Oberheim Four Voice

images via this auction
"THE STORY
It is so rich and warm sounding. It is truly an elegant machine.
I have owned many Oberheim synths, beginning with this one.
My other fav being my OBX-A.
But every time the synths in the 70s were theoretically “improved” - they got less fat. Yes they got programmable and smaller and lighter… but they got less FAT every time.
I used an OB-8 in the showroom at Caesars Atlantic City for 6 months on a production show and I tell you it couldn’t even tie the shoelaces of its predecessor, the OBX-A. Eddie Van Helen said the same thing and had to keep several OBX-As handy on tour for “Jump”. Nothing else could do that sound.
Having said that about my OBX-A – this 4-Voice blows my OBX-A away for rich warm sound and individual flexibility from voice to voice.
When you fire this puppy up, put all 8 oscillators into unison, and pitch down low, the earth literally shakes like a T-Rex is coming, it is so fat.
Gino Vanelli (Joe Vanelli actually) romped on this thing. Listen to “Appaloosa” and the other cuts on the Brother to Brother album.
In 1980 I became Musical Director for the Sands Casino in Atlantic City and then in 87 for the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City. I got too busy to use it, so it has sat since then, covered, treasured and untouched.
HISTORY
I am the original owner.
This machine has NEVER been on a gig ever.
It left my home once to be calibrated.
Other than that it has sat in a kingly position my smoke free home studio ever since.
SEM COSMETICS - MINT
The face of the machine is perfect – silk screening is perfect.
It hardly ever been used.
TOLEX CONDITION - LID
The lid was stored separate in my basement and consequently the metal corners have minor rust and a piece of tolex on the inside of the lid is missing, (see pic) but the wood is black anyway so you don’t even realize it is missing. The tolex on the outside of the lid is in great shape (see pic) and who looks on the inside when the lid is closed anyway?
The tolex in general is in excellent condition. There is a bad spot on the outside of the lid toward on of the corners (see pic). I glued that spot down years ago, and it has held fine since.
TOLEX CONDITION – ON THE SYNTH
There is a small tear on the bottom right edge of the instrument itself. Again, it is hardly noticeable because it is on the bottom edge and everything is black under it and the tolex is tight to the wood so it is really a non issue.
Handles are perfect – again it was hardly ever moved.
ELECTRONIC CONDITION
I fired it up and let it sit with juice going through it for a couple of days - and then played it a lot for a couple of weeks to really check it out…
So here is the report:
All envelopes, filters, waveforms, etc - everything is working fine.
The machine is playable as it is – but the following items would put it back in top recording shape.
1) The Programmer needs a new battery. You don’t need the programmer to play the synth. I used it mostly for envelope shapes and special oscillator pitches and modulations, all of which you set up on the SEMs anyway, so you don’t need the programmer unless you are playing live, but get a new battery for it installed when you can.
2) Some Key contacts and a couple of pots could use a cleaning… but they are completely usable now.
So that’s it. Somebody is going to be very, very happy."


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