Fender Chroma Polaris II (Model 2123B) 6-Voice Hybrid Analog/Digital Synthesizer SN 500324 w/ Extras

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via this Reverb listing

Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"The Fender Chroma Polaris II Model 2123B is a rare, 6-voice hybrid analog/digital synthesizer that followed the original Chroma and Polaris models. It features dual Curtis CEM3374 oscillators per voice, along with a sub-oscillator and noise generator. A Curtis CEM3372 4-pole low-pass filter is used for each voice, offering rich analog filtering. The synth includes oscillator sync, ring modulation, two envelope generators, LFO modulation, and flexible analog routing options. It has a 61-note velocity-sensitive keyboard with support for layering, splits, patch storage, and a basic onboard sequencer.

The Model 2123B was primarily produced for the Japanese market with a 100V power supply but is functionally identical to other Polaris II units.

Includes original paperwork from Fender, preset cassette tape, user manuals, sustain pedals and accessory cables as shown. Tested in wonderful working condition, showing average cosmetic wear from age -- but it very clean overall. Recently serviced in-house...

Service notes:

-Cleaned and resoldered switch panel connectors (PCB side)
-Cleaned key contacts
-Replaced primary filter capacitors in power supply
-Checked tuning and calibration and adjusted as necessary"

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FENDER / RHODES CHROMA POLARIS - Analog Synthesizer Review

video upload by synth4ever

"Fender Rhodes Chroma Polaris synth review, demo and sounds. The Chroma Polaris is a classic 6-voice analog synthesizer released in 1984 by Fender Rhodes, and has Arp heritage. Join me for a review of the Chroma Polaris where I provide an overview, demo presets and patches, and provide my final thoughts on this vintage synth."

Rhodes Chroma 64-Key 16-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer w/ CC+ Upgrade & Docs SN 21030660

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video upload by Bruce Sklar

"This is a short video of my 1984 Rhodes Chroma. I am the original owner.
This shows me creating a scratch patch using the CC+ Split 39 function , which shows the instrument functioning as it should"

via this Reverb listing

"It is registered on the Chroma Website 0660

Is it fully functional , has the CC+ and midi interface , and a new power supply installed by the best Chroma tech on the east coast.

It is cosmetically beautiful. The black metal top shows a few scratches from having a Rhodes Chroma Polaris on it years ago, hence the 'excellent' vs ' mint ' condition

It has a new flight case to original specs, all original manuals , all needed pedals , although those are not original"

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Rhodes Chroma Polaris 64-Key 6-Voice Analog - Serviced - New Membrane

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via this Reverb listing

"Fantastic Rhodes Chroma Polaris. This Chroma has a new membrane, has been fully serviced including battery, full factory reset/spec, Factory load. Super rich, midi heavy Poly analog. Great integration, expressive w/ pedal and assignments.

The panel was installed a year ago and in that time something did press the surface (see last pic) - no functional issues, but wanted to note the visual since it is a new membrane."

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Rhodes Chroma Polaris

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via this eBay listing, also on Reverb

"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!"

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Rhodes Chroma Polaris w/ Freddy Mercury Road Case

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via this Reverb listing

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OXI ONE + Fender CHROMA POLARIS quick afternoon improv

video upload by CGMAGIK

"Playing around with my Chroma Polaris and OXI ONE sequencer today. Using 2 channels on the Polaris - although, amazingly for a 1984 synthesizer, this synth is 6 part multitimbral. You can run 6 different sounds on different MIDI channels and automate all the parameters on each channel. I think most other synths of that era pretty much only did note-on/note-off!"

Vintage analog vs modern - using @devinbelangermusic‬ midi tracks

video upload by Jose's Vintage Keys

"@devinbelangermusic‬ made a great video together with ‪@VultureCulture‬ comparing Devin's modern analogs with Alex's Vintage gear. Devin was so kind to share the midi - so I could make my version. Check out their video!"

Do Vintage Synths Actually Sound BETTER?! (with Vulture Culture)

video upload by Devin Belanger

Music & comparison starts at 6:26.

Vintage Synthesizer list:
Yamaha CS-70m
Kog Polysix
Fender Chroma Polaris
Formanta Polivoks
Roland RE-501 Chorus Echo
Kawai
Korg MS 20

Modern Synths:
UDO Super Gemini
Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave
Oberheim OB-X8
Moog Matriarch
Hologram Microcosm
Meris MercuryX
Polyend Play+

🎹 Get my custom analog synth patches: https://shop.milesawayofficial.com/
🎵 Stream my original music: https://beacons.ai/milesaway

0:00 - intro
0:31 - rules of the competition
0:55 - vintage synths choices explained
6:25 - vintage synths final song
8:39 - modern synths explanation
12:08 - modern synths final song
14:21 - what we learned from this experiment
19:37 - who won? tell us in the comments!
20:10 - ???

Akai AX80 Synthesizer

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via this listing

Additional Three Wave Music Listings

"The Akai AX-80 was released in 1984. It's an eight-voice programmable analog synthesizer with a full 61-note keyboard and a series of techno-looking LCD bar-graph displays running across the top of the keyboard. Two analog oscillators per voice plus a sub oscillator provide the basis of its punchy analog sounds that can be described as similar to a Chroma Polaris or Roland Juno 106."

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Rhodes Chroma Polaris

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via this listing

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Rhodes Chroma Polaris 64-Key 6-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

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via this listing

"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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FENDER CHROMA POLARIS - RESTORED BY SYNTH TAILOR ELECTRONICS

video upload by Synth Tailor Electronics

"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."

Fender Rhodes Chroma Polaris (Serviced)

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via this listing

Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"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"

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Rhodes Chroma Polaris 64-Key 6-Voice Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

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via this listing

"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."

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Rhodes Chroma Polaris SN 100052

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via this listing

"- great condition overall

- fully serviced

- new membrane panel, so very responsive

- new tuning capacitor, so no more drifting out of tune, as very common with the Polaris

- new rebuilt power supply"

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Analogue Synthesiser Melodies | The Art of Production: Olof Dreijer

video upload by Resident Advisor

An interview with Olof Dreijer of The knife.

"Few do melodic electronics like Olof Dreijer.

No matter which part of the Swedish producer's broad catalogue you dip into—from The Knife to Oni Ayhun—you can always make out that knack for resplendent melodies, achieved using vintage analogue synthesisers such as the Oberheim Xpander and the Chroma Polaris.

Read the full feature here: https://ra.co/features/4367

Producer: Sophie Misrahi
Director of Photography: William Engström
Assistant Producer & Editor: Guy Clarke"

Envelopes | The Art of Production: Olof Driejer

video upload by Resident Advisor

"Envelopes play an essential role in Olof Dreijer's expressive, synth-heavy sound.

Dreijer demonstrates how he uses envelopes—a cycle of attack, decay, sustain and release—to emulate acoustic instruments. 'I like it when music has a mix of soft envelopes and slow attacks, and then very fast, more percussive things,' he says."

Akai AX80 8 Voice Analog Poly W/ Original Case & Custom Wood Sides

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via this listing

"This is an all analog poly synth. Usually compared to the Juno 106 and Chroma Polaris but is actually a lot more powerful. This thing not only has 3 egs but actually has FOUR lfos. Insane for a poly synth from the 80s. Comes with the original road case, custom wood end cheeks I paid $150 for, and a replacement battery and removable battery holder I just ordered."

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Fender Chroma Polaris Model 2123B Analog Synthesizer Minus Half the Overlay

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via this listing

Additional Retro Gear Shop Listings

This one is listed for parts. Thought it was interesting to see what's underneath the front panel overlay. Click on the pic to zoom in.

Pic of the inside below.

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Fender Chroma Polaris II Analog Synthesizer - MINTY w/ Original Box

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via this listing

Additional Retro Gear Shop Listings

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Rhodes Chroma Polaris Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer w/ New Membrane

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via this listing

"It is in very good working and cosmetic condition.

Professionally serviced, including the needed membrane replacement.

There is typical wear and tear to vintage equipment this old. See pictures for an idea of condition."

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