Sequential Circuits Prophet-5

The Prophet-5 synthesizer is an analog polyphonic 5-voice synthesizer released in 1978 by Sequential Circuits. It was one of the most popular synths of the late 70s and early 80s, known for its ability to store and recall sounds, a feature which many synthesizers before it had lacked. It was used by the likes of Peter Gabriel, XTC, Phil Collins, Hall & Oates, Larry Fast, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Madonna, INXS, Jean-Michel Jarre, Talking Heads, Wally Badarou, Eurythmics and many more.

Andy Summers owned a Prophet-5, probably a Rev 2. He played this synthesizer on Police albums Ghost In The Machine and Synchronicity. On those records, he used the Prophet-5 to blend with guitar melodies to develop unique sounds on particular songs. For example, on "Spirits In The Material World", in the melody that plays throughout the third verse, Andy developed the sound of an 'oriental-sounding instrument' by combining a Prophet-5 preset with guitar 'played up very high and plucked dry'. Other examples of this include "King Of Pain" and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" from Synchronicity.

Live, Andy toured with the Prophet during the Summer 1982 leg of the Ghost In The Machine world tour - he's seen with it in footage of the Gateshead concert on 31 July 1982, for example. It replaced the Minimoog, but he eventually switched back to the Minimoog for subsequent tours with The Police. Possibly because the Prophet-5 was notorious for its share of maintenance problems.