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The ARP 2600 is half-modular, monophonic, later duophonic Synthesizer with 3 VCOs. The synthesizer is able to produce rather complex sounds through selective use of patch cords. It was led in many schools in the United States as teaching aid, so that it achieved great awareness almost like the MINIMOOG. It should be mentioned that the first model series looked different, and the subsequent series of gray 2600´s were equipped with inferior parts. This was reflected mainly by strong background noise. The later used VCO´s sounded a bit weak - the original used Teledyne VCO´s were simply too expensive.

Today there is no problem to correct or improve everything, but the ARP 2600 is still a very expensive instrument. The last series from this model was in black/orange-look, like the other ARP´s ...

For this synthesizer there were three different keyboards, but only the last model 3620 was duophonic and offered an additional LFO.

Avatar is more-or-less an ARP Odyssey for guitarists. Technically the same except for the missing keyboard. Instead of the keyboard it has a pitch-to-voltage interface for guitars. Through the already looming collapse of the ARP-company and a too high price there have been built only a few hundred avatars. Today, it is preferred viewed as an expander, which caters to all kinds for extensive modifications through it´s design.

The beautiful black and white photo as well as the photo of the ARP 2500 I lent from discretesynthesizers. CMS is probably the world´s first address for ARP Services. There to seeing pictures of modded ARPs causing almost tremble with awe!

Due to the low production numbers (around 300) it is relatively random if you find an avatar, and whether the price is high or more favorable.

Inserting the Little Brother with its switchable sound colors in the Odyssey or Axxe, sounds can be done really fat! The Little Brother has got the same oscillator as the Arp 2600. This significantly changes the timbre!

The unconventional of the Little Brother is, that the only oscillator has switches for bass, tenor, alto and soprano on and can be turned off (also together!) Their are four different sounds as well (Brass, Hollow, Reed and Fuzz). They are available individually or together. Of course it broadens the possibilities of sonic irritation, without leaving or destroying the basic sound (that happens very quick with two oscillators). Overall, I prefer the three oscillators of Odyssey and Axxe to the three oscillators in the ARP 2600. (The ARP 2600 was my second synth in the 80s).