ARP 2600 – The Legendary Sound Machine
Few synthesisers have achieved the legendary status of the ARP 2600. With its imposing control panel, rows of sliders, colourful patch cables and extraordinary sonic possibilities, this magnificent American instrument helped shape the sound of electronic music and became one of the most celebrated synthesisers ever created.
Introduced in 1971 by ARP Instruments, the company founded by pioneering engineer Alan R. Pearlman, the ARP 2600 offered musicians something remarkable: much of the creative freedom of an enormous modular synthesiser in a comparatively compact, portable package.
Its ingenious semi-modular design allowed musicians to create sounds immediately using pre-wired signal paths, while patch cables opened up almost limitless possibilities for experimentation.
Three powerful oscillators, a resonant analogue filter, ring modulation, sample-and-hold circuitry, an external audio input and built-in spring reverb made the 2600 an extraordinarily versatile instrument. From thunderous bass lines and soaring electronic leads to otherworldly textures, bubbling sequences and outrageous science-fiction effects, there was very little it couldn't attempt.
And what a sound it produced.
Rich, aggressive, expressive and gloriously unpredictable, the ARP 2600 became a favourite among adventurous musicians seeking something beyond conventional keyboards.
One of its earliest champions was Edgar Winter, whose spectacular 1973 instrumental hit Frankenstein demonstrated the instrument's formidable capabilities. Winter famously wore its detachable keyboard around his neck, turning the synthesiser into a flamboyant rock performance instrument.
Other celebrated enthusiasts included Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Pete Townshend and Joe Zawinul of Weather Report, while Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks incorporated the instrument into the band's evolving progressive rock sound.
The ARP 2600 also made an unforgettable contribution to cinema history.
Sound designer Ben Burtt used the synthesiser alongside recordings of his own voice to create the electronic speech of R2-D2 in the original Star Wars films. Those charming whistles, chirps and robotic conversations helped give one of cinema's most beloved characters his unmistakable personality.
As electronic music evolved, the 2600 found new admirers among artists including Depeche Mode, 808 State, Orbital, The Chemical Brothers and Nine Inch Nails, demonstrating its remarkable ability to remain relevant across changing musical generations.
Produced in relatively small numbers, original examples have become highly prized collectors' instruments, while modern recreations and software emulations continue to introduce its extraordinary capabilities to new musicians.
A masterpiece of analogue engineering, the ARP 2600 was simultaneously a serious musical instrument, an experimental laboratory and a playground for sonic imagination. From progressive rock masterpieces to electronic dance floors and a galaxy far, far away, its unmistakable character has secured its place among the greatest synthesisers ever built.
LARGER SIZED PRINTS - A2, A1 and A0 - available in another listing!
Limited Edition of 250 A3 prints and just 20 of larger sizes.
A3 Size shipped in cardboard backed envelope. Larger sizes in rigid tubes.
