Model search
Used Sequential Prophet-5 listings.
Use Brrtz to scan regional used gear sources for Sequential Prophet-5 listings and related Prophet searches.
What it is
The Prophet-5, first released by Sequential Circuits in 1978, was the world's first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer — you could store and recall patches, which changed how synths were played and built. Five voices, two oscillators each, and Sequential's rich, immediate sound made it a defining instrument of its era, heard across countless records. Vintage units come in revisions (Rev 1 and 2 with SSM chips, Rev 3 with CEM chips) that sound subtly different, and Sequential's 2020 reissue brought the design back under founder Dave Smith.
Buying one used — what to check
Revision matters both sonically and practically. The earliest Rev 1 and Rev 2 units use SSM chips and are prized for their tone but are the most temperamental — tuning stability and chip availability are real concerns; Rev 3 units are more stable and more common. Whichever you consider, ask about tuning stability once warm, recent calibration or service, and the state of the potentiometers and switches. Be clear about vintage versus the modern reissue (the 2020 Prophet-5/Prophet-10), which is a superb instrument but not a vintage piece — titles often just say Prophet-5. At these prices, documentation of servicing is worth a lot.
Regional sourcing notes
The Prophet-5 is American-built, so vintage units surface less often in Japan than home-grown Roland or Korg gear — but they do appear on Yahoo Auctions and through Japanese dealers, and the reissue circulates domestically. Voltage runs both ways: a US vintage unit is 117V and a Japanese-market unit is 100V, so confirm which you're buying. In Japanese listings look for シーケンシャル (Sequential) and プロフェット (Prophet); the standard condition vocabulary applies — 動作確認済み (tested working), 整備済み (serviced), 美品 (excellent), against ジャンク (junk) and 未確認 (untested). Brrtz scans Japanese and Western sources together, which matters for a scarce instrument whose best example might be in another market.
Model terms
Common search terms include Sequential Prophet-5, Prophet-5, Prophet 5, Sequential Circuits Prophet, and vintage Prophet synthesizer.
Category
Primary Brrtz category: synthesizers.
What Brrtz searches
Brrtz searches supported regional source groups for used Sequential Prophet-5 listings and related synthesizer matches, then links users back to original listing sources.
Listing boundary
Brrtz does not sell Prophet-5s, does not act as the merchant of record, and does not claim source inventory as Brrtz-owned content.