ARP Avatar Vintage Analog Guitar Synthesizer – Serviced with Hex Pickup & Cable, New Sliders

Description

The ARP Avatar was a keyboardless ARP Odyssey, with the addition of a guitar interface, controllable through a special hexaphonic guitar pickup (which is working and included, but read below and see linked video).  The synthesizer is also controllable through the CV/Gate/Trigger interface.

The synthesizer is in very good condition, with a chip off one of the wood side panels, please see photos.  This ARP Avatar has been serviced by Synthchaser in May 2026.  Work done included:

• Synthchaser Precision slider upgrade – All 37 of the old original sliders have been replaced with new, smooth, high precision sliders (Bourns sliders). The difference in the way these sliders feel and perform compared to the originals is a huge improvement.
• Recapped all accessible polarized capacitors – including power supply and all tantalum capacitors except those in the epoxy sealed submodule
• 4075 Filter cutoff frequency correction
• Tuned & Calibrated Synthesizer Section (not Guitar interface, see below)

While this unit does include an original hex pickup and a vintage cable for the guitar interface, and the guitar interface has been tested for extreme basic functionality (specifically, triggering 6 different pitches from each of the six pickups, with the pitch changing as the string pitch changes), I’ve not (and will not) mount the pickup to a guitar and hence the pickup and guitar interface is being sold in as-is condition, not fully tested, and not calibrated.  If you want to assess the guitar interface’s functionality for yourself, please feel free to come and bring a guitar you can mount the pickup on and you can test it to your satisfaction before purchasing.  At some point in the past it appears someone has changed the original Lemo connector on the pickup for a more common DIN connector.  The shield of the pickup cable appears to be broken where it enters the pickup.

Here is a brief “proof of life” video demonstration through CV/gate and also through the guitar interface:

Prospective buyers are welcome to come try it out before purchasing. Local pickup is welcome and encouraged.  If being shipped, the instrument will be insured for the full purchase price, but this is a vintage electronic item, so all sales are as-is and final.

International shipping is available for this item, but it cannot be ordered through the website with international shipping.  Please contact me if you are an international buyer interested in purchasing this.