I have one in great condition with latest Gli Gli (Unison mode is gorgeous), the first time i played, i was like *Woagh this thing has a dark soul, its very mystic* it seriously has a very special charm, its up there with my OB-6.. Due to there characters and multi use
What a beautiful first track Starsky! Those organic drifty pads are what the P600 is all about and I love it above just about every other synth I own including my OB-6. The tuning on yours sounds about as wonky as mine!
The car honks at the beginning of the second half of this really tripped me out. I was driving and listening and this car had made 5 or 6 of the same turns as me and was right on my ass the whole time. Half way through I thought they were honking at me like I pissed them off unknowingly or left some groceries on my hood.
A friend offered me hers back in 1989 or so. I found it limited, soft, dark, and muddy sounding somehow, so even at only $200.00, I passed. Sounds great here, though...good job!
in 1989 we were all looking at different things, is it;'s not surprising really. I was looking at one a few years ago, but they've almost doubled in price since then.
@gridsleep that’s mad. I got this about 2 or 3 months ago under £1300 in great condition with a new pad and new caps, plus clots of other work inc the GLIGLI. Just kept an eye on eBay U.K.
@gridsleep lucked into a very good condition Prophet 600 fully recapped with a teensy/GliGli mod and new touchpad on eBay just a few months back for $1475 incl. shipping. And there's a guy right now who is willing to sell one in the US for $1125 (it's being sold as $1300 publicly, but he made a lower offer to me) but local pickup only. And I'm not in the US. Getting one for a reasonable price is still possible, you just have to be patient, but fast when needed.
I also had a used one in the late '80s that I never got on well with. I had to run the tuning routine way too often and it got annoying. I also thought it was too "reedy" sounding in the high end. I replaced it with a used Oberheim Matrix 6R and never looked back.
I wish I'd got a Matrix a few years back... but they've gone up so much now. I just missed out on a 6R, but lost my bottle and didn't want to spend the cash.. duh!
Sounds lovely. I tested one right at the start of the pandemic (it was early March 2020?) and I remember wondering whether I should be going into someone's home... Well, I went because there was no lockdown yet and we really didn't know what was going on. I got into his house, went upstairs to test it. I was so underwhelmed with its sound and construction. I left realizing the Chroma Polaris (which I already own) was a much better instrument). Maybe Gligli mod would have changed my opinion, but that doesn't change the build quality, which is also something you can't really get from a youtube video. Anyway, lovely music. I've heard people prefer the P600 over the P5 and over the Polaris (Fromthepuggle on Gearspace)... so, there is that.
interesting... this feels a bit more robust than other vintages.. I'm thinking of my Polysix, but except for the numeric pad (which although new is rubbish) it feels OK. Not a patch on a modern synth though.
I'd tend to disagree, both in terms of sound and build quality. The pots have plastic shafts and the membrane buttons can fail, but other than that, the P600 built like a tank. How much cheaper was it than a P5? And the Polaris is possibly the heaviest synth ever made for its size, its membrane buttons fail more often than the P600's in my experience. Easy fix on either though. In terms of sound, few other synths have the P600's sizzle on the high end (polaris may be one of them actually). Gli Gli does make a significant improvement on the envelopes and parameter change smoothness, but I still love the core tone. Always interesting to hear others perspectives though!
I guess it was the feel of the knobs and the keys. I thought they felt really junky and cheap. I realize the P5 is a lot more expensive. I've never played a vintage P5 though so I can't speak to its sound or build quality. I guess I don't see weight as relating to build quality. For me it really is in the way the knobs and keys feel. It's possible that the unit I was testing was really not in the greatest condition, but I don't really think I'm the only one who feels this way about the P600. But yeah - just different opinions I guess. As far as the Polysix - the build quality felt pretty much the same. I don't think the keys are that stellar on the Polysix by any means. Speaking of keys - I actually think the OB-Xa has some of the worst keys I've ever played on. I didn't play on it long, but I sat there thinking "Wow, this feels like junk to me." For perspective, my favorite keys are on the Virus Kb and separately, the Yamaha SY77. At the end of the day, I personally didn't care for the sound of the P600, and part of that no doubt is due to the fact that I didn't own it and wasn't able to strenuously test it, alongside effects, which can really enhance the sound. The one issue being that if the membrane panel goes, I don't think there's a simple fix like there is with the Polaris - but I'm not sure. Maybe there is? Cheers.
the P600 is one of my favorite poly sounds. Just has something brasher and more upfront in the midrange over the P5 to my ears, but the rattly build and form on first encounter was a shocker, and I have the ProOne too. I remember thinking to myself, seriously this is it?? Still love the sound to bits, and it will be a hard choice whether to get one or invest in the P5.
@@MIDERA Wasn't trying to jump your guns @MIDERA, apologies if it came off that way. And you're absolutely right about the key bed on the P600! I'd honestly forgotten about that because I replaced mine with Techmechs retrofit (also makes killer knob P5 style knob caps for the P600). There is a replacement membrane panel available for the P600, or at least there used to be. Regarding the OB-Xa, you must have played a later production unit. Most OB-Xas utilized a Pratt & Reed keybed, which was also used in the original Prophet 5 and is probably the best feeling early keybed produced (aside from the one in the CS80). The difference is more than night and day between the P&R and the later one which absolutely does feel like it came from a PolySix/61... I honestly can't believe Tom approved use of the cheap replacement, but I guess that was the state of an industry trying to cut costs. The Polaris keybed is excellent though, Virus KB & SY77/99 too!
Haha you’re not the first to say that, but honestly it’s just because I’ve been meaning to do it for a while. Having said that I did buy it with that in mind ;)
I had a an 600 in the early 90's that was given to me. It was pretty beat up but worked fine. Loved the sound but was a pain to use in a sequencing setup because it only operated in omni mode. The power supply died and I sold it for parts in the early days of ebay. Got a $150, not bad for a free, dead synth 20+ years ago. No regrets.
There was a firmware update (on a new EPROM chip) that added MIDI channels, although back then it was hard to find info on anything. I've only just found it now! But yeah.. old synths and selling them cheap in the 90's... :)
The vintage synth craze is really out of control. It's like all vintage synths are great. They are not. Not even close. Bought a P600 new in 1983... sold it a year later. Slow envelopes and just a meh sound. Never missed it.
Lovely tunes, all the best! :)
Sounds amazing 🔥
I have one in great condition with latest Gli Gli (Unison mode is gorgeous), the first time i played, i was like *Woagh this thing has a dark soul, its very mystic* it seriously has a very special charm, its up there with my OB-6.. Due to there characters and multi use
My first analog polysynth! I got it for less than $200 back in the 90's. It was loud and proud.
Got mine for $175 in NYC, with only 5 voices working as per the ad. I actually succeeded in getting it back to its full complement of voices.
Those 80s moves are making me nostalgic. Wish I still had that much hair.
What a beautiful first track Starsky! Those organic drifty pads are what the P600 is all about and I love it above just about every other synth I own including my OB-6. The tuning on yours sounds about as wonky as mine!
Thanks.. its definitely got a certain something. I really didn't get on with it at first, but it's grown on me.
What a nice touch those old videos from an 80"s dance club add. 👌I may have even danced with back in the day.This geezer is show his age.
but did you have the hair?
@@StarskyCarr yes I did horrible 😆
Not at all surprised in your hands mate. Choon and a half, thank you.
Haha cheers 😀
Damn! This man can multitrack a banger track!
Why thank you sir :)
The car honks at the beginning of the second half of this really tripped me out. I was driving and listening and this car had made 5 or 6 of the same turns as me and was right on my ass the whole time. Half way through I thought they were honking at me like I pissed them off unknowingly or left some groceries on my hood.
Haha.. brilliant!
80s= better hair, better music, better dancing?, better synths, hotter chicks :P
haha...
Bet it still great for synthwave tho 👀🤣
Edit: oooh there's a synthwave demo niceeee
lovely sounds. Behringer Pro 800 coming up soon?
Haha... Hopefully but I'm not holding my breath. I'm hoping it'll replace this as I need the space!
A friend offered me hers back in 1989 or so. I found it limited, soft, dark, and muddy sounding somehow, so even at only $200.00, I passed.
Sounds great here, though...good job!
in 1989 we were all looking at different things, is it;'s not surprising really. I was looking at one a few years ago, but they've almost doubled in price since then.
@gridsleep that’s mad. I got this about 2 or 3 months ago under £1300 in great condition with a new pad and new caps, plus clots of other work inc the GLIGLI. Just kept an eye on eBay U.K.
@gridsleep lucked into a very good condition Prophet 600 fully recapped with a teensy/GliGli mod and new touchpad on eBay just a few months back for $1475 incl. shipping.
And there's a guy right now who is willing to sell one in the US for $1125 (it's being sold as $1300 publicly, but he made a lower offer to me) but local pickup only. And I'm not in the US.
Getting one for a reasonable price is still possible, you just have to be patient, but fast when needed.
I also had a used one in the late '80s that I never got on well with. I had to run the tuning routine way too often and it got annoying. I also thought it was
too "reedy" sounding in the high end. I replaced it with a used Oberheim Matrix 6R and never looked back.
I wish I'd got a Matrix a few years back... but they've gone up so much now. I just missed out on a 6R, but lost my bottle and didn't want to spend the cash.. duh!
Moin, is it possible to recreate the baseline of Mr. Fingers (Can you feel it)?
Regards🙌🏻🍻
that relies on a hefty does of Juno chorus.
@@StarskyCarr ok, thx
Does this mean you are wetting our appetites getting ready for Behringer's version release..?
😂 if only… but I am eagerly waiting for the Behringer so I can maybe sell this and save some space :) of course I’ll have to compare them first 😉
Sounds lovely. I tested one right at the start of the pandemic (it was early March 2020?) and I remember wondering whether I should be going into someone's home... Well, I went because there was no lockdown yet and we really didn't know what was going on. I got into his house, went upstairs to test it. I was so underwhelmed with its sound and construction. I left realizing the Chroma Polaris (which I already own) was a much better instrument). Maybe Gligli mod would have changed my opinion, but that doesn't change the build quality, which is also something you can't really get from a youtube video.
Anyway, lovely music. I've heard people prefer the P600 over the P5 and over the Polaris (Fromthepuggle on Gearspace)... so, there is that.
interesting... this feels a bit more robust than other vintages.. I'm thinking of my Polysix, but except for the numeric pad (which although new is rubbish) it feels OK. Not a patch on a modern synth though.
I'd tend to disagree, both in terms of sound and build quality. The pots have plastic shafts and the membrane buttons can fail, but other than that, the P600 built like a tank. How much cheaper was it than a P5? And the Polaris is possibly the heaviest synth ever made for its size, its membrane buttons fail more often than the P600's in my experience. Easy fix on either though. In terms of sound, few other synths have the P600's sizzle on the high end (polaris may be one of them actually). Gli Gli does make a significant improvement on the envelopes and parameter change smoothness, but I still love the core tone. Always interesting to hear others perspectives though!
I guess it was the feel of the knobs and the keys. I thought they felt really junky and cheap.
I realize the P5 is a lot more expensive. I've never played a vintage P5 though so I can't speak to its sound or build quality. I guess I don't see weight as relating to build quality. For me it really is in the way the knobs and keys feel. It's possible that the unit I was testing was really not in the greatest condition, but I don't really think I'm the only one who feels this way about the P600. But yeah - just different opinions I guess.
As far as the Polysix - the build quality felt pretty much the same. I don't think the keys are that stellar on the Polysix by any means.
Speaking of keys - I actually think the OB-Xa has some of the worst keys I've ever played on. I didn't play on it long, but I sat there thinking "Wow, this feels like junk to me." For perspective, my favorite keys are on the Virus Kb and separately, the Yamaha SY77.
At the end of the day, I personally didn't care for the sound of the P600, and part of that no doubt is due to the fact that I didn't own it and wasn't able to strenuously test it, alongside effects, which can really enhance the sound.
The one issue being that if the membrane panel goes, I don't think there's a simple fix like there is with the Polaris - but I'm not sure. Maybe there is?
Cheers.
the P600 is one of my favorite poly sounds. Just has something brasher and more upfront in the midrange over the P5 to my ears, but the rattly build and form on first encounter was a shocker, and I have the ProOne too. I remember thinking to myself, seriously this is it?? Still love the sound to bits, and it will be a hard choice whether to get one or invest in the P5.
@@MIDERA Wasn't trying to jump your guns @MIDERA, apologies if it came off that way. And you're absolutely right about the key bed on the P600! I'd honestly forgotten about that because I replaced mine with Techmechs retrofit (also makes killer knob P5 style knob caps for the P600). There is a replacement membrane panel available for the P600, or at least there used to be.
Regarding the OB-Xa, you must have played a later production unit. Most OB-Xas utilized a Pratt & Reed keybed, which was also used in the original Prophet 5 and is probably the best feeling early keybed produced (aside from the one in the CS80). The difference is more than night and day between the P&R and the later one which absolutely does feel like it came from a PolySix/61... I honestly can't believe Tom approved use of the cheap replacement, but I guess that was the state of an industry trying to cut costs.
The Polaris keybed is excellent though, Virus KB & SY77/99 too!
I feel like the kick and the snare didn't come from the prophet 600
Haha…
I can feel it, behringer version is coming out finally. Why would you otherwise post this vid :)
Haha you’re not the first to say that, but honestly it’s just because I’ve been meaning to do it for a while. Having said that I did buy it with that in mind ;)
I need one, just love that sound
4:00 this could be called synthwave too I think 🙂
Edit: wait I'm confused 🤣
I had a an 600 in the early 90's that was given to me. It was pretty beat up but worked fine. Loved the sound but was a pain to use in a sequencing setup because it only operated in omni mode. The power supply died and I sold it for parts in the early days of ebay. Got a $150, not bad for a free, dead synth 20+ years ago. No regrets.
There was a firmware update (on a new EPROM chip) that added MIDI channels, although back then it was hard to find info on anything. I've only just found it now! But yeah.. old synths and selling them cheap in the 90's... :)
Of all the synths I've owned and sold over the past 35 years, the Prophet 600 is the one I miss more than any other.
Ah the days of smoking in clubs!
Haha I noticed that. My eyes have never complained since!
@@StarskyCarr True, or my clothes. And at the end of the night the only ones you could cadge were menthol! Yuk!
The vintage synth craze is really out of control. It's like all vintage synths are great. They are not. Not even close. Bought a P600 new in 1983... sold it a year later. Slow envelopes and just a meh sound. Never missed it.
This has the Gligli upgrade so its an improvement on the original firmware... but wait for my review to see if I really like it ;)