ARP 2600
Date: 1971
Type: Monophonic / Subtractive / Analogue / 3 VCOs / Semi-modular
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Introduction
The ARP 2600 is one of the most revered synthesizers of all time and has been used consistently for over 50 years. It's a semi-modular, monophonic synth with three oscillators and built-in spring reverb, giving huge range of sonic possibility. It was released by ARP in several versions in the 1970s and latterly, both Korg and Behringer have re-released the design, demonstrating it's perennial quality and appeal.
1971 - Model 2600 - The 'Blue Marvin' was the original version, with a bright blue fascia.
Mid-1971 - Model 2600C & Model 2600P - The various versions of the 'Grey Meanie' were a factory-produced update to the original, with a grey fascia.
1975 - Model 2601 v1.0 (grey fascia); Model 2601 v2.0 onwards (orange-on-black fascia). Production ceased in 1980 after approximately 3,000 units were made by ARP across all versions.
2018 - Behringer release a clone of the 2600
2020 - Korg re-release an authorised new version of the 2600 with ARP co-founder Dave Friend - the Korg ARP 2600 FS
2022 - Korg release a 60% scale version of 2020's FS, the Korg ARP 2600 M
Table of Songs featuring ARP 2600
| Artist | Song | Year | Notes | Reference | Media URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 808 State | Atlas 7 | 2011 | Recorded at Testa Rossa Studios Manchester. 2001. Waldorf Microwave XT, Jupiter 8, Juno 106, Access Virus, Mini Moog, ARP Odyssey ARP 2600 Synthesizers. Akai sampler, EMU Orbit. | Discogs | BandCamp |
| 808 State | Orbit | 1993 | From Music Technology Interview. All the the drums were done on the ARP 2600. | Music Technology 1993 | n/a |
| Herbie Hancock | Mr. Hands (album) | 1980 | Keyboards [Emu Polyphonic Keyboard, Clavitar], Synthesizer [Waves Minimoog, Minimoog, Prophet 5, Oberheim 8 Voice, Yamaha Cs-80, Arp 2600], Clavinet [Hohner], Electric Piano [Rhodes 88 Suitcase Piano], Vocoder [Sennheiser], Drum Machine [Linn-Moffett Drum Synthesizer], Computer [Modified Apple Ii Plus Microcomputer], Piano – Herbie Hancock | Discogs | YouTube |
| Hydravion | Hydravion (album) | 1977 | Philippe Besombes plays: ARP 2600. | Discogs | YouTube |
| Jean-Michel Jarre | Oxygene - New Master Recording (album) | 2007 | For this version of Oxygene, Jarre re-recorded all the parts. I.e. this is not the 1976 original version of Oxygene. | Discogs | YouTube |
| Moebius | Money | 1979 | ARP 2600 – Bryce Robbley. | Discogs | YouTube |
| Todd Terje | Intro (It's Album Time) | 2014 | [ARP 2600] - Todd Terje. | Discogs | YouTube |
| Todd Terje | Leisure Suite Preben | 2014 | [ARP 2600] - Todd Terje. | Discogs | YouTube |
| Richard Wahnfried | Time Actor (album) | 1979 | Richard Wahnfried is pseudonym for the collective comprising Klaus Schulze, Arthur Brown, Wolfgang Tiepold, Vincent Crane, Michael Shrieve, Harmony Brown. | Discogs | YouTube |
| Stevie Wonder | Innerversions (album) | 1973 | Stevie Wonder used a 2600 - see the video of him demoing it. | Discogs | YouTube |
