I know back in the day Prince used the LM-1 drum machine. What kind of keyboard did he use to get the Little Red Corvette sound and The Time material he did?

Hi Ken, where's Barbie?

Lleena said:

Reported.

ken said:

Let's see...Prince used an LM-1 Drum computer, but there are two versions of that, and I can't remember if he's got the earlier or later version. My GUESS is the later. About the keyboards. The Prince synth-horn sound comes from the Oberheim OBXA, but I'm pretty sure, before that keyboard came out, he used the earlier version (ob-1? or obxa? or Ob-X or something) cause the earlier keyboard is gray panelled and I THINK I remember seeing Monte Moir playing that keyboard in the 777-9311 video. I also know for a fact that Prince used the post obxa-oberheim: the OB-8. Which Mr. Oberheim himself said is a signifigantly different sounding keyboard than the Obx series. Mr. Oberheim thought that the OB-8 was unsuccessful because it was too smooth sounding.

Now, on other keyboards from the back in the day era...I 'know' that the keyboard solo on Head is a Sequential Circuits- Prophet 5. They also used those Yamaha acoustic electric pianos (which can be heard on God or any Purple Rain live stuff, and are REALLY AWESOME! I WANT ONE!). A Yamaha Dx7 is all over Around the World in a Day, PR live stuff, and is the organ sound on the intro to Let's Go Crazy. I've also heard that Prince used Moogs, and you can see Paul Peterson playing a short keyboard in the Purple rain movie, which I believe has to be a Moog, but I have no idea which model(s) that Prince used. The moog could infact be the synth solo on Head instead of the Prophet-5. Moog is the missing link in my Prince old school equiptment knowledge.

If anyone can provide a link to photos of Purple Rain era stage-keyboard and equiptment set-ups (ie: matt and lisa, duh) that would answer alot of questions. (and I would LOVE U forever)

An equiptment question I've always had, too, is what kind of effect is Prince using on the toms for the drum machine trax on songs like When Doves Cry? It's either a flange or a phaser or something, but what kind/model/brand specifically? I have suspected that he's simply using a Boss Flange pedal. Those drum trax are a signature sound and they are SO trippy. I REALLY want to know and have wanted to know since 1984.

2the9s said:

There she is. Hi!

Lleena said:

Oh look its Pom Barbie!

Hi!

2the9s said:

Oh look it's Poncho wearing Barbie! Hi

On a similar subject ,someones emailed me looking for a picture of Prince's "Eyebass" ,this is a Warwick Thumb bass with an eye painted on the front apparently,any ideas if theres a pic online anywhere?

I'm going to bump this topic, cause i want poeple to answer.

I have been kinda obsessed with this question since 1984 too.

As far as the drums... I can tell you for sure that he used the Linn LM-1 for all those classic drum machine sounds (most of 1999 and purple rain and even a lot on SOTT). THe LM-1 was the first Linn machine... and only like 500 were made!!!I have been looking for one forever.

The "LinnDrum" (or LM-2) came later and is similar but has a different snare sound which is the key to Prince's sound back then. I finally got an LM-2 on ebay cuz I heard you can get LM-1 chips for it (still hvaen't tried yet).

I did wonder how many LM-1's prince had because he must have had them on tour since you hear them in PR and Parade tours... and it's like how did they not ert broken after all those years!

In terms of synths... I've heard from a lot of people he used Oberheims but I dont know the model I've also heard he woudl layer like 8-9 sounds for each part which is why they are so "Fat" sounding. But I wonder how he (and the Time) recreated that sound live... cuz how mamy layers could 2 keyboardists do in a live setting back then???

I'm trying to get that sound now and wish I could re-create it. "Gimme some hoh-ens! Unnnh!!!"

toppo