Polymoog

The Polymoog was Moog's first fully polyphonic synthesizer, produced from 1975 to 1980. Unlike the monophonic Minimoog, it allowed musicians to play full chords, making it viable for orchestral textures and layered arrangements in a way no previous Moog instrument could manage. It used divide-down oscillator technology with individual resonant filters per key, giving it a character distinct from other polyphonic synthesizers of the era. ABBA's engineer Michael B. Tretow used Polymoogs alongside live strings at Polar Studios to build the layered, lush textures that defined the group's studio sound from Arrival onward. Gary Numan relied on it for the cold, sweeping pads on The Pleasure Principle and Replicas. Its weight, tuning instability, and mechanical complexity made it notoriously difficult to maintain, which contributed to its relatively short production run. Surviving units in good condition are now highly sought after by collectors and studio musicians.