Vintage ARP Odyssey Mk II Synthesizer w/ New Yellow Capped Sliders & Moog Ladder Filter

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video upload by Synth Chaser

via this auction, also on Reverb

"The Odyssey was ARP's answer to the Minimoog, a feature packed scaled down version of the legendary ARP 2600. This particular ARP Odyssey is equipped with the 4035 filter, the infamous "lawsuit filter" that "borrowed" from Bob Moog's ladder filter patent.

This ARP Odyssey has just been serviced and is functioning very well. New sliders & slider caps were installed, power supply recapped, all tantalum capacitors replaced, new slide switches, new key bushings, cleaned key contacts, calibrated, and the 1/4" output jack made to a high output.

There are a few flaws I feel the need to disclose: This particular Odyssey has a fairly high noise floor. You can hear it (white noise/hiss sound) when the tone sources are turned down and the VCA is open, or if the filter isn't fully open. Also there is some slight bleeding of the tone sources into the final output (bypassing the VCF). Please see the attached video for a demonstration of this. There are some large scratches on the front panel, see photos. Since the cosmetics of this Odyssey aren't perfect, I decided not to invest the time into fixing these last problems and instead just offer the synthesizer at a better value."

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Vintage ARP Odyssey Mk II 2813 Synthesizer w/ LED Sliders & Moog Ladder Filter

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Synth Chaser

via this auction, also on Reverb

"The Odyssey was ARP's answer to the Minimoog, a feature packed scaled down version of the legendary ARP 2600. This particular ARP Odyssey is equipped with the 4035 filter, the infamous "lawsuit filter" that "borrowed" from Bob Moog's ladder filter patent.

This ARP Odyssey has just been serviced and is functioning very well. The Synthchaser LED slider & slider cap set has been installed, and the LEDs are color coded to correspond to the original colored slider caps, which give a visual indicator of the function of each control. The difference in the way these sliders feel and perform compared to the originals is a huge improvement. The power supply was recapped, all tantalum capacitors replaced, new key bushings, cleaned key contacts, calibrated, and the 1/4" output jack made to a high output.

There are a few flaws I feel the need to disclose: The old silkscreen was worn away and the paint was also worn through, so I've installed an overlay. The quality of the overlay isn't the greatest, and the color doesn't quite match the rest of the synth, but anything is better than the way it was! Please review photos carefully. This particular Odyssey has a fairly high noise floor. You can hear it (white noise/hiss sound) when the tone sources are turned down and the VCA is open, or if the filter isn't fully open. Also, the ADSR modulation to the VCF can "overdrive" the filter if the slider is up all the way. Please see the attached video for a demonstration of these. There are a few extra holes on the back panel (the larger ones have been plugged) from previous mods that have been reverted. Since the cosmetics of this Odyssey aren't perfect, I decided not to invest the time into fixing these last problems and instead just offer the synthesizer at a better value."

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Oberheim Four Voice Synthesizer FVS Tour Inside & Technical Overview

video upload by Synth Chaser

"I'm going to be doing some repairs on this Oberheim Four Voice synthesizer and I thought I'd make a repair video on it. But first I want to provide some better context for the repair work that's to come. So in this video we'll look at the inside of the Four Voice, see the different modules that make it up and discuss how they work together to make an amazing synthesizer."

https://synthchaser.com

Oberheim Four Voice Synthesizer FVS More Repairs - Synthchaser #150

video upload by Synth Chaser

Is the Oberheim OB-SX Really a Preset Mini OB-X?

video upload by Synth Chaser

"Some people claim the Oberheim OB-SX is a smaller, preset version of the OB-X. But is that really true? In this video we take a look the voice cards of the OB-X, OB-SX, and OB-Xa and explore their similarities and differences."

https://synthchaser.com/

Synth Chaser Serviced Vintage ARP Omni 2 Analog Synthesizer Keyboard

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Synth Chaser

via this auction, also on Reverb

"This synthesizer has just been fully serviced by Synthchaser, the leading ARP specialist - recapped, new key bushings, sliders disassembled and refurbished, clean, fully functional, calibrated, in tune and sounding great. This keyboard is the sound of Joy Division and is all over The Cars' "Moving In Stereo", and many other late 70's/early 80's albums. It produces the lush Solina/String Ensemble sounds plus has a polyphonic synthesizer section with a voltage controlled filter, LFO, and ADSR, and a dedicated bass synthesizer section.

Good condition, scratches on the top as is common for these, see photos. This is an early model Omni 2 with the black buttons, power indicator LED, enameled ARP badge, and wood side panels. Left panel has some red sticker/tape residue on it and a chip on the bottom. See photos for condition.

Sliders refurbished - It's rare that Synthchaser will agree to restore the original sliders in these synthesizers, but when he does, he does it right! The sliders have been desoldered, disassembled, ultrasonically cleaned, lubricated, reassembled, tested and reinstalled. All original slider caps are present!
Power supply rebuilt - All tantalum and electrolytic capacitors in the power supply have been replaced, and high quality, high temperature 105 deg C capacitors have been used for the power supply filter capacitors.
All tantalum capacitors replaced - The tantalum capacitors in ARP synths are ticking time bombs. All of the over 100 tantalum capacitors in this synth, including the power supply and filter submodule, have been replaced with electrolytics to help provide stable operation for years to come.
Synthchaser 4075 Filter Enhancement Kit Installed - The ARP Omni uses the same 4075 filter submodule found in the Odyssey, Quadra, Avatar, and Pro DGX. This has been recapped, and enhanced to provide superior frequency response.
Keyboard rebuild - New key bushings installed, buss bar & key contacts cleaned and adjusted, keybed leveled, keys ultrasonically cleaned
Oscilloscope calibration - Fully calibrated to factory spec using oscilloscope and frequency counter."

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Serviced ARP Omni 2 Synthesizer with Synthchaser MIDI, LED Sliders & Anvil Case

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Synth Chaser

via this auction

"Here's a nice, restored ARP Omni 2... with MIDI!! This synthesizer has just been fully serviced by Synthchaser, the United States' leading ARP specialist - recapped, new key bushings, new LED sliders, clean, fully functional, calibrated, in tune and sounding great. And best of all, this has been fitted with the Synthchaser MIDI Adapter! This keyboard is the sound of Joy Division and is all over The Cars' "Moving In Stereo", and many other late 70's/early 80's albums. It produces the lush Solina/String Ensemble sounds plus has a polyphonic synthesizer section with a voltage controlled filter, LFO, and ADSR, and a dedicated bass synthesizer section.

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Custom Patches for Behringer 2600: Retromania (50 Vintage/Retro Presets) Sound Demo/No Talking

video upload by Anton Anru

"«Retromania» is a collection of 50 patches for Behringer 2600. It includes 15 basses, 14 Leads, 13 Plucks, 8 Pads.
📼 Get the soundset: https://bit.ly/3snGeRM
The soundset is suitable for Retrowave, Synthwave, Pop, Electronica, Lo-fi, Electro, Disco, Cinematic and Video Game Music in Sci-Fi, Cyberpunk genres… for everything that is associated with Vintage, Retro, Old…
You will find well-known timbres here: huge and light basses, singing leads that work great for solos, punchy plucks for arps and seqs, warm analog pads with evolving modulations.

The soundset is presented in the form of PDF-Document. Each page contains notes that explain how the patch works, what parameters worth tweaking during the playback, how to develop the timbre during a performance. If you make all the settings consciously and try the things mentioned in the notes, you will learn lots of things about the synth and discover its true depth.

Each patch has an audio example, it helps to understand how a patch is supposed to sound. To recreate these patches you need up 8 patch cords.

Contents:
00:00 BS Italo, LD Space Trip, PL Fast Strokes, LD TV Show
01:14 BS Immense, LD Caller, PL Outline
01:57 BS Flick, LD Singer, LD Forlorn, PD Melancholy
03:10 BS Frivolous, LD Mellotron
03:37 BS Chaser, PL Pipes, LD Icicle, PD Grime
04:36 BS Reason, PL Chirp, LD Shakeup
05:12 BS Stubby, PL Tape Machine, LD Ghost, PD Church Organ
06:11 BS Matt, PL Space Drum, LD Agony
06:55 BS Buzz, LD Hysteria, PL High Bells
07:46 BS M-1 Organ, LD Chord Stab, PD House Strings
08:18 BS Kick In, PL Berliner, PD Skid
08:56 BS Atlant, LD Flowing, PL Glassware, PD Multi-Wobble
10:05 BS Plump, PL Distress, PD Chorus Strings
11:04 BS Deep Waters, LD Oriental Flute, PL Mallets Generator
11:57 BS Killer, PL Striker, LD Silken"

Tom Oberheim SEM Pro Repair - Synthchaser #139

video upload by Synth Chaser

Vintage ARP Omni 1 Keyboard Synthesizer Refurbished with LED Sliders

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video uploaded by Synth Chaser

via this auction, also on Reverb

"This synthesizer has just been fully serviced by Synthchaser, the United States' top ARP specialist - recapped, new key bushings, new LED sliders, new reliable pushbutton switches, clean, fully functional, calibrated, in tune and sounding great. This keyboard is the sound of Joy Division and is all over The Cars' 'Moving In Stereo', and many other late 70's/early 80's albums. It produces the lush Solina/String Ensemble sounds plus has a polyphonic synthesizer section with a voltage controlled filter, LFO, and ADSR, and a dedicated bass synthesizer section.

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Designing Roland TR-808 Mods for Doctor Mix - Synthchaser #136​

video by Synth Chaser

"Claudio from @Doctor Mix​ has been busy repairing and modding his Roland TR-808 drum machine and asked if I could help design some mods for the hand claps. In this video I show you my approach to designing mods, and give a little introduction to RC time constants, which are used in all analog synthesis circuits.

Details of the mods designed in this video are available here:

https://synthchaser.com/designing-rol..."

Doctor Mix Super 808

Restored Vintage ARP Quadra Synthesizer Keyboard with MIDI

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video by Synth Chaser

via this auction

"This ARP Quadra has just been professionally overhauled by Synthchaser, the foremost expert on ARP Quadras! Work done included new orange LED sliders (illumination can be disabled before shipping at buyer's request), recap of all tantalum and electrolytic capacitors, new touch sensor, keyboard refurbishment, new IC chips, reliability enhancements, and perhaps most unique of all... this may be the world's first ARP Quadra with MIDI!

While many synths are listed as "serviced" or "fully serviced", they are usually devoid of any details of what was actually done. Those that do provide details or service invoices often reveal that the synth was merely superficially serviced, and not genuinely "future-proofed". I have not only serviced this Quadra, I've taken it down to the chassis and overhauled it. Work done included:

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Evolution of the ARP 2600 - Synthchaser #135

video by Synth Chaser

"In this video I give you a brief look at the evolution of the ARP 2600 synthesizer, from the Grey Meanie, one of the very first units produced in 1971, to the final black & orange models made through 1981."

ARP Axxe Repair & Restoration - Synthchaser #134

video by Synth Chaser

Previous demo video:

ARP Axxe Demonstration - Synthchaser #126


"Functional demonstration of the ARP Axxe 37 key monophonic analog synthesizer keyboard. Also discussion of what went into restoring it."

And a filter repair post here

Vintage ARP Solina String Ensemble SN 0097619

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video by Synth Chaser

via this auction

"This is the most desirable revision, with the heavy steel frame and the modulation on/off switch to the right of the keys. The ARP String Ensemble was manufactured by the Eminent Organ company in Holland as the Solina String Ensemble, and rebranded for sale in the US by ARP as the ARP String Ensemble SE-IV. This was the quintessential string synthesizer of the 1970's, appearing on countless albums of all genres from Disco to Progressive Rock. The String Ensemble offers 4 polyphonic preset voices (violin, viola, trumpet, and horn) and 2 monophonic bass voices (cello and contrabass). The String Ensemble offers crescendo and sustain controls, as well as a volume control to mix in the bass voices. The String Ensemble is often copied, but never replicated due to the vintage analog BBD delay chips that give the synth its lush phasing sound. This 2nd revision of the String Ensemble has a switch to the right of the 49 key keybed that allows you to disable this modulation if you wish, for a different set of sounds.

The synthesizer is fully working and in good physical condition (these often have rusted front panels, or dented/cracked cases). The only items worth noting is an extra connector on the back that was added for a pedal mod that has since been removed. And sometimes the modulation on/off button will fail to latch or unlatch on the first press."

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Oberheim OB-XA

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

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ARP Omni & Omni 2 MIDI Installation - Synthchaser #133

Synth Chaser

"In this video I show you how to install the Synthchaser MIDI Adapter for the ARP Omni in an Omni 2. The process for an Omni 1 is very similar. This is a user-installable upgrade that requires no soldering or modifications to your synthesizer (other than perhaps a hole to mount the MIDI jack/jacks).

The MIDI adapter is available on my website."

https://www.synthchaser.com

Synthchaser Restored Vintage ARP Quadra Synthesizer Keyboard with New Sliders

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Synth Chaser

via this auction

"This ARP Quadra has just been professionally overhauled by Synthchaser, the foremost expert on ARP Quadras! Work done included new red LED sliders (illumination can be dimmed or disabled by control of a knob mounted just inside the synth), recap of all tantalum and electrolytic capacitors, new touch sensor, keyboard refurbishment, new IC chips, and more reliability enhancements!

Here is a video demo of the actual keyboard being sold:

While many synths are listed as "serviced" or "fully serviced", they are usually devoid of any details of what was actually done. Those that do provide details or service invoices often reveal that the synth was merely superficially serviced, and not genuinely "future-proofed". I have not only serviced this Quadra, I've taken it down to the chassis and overhauled it. Work done included:

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ARP AXXE 70's Analog FUN Vintage Synthesizer Odyssey Rik Marston

Rik Marston Official

"The incredible ARP AXXE vintage monosynth restored
by the fantastic Synth Chaser! https://synthchaser.com/
My camera went bonkers so I made another visual acid trip :)"

Purple ARP AXXE Synth Chaser Restored Analog Synthesizer Rik Marston

Rik Marston Official

#arpaxxe #synthchaser #analogsynthesizer
"Purple ARP AXXE Synth Chaser Restored"
Synthesizer Demo by Rik Marston
***Watch in HD!!*** **Turn It UP!** ***No Talking!!!***
*Focus was off so I did this little picture montage*

The incredible ARP AXXE vintage monosynth restored
by the fantastic Synth Chaser! I had it customized with
PURPLE LEDs on the sliders. It works PERFECTLY!
Sliders are tight, keys are SMOOTH! Output is CLEAN!
Oh, did I mention the PURPLE LEDS on the sliders?
LOL I know I did but that makes it PERFECT for my
new colorful synthesizer setup. I am a very happy ARP owner!
https://synthchaser.com/

Meteorite friends featured:
"Zardoz", "Uhluhtc" & "Dizan"
3 Campo del Cielo Iron Meteorites from Argentina :)
Sending POSITIVE VIBES to YOU!!! ;)

Update:

Purple ARP AXXE S+H Dimensions Vintage Analog Synthesizer Rik Marston

Vintage ARP Omni 1 Keyboard Synthesizer Overhauled with LED Sliders SN 2483 1698

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Synth Chaser

via this auction

"This synthesizer has just been fully serviced by Synthchaser, the United States' top ARP specialist - recapped, new key bushings, new LED sliders, new reliable pushbutton switches, clean, fully functional, calibrated, in tune and sounding great. This keyboard is the sound of Joy Division and is all over The Cars' "Moving In Stereo", and many other late 70's/early 80's albums. It produces the lush Solina/String Ensemble sounds plus has a polyphonic synthesizer section with a voltage controlled filter, LFO, and ADSR, and a dedicated bass synthesizer section.

Has a some scratches on the case, which is common to these synths, see photos. However, the keyboard sounds great and has been completely overhauled inside with hundreds of dollars of new parts and many of hours of labor, including:

Synthchaser Precision LED slider upgrade. All 15 of the old original sliders have been replaced with new, smooth, high precision LED illuminated sliders. The difference in the way these sliders feel and perform compared to the originals is a huge improvement. The LED colors match the color scheme of the panel graphics.

Illuminated slider caps - Slider caps with a translucent plastic stripe that allows the LED illumination to shine through, while giving you something substantial to grip onto. I just started using these caps, and they look and feel awesome!

Synthchaser replacement pushbutton switches - All 10 of the original pushbutton switches (which are notorious for having the mechanical latches break) have been replaced with retrofits. The original switch caps are still installed so they look the same from the outside.

Power supply rebuilt - All tantalum and electrolytic capacitors in the power supply have been replaced, and high quality, high temperature 105 deg C capacitors have been used for the power supply filter capacitors.
All tantalum capacitors replaced - The tantalum capacitors in ARP synths are ticking time bombs. All of the over 100 tantalum capacitors in this synth have been replaced with electrolytics to help provide stable operation for years to come.

Synthchaser 4075 Filter Enhancement Kit Installed - The ARP Omni uses the same 4075 filter submodule found in the Odyssey, Quadra, Avatar, and Pro DGX. This has been recapped, and enhanced to provide superior frequency response.
Keyboard rebuild - New key bushings installed, buss bar & key contacts cleaned, key contacts adjusted, and keys ultrasonically cleaned

Oscilloscope calibration - Fully calibrated to factory spec using oscilloscope and frequency counter."

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