A History of Inspiration and Obscurity
In 1978, the original Wasp iteration hit the market as the first truly portable hybrid synth, and it came in at a price that opened up the world of synthesis to musicians on tight budgets. Though the sound of the Wasp was undeniably fat and biting, the housing was a bit fragile, and the use of conductive copper plates in lieu of traditional keys made it somewhat challenging to play. Shortly after the initial release, the Wasp got a 25-key moving keyboard upgrade, external audio input jack to its filter section, and mix controls for the oscillators and the audio input level. However, according to legend, less than 100 of these units were manufactured, making them some of the rarest commercially produced synths, which now command a stunningly high price on the collectors’ market. The Behringer Wasp Deluxe takes its design cues from that unit, carrying forward a loved but nearly lost sound that inspired artists such as David A. Stewart, Chick Correa, Keith Emerson, and Rick Wakeman.