ARP
58Also known as: ARP Instruments, ARP Instruments, Inc., ARP Synthesizers
UnclaimedFounded in 1969 in Lexington, Massachusetts by Alan Robert Pearlman — whose initials gave the company its name — ARP Instruments became one of the most influential synthesizer manufacturers of the 1970s. Alongside co-founders David Friend and Lewis G. Pollock, Pearlman built ARP into a dominant force that at its peak controlled roughly 40% of the synthesizer market, surpassing even Moog. The co...
$239.00 - $1,299.00
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$1,199.00 - $1,999.99
$1,800.00
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$9,000.00
$4,099.00
in Audio Sequencers Rank
$11,403.24
$12,999.00
$13,125.67
Founded in 1969 in Lexington, Massachusetts by Alan Robert Pearlman — whose initials gave the company its name — ARP Instruments became one of the most influential synthesizer manufacturers of the 1970s. Alongside co-founders David Friend and Lewis G. Pollock, Pearlman built ARP into a dominant force that at its peak controlled roughly 40% of the synthesizer market, surpassing even Moog. The company's lineup included landmark instruments like the modular ARP 2500, the semi-modular ARP 2600, and the duophonic ARP Odyssey, along with the Pro Soloist, Axxe, String Ensemble, Omni, Quadra, Avatar, and Solus.
ARP synthesizers left an indelible mark on both music and popular culture. The ARP 2600 was used by sound designer Ben Burtt, combined with his own voice, to create R2-D2's iconic vocalizations in Star Wars, while the ARP 2500 appeared on screen in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Musicians including Stevie Wonder, Edgar Winter, Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Pete Townshend, and Tony Banks of Genesis all made the instruments central to their sound. Edgar Winter famously wore the ARP 2600 around his neck like a guitar, pioneering a performance style that predated the keytar.
The original ARP Instruments closed its doors in 1981, but its legacy has been carried forward by Korg, which reissued the ARP Odyssey in 2015 with advisory input from co-founder David Friend, followed by reissues of the ARP 2600. The arpsynth.com website, maintained by Korg, serves as the brand's official home.
ARP has 52 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Synthesizers, Modular Synthesizers, and Audio Sequencers. Their gear is featured by 345 artists, with the strongest followings in Electronic, Rock, and Pop. Notable users include Herbie Hancock, Tom Coster, and Paul McCartney. Most ARP products sit firmly in the high-end, boutique range.
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