The ARP Odyssey is a synth that's beloved by many for its unique sound. This particular one, the MK II 2810, is special because it has the original 4035 ladder filter. This filter was so close to Moog's iconic sound that Bob Moog was fooled when he first heard it, making this particular Odyssey model one of the most coveted among ARP enthusiasts.
The ARP Odyssey is one of the earliest duophonic analog synthesizers and was designed as a scaled-down, affordable version of the ARP 2600. The Odyssey MK II was produced from 1975 through 1978 and shares many similarities with its predecessor, including changes in color schemes and components.
When it was released, the Odyssey quickly became a popular keyboard for musicians due to its novel features, such as sliders instead of knobs and more stable tuning than other models like the Minimoog.
Its use of the 4035 ladder filter sounds eerily similar to the ladder filter patented by Bob Moog and even has a similar circuit design. We did a video about this history and the infamous meeting between Bob Moog and Alan Perlman about ARP’s use of the ladder filter that resulted in lawsuit rumors.
While the rumor's validity is questionable, this is the model that started it all. Because of its infamy, this particular Odyssey has become one of the most coveted among enthusiasts.
This unit has been serviced and is reportedly in excellent working condition, with functional CV jacks (a rare feature of the earlier Odyssey models) and clean sliders. All other parts are original, making this an especially rare find, currently priced at $2,995 plus shipping.