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| Make |
Oberheim |
| Model |
Four Voice |
| Description |
Up for sale is an absolute classic, one of the most highly regarded and sought after synthesizers of all time - the Oberheim Four Voice (FVS-1).
Although Tom Oberheim has stated that his all-time favourite synth is the two voice, I actually think the 4 voice is his best work, not as hard to control as an eight voice but 4 SEM’s are enough to take you on an incredible sonic journey, and even the most experienced synth heads once introduced to the FVS-1 will be reduced to holding up there hand and asking what the hell is going on?. It takes you back to the first time you played on a synth, as you do not program polyphonic SEM instruments, you twiddle knobs and it decides what it’s going to give you, this can be time consuming and frustrating but my god when you find the sweet spots on this beast it’s like nothing else.
You can tune all four SEM’s the same and play it polyphonically, the VCO’s should track ok for 3 octaves at best, but that’s really missing the point with an instrument of this calibre, having access to all the parameters on each voice makes for unlimited experimentation, the SEM’s themselves have a wonderful tone - one of the best sounding monosynths of all time, but when daisy chained together they are simply out of this world, It is capable of producing the most brutal basslines, soring leads, beautiful pads and everything in between, and in unison mode it can destroy walls. It has a very distinct sound and is right up there with the KORG PS series and YAMAHA CS series as flagship 70’s polysynths go.
The programmer is crude by today’s standards but it is the brains behind this big box of organised chaos and actually gives the machine a lot of character as you can save different settings for all 4 SEM’s in one of the 16 memory locations, as far as I know the only analogue synthesizer to have this feature, overall I would describe the 4 voice as a true artist’s instrument.
At some point in its past one of its previous owners decided to add individual audio outputs for each SEM, these are the four extra ¼” jack sockets above the mixer module, and are quiet useful if you want to for example add EQ, effects or compression on each SEM independently, you can use both the separate outputs and the outputs from the mixer module together if you wish. The rear has CV/gate & external audio in for each SEM, which is also useful when using an old minimoog trick you can send the headphone output back into the external audio input of each SEM for some filter overdrive mayhem.
It also has the potential to be expanded into an eight voice that is if you can find someone selling the 4 voice expander and the expander cards for the programmer and keyboard controller, but to be honest as a machine to use the FVS-1 is perfect as it is.
The unit is in very good working order with no issues, I have kept it in a smoke/pet free studio and it has been well looked after for as long as I have had the pleasure of owning it. The unit was fully serviced by James walker in 2014 with a UK transformer fitted, re bushed and full calibration and serviced again by James in 2019.
One of less than 800 units made, it comes complete with the lid, power cable and copy of the manual, there are some minor marks on the tolex case but generally it is in very good cosmetic condition, please see photos.
I am happy to hand deliver this free of charge to UK mainland, for outside the UK please contact VEMIA to arrange shipping/delivery, the FVS-1 will be very well packed for international shipping.
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| Age |
45 year |
| Weight |
20 kg |
| Condition |
Very good |
| Location |
Uk |
| Vat |
Not from a VAT-registered business. But VAT / duty may be due if importing from outside your trade bloc. |
| Quantity |
1 item is available from the owner |
| Options |
User manual : Yes |
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Service manual : No |
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First owner : No |
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Original boxes : No |
| Plug type |
United Kingdom standard plug |
| Voltage type |
Internal 220-240V power supply |
| Status |
Item has been sold or not sold in a previous auction |
| Sale type |
The item is on the auction rooms |
| Ending on |
15/11/2020 |
| Category |
Synthesizer (polyphonic) |
| Serial number |
492 |
| Sphere reference |
# 22035 |
| Statistics |
Created on : 10/10/2020 |
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Changed on : 15/11/2020 |
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Published on : 15/11/2020 |
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Displayed : 2312 time(s) by members and guests |
| Safety |
All electrical items sold in VEMIA are deemed to be trade sales. No warranty of electrical safety is given or implied. Many items are vintage and would not pass current electrical safety standards. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that items are safe to use in their future environment - if necessary by using the services of a professional. |
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Prices and conditions  |
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The following section gives you the prices as well as shipment and payment conditions associated with the item. Payment is always requested in GBP. Converted price is shown for information and converted with Sphere standard currency rate.
Shipment and Payment links gives you access to an extended description of our rating :
| Start price |
11250 GBP |
| Converted price (1) |
11250 GBP |
| Shipment |
International or local shipment to pay |
| Packing costs |
0 GBP |
| Payment |
Full pre payment needed |
| Auction bid step |
50 GBP |
| Auction highest bid |
11300 GBP |
| Converted highest bid |
11300 GBP |
| Leader or winner |
guillaume |
| (1) Currency conversion |
Note that conversion rates were last adjusted on 5th October 2022 at 10:56 CET. They are there to give you a rough guide to the bid price in your currency. Please check for a more up-to-date conversion at http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html. The bid price will be the actual price in pounds (GBP) at the moment the auction closes. This will be roughly converted to your currency for your information.
For technical reasons, we are unable to update the conversion from GBP to Euro during the auction, although it has changed by well over 10%. If you are in the euro zone please check the current rate at http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html
Payments from UK and non-Euro currency regions must always be in GBP. Payments to and from Euro currency regions can be in Euros via our French bank.The applicable Euro amount will be the exact amount specified on your invoice or credit note. For more info please see the FAQ about exchange rates. |
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