Oberheim OBXa

[900GTi]

Is that your Synthex above the OB-Xa?

[JMPSynth]

Yep, that's right. The OB-Xa has gone now though....

[tullshib]

the sound is alright but what im loving is the melody your playing there. is that from a track or did you freestyle?

[JMPSynth]

Cheers, just made up as I went along... ! 

[studiodreadful]

Great Sounds, thanks ...

[HypeRhymz]

man it's amazing how all the vintage synthesizers sound completely better than the newer ones.

[TMF58]

Those sounds were awesome, very nice keyboard.

[djomercohen]

finally a real solo on a classic synth!

[myrmur]

Awesome!

Which Boss effects did you use exactly?

[JMPSynth]

Cheers. Used the RPH-10 Phaser, RBF-10 Flanger & CE-300 Super Chorus.

[geojones69]

my andromeda can do this no problem

[divyx]

Well i've owned one, it can, and it's analog too, not va. Dunno why bad comments.

[j0hnyd42]

those riffs are awesome, that synth sounds sick too

[ditipozerozero]

Hi Jmp can you write please the brand of the keyboards stand please? i ve got an ob 8 and a n elka synthex .... Yours key stand is solid?

thank you so much

[JMPSynth]

They're adjustable shelving arms (covered with pipe lagging) that slot into a wall fixed bracket, purchased from UK DIY stores. Means you can stack synths on top of each other as high as you wish. :)

[fakfork]

@JMPSynth hi,regarding the shelving, did you simply attach them to the plasterboard or did you need to locate the internal studding? i'd appreciate any info on this as im thinking of using the same method to house 6 synths but am a little worried about the outcome! thanks

[JMPSynth]

Hi, I'm lucky to have solid brick walls and so they're securely screwed into the brick. Not sure plasterboard faced walls on timber studs will be strong enough for weight of several keyboards unless you made sure they were screwed into and through the studs to the solid wall beyond...?

[isaacstorm]

In RELIABILITY the obxa is bad ! in fatness as they say well very equal, in 1981 the obxa cost $5995 now they go for around 2 to $2500, JP8 in 1981 cost 5295 now $3500 up to $5000...no hype just a monster synth ! duran duran nick rhodes still has one on stage, dont get me wrong i love my obxa its amazing and it sounds very unique, its my opinion ! dont trade a jp8 for a obxa just save for one and have two great synths....

[JMPSynth]

Nah, save yourself a grand or so and get a Synthex instead ;)

[datisookzo]

I've also got both and the jup 8 is build like a rock. But i have no favourite between the two, filterwise they are very very different. I might prefer my Memorymoog to the two because it's fatter and deeper and has the most modulating options to be used to the extreme maxx... but still they are all great and will get more rare every day..

[isaacstorm]

nice ! yes it is a great synth but don't compare it to the jupiter 8, they are both great synth ! i have both and love them, jp8 is much better and reliable...

[JMPSynth]

The word 'better' needs to be quantified.

I've owned a a Jupiter 8. Don't fall for the hype... the Jup 8 is a geat synth but has no way the fatness unless you're comparing in unison mode.

[Twilight1964]

OMG what a sound....this is freakin awesome man and some amazing playing... would love this tune as an mp3 :o)

[pmsan29]

Wow, this Oberheim sounds incredible!

Nice chops BTW, love that unison sound.

5 Stars

[TheRedComa]

Sure synths can sound fat, or buzzy, or whatever sound you want, but I particularly love the mix of feedback and flanger and delay and whatever else effect there is, especially for improv #2 here, and ESPECIALLY around 1:44, MAN that just sounds like ethereal aliens talking! I WANT!

[JMPSynth]

Cheers man, that's Boss Micro effect units for you... Chorus, Flanger and Phaser all together on this demo.

[pianist007]

You mean Boss Micro BR ? The 4 track digital recorder ?

[JMPSynth]

No, the Boss RPH 10 Phaser, RBF-10 Flanger (Micro racks) plus Boss CE-300 Super Chorus.

[JMPSynth]

Yep, an OBXa or Synthex will overpower the Jup 8 and likely cost you less money... ;)

[pianist007]

I have a Roland Jupiter-8 and it doesn't sound as gritty or aggressive as this one. Actually it sounds very "polite" in comparison. I'm going to trade it for an OB-Xa !

[pauleyh]

mini moog was the beginning of tom sawyers intro but obx can do a similar sound

[xnonsuchx]

Moog Taurus I pedals were the TOM SAWYER sound, I believe, which Moog Music is about to re-release in a limited edition. Other 24db filter Moog units should be able to achieve the same type of sound, though.

[bryceHUHwhat]

ok... The sound at the very beginning of tom sawyer is an Oberheim OB-X. The solo is a Minimoog. Taurus pedals cv/gate interfaced to the OB-X to trigger the sound while Geddy is playing bass.

[UnchainTheNight1]

hard to really say which of the ob series is the best

they are all excellent but very different from one another

[gilwe]

I got an OBXa and I think it's a bit too gritty. I'd love to get an OB8 as a trade :)

[JMPSynth]

I've sold mine now.

I think there's plenty of people who'd do that trade... OBXa's are much harder to get hold of.

[MARANTZamp]

that's absurd!

[Twilight1964]

woh what a sick sounding synth... dammit man you have forced me to add another to my ever growing list of synths i must get at some point...nice playin by the way :)

[walterclosette]

Fabulous sound

[Wyrehedd242]

wow! what a sound! awesome! hey, is that an elka synthex above it? i think i recognize the hardware on the side.. =)

[JMPSynth]

That's right ! Check out my other vids for some demos.

[synthplaya]

sounds just like tom sawyer in the beginning chord! good solo!

[litemakr]

Sounds fantastic! What effects are you running it through? I recently got an OB-Xa (I love ii!) and am curious.

[JMPSynth]

The second part has Behringer mixer reverb plus Boss CE-300 Chorus, RPH-10 Phaser and RBF-10 flanger.

[mulekick67]

Wow.

Sounds FAT!

Always dreamed of having things like this when I was a kid.

[synthisist]

Hi,

Didn't get any. There seemed to be a problem - situation was unclear! However this has been an interesting subject - Oberheims are wonderful synths that stimulate a lot of debate.

I want to sell some things to buy a cheap new or s/h synth but ad looked too good to be true!

As for the OB12, some people say "stay away" but others have investigated and really like it - a matter of taste. Analogue=great sound but maybe repair costs. Digital=less problems but not that old sound!

must sell first!

[JMPSynth]

The OBXa isn't anymore difficult or costly to service and repair than any other vintage synth I've had to date. The Curtis chips won't be cheap or easy to source if they need replacing. All mine were fine despite many other issues needing attention (now 100%). Haven't used the OB12 but many others state that it doesn't have the classic Oberheim sound and is far more inferior than the OBX, OBXa & OB8's soundwise. Mine may be for sale for the right price, it may be my advert you saw... ! :)

[LF0]

ok, now I know why this synth is popular

[synthisist]

I've seen an Oberheim OBXa for sale -thinking of selling things to get it. Advert says it's in good condition, but what can I expect from it, as it's early 80s. It should work fine, but could there suddenly be problems with the oscilators, or other parts? Are they expensive to repair? I've read they have CURTIS chips, but now they are more difficult to repair, aren't they? Also, they are 70s/80s classics, but how does it compare with the newer OB12 which is stabler + more patches?

Any advice

[discothief]

Don't even get close to the OB12. It is a very poor copy of the original and just using its name tag to sell a few units.

Go for the original and get some real warm and fat sounds, you won't get anything like the older version sounds on the OB12.

[MARANTZamp]

OB12 was not made by oberheim.

It's not a bad VA, but you cannot compare it to the real oberheim's like this one.

[armalyte]

a much better sound than the ob-8..richer and fatter. Reliability, however, as an absolute bastard for this.

[VacTrooper]

sounds the same as an OB8 to me.

[armalyte]

no mate, the ob-xa is much richer, due to the individual voice cards. Ive owned both and opened both up,etc...the ob-xa is fatter due to the coupling capacitors used in it too.

I know what im on about...or i should knowconsidering all the production jobs, soundtrack and scoring stuff ive done ;-)

[VacTrooper]

ok?

[itemnotwo]

Hi do you know if OB8 patches available online will load into an OBXa with 120 patch memory?

Thanks

BTW is that a synthex above the OBxa

[AFNYOAQIS]

-PHAT-SOUNDS!!->

[synthartist69]

Awesome!

[JMPSynth]

It dates from around 1981. In the UK they normally sell for around £1,500 - £2,000 but will depend on condition and version (how many voices). Best checking Ebay for US prices.

[Trusten1984]

How old is this old anolog moster to a synth.

what did it cost, what can`t i buy this machine

for in USD ???

[canofbeans]

nice....

[magevers]

Great sound!

[OriginalJambo]

Fat sounds anyone?

[fischek]

that's one mean sounding synth!