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Vintage synths & drum machines
Vintage Synthesizers

Korg · Analog polysynth · Pre-MIDI classics

Korg Trident

The Trident was Korg's flagship at the turn of the 1980s, and it packs three instruments into one 61-key case weighing close to 24 kg. The Synthesizer section has two VCOs per voice. The Brass section has its own oscillator, filter and envelope, and the Strings section adds a bowing effect and ensemble. It plays eight notes at once, you can split the keyboard to play two sections together, and a flanger sits over the lot. Each section also has its own output. The original stored 16 patches. The mk II followed in 1982 with 32 memories, separate filter and amp envelopes on the synth section, better heat-sinking and a sturdier power supply, and it's the more common of the two. Rick Wakeman and Joe Zawinul both used one. Neither version has MIDI, and it's a heavy instrument to ship. Go for a mk II if you can, since its changes were aimed squarely at the original's habit of drifting as it warms up.

Spec at a glance

Brand
Korg
Type
Analog polysynth
Voices
8-voice polyphonic
Keys
61 keys
MIDI
No (pre-MIDI)

What to check before you buy

Sound On Sound describes original Tridents drifting out of tune as they heat up during long sessions. Korg's mk II added better heat-sinking and a stronger power supply to deal with those thermal problems.

  1. 01Version: Ask the seller whether it's the original or the mk II, and how many memory banks it has. A mk II has four banks of eight, and the original has two.
  2. 02Three sections: Ask for a video playing the synth, brass and strings sections alone, then together. Each should sound clearly in the mix and from its own output.
  3. 03Warm tuning: Ask for a clip recorded after it's been switched on for an hour. The tuning should hold steady as it warms up.
  4. 04All eight voices: Ask for a video playing eight-note chords on the synth section. All eight notes should sound at an even level.
  5. 05Joystick: Ask for a clip moving the joystick through pitch bend and vibrato. It should move smoothly and return to center.
  6. 06Patch recall: Ask the seller to recall several stored patches after switching on. Each should load as it was saved.

Find one on eBay

We haven’t been through this model’s listings yet. Search eBay for it and run every listing through the checklist above. Ask for a video of every voice and a note of anything that’s been serviced or replaced.

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