The Prophet with the Hairy Chest.

chowning87 · Post by **chowning87** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:07 pm

Fist the worst (Korg M1), second the best (DX7), Third the one with the hairy chest (Prophet 5???)

This is something that I have been thinking about for a while now. I know that the Korg M1 and the DX7 are the top 2 selling synths ever (the M1 at n.o 1. Does anyone know the third top selling synthesizer? I had always assumed it was the Prophet 5 but I am not sure.

Does any one know the 4th and 5th positions?

Hossinfeffa · Post by **Hossinfeffa** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:21 pm

I think the 3rd is the Roland D-50. As I remember, they were usually referred to as the top 3 digitals because of how many they sold.

I'd actually like to know the synthesizer that was the biggest flop.

MitchK1989 · Post by **MitchK1989** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:38 pm

Hossinfeffa wrote:I'd actually like to know the synthesizer that was the biggest flop.

My money is on the hartmann nueron.

Post by **wiss** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:39 pm

I assumed that the MicroKorg would be in the top 3, if not number one by now.

MitchK1989 · Post by **MitchK1989** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:40 pm

wiss wrote:I assumed that the MicroKorg would be in the top 3, if not number one by now.

you have to keep in mind that back in the 80s, anyone who wanted a "keyboard" had to buy a synthesizer. There were no digital pianos. Nowadays you only buy a synthesizer when you actually want a synthesizer... Which is a very small part of the overall keyboard market. No one is going to buy a microkorg for their 5 year old kid to learn piano on, or to play at weddings.

Dave Bryce · Post by **Dave Bryce** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:54 pm

Hossinfeffa wrote:I think the 3rd is the Roland D-50.

I believe that is correct.

dB

tim gueguen · Post by **tim gueguen** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:03 pm

I suspect the Minimoog, at 13 thousand made, may have surpassed the Prophet 5 by a couple of thousand.

Post by **wiss** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:15 pm

MitchK1989 wrote:
wiss wrote:I assumed that the MicroKorg would be in the top 3, if not number one by now.
you have to keep in mind that back in the 80s.

yes, but the human count has nearly doubled itself, I know people who arent into synths that have been buying these.

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:27 pm

'80s Top 10 selling synths:

1. Korg M1 (1988): 250.000

2. Roland D-50 (1987): 200.000+

3. Yamaha DX-7 (1983): 160.000+

4. Korg Poly 800 (1984): 100.000

5. Roland MT-32 (1987): 100.000

6) Casio CZ-101 (1985): 70.000

7) Emu proteus (1989-1991): 50.000

8) Ensoniq ESQ-1 (1986): 50.000

9) Kawai K1 (1988): 50.000

10) Roland SH-101 (1982): 45.000+ (apparently the best-selling
monosynth ever).

(source: FutureMusic: article on '80s gear)

th0mas · Post by **th0mas** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:26 pm

MitchK1989 wrote: No one is going to buy a microkorg for their 5 year old kid to learn piano on, or to play at weddings.

that would be awesome at a wedding. I see them walking down the aisle, I hear trance preset A00 playing the arpeggio.. oh that would be great.

MrFrodo · Post by **MrFrodo** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:53 pm

I'd imagine that the biggest flop would be any synth that didn't even make it to market like the one designed by Rick Coupland.

Post by **tallowwaters** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:22 pm

Micke wrote:
5. Roland MT-32 (1987): 100.000

I would have never guessed....

th0mas · Post by **th0mas** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:54 pm

MrFrodo wrote:I'd imagine that the biggest flop would be any synth that didn't even make it to market like the one designed by Rick Coupland.

I don't consider that as big of a flop unless it was touted as the next greatest thing ever.

Otherwise a flop has to be something where the press surrounding the launch was huge, every music store had 10 in stock and 50 sold globally.

hfinn · Post by **hfinn** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:49 pm

wouldn't it probably be the TB-303?

Post by **guesswho** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:30 pm

hfinn wrote:wouldn't it probably be the TB-303?

My guess as well. Almost the Edsel of the synth world it was.