Oberheim OB-8

The Oberheim OB-8 is a synthesizer used by Prince from the Purple Rain era onward. It is a polyphonic analog synthesizer and the last in the OB series that included the OB-X, OB-SX and OB-Xa.

Prince would use the OB-8 on Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day, Parade and Sign O The Times. By the late 1980s, Prince was phasing out his analog synthesizers in favor of newer digital keyboards and the OB-8 was the last Oberheim left in his collection.

Occasionally he'll bring in one of the old Oberheims, but very rarely. I think we only have the OB-8 left over now; the rest of the stuff has been sold off.

Dr Fink; Court keyboardists Rosie Gaines & Matt Fink Speak for Themselves

Prince returned to the OB-8 on the Newpower Soul and Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic albums. It appears that the OB-8 was intermittently functioning by this point and it seems to have been retired after these sessions.

The OB-8 was also taken on tour by Dr Fink and Lisa. However, it seems like the older and more aggressive OB-Xa was preferred for live use, with the OB-8 kept as a backup.

An OB-8 played by Prince in the studio was auctioned by Dr Fink in 2024.