via Ken MacBeth:
"Hi Matrix! ...well to continue with the custom panel thread- a prolific german client asked to have 2 M5N synths built for him- but with a special blue color that I ordered in- this color was swatched against the color type of the very first ARP 2600s. We discussed whether or not they originals were called 'blue meanies' or 'blue marvins' - maybe the viewers of the matrix synth blog know this stuff! I am currently offering direct sales of two Process Red M5Ns (...there will be a fire in the disco!) that go as a pair-both hand built by myself, and not the factory I'm using- there is a premium for this- but interested parties can enquire- pics to follow soon. Best To All- Ken Mac."click here for more pics. Regarding the "Blue Meanie" vs. "Blue Marvin," if you know, feel free to comment. Via this post: "The very first model 2600 was produced in early 1971 and is known as The Blue Marvin. It has mistakenly been called the "Blue Meanie" but according to Alan R. Pearlman, the Blue Marvin is so named after Marvin Cohen, head of engineering at ARP at the time."
the blue is soooooo rad! looks like old test equipment or a submarine!!!
ReplyDeleteI feel a bit sea sick.
ReplyDeleteis this for Pete Namlook?
ReplyDeletelooks really awesome
ReplyDeleteyuk
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard "blue meanie", but the first production 2600s were called by techs "gray meanies", because the potted modules made them almost impossible to work on.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to send one my way ;o]
ReplyDeleteThey were called Blue Meanies after the bad guys in the Beatle's Yellow Submarine movie.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't the "Meanie" name have come into play years later in part as hype by someone selling one or perhaps pointing out their unit's superiority? Based certainly on the reality that the early units containing the cloned Moog filter had a stronger sound than the later original filter design. It would be interesting to track down who first called it that and when. "Grey Meanie" clearly was simply pointing out that some grey faced units Moog clone filters too.
ReplyDeleteAs to another comment, it's very true the potted modules make it a pain to work on, though generally "Meanie" seems to mean that a particular unit (containing a cloned Moog VCF) stands out from an average later production unit with an Arp designed VCF.
It's just a myth that only the first production 2600's had the so-called Moog-ladder filter (the 4012). With other words, this filter was used for all 2600's from the very beginning through late 1976.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the "Gray Meanie" is concerned, the name specifically refers to the all-metal cabinet model 2600C.
I have confirmation from Ken MacBeth that the late Pete Namlook was indeed the prolific German client to pick these up.
ReplyDelete