ARP Model 1601 Sequencer "Extra hand" advertisement - Part 2, Contemporary Keyboard 1976

ARP Model 1601 Sequencer 1-page advertisement in Contemporary Keyboard November/December 1976.

Part 2

If you don't want to read Part 1 of the blog post, I'll catch you up.

First I yammered on about the ad itself - design, ad-copy and it's general all-around creepy goodness. I also mentioned the Spec Sheet write up and other appearances made by the ARP 1601 Sequencer in other ads and promotional material.

Then I mentioned how I came across one recently, but got all grumpy trying to find consolidated information on the Web about it. Instead, strewn about the Web are a number of references to different designs and model numbers. And to make matters worse, ARP gave this sequencer a generic name - "Sequencer". Why wouldn't ARP give it a cool name like they did for the "Axxe" or "Odyssey"?

So, yah, I was a little grumpy last weekend. I'm much better now, thank you very much.

But later on, rather than keep being all angry about it, I decided to do something. Probe. Google. Catalogue. Organize.

First, although it looks like the Sequencer had two major "designs", I found that most people usually just refer to their unit as "ARP Sequencer Model 16xx". This number is usually found on the back of the machine with the serial number. But I did find one or two instances where others classify the Sequencer designs as Mk 1's and Mk 2's - probably because the ARP Odyssey uses a similar naming convention. Makes sense.

The differentiation between the two designs is easy to see - and the colour schemes basically match the last two versions of the Odyssey - which also helps in trying to narrow down manufacturing dates.

So, based on this naming convention (Mk 1 and MK 2) and the model numbers I was able to find online, I've summarized my findings below. It may not be everything, but it's a start:

Sequencer Mk 1 - model's 1601, 1611, 1612, and 1613
The Mk 1 is generally believed to have been initially released in 1976 with a black and gold colour scheme, matching the ARP Mk 2 Odyssey of the time period. Wooden side panels are also distinctive to the MK 1's. The appearance of the ads and Spec Sheet write up in 1976, and a 1601 Sequencer manual found on retrosynth.com that includes a copyright date of September 1976, support a 1976 release date.

For comparison purposes, I've included an image of a Mk 1 Sequencer from a 2008 e-Bay auction found on MATRIXSYNTH, alongside a photo of an ARP Odyssey Mk II image from Wikipedia.

So, where do you go when you want to get a good sampling of ARP Sequencers? Why, MATRIXSYNTH of course! And the site didn't disappoint - it had a number of ARP Sequencer posts with photos of Mk1s that also included model #s. Based on these posts, and other pages on the Web, I'm thinking that the Mk 1's included model #'s 1601, 1611, 1612, and 1613. Although, I was never able to find an actual photo of the back of an ARP Sequencer with a 1601 model number printed on it. I've only ever seen the 1601 referred to in the sequencer manual I found on retrosynth.com. Could it be that "1601" was the overarching model, and the 11, 12, 13 were the models within it? If you have a 1601 with the model number on the back, please let me know!

Here's a few example Web pages that included references to model #s.

• model 1601 manual found on retrosynth.com, in particular this cover image
• model 1611 from July 2010 auction.
• model 1611 anniversary edition with "old school coloured LEDs"
• model 1612 - serial #0001
• model 1613 with great high-res images
• model 1613 with a date of 1975?!?! I followed the auction link to e-Bay and it does say 1975. Huh.

Sequencer Mk 2 - model's 1621, 1623
I can't find a definite release date of the Mk 2 Sequencer, with its new black and orange colouring. And not only did the colouring change, but the Sequencer was also sporting a new sleek and clean look due to the removal the wooden side panels. Boooo!

Aside: I've always wanted to start an urban myth that wooden side panels make analogue synths sound better. The wood interacts with analogue waveforms, absorbing certain higher frequencies, providing a warmer sound. :)

It would make sense that the colour scheme would have been updated when other ARP synthesizers like the Mk 3 Odyssey was released with the same "Halloween" theme. Most sites, like Vintage Synth Explorer and arpodyssey.com put the Mk 3 Odyssey manufacturing start date around 1978, although Wikipedia references it at 1976. I'm more likely to believe 1978.

For comparison, below is a photo of an MK 2 ARP Sequencer from a 2007 MATRIXSYNTH auction post via Flickr, next to a Mk 3 Odyssey image from Wikipedia. Dang they look smart together. Wouldn't you like to have those two sitting beside each other in your studio?

Web pages and posts of Mk 2 Sequencers with model #s are not as common at Mk 1's, but I did find enough references online that lead me to believe that there were only two Mk 2 models available - 1621 and 1623. I couldn't find any reference to model 1622's anywhere online.

• model 1621 at synthfind.com
• model 1621 from MATRIXSYNTH found at Flickr
• model 1623 at synthfind.com
• model 1623 at Tonetweakers.com
• model 1623 at obliq.net (scroll down a bit)

When you compare the front panel layouts of the Mk 1's and Mk 2's, there doesn't seem to be any differences, leading me to believe that they function exactly the same. So, why the different model numbers? Different "batches"? Or changes internally? Design engineers that wanted to torment me 35 years later?

Most likely.

I can't find any references online - and have never been around one, let alone a bunch of different models, long enough to open them up and take a look.

Yup. You heard right. As I mentioned earlier, I came across one for sale. And I turned it down.

Don't judge me. I'm trying to build a Eurorack modular system. I'll blog about that when the Tip Top u-ZEUS flying bus board and other modules finally arrive.

I'll kick myself later.

ARP Model 1601 Sequencer "Extra hand" advertisement - Part 1, Contemporary Keyboard 1976

ARP Model 1601 Sequencer 1-page advertisement from Contemporary Keyboard November/December 1976.

I had scanned and uploaded this ad a long time ago, but never got around to blogging about it. Then I recently came across a late model ARP Sequencer, and started doing a bit of research - which led to some confusion... and then more questions... But I'll get to that in a minute or two (depending on how fast you read).

First, a few advertising specifics.

Personally, I love this wonderfully creepy little ad, my eye drawn directly to that image of the hand. And that disproportionately-shaped hand with the embedded Sequencer front panel is only made creepier (creepier = better) by the well-defined veins and tendons. My mind doesn't even register the title and ad-copy at first. But that's okay, because the way the ad-copy is shaped into the outline of the wrist creates a visual line for the eye to follow from the image up to the top of the page and the title. Which then leads into the ad-copy, and then back to the hand. Nice. Full circle.

The advertisement only seems to have ran twice in Contemporary Keyboard - July/August and November/December 1976. But don't let that short run fool you, because even though the Sequencer didn't make an appearance in ARP's earlier "Only the Strong Survive" family of products advertisement that ran in CK in early 1976, it did get a checkbox in the "A few facts about synthesizers" ad that followed it in the spring.

And the Sequencer didn't just pop up in ads either. Readers could also learn a lot more details in a Spec Sheet promo that appeared in the April/May 1976 issue of CK. It provides a wack of historical reference information:

"ARP Sequencer. This 16-station analog sequencer produces either programmed or random sequences, freeing the musician's hands to perform on other keyboards. The unit is fully interfacable with other ARP instruments, and features dual quantizer circuits, which permit chromatically-scaled programming and control over accents, rhythmic patterns, and dynamic changes. The performer has the option of having the unit produce up to sixteen single-voice notes controlled by one quantizer (16/1), or up to eight 2-note chords controlled by two quantizers (8/2). Linear slider pots are supplied, and push-button switches for skip, reset, or start modes are provided. LEDs indicate the note being played, and five gate outputs, pulse-width modulation control, and pedal jacks for external control are supplied. Suggested list price is $795.00. ARP Instruments, 320 Needham St., Newton, MA 02164."

Those details were again seen by readers in the January 1977 issue of CK, when one lucky reader could win an ARP Sequencer in Giveaway #9. The description of the sequencer in the contest is pretty much exactly the same as the Spec Sheet, except for one important piece of historical information. The suggested retail price of the Sequencer was bumped up to $895.00. That's a $100 jump in less than a year.

The Sequencer could also be found in other printed pieces such as this ARP Software and Accessory Catalog from approximately 1977. It even included this ad in the catalog!

Put it altogether and you get about a year of solid ARP Sequencer advertising.

So, as I was writing earlier, I recently ran across a later model ARP Sequencer and decided to do a bit of research to see if it was worth the price of admission. And honestly, at first the research just confused me, although I think I sorted it out in the end.

The first problem is that ARP gave this thing a generic name - "Sequencer".

ARP usually had cool names for its different synthesizers - Odyssey, Axxe, etc., so why not give this thing a cool name as well? Or at least an "official" number like the 2600 had. Most people refer to it as the model 1601, so I've described it as such in the title and blog labels.

But, to make matters worse, much like the Odyssey went through a few different "looks" during its lifetime, so did the Sequencer. And, also like the Odyssey, each "look" had a few different model numbers associated with it.

Unfortunately, the time line for each of the versions and models doesn't seem to be well documented on the Web, and I believe this situation has led to some confusion on some of the most popular synth sites, even for such simple things as production dates. For example, at the time of this writing, Wikipedia and Synthmuseum.com both list a manufacturing date of the Sequencer at 1979.

This 1976 ad, the 1976 Spec Sheet write-up, and other 1976 and 1977 ARP material would disagree.

Well - it was time to sort this all out. I decided to do a bit more in-depth probing, googling, cataloging, and organizing. It is what I do best. And so I did.

But those results will have to wait 'til Thursday. :D

ARP family of products, Contemporary Keyboard 1976

ARP Family of Products advertisement from page 24 and 25 of Contemporary Keyboard Magazine, May/June 1976.

ARP took a very interesting approach with this two-page ad.

The two previous issues of CK included an ARP 'family' advertisement that focused squarely on ARP's road-reliability, along with a good-sized helping of classic name-dropping.

Then they come out with this advertisement. Although it starts off with another big dollop of name-dropping, it soon takes a totally different sales approach than the previous ad.

ARP first points out a few facts about performance and quality. Never one to pull a punch, they take direct aim at Moog with the ever-popular slider-vs-rotary argument:

"ARP slide controls outperform hard-to-read rotary knobs".

(Moog's response: "Just try to accurately tune an all-slider instrument!")

ARP continues the attack on many of their competitors with:

"We build ARPs with expensive, industrial-grade circuitry. You won't find any chrome-plated plastic or paper based circuit boards inside an ARP."

Kapow!

With the bad-cop routine over with, ARP then goes into the soft-sell approach by providing a few educational facts, letting you know how easy it is to learn to play an ARP synthesizer and how you can grow your studio by 'adding-on, not trading in'.

And then. Finally... they hit you with the real pitch.

Buy our manuals for only a couple of bucks and see for yourself.

Like I said - it is an interesting approach and a common sales technique I've seen used in stores and at trade shows. Always try and put whatever you are selling into the hands of a potential buyer. And if you can't get the real thing in their hands, get the info into their hands.

In this case, ARP is enticing readers to buy an ARP manual BEFORE buying a synthesizer. Let's get this straight... they aren't asking you to send in for a free brochure with a bit of promotional material - they are actually getting readers to spend real cash on a manual. And once a reader has an ARP manual in their hands, it will be much easier to convince that reader to buy an ARP synthesizer.

I've bought enough synthesizers in my lifetime to know that I can justify a purchase if I've convinced myself I've done the research. And if I've spent money on that research, I can now convince myself to call that research an 'investment'. :o)

Smart thinking on ARP's part. And even smarter to sell 'learning synthesis' books that focus on their synthesizers. The more I think about it, the more I like this ad.

But you know what I like most about this advertisement?

It's like my own personal checklist of ARP stuff. Seriously - if you are into ARP paraphernalia like I am, this ad pretty much spells out some, if not most, of the great stuff that was available from ARP at the time. Even better is that the list in the advertisement is a great starting point for online searches for more information.

Take the first item in the order form: "Odyssey - Learning Music with Synthesizers". Over 200 pages of experiments and electronic music discussion based on the ARP Odyssey! One quick Google search and you are taken straight to the comprehensive Web site arpodyssey.com. That Web site provides images of the covers of both the first and second editions, and goes on to describe the book:

"Part I of this book is a theoretical introduction to the the science of synthesizers. Part II is a hands-on guide that walks you through principles learned in Part I on the actual ARP Odyssey. Part III gets into experimentation and studio techniques (admittedly of the 1970's).

Now I know exactly what to look for in my eBay search. :o)

Yup - the more I think about it, the more I like this ad.