Vintage Synth Explorer

Korg • Poly-800

Poly-800

During the time of the Roland Juno series in the mid-80's, Korg offered the Poly-800. Comparable to the Juno and in many ways better, the Poly-800 is an 8 voice polyphonic analog synthesizer with 64 memory patches and up to 50 editable parameters! There's also a stereo chorus effect, a sequencer, and a weird joystick used to adjust pitch, modulation and the filter. There is a double mode in which the oscillators double up making 4 fat voices of polyphony - fun for trance and techno.

Poly-800 mkII

Then in 1984 came the Poly-800 mkII (pictured above) which added digital delay effects. The rackmount EX-800 version (pictured below) has a built-in 256-step polyphonic sequencer. Poly-800s have been used by Orbital, Depeche Mode, Sneaker Pimps, Vangelis, Geoff Downes, Yesterdays and Jimi Tenor.

EX-800

Below is the more rare Reverse Keys version of the Poly-800. Its specifications and features are the same as the original. Only the key colors are reversed.

Poly 800 (Reverse Colored Keys)

VISITOR COMMENTS

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Beware

Posted 221 days ago

It deserves such a high rating because it sounds fantastic if it is properly programmed. Yes, it's a pain in the [beep] to program it but it's worth the pain. Also, you get real analogue for about $100 (I just purchased one for $100 with $30 shipping). No other synth in that price range comes close to the sound versatility of the Poly-800.

Also, it is an analogue synth with digital controllers, not a digital synth. The oscillators are analogue as is the filter.

Mik-303

Posted 222 days ago

I've had a Poly-61, Poly-800 and EW-800 and P-61 sounded better than P-800 good to my ears. To be honest I really dont understand how you guys can give it almost 4 stars? I gave it only 1. I would not take one even if someone offered me one for free.

al

Posted 234 days ago

sorry about multi post - not intended

al

Posted 234 days ago

Hello I am in london and want to buy a poly 800 MK 2

had a poly800 for ages but the battery completly went and the MIDI wasnt very good at all......
alalal1979@googlemail.com

please email me.....

al

Posted 234 days ago

Hello I am in london and want to buy a poly 800 MK 2

had a poly800 for ages but the battery completly went and the MIDI wasnt very good at all......
alalal1979@googlemail.com

please email me.....

<121110987654>