Price History
By Chris Ryan [21030691] <chris@rhodeschroma.com>How much is a Chroma worth? This page lists known sale prices for the Chroma, Expander, Polaris, and other items. I have recently begun to track these more carefully; pre-2009, the record is incomplete. But this listing should still give a good idea to prospective buyers and sellers of what the instruments are and have been fetching. For information on condition and which accessories came with the units, see the corresponding registry entries (linked from the serial numbers).
- indicates some problems with the instrument at time of sale
- indicates an instrument not working at time of sale
A summary of condition are displayed if you hover over the icons for a given instrument; for more information see the referenced thread and/or instrument registry entry.
Please send me information on your instrument in order to increase the utility of this list.
Chroma
| Source/Reference | Serial # | Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chroma 21030079 for Sale on eBay | 21030079 |
2010.07 | USD $999.99 |
| Chroma on eBay | 21030192 |
2010.04 | USD $4,000.00 |
| Chroma on eBay Germany | 21010293 |
2010.03 | €2.031,00 |
| Dan Jenkins, former owner | 21030639 |
2009.11 | USD $900.00 |
| eBay item #170398356286 | 21030455 |
2009.10 | USD $1,350.00 |
| Three Chromas (and a Polaris) on eBay | 21030547 | 2009.10 | USD $3,050.00 |
| Three Chromas (and a Polaris) on eBay (Sold with Polaris 302552) |
21030857 |
2009.10 | USD $1,757.00 |
| Three Chromas (and a Polaris) on eBay | unknown |
2009.10 | USD $1,626.00 |
| Chroma on eBay Canada | unknown | 2009.08 | USD $2,052.77 |
| My Chroma is on the auction block! | 21030869 |
2009.08 | USD $1,324.00 |
| Scott, seller | unknown |
2009.08 | USD $250.00 |
| Doug Meier, owner | 21030306 |
2009.08 | USD $29.00 |
| Carey Bonn, owner | 21030209 |
2009.05 | USD $900.00 |
| german ebay chroma | 21030831 | 2009.05 | €2.098,00 |
| chroma on german ebay | unknown | 2009.04 | €3.727,00 |
| Chroma 21030384 on eBay | 21030384 | 2009.03 | USD $2,999.00 |
| Chroma on eBay | 21030257 | 2009.02 | USD $1,555.00 |
| Chroma 21030454 on eBay | 21030454 | 2009.02 | USD $1,526.00 |
| Frank Rex, brother of late owner, Thilo Rex | 21010195 |
2009 | €950,00 |
| chroma on german ebay | 21010276 |
2008.12 | €1.420,00 |
| Chroma For Sale on eBay | 21030321 | 2008.07 | USD $3,799.00 |
| Chroma and Syntech Interface on eBay | 21030907 | 2008.01 | USD $2,299.00 |
| Jim Josevski, owner | 21030907 | 2008 | USD $2,300.00 |
| Stefan Kraft, former owner | unknown |
2008 | €1.200,00 |
| chroma on Ebay | 21030798 | 2007.11 | USD $2,300.00 |
| Sean Vindahl, owner | 21010078 |
2007.09 | ≈€1.333,00 |
| David Chaulk, former owner | 21030789 | 2007.06 | USD $2,000.00 |
| Bob Brenenstuhl, owner | 21030894 | 2007.05 | USD $1,500.00 |
| Chroma BIN over $3000 U.S. !!! | 21030095 | 2006.12 | £1,550.00 |
| Chroma here and gone in a heartbeat on the Bay | 21030264 | 2006.12 | USD $499.00 |
| Tom Hughes, owner | 21030251 |
2006.09 | USD ≈$250.00 |
| Andrew Dalebrook, owner | 21010180 | 2006.06 | NZD $1,900.00 |
| Chroma 21030798 For Sale on eBay | 21010104 | 2006.04 | £750.00 |
| Sebastiaan Barends, owner | 21030917 |
2006.03 | €1000,00 |
| Chroma Inflation | 21030668 | 2005.10 | USD $3,450.00 |
| Thomas Story, owner | 21030352 | 2005.10 | USD $500.00 |
| Chroma sells on Ebay for $595 | 21030674 |
2005.06 | USD $595.00 |
| Chroma on eBay Australia for Third Time | 21040006 | 2005.05 | AUD $2,035.10 |
| George Sarant, owner | 21030818 | 2005.01 | USD $1,500.00 |
| Doug Terrebonne, former owner (sold) | 21030401 | 2005 | USD $700.00 |
| Jesper Ödemark, owner | 21010135 | 2004.07 | €900,00 |
| Mal Meehan, former owner | 21030075 | 2004.04 | £400.00 |
| Paul Tillotson, owner | 21030218 | 2002.06 | USD $1,350.00 |
| David Clarke, owner | 21030085 |
2002.03 | USD $295.00 |
| Doug Terrebonne, former owner (bought) | 21030401 |
2002 | USD $400.00 |
| Matt Thomas, owner | 21010021 | 2001 | £800.00 |
| David Hobson, owner | 21030506 | 2000.06 | USD $70.00 |
| Michael Salmon, owner | 21030155 | 1990s? | USD $400.00 |
| David Morley, former owner | 21030210 | 1990s? | £500.00 |
| Murray Macdonald, owner | 21030715 | 1996 | CAD $400.00 |
| Lars Thunström, owner | 21030937 | 1995-96 | kr 100,00 |
| David Clarke, owner | 21010259 |
1993? | USD ≈$450.00 |
| Jack Colburne, owner | 21030142 | 1992? | USD $119.95 |
| Chris Borman, owner | 21030194 | 1990 | USD $600.00 |
| Rüdiger Lorenz, former owner | 21010288 | 1990 | DM 1,000.00 |
| Chris Borman, owner | 21030869 | 1980s | USD ≈$1,400.00 |
| Rudie Vissenberg, former owner | 21010254 | 1985.07 | NAƒ7.000.00 |
| Luca Sasdelli, owner | 21010226 |
1987? | €180,00 |
| Paul Hackett-Evans, owner | 21010094 | 1985 | £1,000.00 |
| Gabriel Katona, owner | unknown | 1984 | USD $3,500.00 |
| Christian, owner | 21010129 |
1984.05.11 | DM 9,700.00 |
| John O. Senior, owner | 21030640 | 1983 | USD $3,350.00 |
| Tom Klepacki, owner | 21030025 | 1983? | USD $3,750.00 |
| Christian, former owner | 21010130 |
1983.06.27 | DM 10,000.00 |
| Mechthild Raring, owner | 21010148 | 1983.03.11 | DM 12,850.00 |
| Jimmy Moyer, owner | 21030184 | 1982.09 | USD $3,811.00 |
Original List Price |
|||
| US (source: Vintage Synthesizers, Keyfax) | 1982 | USD $5,295.00 | |
| UK (source: E&MM, Music UK, Keyfax) | 1982 | £3,800.00 | |
| Canada (source: price list, not yet on site) | 1982 | CAD $7,500.00 | |
| Australia (source: Sonics) | 1982 | AUD $7,650.00 | |
Expander |
|||
| Source/Reference | Serial # | Date | Price |
| Expander on eBay Australia | 16310021 | 2010.04 | AUD $9,150.00 |
| Tom Hughes, owner | 16330108 |
2009.04 | USD $1,200.00 |
| David Clarke, owner | 16330012 |
2002.02 | USD $440.00 |
| Rising Chroma prices | unknown | 2001.10 | USD $2,711.00 |
| David Clarke, owner | 16330034 |
2000.07 | USD $900.00 |
| John Leimseider, owner | 16330129 |
1980s | USD $700.00 |
| John O. Senior, owner | 16330146 | 1985 | USD $750.00 |
Original List Price |
|||
| UK (source: A-Z of Analogue) | 1982 | ≈£2,000.00 | |
| Canada (source: price list, not yet on site) | 1982 | CAD $4,700.00 | |
Polaris |
|||
| Source/Reference | Serial # | Date | Price |
| eBay item #230505783160 | unknown | 2010.08 | USD $620.00 |
| eBay item #110553229594 | 302523 | 2010.07 | USD $899.00 |
| eBay item #170514589367 | unknown | 2010.07 | USD $599.00 |
| eBay item #140411472409 | 301102 |
2010.06 | £641.00 |
| eBay item #220595802464 | unknown | 2010.05 | USD $345.00 |
| eBay item #290429027394 | unknown |
2010.04 | USD $450.00 |
| eBay item #290427379792 | unknown | 2010.04 | USD $799.00 |
| eBay item #190380366279 | unknown | 2010.03 | USD $461.00 |
| eBay item #250590468650 | unknown |
2010.03 | USD $374.89 |
| eBay item #150407546655 (Polaris II) | unknown |
2010.03 | USD $465.00 |
| eBay item #110501258880 | unknown |
2010.03 | £$700.00 |
| eBay item #270537729147 | 301269 | 2010.02 | USD $800.00 |
| eBay item #290393178791 | 301039 | 2010.01 | USD $1,095.00 |
| eBay item #140363808186 | unknown | 2009.12 | USD $799.00 |
| eBay item #330371425255 | 300894 | 2009.11 | USD $713.00 |
| eBay item #290359165325 | 301511 | 2009.10 | USD $611.00 |
| Woody Pistrich, owner | 301678 |
2009.10 | USD $300.00 |
| Three Chromas (and a Polaris) on eBay (Sold with Chroma 21030857) |
302552 |
2009.10 | USD $1,757.00 |
| eBay item #330360988759 | 300233 |
2009.09 | USD $838.68 |
| eBay item #320421702788 | 500435 |
2009.09 | USD $392.00 |
| eBay item #170373585729 | 301039 |
2009.08 | USD $269.00 |
| Edward Chen, owner | 302651 | 2009.08 | USD $821.00 |
| eBay item #300337990465 | 301486 | 2009.08 | USD $455.00 |
| eBay item #290338555590 | unknown | 2009.08 | USD $499.00 |
| Woody Pistrich, owner | 300561 |
2009.07 | USD $381.00 |
| eBay item #200354548468 | unknown |
2009.06 | USD $229.50 |
| eBay item #290315785565 | unknown | 2009.05 | USD $749.00 |
| Edward Chen, seller | 300309 | 2008.09 | USD $898.00 |
| Edward Chen, seller | 300125 | 2008.03 | USD $1150.00 |
| Peter Forrest, seller | 301936 | 2006.11 | £475.00 |
| Woody Pistrich, owner | 301417 |
2006.06 | USD $350.00 |
| Edoardo Gennaro, owner | 302459 | 2006.03 | USD $898.00 |
| eBay item #7381060435 | 500530 | 2006.01 | USD $232.50 |
| Doug Terrebonne, former owner (sold) | 500580 | 2006 | USD $325.00 |
| Ben Kuris, owner | 500351 | 2005.09 | USD $130.00 |
| Doug Terrebonne, former owner (sold) | 301731 | 2004 | USD $300.00 |
| Ben Kuris, owner | 301805 | 2004 | USD $700.00 |
| Ben Kuris, owner | 301383 | 2003 | USD $425.00 |
| Doug Terrebonne, former owner (bought) | 500580 | 2000 | USD $270.00 |
| David Clarke, owner | 301590 | 1999 | USD $140.00 |
| Doug Terrebonne, former owner (bought) | 301731 | 1998 | USD $165.00 |
| Steve Burke, owner | 301860 | 1989? | CAD $500.00 |
| Dan Imeson, owner | 301301 | 1987 | USD $2,800.00 |
| Val Osborne, owner | 300441 | 1985 | USD ≈$1,200.00 |
| Diane Elizabeth Jones, owner | 300761 | 1985 | USD $2,000.00 |
| Dave Blees, owner | 301474 | 1985 | USD $700.00 |
| David Hartt, owner | 301832 | 1984 | CAD ≈$2,000.00 |
Original List Price |
|||
| US (source: Vintage Synthesizers) | 1984 | USD $1,495.00 | |
Additional Information |
|||
| Woody Pistrich [300561+] writes that he's tracked Polaris sale prices since about June 2006. Prices he's recorded for working keyboards (sorted by price): USD$1111, $820, $763, $760, $760, $750, $749, $700, $699, $695, $650, $643, $622 ("near mint," June 2009), $600, $588, $570, $553, $500. Broken or not fully working (usually a result of problems with the membrane switches): USD$463, $293, $372, $230 (June 2009, one totally nonfunctional voice, some other noise problems, working switches, no slider caps), $421 (July 2009, 4 dead keys with working switches). | |||
Other Items
| Item | Source/Reference | Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| JLCooper ChromaFace | JLCooper ChromaFace on eBay | 2010.08 | £99.00 |
| Voice Board | Voice Card on eBay | 2010.07 | USD $125.00 |
| Dual Footswitch | Dual Footswitch on eBay | 2010.02 | USD $202.50 |
| Single Footswitch | Foot Pedal on eBay | 2010.01 | USD $22.99 |
| Brochure | eBay item #280442343827 | 2010.01 | €7,15 |
| Single Footswitch | Footswitch on eBay | 2009.11 | USD $22.22 |
| Rev. 14 Software set w/Kybd Scan IC | EPROMs on eBay | 2009.11 | USD $33.33 |
| Pitch Bend Assembly | eBay item #300360028951 | 2009.10 | USD $40.00 |
| Polaris Service & Owner's Manuals (original) | eBay item #320432392393 | 2009.10 | USD $41.00 |
| Voice Board |
Voice Board and EQ Board on eBay | 2009.09 | USD $83.00 |
| EQ Board |
Voice Board and EQ Board on eBay | 2009.09 | USD $35.00 |
| Voice Board |
Dual Voice Board on eBay | 2009.08 | USD $128.75 |
| Voice Board | Two Voice Boards on eBay | 2009.06 | USD $150.00 |
| Voice Board | Two Voice Boards on eBay | 2009.06 | USD $150.00 |
| Brochure | eBay item #230339559161 | 2009.05 | £5.51 |
| International Musician Review (original) | eBay item #230333991082 | 2009.04 | £3.00 |
| Flight Case | Flight Case on eBay Germany | 2009.03 | €20,00 |
| Footswitch | Footswitch on eBay | 2009.03 | USD $14.51 |
| Voice Board | Voice Board on eBay | 2009.02 | USD $71.52 |
| Footswitches (3) | Three Footswitches on eBay | 2009.02 | USD $69.00 |
| Expander Shell | Chroma Expander case for sale | 2009.01 | USD $200.00 |
| JLCooper ChromaFace | eBay item #330292703485 | 2008.12 | USD $46.56 |
| Flight Case | New to list, looking for Chroma Case | 2005.09 | USD $149.00 |
| Channel Motherboard | Channel Motherboard on eBay | 2003.12 | USD $39.00 |
| Syntech MIDI Interface | The auction for the Syntech Midi Interface | 2003.11 | USD $223.50 |
| Dual Pedal | Chroma Footswitch on eBay | 1999.11 | USD $20.50 |