Up for sale, a circa 1975 ARP 2600 model 2601 V1.0 in near-mint condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original 3620 duophonic keyboard controller. A one-owner example, this ARP saw very limited use as part of a college music lab, recently offered for sale for the first time since the 70s and fully serviced.

Widely considered one of the greatest, most influential and most important analog synthesizers of all time, the ARP 2600 has been played by a vast array of artists including Joy Division, Stevie Wonder, Chemical Brothers, and Nine Inch Nails, to name just a few. Beyond the music world, the 2600 has also enjoyed a storied history in Hollywood sound effects creation, including at Skywalker Sound to create the original vocalizations for R2-D2. This particular iteration, the 2601 V1.0, was produced from 1975-76, identified by the small trim pot holes and improved jacks.

This 2600 has been professionally serviced and benefits from a PSU rebuild, recapped where necessary, and has been fully calibrated. The mounting pins, jacks, and switches have been cleaned, and the keybed on the controller has been fully cleaned with all new bushings. All sliders benefit from a chemical cleaning, yet a small amount of noise is normal.

Designed as a more compact, intuitive rival to Moogs modular systems, the ARP 2600 is a paragon of analog subtractive synthesis, featuring a totally analog signal path with three oscillators, one 24 dB/oct filter, one ADSR envelope, one VCA, and one Mixer section. Additional features include an envelope follower, ring modulator, noise generator, LFO with sample and hold, built-in spring reverb, and a pre-amplifier with onboard stereo speaker. Originally marketed to high schools and universities upon its original release, the control layout of the ARP 2600 was designed with one fixed, consistent design (as opposed to the custom-built modular systems of the era) that was more immediately understandable while still rewarding users with plenty to unpack and expand upon. While the semi-modular system has a fixed selection of pre-wired modules, most connections can be re-wired at the bevy of patch points. As such, theres plenty of nitty-gritty tweaking to be had, with loads of sliders and switches to satisfy any sonic sculptor.

The duophonic 3620 keyboard features a 49-key keyboard, with Portamento, Vibrato, Pitch Bend, Trigger and Repeats switches, and Octave Up/Down (2 octaves either way) controls. All of the keys respond evenly, and all original knobs and sliders are present.

Cosmetic wear on the ARP 2600 itself is very limited, with just a few tiny scuffs on the exterior of the suitcase-style case, which has been fitted with a new handle. True to the original marketing, this unit was previously owned by a college; the college lightly scratched the department name and phone number into the faceplate adjacent to the speaker. The keyboard controller is similarly clean, with just a couple tiny scuffs.

The original 8-pin controller-to-synth DIN cable and power cord are included.