimmed down version of the biggest selling synth of all time
SYNTHESISER CLUB - a picturesque study made on the Sequential Six-track, the Drumtracks, the Prophet VS and the mighty T8
COMMERCIAL BREAK - Some adverts for Memetune-related goodies, including the new Memetune Annual 2024, the range of Memetune merchandise and Benge's seminal 13 Systems album
PATCHING TODAY - on the vintage Emu Modular, with some help from a big Modcan A-Series
VIDEO LAB - In this episode we try and use the video mixers without any external inputs - its all about self-generating feedback imagery - with a soundtrack made on classic vintage modular synths
The MemeTune Programme Credits:
Everything in this video was created by B D Edwards (Benge)
All music, design, writing, filming and production completed at Memetune Studios, UK, 2025"
Super rare synthesizer, originally designed by ARP just before they closed their doors. Rhodes saved the day by bringing just 3000 units to the light of day. This particular unit has been serviced thoroughly by our in-house technician. Serial No. 21030915
Polyphony - 16 voices max
Oscillators - 16 VCOs: 0-63 value mix of sawtooth and variable pulse waveforms; 16 modulation sources
LFO - 16 LFO waveforms
Filter - Switchable hi-pass or low-pass filters
VCA - ADSR
Keyboard - 64 weighted-keys with velocity (polyphonic aftertouch optional)
"A demonstration of discovering new sounds using the Electra One's snapshot morphing and randomization features.
This functionality will be available in the upcoming Electra One firmware version 4.0.
The demonstration showcases the powerful capabilities of the mighty Rhodes Chroma. I intentionally made the Patch Algorithm parameter part of the sound morphing to achieve more dramatic changes in the sound while morphing and randomizing."
"It is in great shape, and the wood is nearly flawless. The metal and tolex are also in great shape. It's got the CC+ CPU board upgrade, MIDI and polyphponic aftertouch. The unit has had the following work done:
Luca Sasdelli Switching Power Supply installed. (Replaces original PSU, which was underpowered)
Retroaktiv Polyphonic Aftertouch installed. Can also transmit this via MIDI to control other devices that support poly aftertouch.
CC+ CPU upgrade installed, allowing for CC control of parameters, extra memory, and more.
Other information:
One of the segments is out on the large 2-digit segment display (Which shows the current program selected). One segment is out on the 8-character mini-7-segment screen. Both of these segments are so minor that I have never been affected by them. One of the voice cards is currently coming up with an error. I am willing to replace the card before shipping the instrument. If I haven't played the Chroma for a month, certain keys will need to be exercised a few times in order to work. This is due to the leaf switches used on these. They're the same as the ones on the K250. I have never seen a keyboard that uses these that did not exhibit this behavior.
There is s small dent in the front panel near the Chroma logo. Hardly noticeable.
"It’s in phenomenal physical shape for its age. The membrane buttons had been previously replaced so they work like a charm. Comes with power cable and will be packaged very securely.
The only strange workaround is that the Assignable Control Fader doesn’t work. Instead, the Volume Envelope Release Fader controls both the selected Assignable Control parameter and the Volume Release at the same time. So when you move the Release fader, it affects both. Weird, but I usually set the Assignable to something that doesn’t affect the sound so it never bothers me. It’s probably a simple fix in the right hands. This synth just sounds too good to care! Everything else works well and I haven’t had any issues creating with it. One day I will regret letting this one go."
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Included and new this year are the hit virtual instruments Synthesizer Expander Module, CR-78 Drum Machine, Rhodes Chroma, Wurlybird 140B, Blue3 Organ, Atomika, and the new P-10. In all, that's 23 emulations of vintage synthesizers; three original synthesizers; a legendary drum machine, electric piano, and tonewheel organ; a massive modular synthesizer platform; and over 10,000 professionally designed presets!
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"Fender Chroma Polaris six voice synthesizer restored and repaired by Synth Tailor Electronics in Columbus, Ohio. If you have a broken Chroma Polaris or any vintage synthesizer, drum machine, outboard gear, or rare obscure gear that needs repaired/restored, please reach out on our website contact form or email.
The Fender Chroma Polaris is an interesting synth, made by CBS Fender after they took over ARP instruments. It was marketed as a smaller hybrid version of the Rhodes Chroma, and featured more slide potentiometers with the same style membrane buttons as the Rhodes Chroma. The synth has a remarkably pleasant sound and features dual oscillators, dual envelope generators, a smooth analog filter, and generous modulation routings.
The membrane buttons are less than reliable, and along with its rather heavy weight, probably kept the Polaris from gaining wide spread popularity.
It features Curtis Electromusic Specialties chips (CEM3372, CEM3374) which is found on other vintage synthesizers from that era including: Akai AX80/VX600, Oberheim Xpander/Matrix 12, Sequential Prophet 600/Prophet T8, and Simmons Drums."
"The Chroma Polaris was the predecessor to the classic Rhodes Chroma. Even with its heritage, the Chroma series of keyboards has seemed to resist the inflation that vintage analog synths often have. This synth gives massive sounds with the added benefit of having midi I/O. A hi-fi synth with 6 voices of analog polyphony. Creamy sounds, very lush with tons of character. Total sleeper! Wow.
Service notes:
-Replaced membrain switch panels
-Removed all faders and disassembled and cleaned, reinstalled
-Replaced supply caps on panel boards
-Resoldered other panel board components and connectors
-Replaced filter caps and all power supply caps
-Cleaned keys and key assembly
-Cleaned all power supply connectors
-Resoldered panel board LEDs
-Cleaned bender faders, straightened shafts of panel board faders"
"00% working and currently has the original preset bank loaded. The membrane switches are all working. Over the years the unit has had a few repairs, including one of the pot muxes and replacement of all of the VCO tuning caps (Believe me, you want this done on any Polaris you find) The headphone out circuit on these is a rather poor design, which causes a good deal of hum. I have disabled this, as I want the cleanest sound I can get from the Hi Z output jack. (The Hi impedance output is the one that sounds the best) All of the keys are working perfectly. One key has a slight wiggle, which is very minor and doesn't affect playing."
Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.
"For sale are the Rhodes Chroma Performancer Manual and Rhodes Chroma Programming Manual.This is your chance to own this hard to find Manuals from 1982. This is a must-have for any vintage synthesizer collector as these are getting very hard/impossible to find these days. These Manuals have no highlighting or underlining in it. These Manuals are in very good condition, see the picture's for more detail."
"Here is an extremely rare 'Chroma to Computer Interface PCBoard'. I believe it needs the 'Chroma to Computer Interface' to work which I am also selling in this Vemia. Not tested so no idea if it works or not but it's like new and in case there are issues they should be minimal. More details here : https://www.rhodeschroma.com/?id=computerinterfacehardware Rhodes Chroma rarities I am selling in Vemia : - Chroma to Computer Interface - Chroma tapper - Roland MIF-APL 291-894 board."
"Here is an extremely rare 'Chroma to Computer Interface'. I believe it needs the 'Chroma to Computer Interface PCBoard' to work which I am also selling here. Not tested so no idea if it works or not but it's like new and in case there are issues they should be minimal. Rhodes Chroma rarities I am selling in this Vemia : - Chroma to Computer Interface PCBoard - Roland MIF-APL 291-894 board."
