We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: Arrived at RL Music in September 2017

Restoration Status: A full system-wide operational restoration by KSR has already been carried out (completed in 1st November 2017), so this Memorymoog Plus is ready for sale now.

Remarks: We present the epic Memorymoog Plus (Factory MIDI & Sequencer version), in excellent cosmetic condition and only just fully overhauled to top operational condition. The Memorymoog is a truly outstanding analogue polysynth that is unique and unrivalled in sheer power and character but sounds nothing like 6 Minimoogs, in spite of internet lore.

Provenance
This Memorymoog has been privately owned by a musician since the mid-nineties and was at that time, based in Berlin. This Memorymoog was used principally in the production deep underground techno, thus demonstrating the versatility of these hugely capable instruments.

The owner had the synth flight-cased and stored for a few years, so prudently decided to commission KSR to undertake a ground-up operational restoration to bring the Moog up to pristine operational condition, ready for sale though RL Music.

KSR has considerable experience working with this unique model and have implemented a number of critical VCO stabilisation and power regulation improvements which should see many years of reliable service ahead. For a full breakdown of what’s been covered then please email us for more details.

Only light cosmetic restoration has been carried out on the cabinet (light stain & waxed) as it was in great condition already, and deep-cleaning to all the exterior surfaces. The only item we need to note is that the original Moog ‘sequencer/MIDI’ text plate that sat over the MIDI & I/O sockets on the back of the synth is missing. We would grade this is “extremely good original condition – 8.9 out of 10 cosmetically.’

This second iteration of the Memorymoog, the ‘Plus’, came fitted with rudimentary MIDI (note on/off only), and an onboard sequencer. If more modern & sophisticated MIDI CC control is required then we can supply and fit a new Kenton MIDI kit for the new owner – subject to quotation. Please email us for details on this if an updated MIDI system is required to be fitted post-purchase.

The Memorymoog featured in the following Youtube demo was supplied by RL Music in 2014. The artist, known as Mr Firechild (www.firechild.se), produced this excellent track on the actual synth not long after he received the synth from us. If you are in any doubt about how stunning beautiful sounding these synths are, then listen to this (click the link below):

https://youtu.be/rmN9KaBILQ8

This Memorymoog Plus operates on EU 220V, although it was originally a 110V system – KSR modified it during the overhaul. it’s sold with a 3-month warranty. Included with the sale is a UK IEC Power-cable, and also an original bound Memorymoog user manual.

Price: £7990 GBP.

Availability: This Memorymoog Plus is now SOLD as at 10th December 2017.

Pictures of the actual Memorymoog Plus for sale are below.

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: Arrived at RL Music in May 2017

Restoration Status: A full system-wide operational restoration by KSR has already been carried out (completed in 23rd August 2017), so this Memorymoog is ready for sale now.

Remarks: We present the rare and epic Memorymoog (standard Mk1 version with no MIDI), in excellent cosmetic condition and only just fully overhauled to top operational condition.

This Memorymoog has been in private ownership for some years, with home use only although not used in some time, so the owner had commissioned KSR to undertake a ground-up operational restoration to bring the Moog up to pristine operational condition, ready for sale though RL Music. KSR has considerable experience working with this unique model and have implemented a number of critical VCO stabilisation and power regulation improvements which should see many years of reliable service ahead. For a full breakdown of what’s been covered then please email us for more details.

Although no cosmetic restoration has been carried out other than deep-cleaning to all the exterior surfaces, the cosmetic condition is 100% original and very good indeed, as you can see from the pictures below.

This first Memorymoog version from Moog did not come with MIDI, and this example has not been retrofitted during its lifetime, so if MIDI is required then we can supply and fit a new Kenton MIDI kit for the new owner – subject to quotation. Please email us for details on this if MIDI is required to be fitted post-purchase.

The Memorymoog featured in the following Youtube demo was supplied by RL Music in 2014. The artist, known as Mr Firechild (www.firechild.se), produced this excellent track on the actual synth not long after he received the synth from us. If you are in any doubt about how stunning beautiful sounding these synths are, then listen to this (click the link below):

https://youtu.be/rmN9KaBILQ8

This Memorymoog operates on EU 220V. it’s sold with a 3-month warranty. Included with the sale is a UK IEC Power-cable, and we will also include a PDF copy of the user manual.

Price: £7490 GBP.

Availability: This Memorymoog is now SOLD as at 27th September 2017.

Click on the thumbnail for higher resolution photo of the actual Memorymoog for sale.

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock:  23rd January 2017.

Servicing Status: Full restoration by KSR has already been carried out in February 2017, so this Synthi AKS is ready for sale now.

Remarks: A fabulous opportunity to own your EMS Synthi AKS, and very early model is excellent condition.

We checked the serial number to get the the manufacturing date with EMS, and Robin Wood confirmed the Synthi AKS was made in December 1972.

At some time the past, the Keyboard-Sequencer unit was modified with the vents you can see in the pictures. We did ask EMS about this and Robin said this was not a factory mod, but he acknowledged that the voltage regulators that sit under these vents do get quite warm in operation. The owner honestly can’t remember having this modification done, but it looks okay actually, and obviously does not effect the operation in any way.

These iconic and truly amazing pure analogue music instruments are in great demand by professional users, and prices are being driven up fast on the second-hand market around the world, so now might be a good time to invest in one before they become ‘Vintage Buchla or RA Moog Modular’ prices.

This EMS Synthi AKS did come from the owner with a partial set of worn Matrix pins, which we have used to picture it with, but the pins are in need to replacing to ensure a reliable contact within the matrix panel, so we have purchased a brand new set from EMS which will be supplied with the instrument, and are included in the sales price below.

As this Synthi AKS is 45 years old, and did not have any significant service history, we asked KSR to carry out an extensive ground-up restoration to bring it back to its former glory, whilst ensuring its authenticity is preserved as much as possible. Electronic instruments of this age need a deep level of restoration, but we approach this kind of work sympathetically.

The restoration time & resources invested into this instrument by KSR include:

>Strip-down of panels & Spartanite case.
>Spartanite case deep-cleaned & all hardware cleaned.
>Control Panels deep-cleaned (vary carefully).
>Every control component (potentiometers/switches/matrix panel), cleaned & lubricated
>All three Vernier dials replaced (EMS supplied parts) but original potentiometers retained.
>Power-Supply re-capped & calibrated.
>Brand new Matrix Pin set (from EMS).
>Full system-wide calibration, test & soak-test.

Inevitably, there are some parts that will needed replacement (mostly ageing capacitors). We always work alongside EMS technical guidelines to ensure we can keep the authenticity of these 45+ year old synths intact, so no components that would effect the sound will be changed unless we absolutely have too, and even then, we will only source NOS parts from the same production era.

The above restoration work is the minimum we asked KSR to carry out on the Synthi AKS, but In addition to the above, the following work can also be carried out by request. This is a costed option, so is additional to the sales prices listed at the bottom of this page:

*VCO stabilisation modification implemented in line with EMS guidelines = £400 GBP

This Synthi AKS operates on EU 220V or US 110V (switchable) – it will be sold with a 3 month warranty. Aside the new set of Matrix Pins included, the original Cinch-Jones Synthi-to-KS cable is also included with the instrument.

Sales Price: £12,500 GBP.

Availability: This Synthi AKS is now SOLD as at 21st March 2017.

Click on the thumbnail for higher resolution photo of the actual Synthi AKS for sale.

We are Brokering this VCS3 Mk1 “The Putney” for and on their behalf of our UK customer.

Restoration Status: Restoration has been completed by our Service Partner – KSR (Kent Spong Restorations) on 22nd September 2016.

Remarks: So how about owning an early 1970s Mk1 Putney – one of the most sought-after synthesizers in the world! We very rarely have these in stock, and having a 45-year-old historic music instrument in our possession is always an honour and privilege.

This iconic, and historically important, synthesizer comes from a time when the whole concept of electronic music instruments was in its infancy. This VCS3 would have been made around the time that the first Minimoog appeared to the world, and only a few years after the first Moog modular was created for musicians…wonderous times indeed for electronic music.

We are Brokering this amazing instrument for our UK client, a music teacher (retired), who had acquired it from college music department disposal some 30 years or so ago, and the VCS3 had been kept boxed up by the owner and unused in all that time. Upon first inspection, KSR noted that the VCS3 was in great condition internally, so it has been well maintained during it’s working life as an EM education tool in the 1970s. The overall condition is very good in fact, so post-restoration this will present beautifully, although there is a serial number etched into the rear-panel (photos will be supplied to show this), it’s at the back and quite normal to see on these education supplied synths. Many VCS3 from this period come from education establishments, so it adds really interesting provenance and context we think.

As this VCS3 Mk1 ‘Putney’ has been in storage for quite a while, we had asked KSR to carry out an extensive ground-up restoration to bring it back to its former glory, whilst ensuring we preserved their authenticity at the same time. Electronic instruments of this age need a deep level of restoration, but we approach this kind of work sympathetically.

The time & resources invested into this instrument will include:

>Strip-down of every component, panels, cabinet
>Original wood cabinet sympathetically re-finished by hand (preserving patina).
>Control Panels deep-cleaned (vary carefully).
>Every control component (potentiometers/switches/matrix panel) stripped, cleaned & lubricated
>Power-Supply re-capped & calibrated.
>Brand new Matrix Pin set (from EMS).
>Brand new power cable (from EMS).
>Full system-wide test & calibration.

The above restoration work is the minimum we are investing into the instruments.

In addition to the above, the following work can also be carried out by request. This is a costed option, so would be added to the sales prices listed at the bottom of this page:

*VCO stabilisation modification implemented in line with EMS guidelines = £400 GBP

As mentioned above, we have already purchased a brand new (full) set of matrix pins, supplied from EMS, for this VCS3, and a new power cable. The new matrix pins will ensure a strong continuity of contact in the Matrix Panel.

Inevitably, there are some parts that will need replacement (mostly ageing capacitors). We always work alongside EMS technical guidelines to ensure we can keep the authenticity of these 45+-year-old synths intact, so no components that would affect the sound will be changed unless we absolutely have too, and even then, we will only source NOS parts from the same production era.

Also, we have not replaced the original cabinet, or get the panels repainted/screen-printed, so both instruments are kept 100% original. However, if you prefer to purchase this VCS3 MK1 and then want to have the panels refinished (repainted/screen-printed) to look perfect then this is possible of course, so please contact us for a quote to have this carried out.

As you can see from the pictures, The presentation is excellent considering this synth is 45 years old, and it offers an excellent investment if you have been looking for a ‘keeper’ for your own collection.

Price:

Mk1 VCS3 ‘The Putney’ = £10,900 GBP.

Availability: This EMS VCS3 MK1 Putney is now SOLD as at 29th March 2018.

Click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos of actual synth for sale.

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: August 2016.

Restoration Status: KSR have already fully undertaken a full overhaul of the Arp 2600 + 3604-P Keyboard ( completed in January 2017), so both items are ready for sale now.

Remarks: We have been given a unique opportunity here as this Arp 2600 + 3604-P Keyboard are owned by the son of the late Johnny Arbiter, who many of you will know, was the owner/operator (post 1990) of the famous Turnkey music retail business in London. Johnny died in 2003, and much of the collection of vintage keys that formed part of the Turnkey studio museum passed to his son, Dan Arbiter – our client.

We weren’t given a lot of detailed background information on this Arp 2600 System, but it was certainly in the Turnkey collection for some years (post 1990), although kept in storage since around 2005, hence our client had commissioned KSR to undertake a full systems-wide overhaul of both instruments, to prepare them for sale.

We’re confident that this version is a 2600P V3.0, manufactured between 1972 to 1974.

Features: Semi-normalised – 3 VCOs, 4 pole Lowpass VCF, VCA, Ring Modulator, 2 EGs, sample & hold Noise, Mic Preamp, Spring Reverb, Voltage Processor and Four Octave Keyboard….the list goes on.

Contains (see picture below):
Original Arp (Moog lawsuit) Filter for this model (encapsulated) 4012
VCOs are original (all encapsulated but no markings) will be Arp 4027-1
Ring Mod is 4014
VCA is 4019

Noted Modifications:

The LED modification on each VCO basically tracks the waveform pulse, so you have a visual reference on the speed of the oscillator, although at higher frequencies this LED becomes constant of course, but the lower the frequency then it’s actually quite useful, especially in darkened studio. The 1/4″ jack output modification about the pan-outs is just a mono-out socket, so handy if you want to take a mono signal straight out to a desk or outboard without needing an adaptor from the 3.5mm sockets.

Notes on the cosmetic condition:

The control surfaces/panels on the synth & keyboard are in very good original condition, so it was decided not to have these cosmetically restored, in order to keep them original. The Tolex covering and bright-work was in need of restoration (as is common on the old Arp systems), so KSR have re-covered both units, and replaced all the exterior nickel plated components. The Keys on the 3604-P were in good shape, so again, where kept original to retain that authentic vintage ageing across the key-bed.

Notes on the restoration:

Aside the re-Tolexing and replacement of the exterior bright work mentioned above, the operational restoration on the 2600 is extensive, and mostly all Arp 2600 systems we see these days need this level of attention to be honest. KSR have undertaken a complete ground-up rebuild of the electronics with full test and calibrations and PSU rebuild etc. Each and every slider was split apart, cleaned and rebuilt, every jack cleaned & tested, and a system-wide check of all connectors, and solder joints etc. Where possible, all the original parts were retained to ensure continuity and authenticity but some ageing components like power conditioning caps have been replaced, but only were absolutely necessary.

Around a £2000 GBP has been invested into this restoration, and most certainly worth with every penny, as a fully working Arp 2600 is still one of the best modular synths ever made, and as relevant to making music with today as it was 40+ years ago, with many pro-studios today using one as their ‘go-to synth.’

This vintage work of electronic art is now in fantastic condition throughout. It is supplied with its original paired monophonic 3604-P keyboard. Having the keyboard is useful but it has limited access to the extensive inputs into the main synth, so to get the most out of any Arp 2600 we would recommend using a multi-channel Midi to CV device like the Kenton Pro-2000…which we can supply but is not included in the price (ask us for a quote).

These instruments have become very hard to find in anything approaching even below average condition these days, so here is a rare opportunity to own a superb fully professionally restored example that will only appreciate in value and add something special to your studio. The provenance also adds something special to this system, so it’s genuinely part of synth lore.

This Arp 2600 + 3604-P Keyboard are sold with a 3 month warranty, and runs on EU220V. Both units come with their lids, and CV/Gate & Power cable. We are able to supply a copy of the user manual (PDF).

We can ship world-wide, so please ask us for a packaging & shipping quote for your preferred destination address.

Price: £7500 GBP.

Availability: This Arp 2600 + 3604-P Keyboard are now SOLD as at 6th February 2017.

Picture supplied below are of the actual Arp 2600 + 3604-P keyboard, but more high-res pictures will be available shortly.

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our client

Came into stock: January 2017.

Restoration Status: KSR to service once sold, and prior to shipping to the new owner. This LAMM is in perfect working condition, but the servicing work is standard on all our vintage synths for sale, although it is more akin to a ‘health-check’ on a instrument of this fine condition.

The Memorymoog is an outstanding analogue polysynth that is unique and unrivalled in sheer power and character. Moog did something amazing creating this beautiful instrument, and they pushed the technology of the day to its limits, but then Lintronics developed this amazing upgrade to create arguably the most powerful vintage analogue polysynth ever, and a synthesizer that sits perfectly in a 21st Century production environment.

More info on the Lintronics LAMM implementation can be found by clicking this link: http://www.lintronics.de/lamm.html

It’s not very often we get the chance to offer a LAMM for sale but we have been given the opportunity to sell this beautiful machine for our client who is downsizing their collection, and this example has been very well cared for…no expense spared.

Having a Memorymoog in stock alone would be treat enough but these Lintronics versions are highly coveted. The cost of implementing the LAMM upgrade is near the actually supply cost of the donor machine these days, plus factoring in the waiting time to have it done by Rudi means getting hold of these very special versions is almost impossible. We’ve seen demand for LAMM Memorymoogs go though the roof in recent years, what with top music professionals buying them up, and this trend is only ever going to go one way, so this should be viewed as a rare opportunity to own your own.

Information on this Memorymoog LAMM:

The LAMM upgrade on this particular model was carried out Rudi at Lintonics in 2010.
The LAMM was pro-restored within the last 2 months, and when we received it from our client a few weeks ago, it was 100% perfect operationally.
The serial number on this Memorymoog (a ‘Plus’ version originally) is #3019
The Memorymoog was originally a 110V system, but the transformer was modified to run EU 220V back in 2000.

Documents included with the synth are:

Moog Owners and service manual ( printed + pdf )
Moog Technical service information manual ( pdf )
Lintronics user manual ( printed + pdf )
Moog Memorymoog sound-charts ( printed + pdf )
LAMM sound bank collection ( 21 full banks ) – sysex format
Memorymoog sound bank collection including Factory ( 43 full banks ) – midi file

The cosmetic condition of the Memorymoog is excellent, and as mentioned above, is in 100% perfect working order.

As with all Brokered Sales, the synth will be fully serviced post-sale before it’s sent to its new owner. We do this to ensure that the instrument leaves us in perfect operational condition, and it is backed up by our full warranty to give the new owner complete peace of mind. The servicing is carried out as a priority once the the sale has been completed, and although it will delay shipping/delivery by a short time, we know from experience that customers are happy to wait.

This LAMM is sold through RL Music with a 3 month warranty, and runs on EU 220V via the normal IEC connector (UK cable/plug type will be supplied).

Availability: This LAMM is now SOLD as at 2nd February 2017.

Price: £11500 GBP.

Click on the thumbnails for higher resolution photos of actual synth for sale.

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: August 2016.

Restoration Status: KSR have already fully undertaken a full overhaul of the System 15 and 950 Keyboard in Nov 2016, so both items are ready for sale now.

Remarks: We have been given a unique opportunity here as this vintage original Moog System 15 & 950 Keyboard are owned by the son of the late Johnny Arbiter, who many of you will know, was the owner/operator (post 1990) of the famous Turnkey music retail business in London. Johnny died in 2003, and much of the collection of vintage keys that formed part of the Turnkey studio museum passed to his son, Dan Arbiter – our client.

We weren’t given a lot of detailed background information on this Moog System 15 & 950 Keyboard, but they certainly were in the Turnkey collection for some years (post 1990), although they have been in storage since around 2005, hence our client had commissioned KSR to undertake a full systems-wide overhaul of both instruments, to prepare them for sale.

Notes on the cosmetic condition:

Both units are in very good original condition. The original Tolex on the System 15 is in remarkable order with no tears, and the nickel hardware all showing a beautiful vintage patina. The 950 keyboard has it’s original wood cabinet which is in good condition, although does have a few signs of natural ageing and use, but the keys are undamaged, having an even colour. The module faceplates themselves are in excellent condition (as are the internal circuits), so we would rate both items as 9 out of 10 cosmetically – collector grade. Both items have not had any deeper cosmetic treatments (like re-tolexing or new wood cabinets etc.), so these would appeal to a more purist collector/enthusiast looking for a more authentic vintage look.

Notes on the restoration:

An IEC socket was fitted sometime during the lifetime of the System 15 to enable the system to be used in the UK, and although the power-supply has been reconditioned, it runs on US 110V (the transformer can’t be modified to run EU 220V). Originally, the system was supplied from Moog with the standard 3-pin US power-socket from the factory back in the 1970s.

All the 1/4 inch jack-sockets have been replaced with high-quality Switchcraft® panel mount sockets to improve connectivity. KSR implemented this upgrade as 40+ year old sockets can be very intermittent in connection, regardless of cleaning, and this can be very frustrating for users of voltage controlled/audio systems like these.

Our vintage Moog restoration expert, Kent Spong of KSR, undertook an extensive ground-up restoration on the System 15 & 950 Keyboard Controller between August and November 2016. Other than the items noted above in the ‘modifications’ paragraph, no components that effected the sound character of the Moog were replaced (or needed to be in fact). We retained the original knobs though as these are a major cosmetic component to the aesthetic of this authentic vintage instrument.

Configuration Top to bottom:

As was typical with these earlier Moog Music Inc. System 15, they contain a mixture of RA Moog and later Moog Music inc. modules. The earliest module in the cabinet is dated November 1973 but the majority are dated 1974, so we can arguably date the production of the system from around that time.

907 Fixed Filter Bank (RA Moog)
904A Low Pass Filter
911 Envelope Generator
902 Voltage Controller Amplifier (RA Moog)
∞
921A Oscillator Driver
921B Voltage Controlled Oscillator
921B Voltage Controlled Oscillator
921 Voltage Controlled Oscillator
923 Noise Source w/ LP and HP Filters
911 Envelope Generator
902 Voltage Controller Amplifier (RA Moog)
∞
CP3 Mixer
– Reversible Attenuator
Controller Output
Trunk Lines
Power

This Moog Modular System 15 & 950 Keyboard are sold with a 3 month warranty, and as mentioned above, runs on US 110V. We were not supplied with any 1/4 inch jacks or cinch-jones S-Trig cables, although Synthesizers.com can supply these from new (recommended) here: http://www.synthesizers.com/qmse.html

We can ship world-wide, so please ask us for a packaging & shipping quote for your preferred destination address.

Price: £14990 GBP.

Availability: This Moog Modular System 15 & 950 Keyboard are now SOLD as at 24th March 2017.

Pictures supplied below are of the actual System 15 & keyboard, but more high-res pictures will be available shortly.

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our client in the USA.

We are very pleased to be able to offer an early muSonics Minimoog which are highly prized and rare models. These early Minimoog versions differ from the mainstream production versions (post 1973) in that they exclusively used the much fabled ‘RA Moog’ circuitry, metal-etched control panels (with more detailed incremental graphics), Walnut cabinets, squared back panel, clear perspex pitch/mod wheels.

The generally accepted wisdom on actual numbers of the muSonics Minimoogs manufactured suggest there were only around 150 or so ever made. There is an informative website dedicated to the Minimoog serial number history and registrations here:

Lords of the Mini
http://monsite-orange.fr/MiniMoog/page1/index.html

The serial numbers around this era were written with ink on the back sticker. This number has worn off, but by looking at the numbers on a couple of the boards inside it show that this unit is in the higher 128X range which would be correct as it was made in Williamsville, NY.

This actual instrument has just gone through a complete professional cosmetic & operational restoration in the USA, so is sold with a full warranty, but below is a summary of the work carried out by a professional vintage synth restorer.

Notes on the Cosmetic Restoration:
The original walnut cabinet was unfortunately beyond restoration, so a brand new one was commissioned for this Minimoog, This muSonics has a new set of knobs (from the original company that supplied Moog back on the 1970s), all new keys, a re-anodized back panel, new Switchcraft washers & nuts and all of the external black anodized screws have been replaced. The original lamp style cord has been retained.

The restoration has not been extended to include changing the etched metal front-panel work as it was felt that this cosmetic component was key to the ‘look’ of the Minimoog, so this remains original, although does of course show signs of age, but it’s still in very good condition for a 43+ year old instrument.

Notes on the Operational Restoration:
The Moog has been completely disassembled and cleaned, all electrolytic capacitors replaced (all boards/rectifier board, power supply), all switches burnished & cleaned, all potentiometers have been replaced ((including the modulation + pitch controls)) with brand new ones, all trim pots replaced, all edge card connectors re-soldered, has a new set of matched precision octave resistors and both noise generator transistors replaced – everything tightened. the keyboard has been completely rebuilt with new stand-offs, new keys, new key bushings, all pivot points on the keyboard re-lubed, the buss-bars burnished, keyboard leveled, new cable ties & clamps, and the synth has been fully calibrated (power supply, A440, octave switches, oscillators and vcf).

Please Note:
The MuSonics Mini is based in the USA (runs on 110V), so the cost of packing & shipping, and any applicable import duties are not covered in the advertised sales price below. For a quote to ship it to you the please contact Richard at RL Music directly to discuss your requirements etc.

Guide Price: £10,600 GBP.

Availability: This stunning vintage muSonics Minimoog is no longer available for sale now – updated 17th September 2017.

Picture of actual MuSonics Minimoog for sale below, so please click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

We are Brokering this very early (1972 manufactured) Minimoog for and on behalf of our UK client

Came into stock: Arrived at RL Music in July 2016.

Restoration Status: KSR have already fully undertaken a full service of the Moog in September 2016.

We present you with a 1972 manufactured Minimoog – one of the very first production models under the Moog Music Inc. company, which still used circuitry of the preceding RA Moog designs & technology.

We’ll start by telling you that this Minimoog offers a unique opportunity to access the fabled RA Moog sound, at a price that would be impossible otherwise. RA Moog modules like the 904A are selling for upwards for £3K GBP alone these days, so you will appreciate why we feel that this instrument is a genuine bargain.

The Minimoog itself has been heavily modified over its life, so is not a collector or museum piece by any stretch, but it delivers something very special in sound that all Minimoogs made subsequently just can’t sonically match.

So what is this Minimoog all about?

As all the PCB’s are RA Moog, this Minimoog has the fabled & early designed matched transistor ladder filter. It has its original clear perspex mod-wheel housing. The main control-surface metal facia had been replaced at some time with a later plastic version. The control knobs look original and are all quite worn, as are some of the switches and pots. The cabinet is not the original one, but is well made and in excellent condition, although the ‘Minimoog’ labels that should adorn the front & rear are missing. There are holes drilled into the rear-panel, and there is even an LED modification that indicates when voltages are being transmitted – we have no idea of the purpose of the mod, neither does the owner as he inherited it that way. The keys are worn & discoloured, and the key-bed itself is worn, but working. There is no serial number ID for this Minimoog that we could find, although that is not uncommon for these first Moog Music Inc. production models.

So, there’s a lot that’s been done to this Minimoog which, with today’s eyes, would seem slacriligeus, but this synth has been well used over its 44 year life, and….fully works. This synth would suit anyone wanting access to the best sounding analogue circuits ever made, whilst understanding the synth is not a show piece, but bragging rights for having an RA Moog driven Minimoog is pretty cool we think.

This could be a fantastic restoration opportunity for someone with the time to take it on, and being fundamentally an RA Minimoog, it’s certainly worth it, but we are just Brokering the synth for our client who wants to move it on and not invest into it. The UK owner has had it for over 20 years, and purchased it from another UK owner back in the 90s, but prior to that we have no history on the synth.

We were given the original metal facia (very worn), and (broken) cabinet by the owner, so these will be included in the sale. You could certainly have the facia restored if you wanted, so that’s worth considering if you’re thinking of taking this on as a project rebuild for the future.

KSR have given the Minimoog a full service, so it’s 100% fully working (it sounds amazing) and sold with our standard 3 month warranty.

Price: £2890 GBP.

Availability: This very early Minimoog is now SOLD, as at 29th September 2016.

Click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos of actual synth for sale.

RA Minimoog – Serial Number: 1112

By the end of 1970, the now incorporated R.A. Moog Inc. introduced the Minimoog, manufactured in Trumansburg NY. The first of all the subsequent Model D Minimoogs ever made were called the ‘RA Minimoog’ named so after after Robert (Arthur) Moog’s initials.

http://www.moogmusic.com/legacy/ra-moog-co-trumansburg-factory

We present you with a 1971 manufactured RA Minimoog, now available for sale.

This truly historic instrument has the fabled & early designed matched transistor ladder filter. It has its original clear perspex mod-wheel housing and metal facia. The control knobs look like they have been replaced at some time in the past as they are very clean indeed, too clean for a 45 year old Moog, but that’s not a bad thing in any way. There is a faded old sticker on the rear-panel with the serial number #1112 on.

It has to be one of many peoples life dream to own such an extraordinary instrument, and we are no different. Ordinarily an historic instrument of this rarity and value is kept locked away, but we are delighted to be able to have this available for you to own and appreciate (in every sense of the word).

It’s quite possible that Bob Moog himself had a hand in the assembly of this particular Minimoog and the original all metal facia and perspex wheels just add to the experience in knowing this is the genuine article from the early Moog company in 1971 – the year George Harrison reached number 4 in the UK charts with ‘My Sweet Lord.’

The history of this RA Minimoog #1112 that we have:

The original owner of this instrument can be traced back to Edgar Broughton, who purchased this RA Minimoog from a music store called Rotosound in Shaftsbury Avenue, London, England, in the winter of 1972 (we have letter from Edgar supporting this). At the time of sale, it was said that this actual Moog belonged to Keith Emerson, although there is no documentary proof of that fact, so that may have been a sales tactic by the rep at Rotosound, or maybe even true…who knows!

This RA Minimoog was used on many Edgar Broughton Band albums including; Inside Out, Oora, and most extensively on the Super Chip Album, along with some live performance work etc. The Edgar Broughton Band where a English psychedelic rock group founded in 1968 – more in them can be found here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Broughton_Band

It is one of Edgar Broughton’s Brothers who has approached RL Music to Broker the RA Minimoog, so we have a direct link of ownership from almost when the RA Minimoog was manufactured – this is pretty rare as most vintage Moog change ownership several times over 45 years.

This RA Minimoog has been used as a workhorse during its long and distinguished life, and we would be the fist to say that this example is properly well used machine, as Bob Moog meant them to be. You can see from the pictures that there are plenty of signs of wear and tear to the control surfaces, keys and cabinet, but KSR have undertaken a complete restoration to bring the presentation back to the best it can be whilst retaining its original character.

The Moog was probably converted to run 220V at some time in its life as we think this would have originally been 110V. All the internal RA Moog PCBs are original, and it is here that this synth truly excels. Although the synth itself had regular use, the operational side is in superb condition, and after some close attention by KSR, works 100% beautifully with it scaling/tracking exceptionally well, with very stable tuning. The sound of this RA Minimoog is divine and really what these are all about, thus proving that if you want the best sounding Moogs, then you’ve got to look way back to the early 1970s to get the real deal.

What did KSR do in terms of restoration?

My trusted Vintage Moog restoration expert, Kent Spong of KSR – London, has undertaken a sympathetic approach to the restoration to ensure it has retained the authentic essence of a 45 year old Moog synthesizer. The Minimoog has been completely rebuilt from scratch: The key-bed has been fully overhauled and re-bushed, deep cleaning to pots and switches, plus a full test and calibration ect. There has of course been much more detailed work then simply described here, but most of the technical work carried out has been to ensure the instrument is reliable and safe to use, but nothing has been replaced that effects the vintage Moog sound.

KSR have very carefully hand-finished the original Rose Wood Cabinet to bring back the character, and waxed finished it to enhance the natural ageing and darkening of the wood (its patina). Without doubt this RA Minimoog look beautifully old and special, it plays perfectly, scaling and tracking through all the footages very nicely thanks to the skill of a master restorer.

There is always more restoration work you can invest into these machines, but the more you start replacing things, then more you ‘dial out’ the history and authenticity, so in the case of the first Minimoogs ever made by the great Bob Moog, we feel less is more.

To conclude:

This is not a pristine condition high-end collector/museum grade example, so can’t attain the prices that would demand, but the owner is appreciative of the ‘used’ condition this RA Minimoog is presented to the market in, so the price below reflects this reality. If you want ‘that RA Moog sound’ and don’t mind a bit of real tangible history in your synths, then this surely has to be the perfect opportunity to own your own RA Minimoog.

This extraordinary instrument is being sold with our enhanced 6 month warranty.

Price: £8990 GBP.

Availability: This RA Minimoog is now SOLD as at 18th July 2016.

Click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos of actual synth for sale.

We are Brokering this Arp 2600 for and on behalf of our UK client.

Status: This item is in stock at RL Music.

Restoration Status: Full pre-sale service/health-check has just been completed by KSR, so the synth is available for sale now!

Remarks: Although these are not rare by some vintage synth standards, finding an Arp 2600 in anything approaching even good condition is a real challenge in 2016. This is why we invest such a lot of time, resources and money into getting them restored to the highest possible level that can be achieved – a FULL cosmetic and operational project restoration!

This sales listing is for an Arp 2600 synth only, so does not come with any keyboard controller. The actual version is a 2600P V3.0, manufactured between 1972 to 1974.

This Arp 2600 we are Brokering, was actually sold to the owner in 2013 by RL Music, so we are delighted to have the opportunity to re-sell such a fine example for our client.

Contains:
Original Arp (Moog lawsuit) Filter for this model (encapsulated) 4012
VCOs are original (one is encapsulated) Arp 4027-1
VCA is 4019

The owner of this Arp is the highly respected EM artist, Paul Lawler (www.paullawler.org). Paul kindly gave us his permission to disclose who the owner was as he felt there was some value in the potential new owner knowing that this 2600 has been used on his recent Arcane and Contact albums. There are even some video’s of Paul using this actual Arp 2600 here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RteFFsJjSrg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88SjxmIM3Rk

The restoration work we invested into this Arp 2600 in 2013 was extensive (what we term Total Restoration).  The work included re-Tolexing the cabinet & lid, stripped the control-panel to bare metal and had it professionally repainted and screen-printed. We had all the sliders and sockets deep cleaned and the whole synth was electronically restored including a PSU rebuild/re-cap etc. We even fitted a full set of brand new slider caps to finish it off.

This ex-RL Music prepared Arp 2600 is over 40 years old, and is in excellent condition, and only shows only the lightest of wear from 3 years of studio use at Paul’s premises.  On average we spend around £3000 GBP just in restoration costs for these models (synth & keys), and this example we are Brokering has gone through the full restorative treatment only 3 years ago. So, if you have been looking to own a beautiful condition, and electronically sorted Arp 2600, then look no further.

As this Arp has no original 3620 or 3604-P keyboard controller, the 2600 can be very simply operated via a Midi-to-CV converter, or any 1V/Oct controller for that matter. Using a multi-channel MIDI-to-CV device like the Kenton Pro-2000 means 3 note polyphonic (or paraphonic in fact) operation is achievable.

This Arp 2600 is sold with a 3 month warranty and runs on EU220V (via an IEC socket retro-fitted to the synth in 2013 by KSR). A copy owners manual will be supplied (on PDF), and a UK IEC power-cable if required.

Price: £6490 GBP.

Availability: This Arp 2600 is no longer available (as at 29th July 2016).

Click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos of actual synth for sale.

Steiner-Parker Synthacon Mk1

‘Rare’ doesn’t come close to describing how few and far between these vintage monosynths are these days, and once you have had the opportunity to play one you will understand why they never seem come up for sale anymore.

There’s some information on the web about the Steiner-Parker Synthacon and its designer, but the fundamentals are that it’s a 3 VCO system that uses a diode based 2-pole resonant low/band/highpass VCF, and simple but clever modulation routing that gives this machine true sonic magic. You will read about the resonance power that does not diminish thought the filter range…it’s true. The specs don’t really tell you anything really as it’s all about the sound and complex possibilities.

The Synthacons were designed and hand made by Nyle Steiner himself. The were produced under the synthesizer company called Steiner-Parker, which was a small business working out of Salt Lake City in the mid 1970s. The Steiner-Parker business was a jointly owned by Nyle, Dick Parker and a third partner. More info Nyle here: http://www.patchmanmusic.com/NyleSteinerHomepage.html

There were essentially 2 versions of the Synthacon, the Mk1 version we have here for sale, and the Mk2. The Mk2 was a duophonic version of the same instrument in effect, although the the Mk1 is said to have the edge on the Mk2 in pure sonic terms – manufactured from around 1975.

These instruments were all hand made, and the design and construction of the synth reflects that boutique feel to the synth, but the heart of it all is the sound and flexibility of this unique machine. A true masterpiece of simplicity and power in such an unassuming package. A synth for the connoisseur you might say.

We all appreciate that there are a small, but very distinguished, list of vintage synthesizers that transcend all logic, commercially speaking. Why indeed we should would want them so badly is sometimes difficult to explain, but electronic music instruments from Buchla, EMS, Serge, and many vintage Moog synths etc., are all held in high regard for being something special…vintage in fact (by definition). The Synthacon is in this special group of exotic vintage electronic music technology.

This actual instrument had gone through a complete professional cosmetic & operational restoration in the USA in 2012, and we imported it into the UK to be part of our private collection. This immaculate Synthacon Mk1 has been in our possession since, and will be fully serviced prior to shipping to its new owner, and of course, sold with a full warranty. We are selling it as we already have 2 other Synthacons in our collection, so have decided to release this beautiful synth back to the market for someone else to enjoy.

This Synthacon runs on 110V. We decided to keep it original and not replace the power-supply to a EU rated 220V unit to keep it an authentic as possible. If it sells to an EU customer then we will supply a step-down transformer to operate the synth, free of charge.

We also have a PDF copy of the owners manual & service notes/schematics which we will supply.

Guide Price: £8490 GBP.

Availability: This Steiner-Parker Synthacon Mk1 is now SOLD as at 20th December 2016.

Picture of actual Synthacon Mk1 for sale below, so please click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

We present a most beautiful example of world’s most famous synthesizer which has been fully restored by our partners KSR, and has been part of our own private collection for some time.

This very late model was one of the last few hundred to be manufactured, around 1981, which makes this a very stable in tuning and tracking – utilising the buffer-board (factory fitted) and late Moog VCOs.

A note on the restoration:

On this particular example, we decided to furnish it with a brand new custom made cabinet from made from an stunningly beautiful (and very expensive) wood called Figured Bubinga, which is renewably sourced from Equatorial Africa.  You can see from the pictures that is has a deep and beautiful character about it and is about the most stunning wood finish on a synth we have ever seen . The cabinet was replaced due to the original having suffered some cosmetic damage which we concluded could not be sufficiently restored….but we’re very glad we did as the results are sublime.

Operationally speaking, from the restoration standpoint, we do not change any electronic components that would compromise the integrity of this Moogs character.  There might be some components that we will have prudently replaced due to age like but these are off-the-shelf components.  The Keyboard is completely stripped and rebuilt with a full set of new bushings and the final calibration and test finishes of the restoration.

The aluminum real panel enclosure is completely original.  We decided not to have the panel re-anodized as it contains some original Moog factory stickers that give this instrument complete authenticity.  Restoration is a about balance, and although the cabinet is not the original brown varnished factory one, we think this example is quite exquisite.  The Minimoog was originally purchased to go into our own private collection but we need space and some funds for other projects coming along.

As you can see, the appearance of this professionally restored instrument is remarkable and and ‘very-high-end collectors quality.’

Considering the age, outstanding condition, and additional care taken in restoring this Minimoog, we are confident that she will see at least another 40 years of faithful operation. Being a Minimoog, this is naturally an excellent investment and an everyday useable music instrument.

This example is sold with a full 3 months warranty and can run either US or EU voltage through the power switch on the rear-panel.

Price: £4990 GBP.

Availability: This Minimoog #12655 is now SOLD as at 26th September 2016.

Click on the thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

Came into stock:  December 2014

Servicing Status: Full restoration by KSR has just been completed.

Remarks: A rare opportunity to own your EMS Synthi AKS in excellent pro-restored condition, and has some great modifications to extend it’s functionality.

This Synthi AKS has a really interesting and genuine provenance as it was purchased new by the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (UK) from EMS back in the 1970s. The Synthi was used for electroacoustic educational programs right up until the 90s, but then stored. The person we purchased it from was a student there and acquired it from the college when they were upgrading their music department about 18 years ago, and it had remained unused since.

When KSR received the Synthi AKS, and they got on with some preliminary restorative cleaning work, it revealed a really lovely cosmetic condition machine, and the electronics inside were in almost pristine condition. We know that the college had some modifications implemented to the synth, which very nicely extended the functionality, but this instrument was clearly well looked after. As part of the restoration work KSR have carried out, all these mods have been tested and everything checked out perfectly.

There is no documentation on the modifications, but from what we can determine through testing, the following has been implemented:

>VCO 1 assign to LFO mode switch
>VCO 2&3 wave-shape invert switch
>VCO 1,2&3 wave-shape assign switch
>VCO 2&3 extended wave-shape control knobs
>Envelope auto-trigger disable switch
>Reverb dry/wet enable switch
>Multi-turn potentiometers on the Input Level 1&2 controls (very useful for fine tuning).

The Synthi AKS is an extremely powerful synthesizer in standard spec, but these mods can really take the synth to a different level altogether.

These iconic and truly amazing pure analogue music instruments are in great demand by professional users, and prices are being driven up fast on the second-hand market around the world, so now might be a good time to invest in one before they become ‘Vintage Buchla or Moog Modular’ prices.

This EMS Synthi AKS comes with a full compliment of Matrix pins. KS inter-connect cable, and of course the power cable. It can operate on either EU 220V or US 110V (switchable), and it is sold with our normal 3 month warranty.

Sales Price: £9,900 UK Pounds.

Availability: This Synthi AKS is now SOLD as at 22nd April 2016.

Pictures below of actual Synthi AKS for sale, so please click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

We are Brokering this vintage EMS VCS3 Mk1 & DK2 for and on their behalf of our UK customer.

Restoration Status: Restoration is now complete on both instruments (Nov 2015) by our RL Music Service Partner – KSR (Kent Spong Restorations), so both items are ready for sale & shipping now!

Remarks: So how about owning an early 1970s Mk1 Putney – one of the most sought after synthesizers in the world, we very rarely have these in stock, and having a 43+ year old historic music instrument in our possession is always an honour and privilege.

This iconic, and historically important, synthesizer comes from a time when the whole concept of electronic music instruments was in its infancy. This VCS3 would have been made around the time that the first Minimoog appeared to the world, and only a few years after the first Moog modular was created for musicians…wonderous times indeed for electronic music.

Also, having the slightly later EMS DK2 Keyboard Controller is a real bonus as some players like having the option of a more traditional playing style whilst using the VCS3, as well as having the natural hard-core experimental nature of the synth via drones & the joy-stick useage etc. So the VCS3 certainly benefits from accessing the synth via this keyboard, and it provides a complete package for anyone looking for the genuine article in terms of an true vintage EMS analogue controller, and a third VCO in fact (on board the DK2).

We are Brokering this vintage EMS system for our UK owner who had both instruments kept in his professional London studio for the best part of 30 years. The owner admitted that neither the VCS3 of DK2 has seen much use in production, so felt it was time now to let someone else enjoy using these amazing machines. Both the synth and keyboard were well taken care of during the last 3 decades, and upon early assessment from our restoration guru – Kent at KSR, he commented that the internals of the VCS3 “looked like new” & not 40 years old!

Although both the VCS3 Mk1 ‘Putney’ & DK2 had been very well looked after, we have asked KSR to carry out an extensive ground-up restoration to bring bring both items back to their former glory, whilst ensuring we preserved their authenticity at the same time. Electronic instruments of this age need a deep level of restoration, but we approach this kind of work sympathetically.

The time & resources invested into this instrument will include:

>Strip-down of every component, panels, cabinet
>Original wood cabinet to be stripped back to bare wood and re-finished by hand (preserved patina).
>Control Panels deep-cleaned (vary carefully).
>Every control component (potentiometers/switches/matrix panel) stripped, cleaned & lubricated
>Each original Matrix pin cleaned & tested.
>Power-Supply re-capped & distribution PCB upgraded, calibrated.
>Replacement chrome Cliff caps/inserts for some knobs.
>Brand new power cable.
>Full system-wide test & calibration.

The above restoration work is the minimum we are investing into the instruments.

In addition to the above, the following work can also be carried out by request. These are costed options, so are additional to the sales prices listed at the bottom of this page:

VCO stabilisation modification implemented in line with EMS guidelines = £400 GBP
A brand new (full) set of gold-plated matrix pins supplied (from EMS) = £240 GBP

Inevitably, there are some parts that have needed replacement (mostly ageing capacitors). We always work alongside EMS technical guidelines to ensure we can keep the authenticity of these 40+ year old synths intact, so no components that would effect the sound will be changed unless we absolutley have too, and even then, we will only source NOS parts from the same production era. Also, we will not replace the original cabinet, or get the panels repainted/screen-printed, so both instruments are going to be kept 100% original. The final presentation on both items (as you can see from the pictures below) is stunning, and offers an excellent investment if you have been looking for a ‘keeper’ for your own collection.

Price:

Mk1 VCS3 ‘The Putney’ and DK2 Keyboard Controller = £11,480 GBP

Availability: This EMS VCS3 MK1 Putney & DK2 are now SOLD as at 24th May 2016.

Pictures of the actual VCS3 Mk1 and DK2 for sale are below, so please click on the thumbnails for higher resolution shots.

We are Brokering this instrument for and on behalf of our client in the USA

Another ultra-rare version of this amazing vintage synthesizer, the Mk2 Synthacon is a truly outstanding mono-synth that is on of the worlds best kept synth-secrets.

The Synthacon is a 3 VCO system that uses a diode based 2-pole resonant low/band/highpass VCF, and simple but clever modulation routing that gives this machine true sonic magic. The resonance power does not diminish thought the filter range – stunning!. The specs don’t really tell you anything really as it’s all about the sound and complex possibilities.

The Synthacons were designed and hand made by Nyle Steiner himself. The were produced under the synthesizer company called Steiner-Parker, which was a small business working out of Salt Lake City in the mid 1970s. The Steiner-Parker business was a jointly owned by Nyle, Dick Parker and a third partner. More info Nyle here: http://www.patchmanmusic.com/NyleSteinerHomepage.html

There were essentially 2 versions of the Synthacon – we also have a immaculate Mk1 for sale at the moment, but we present here the duophonic Mk2 version, which is distinctive in its black-face livery.

This actual instrument has just gone (Nov 2015) through a complete professional cosmetic & operational restoration in the USA, so is sold with a full warranty. Here is a summary of the work completed:

Power supply rebuilt, all capacitors replaced (circuitry, audio, PSU), all controls cleaned (pots, jacks, switches), replaced fuse, replaced trigger button, replaced all switch-nuts, keyboard completely rebuilt (buss-bars + j-wire polished, all pivot points re-lubed, new bushings), and completely calibrated. Also has new keys, new screws, new handle, new walnut wood cabinet, and new knobs.

This Mk2 Synthacon is in outstanding cosmetic condition, but there is a mark in the VCO 3 section that you can see from the pictures. We mention this for full disclosure, but the panel has been left completely original to retain its authenticity, although this could be restored by us in the UK if preferred (a costed option – please enquire).

These instruments were all hand made, and the design & construction of the synth reflects that (genuine) boutique feel to the synth, but the heart of it all is the sound and flexibility of this unique machine. A true masterpiece of simplicity and power in such an unassuming package. A synth for the connoisseur you might say.

We all appreciate that there are a small, but very distinguished, list of vintage synthesizers that transcend all logic, commercially speaking. Why indeed we should would want them so badly is sometimes difficult to explain, but electronic music instruments from Buchla, EMS, Serge, and many vintage Moog synths etc., are all held in high regard for being something special…vintage in fact (by definition). The Synthacon is in this special group of exotic vintage electronic music technology.

The Synthacon Mk2 is based in the USA (runs on 110V), so the cost of shipping, and any applicable import duties are not covered in the advertised sales price below. For a quote to ship it to you the please contact Richard at RL Music directly to discuss your requirements etc.

Guide Price: £8490 GBP.

Availability: This Steiner-Parker Synthacon Mk2 is no longer available for sale, this listing was updated in November 2015.

Pictures of actual Synthacon Mk2 for sale are below (client supplied), so please click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos.