Rhodes Chroma Polaris group photo

Yahoo Groups archive

Rhodes Chroma Polaris

Archive for chromapolaris.

Index last updated: 2026-03-30 01:08 UTC

Thread

New Chroma Polaris Owner

New Chroma Polaris Owner

2011-11-29 by Chad G

Hi folks, I'm a long time analog synth lover and started with an Electro-Harmonix Mini-Synthesizer in the early 1980's. Around 1981 or 1982 I bought a brand new Moog Source. Around 2003 I picked up a Minimoog Voyager.
I just bought a Chroma Polaris at a auction on Sunday night. When I first got to the auction I saw it standing on it's edge leaning against a table. At first glance it looked like a cheap Casio or Yamaha consumer grade keyboard. Then I got up close and saw "Oscillator 1" and "Oscillator 2" and thought "wow, it's a synth". I waited and waited for them to put it up for bid and with little interest shown, I bought it. I had heard the name "Chroma Polaris" before, but didn't know as much about it as some of the better known analog synths.
When I got it home I was afraid of plugging it in. I figured that there's no way it would work without taking it to a tech to fix what was probably a non-working paperweight (and a very heavy paperweight!). I plugged it in --- red lights pop on! I press the keys -- and bingo! -- it works! I tried the keys, sliders, and buttons and they all seem to work (with the exception of the glide - the red light comes on but the notes don't glide into each other - maybe you need the pedal to use the glide - I'm not sure yet). This synth sounds amazing. So anyway, here's the incredible part: I paid $60 for it.

Re: [chromapolaris] New Chroma Polaris Owner

2011-11-29 by Brinkmann Music

Nice.  It is a fantastic synth with a rich, raw and powerful sound.  Enjoy your bargain!

On Nov 28, 2011, at 6:25 PM, Chad G wrote:

 

Hi folks, I'm a long time analog synth lover and started with an Electro-Harmonix Mini-Synthesizer in the early 1980's. Around 1981 or 1982 I bought a brand new Moog Source. Around 2003 I picked up a Minimoog Voyager.
I just bought a Chroma Polaris at a auction on Sunday night. When I first got to the auction I saw it standing on it's edge leaning against a table. At first glance it looked like a cheap Casio or Yamaha consumer grade keyboard. Then I got up close and saw "Oscillator 1" and "Oscillator 2" and thought "wow, it's a synth". I waited and waited for them to put it up for bid and with little interest shown, I bought it. I had heard the name "Chroma Polaris" before, but didn't know as much about it as some of the better known analog synths.
When I got it home I was afraid of plugging it in. I figured that there's no way it would work without taking it to a tech to fix what was probably a non-working paperweight (and a very heavy paperweight!). I plugged it in --- red lights pop on! I press the keys -- and bingo! -- it works! I tried the keys, sliders, and buttons and they all seem to work (with the exception of the glide - the red light comes on but the notes don't glide into each other - maybe you need the pedal to use the glide - I'm not sure yet). This synth sounds amazing. So anyway, here's the incredible part: I paid $60 for it.



Re: New Chroma Polaris Owner

2011-11-29 by VL5150

Stop...Thief!

Great buy on a pretty cool synth.

--- In chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com, "Chad G" <chadgrisly@...> wrote:
>
> Hi folks, I'm a long time analog synth lover and started with an Electro-Harmonix Mini-Synthesizer in the early 1980's. Around 1981 or 1982 I bought a brand new Moog Source. Around 2003 I picked up a Minimoog Voyager.
> I just bought a Chroma Polaris at a auction on Sunday night. When I first got to the auction I saw it standing on it's edge leaning against a table. At first glance it looked like a cheap Casio or Yamaha consumer grade keyboard. Then I got up close and saw "Oscillator 1" and "Oscillator 2" and thought "wow, it's a synth". I waited and waited for them to put it up for bid and with little interest shown, I bought it. I had heard the name "Chroma Polaris" before, but didn't know as much about it as some of the better known analog synths.
> When I got it home I was afraid of plugging it in. I figured that there's no way it would work without taking it to a tech to fix what was probably a non-working paperweight (and a very heavy paperweight!). I plugged it in --- red lights pop on! I press the keys -- and bingo! -- it works! I tried the keys, sliders, and buttons and they all seem to work (with the exception of the glide - the red light comes on but the notes don't glide into each other - maybe you need the pedal to use the glide - I'm not sure yet). This synth sounds amazing. So anyway, here's the incredible part: I paid $60 for it.
>

RE: [chromapolaris] New Chroma Polaris Owner

2011-11-29 by Paul D. DeRocco

> From: Chad G
>
> I plugged it in --- red lights pop
> on! I press the keys -- and bingo! -- it works! I tried the
> keys, sliders, and buttons and they all seem to work (with
> the exception of the glide - the red light comes on but the
> notes don't glide into each other - maybe you need the pedal
> to use the glide - I'm not sure yet). This synth sounds
> amazing. So anyway, here's the incredible part: I paid $60
> for it.

Yes, the glide works when you press the footswitch.

You got a great deal, especially given that the membrane switches still
work.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

Re: [chromapolaris] New Chroma Polaris Owner

2011-11-29 by chad grisly

Okay cool, so the glide needs a footswitch. Any suggestions on a currently available footswitch I can use with it?  

From: Paul D. DeRocco <pderocco@...>
To: chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 9:48 PM
Subject: RE: [chromapolaris] New Chroma Polaris Owner

 
> From: Chad G
>
> I plugged it in --- red lights pop
> on! I press the keys -- and bingo! -- it works! I tried the
> keys, sliders, and buttons and they all seem to work (with
> the exception of the glide - the red light comes on but the
> notes don't glide into each other - maybe you need the pedal
> to use the glide - I'm not sure yet). This synth sounds
> amazing. So anyway, here's the incredible part: I paid $60
> for it.

Yes, the glide works when you press the footswitch.

You got a great deal, especially given that the membrane switches still
work.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...



RE: [chromapolaris] New Chroma Polaris Owner

2011-11-29 by Paul D. DeRocco

> From: chad grisly
>
> Okay cool, so the glide needs a footswitch. Any suggestions
> on a currently available footswitch I can use with it?

Pretty much any footswitch that has a 1/4" phone plug will work.

--

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...