Which synths were used on David Bowie's 'Berlin Trilogy'?

[memory cords]

I was listening to David Bowie's great compilation album "All Saint: Collected Instrumentals". There are a lot of nice synth textures on this CD. It shows a completely different, experimental and electronic side of Bowie. All the tracks are instrumentals and sound different from Bowie's well known pop and rock tracks.

Most of the tracks originate from the so-called 'Berlin Trilogy' albums which he recorded in the late 1970's.

Does anybody know what synths were used on these recordings?

Any other Bowie fans on this board?

[maindeglorie]

AWESOME ones!

I know the Solina and Omni were on there. I'm sure there was some VCS3 for processing, but I would love to know what else was going into those amazing albums.

[nvbrkr]

The synths used on "Low" are listed on the original "Low" LP, although they have been given somewhat cryptic names. I only have a later reissue myself that doesn't list those, but these from the top of my head (and wiki):

Minimoog
ARP Solina (possibly another ARP synth as well)
Mellotron or a Chamberlin (most likely a Chamberlin, as all the sounds heard on the album are from Chamberlin tapes)
An EMS synth that Eno owned (not sure about the model)

The percussion and the xylophone type of sounds are acoustic, but have gone through different electronic treatments. I'd imagine "Heroes" used much of the same setup. I haven't heard "Lodger" in ages to be honest, never clicked with that one.

[Micke]

The EMS synth used by Eno on "Low" and "Heroes" was a Synthi AKS, the same model as used by Pink Floyd ("On The Run" etc.) and Alan Parsons Project ("I Robot").

Afaik, Bowie used the Chamberlin on all three albums as well as on the live album "Stage" from 1978. Roger Powell of Utopia played the keys/synths on Bowie's '78 tour using an ARP Odyssey mk I, RMI KC-II, ARP Solina string ensemble and 'Powell Probe' (a custom-built portable polyphonic keyboard controller that was controlling 6 Oberheim SEM modules, mainly used for live performance). For the latter part of the tour the Probe was replaced by a Prophet 5 rev 1. If I recall correctly Powell played the synths on the Lodger album as well, at least on a couple of tracks.

[CapnMarvel]

I'm curious how similar the live setup that Micke mentions was to the set of synths Bowie used when touring and playing keys for Iggy Pop in 1977. I'm almost certain a Solina is heard on some of the bootlegs I've got of that tour.

[Micke]

I believe nvbrkr is right when he says above that "possibly another ARP synth as well" was used on "LOW" (besides the ARP Solina).
An "ARP" is indeed credited on the LP sleeve as having been used on the cues Speed Of Life and Weeping Wall. I just had a re-listen to those
tracks and to my ears the synth sounds on both --a metallic sound (ringmod?) on the former and a lead sound on the latter-- could very well
come from an Odyssey or even a 2600. Neither of the sounds in question sounds like an EMS Synthi or Minimoog to me. What do you guys think?

CapnMarvel: you're absolutely right in that Bowie used a Solina on tour with Iggy Pop. I've a feeling he owned one
because I've seen live and studio pics/footage from '75, '76 and '77 where it can be seen. I'm sure the Solina made
its way onto the album he did with Iggy; The Idiot. Although this album came out after LOW it was in fact recorded
before it. Not sure what synth(s) was used on that album though (possibly the same ARP synth as used on LOW).

As for the good 'ol "Chamby"; Bowie already used it on the Station To Station album back in '75.

In conclusion, here's a list of the synths/keys that to my knowledge were used for the "Berlin-Trilogy" albums:

EMS Synthi AKS
Minimoog
ARP Odyssey or 2600?
ARP/Solina string ensemble
Chamberlin
Farfisa organ (on "LOW")
Piano

Not sure what synth(s) Roger Powell used on "Lodger" but I'd be surprised if his Prophet 5 didn't make it.
Speaking of Powell (a great keyboard player and synthesist, one of the best imho) had quite a synth-setup at the time which included a custom Moog system 55 w/Polyfusion keyboard, Moog 15 w/double sequencer complement, a six-panel Serge modular, a Minimoog or two, the Probe/Obie 6-voice, RMI KC-1I etc.

EDIT: I was told by Powell a while ago that his dual Moog system 55 was completely destroyed in a warehouse fire, along
with damaging two Minimoogs.

[chroma17]

I believe the mystery ARP on "Low" is an Axxe...I read Bowie played an Axxe on Iggy Pop's "The Idiot", which was recorded around the same time as "Low", in the same studio.
As for Bowie's live setup with Iggy, it seems like he was playing just the Solina and some sort of electric piano in the pics and videos I've seen.

[iProg]

I believe nvbrkr is right when he says above that "possibly another ARP synth as well" was used on "LOW" (besides the ARP Solina).
An "ARP" is indeed credited on the LP sleeve as having been used on the cues Speed Of Life and Weeping Wall. I just had a re-listen to those
tracks and to my ears the synth sounds on both --a metallic sound (ringmod?) on the former and a lead sound on the latter-- could very well
come from an Odyssey or even a 2600. Neither of the sounds in question sounds like an EMS Synthi or Minimoog to me. What do you guys think?

That sounds like a lead sound Martin Orford of IQ used to play on his Arp Odyssey, unison sawtooth + ring mod. Quite similar. George Duke also had a sound like that when playing with Zappa. He used mk1 Odyssey as well. So, my guess is whiteface Odyssey (mk1).

[Micke]

I believe the mystery ARP on "Low" is an Axxe...I read Bowie played an Axxe on Iggy Pop's "The Idiot", which was recorded around the same time as "Low", in the same studio.
As for Bowie's live setup with Iggy, it seems like he was playing just the Solina and some sort of electric piano in the pics and videos I've seen.

Hmmm...now when you mention it I do recall to have read the same thing somewhere. "The Idiot" was
indeed recorded in the same studio (a couple of months before "Low") so it's very likely the same
ARP synth was used.

The plot thickens!

[Micke]

But did the Axxe have ringmod? I think not.

[iProg]

I believe the mystery ARP on "Low" is an Axxe...I read Bowie played an Axxe on Iggy Pop's "The Idiot", which was recorded around the same time as "Low", in the same studio.
As for Bowie's live setup with Iggy, it seems like he was playing just the Solina and some sort of electric piano in the pics and videos I've seen.

Hmmm...now when you mention it I do recall to have read the same thing somewhere. "The Idiot" was
indeed recorded in the same studio (a couple of months before "Low") so it's very likely the same
ARP synth was used.

The plot thickens!

Did you read my statement about the Odyssey?

[Micke]

Yeah I did!

And I still believe it was an Odyssey or 2600.

[iProg]

Yeah I did!

And I still believe it was an Odyssey or 2600.

Allright

Were you at the Ultravox gig in Stockholm last week by any chance?

[Micke]

Yeah I did!

And I still believe it was an Odyssey or 2600.

Allright

Were you at the Ultravox gig in Stockholm last week by any chance?

Nope!

[nvbrkr]

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Fierce.