ARP Odyssey Kit: Build Your Own Legacy Synth

Ever wanted to build your own synthesizer but unsure how to start your DIY journey or just don’t really have the time? Then look no further as KORG have announced the ARP ODYSSEY FS KIT, a faithful re-issue of the famous paraphonic classic in an approachable assembly kit for you to put together yourself and immerse yourselves in the deep sounds of this analogue beauty.

I have been a real fan of KORG’s efforts to re-incarnate not only their own classic products of the past but those of ARP Instruments. From the MS-20 FS to the ARP 2600FS and ARP 2600M, each one has faithfully re-created these famous instruments for the modern musician, offering a tactile analogue experience that feels different to software emulation.

In this video, we unbox and assemble the Odyssey from scratch before plugging it in (and not blowing anything up) and seeing how it sounds. While a bit more hands-on than other build kits from KORG, the instructions were very clear and easy to follow with no soldering knowledge required and as expected, it sounded AWESOME.

This is a limited edition so if you’re a keen collector or never owned a classic like this, I seriously suggest checking out the video and when they’re in store!

Here’s what KORG is saying:

Become a part of the legacy with the ARP Odyssey FS Kit.

In 2015, ARP’s history was thrust into the spotlight with the revival of the ARP Odyssey. Synth fans around the world were ecstatic–authentic reissues of some of the most iconic and legendary ARP synthesizers would finally be revealed. From the ARP ODYSSEY FS with its full-size keyboard to the long-awaited ARP 2600 FS and ARP 2600 M, ARP synths once again stood at the forefront of the modern music scene.

Now, with the release of the ARP ODYSSEY FS Kit, musicians are empowered to take the ARP legacy into their own hands.

Staying true to the ARP Odyssey FS, the kit uses the exact analog circuitry, preserving the original warm and rich sounds we’ve all grown to love. The kit also features all the original specs of the Rev. 3 model with a full-size keyboard and a black panel design with orange lettering. And to facilitate the assembly of the Odyssey, a pictorial guide is included; no technical knowledge or soldering is needed.

The ARP Odyssey FS Kit is a one-of-a-kind collectors’ instrument. To commemorate the unique experience of building it yourself, it is distinguished from any other ARP Odyssey with its own serial number engraved into an elegant metal plate.

With this kit, not only will you be able to get the coveted ARP sound that legendary musicians have been using for the last 50 years, you will also be able to create it with your own hands. We hope that you will make this special ARP ODYSSEY a one-of-a-kind instrument just for you.

A full-sized ARP ODYSSEY with a standard keyboard

Featuring a spacious panel layout with faders that are smooth to operate, and a standard-sized keyboard for excellent playability, it’s just what the synthesizer lover or keyboardist has been waiting for. Most of all, its weight and essence are the precise image of the original ARP Odyssey. With analog sound that has already established a firm reputation, it is fair to say that this is a true resurrection of the ARP ODYSSEY. Now you can obtain a full-sized ARP ODYSSEY that’s perfect in every area including sound, stability, appearance, and size, but with the reliability of a brand new synth.

The distinctive synthesis of the ARP Odyssey has been reproduced from the circuit level up

The original ARP Odyssey was a 2VCO duo-phonic instrument. Its most distinctive feature was its sharp, penetrating sound and its rich range of tonal variation. With a variety of functions and modulation possibilities provided by oscillator sync, sample & hold, pulse width modulation, high-pass filter, two types of envelope generator, and pitch bend using the PPC, it was able to create a versatile range of sounds.

The ARP Odyssey reproduces the sounds of these components at the circuit level.

Filters of all three generations are provided

Broadly speaking, there were three versions of the original ARP Odyssey, divided by the date of production, with the major difference being the filter circuit. The ARP Odyssey provides all three of these different filter circuits, and allows you to select one of them with a single switch. TYPE I (Rev1) is a 12 dB/Oct circuit that produces a sharp, punchy sound. TYPE II (Rev2) is a 24 dB/Oct filter with great-sounding lows. TYPE III (Rev3) maintains excellent stability even when resonance is raised. These distinctive filters have been reproduced just as they originally were.

About the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

Alan R. Pearlman was nicknamed “ARP” as a kid growing up in New York City, so it seemed the perfect name for a company he co-founded when he was later designing electronic musical instruments. After leaving NASA, Pearlman Established ARP as an outlet for the creation of instruments known for their sound quality. Pearlman created the ARP 2500 in 1970 and then the classic ARP Odyssey and ARP 2600. One of Pearlman’s key skills was that he was able to build oscillators that stayed in tune and even developed a cordless patching technique using a matrix of switches. Arp Instruments built a legacy as a great leader in the growth and development of the electronic music market.

Founded in 2019, the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation was created by Dina Pearlman, Alan Pearlman’s daughter, to honour the legacy of her father. The mission of the ARP Foundation is to celebrate Pearlman by making his inventions publicly accessible, and inspiring future generations to imagine and create — The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation.

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