We are Brokering these instruments for and on behalf of our UK customer

Came into stock: March 2021.

Servicing Status: Full service by KSR has already been carried out in March 2021 and both units were fully health-checked again in June 2021, so both the VCS3 Mk2 (Serial #1308) & DK1 (Serial #2113) are ready for sale now.

Remarks: An EMS VCS3 Mk2 with a very interesting provenance.

The current owner has only owned this VCS3/DK1 for over 20 years and only used it at home, but had been stored for some time until KSR was commissioned to carry out a full service on the equipment to get it ready for sale through our Brokering Service.

The VCS3 was owned by Hans Zimmer.

Cosmetic Appraisal:

This VCS3 Mk2 is in good all original (operationally unmodified) condition, and although it shows some wear to the control surface, it’s in keeping with an instrument of this age (around 45+ years old).  The wood case is in good condition and has not been ‘over-restored,’ so has a naturally aged patina to it.  

There is an additional wood strip that’s been added to the bottom control panel, which is there to hide some graffiti that has been hand-etched into the metal panel. As you can see from the pictures, it claims to have been owned by Hans Zimmer, so we contacted him to ask if he knew anything about it…he did!  Hans confirmed that that exact VCS3 was the very first synth he ever owned, although he couldn’t remember what happened to it after his time using it in the UK way back in the early days of his career, so a nice provenance. 

The lower control panel having been hand-etched like this is certainly not something anyone would do these days, but the VCS3 was probably only worth a couple of hundred £-Pounds when this was defaced, so it’s relative.  It would certainly be possible to get both the upper & lower panels restored to original if the buyer wanted, so it’s an option to consider, and the exceptionally keen sales price of this VCS3 has been agreed with our client to reflect the cosmetic blemish.

The other item of note is the right side of the Matrix Panel, where you can see that an EMS-supplied overlay has been stuck on.  We’ve seen a few of these over the years and it’s always done because the original screen-print along that side has worn away through use.

The EMS Dk1 Keyboard is also in good original condition, although we’re still waiting for KSR to supply the pictures to us for this item, so we’ll update this listing as soon as the photos come through.

The sales price for this combo VCS3 Mk2 & DK1 represents outstanding value as it’s easy to see online that people are asking prices in excess of £17K GBP and all the way up to nearly £26K GBP just for a VCS3 alone.  The DK1 is often seen advertised for up to £3K GBP alone.

This EMS VCS3 does come from the owner with a full complement of Matrix pins, although these are old originals, so we would recommend a full new set be purchased for this instrument for best results when patching it up, which we can still source from EMS directly for around £260 GBP.  You can specify if you would like these supplied with the instrument upon purchase.

Also included in the sale is the cinch-jones DK1 interconnect cable, the proprietary EMS power-cable.

Service & Options:

The service by KSR covered all the critical items like replacement of old power-regulation caps, deep cleaning, and calibration, 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 = £480 GBP

This VCS3 Mk2 operates on 240V. Both instruments are sold with a 3-month warranty. We can also supply a copy of the user manual (PDF only).

Note on Demos, and because…Covid:  The VCS3 Mk2 & DK1 is currently based in Surrey (UK) with our tech, Kent at KSR.  Although there are strict Covid-19 restrictions in place throughout the UK at present, Kent has very kindly offered for anyone who would like to see and demo the synth before buying it, to demo it at his premises.  Kent is able to set up the synth in a place that meets distancing rules, that’s safe for him and the customer, so if you want to check the synth out then that option is open to you. 

Alternately (recommended), Kent can produce short video demo’s to show the working condition of the VCS3 Mk2 & DK1, but this is by request only.  If we get a single request to do this then we will, of course, upload that to the KSR YouTube channel and probably just post it here in the listing, but Kent’s a very busy guy (good techs always are) so he’s not had the time to proactively do this for us and/or this EMS.

Packing & Shipping: We can ship this worldwide, although the packing & shipping cost is not included in the sale price below, and is subject to quotation.  Again, the Covid issues are affecting our packing suppliers, so there may be some short delays in getting materials produced for shipping, although courier companies all seem to be operating normally.  We are happy to discuss your requirements so please email us if you have any questions on the logistics.

Ordering From the EU (Post 1st Jan 2021): 

Thanks to all those who voted us out of the European Union, we/you now have new levels of bureaucracy to deal with when you buy equipment from any business in the UK, for onward delivery to any destination in the EU.  In order for us to be able to ship to the EU now, we will require you to supply an EORI number if you are buying from us as a business, which will be provided in the Commercial Invoice that goes with the consignment.  Private individuals purchasing equipment from us will not require an EORI number but the goods will still be subject to VAT, which is charged by your own countries Customs, to clear the goods, so we now do not charge VAT on our purchasing invoice. The VAT rate applied upon import into your country will be set by your own countries applicable VAT rates. 

Sales Price: £13,990 GBP – for both the VCS3 Mk2 & DK1.

Availability: This EMS VCS3 Mk2 & DK1 are now SOLD – this listing was updated on 1st July 2021.

Note on pictures, again due to Covid: Click on the thumbnail for a higher resolution photo of the actual VCS3 Mk2 & DK1 for sale.  Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, Kent has offered to photograph the instrument at his premises in Surrey, so these photos come straight from him using the best photo equipment he has available. It’s our workaround for the Covid issues/restrictions and we’re very grateful to Kent for helping us all out…but he’s like that.

If you require specific pictures not already featured of the instrument then please contact us so we can request that Kent at KSR can accommodate your request, but there may be a short delay in getting this done for us/you.

Click on the thumbnail for a higher resolution photo of the actual VCS3 Mk2 & DK1 for sale.

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

Came into stock: March 2021.

Servicing Status: Full service by KSR has already been carried out in March 2021 and it’s also been fully health-checked again in June 2021, so this Synthi AKS is ready for sale now.

Remarks: Another EMS Synthi AKS, and very competitively priced!

The current owner has only owned this Synthi AKS from new and used it at home for home recording until around 1984 when it was stored away until KSR was commissioned to carry out a full service on the EMS to get it ready for sale through our Brokering Service.

The serial number is ‘ 4471KS,’ so Robin Wood at EMS is likely to have a manufacture date on this example, but it looks like an earlier production model.

Cosmetic Appraisal:

This AKS is in good all original (unmodified) condition, and although it shows some wear to the control surface, but it’s in keeping with an instrument of this age (around 45+ years old).  The Spartanite case is in good condition, and the nickel catches/hinges show a normal patina.  We have covered the key aspects instrument in the series of photos that KSR did for us, as you can see below, so we hope these candidly show the overall presentation of this Synthi AKS but if you need more then please just ask.

This is a good condition example of the model/type, perfectly working, but does show some signs of use and its age, so it’s no museum/collector’s piece, but the price has been set to reflect that. It’s important to understand that with dealer-supplied examples of the Synthi AKS being advertised for between £15K to £18K GBP these days, we know that the sales price for this example represents excellent value.

This EMS Synthi AKS did come from the owner with very worn Matrix pins, so we would recommend a full new set be purchased for this instrument for best results when patching it up, which we can still source from EMS directly for around £260 GBP.  You can specify if you would like these supplied with the instrument upon purchase.

Also included in the sale is the cinch-jones KS interconnect cable, the proprietary EMS power-cable, and three Presto-Patch blocks for the Presto-Patch fitted to this particular model.

The service by KSR covered all the critical items like replacement of old power-regulation caps, deep cleaning, and calibration, 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 = £480 GBP

This Synthi AKS operates on 240V or US 110V (switchable) – it will be sold with a 3-month warranty. We can also supply a copy of the user manual (PDF only).

Note on Demos, and because…Covid:  The Synthi AKS is currently based in Surrey (UK) with our tech, Kent at KSR.  Although there are strict Covid-19 restrictions in place throughout the UK at present, Kent has very kindly offered for anyone who would like to see and demo the synth before buying it, to demo it at his premises.  Kent is able to set up the synth in a place that meets distancing rules, that’s safe for him and the customer, so if you want to check the synth out then that option is open to you. 

Alternately (recommended), Kent can produce short video demo’s to show the working condition of the Synthi AKS, but this is by request only.  If we get a single request to do this then we will, of course, upload that to the KSR YouTube channel and probably just post it here in the listing, but Kent’s a very busy guy (good techs always are) so he’s not had the time to proactively do this for us and/or this EMS.

Packing & Shipping: We can ship this world-wide, although the packing & shipping cost is not included in the sale price below, and is subject to quotation.  Again, the Covid issues are affecting our packing suppliers, so there may be some short delays in getting materials produced for shipping, although courier companies all seem to be operating normally.  We are happy to discuss your requirements so please email us if you have any questions on the logistics.

Ordering From the EU (Post 1st Jan 2021): 

Thanks to all those who voted us out of the European Union, we/you now have new levels of bureaucracy to deal with when you buy equipment from any business in the UK, for onward delivery to any destination in the EU.  In order for us to be able to ship to the EU now, we will require you to supply an EORI number if you are buying from us as a business, which will be provided in the Commercial Invoice that goes with the consignment.  Private individuals purchasing equipment from us will not require an EORI number but the goods will still be subject to VAT, which is charged by your own countries Customs, to clear the goods, so we now do not charge VAT on our purchasing invoice. The VAT rate applied upon import into your country will be set by your own countries applicable VAT rates. 

Sales Price: £12,990 GBP.

Availability: This EMS Synthi AKS is now SOLD – this page was updated on 15th September 2021.

Note on pictures, again due to Covid: Click on the thumbnail for a higher resolution photo of the actual Synthi AKS for sale.  Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, Kent has offered to photograph the instrument at his premises in Surrey, so these photos come straight from him using the best photo-equipment he has available. It’s our workaround for the Covid issues/restrictions and we’re very grateful to Kent for helping us all out…but he’s like that.

If you require specific pictures not already featured of the instrument then please contact us so we can request that Kent at KSR can accommodate your request, but there may be a short delay in getting this done for us/you.

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

We are Brokering this very good condition DK1 for a UK customer.

Came into stock: September 2019.

Restoration Status: KSR has already fully serviced this DK1 so it’s ready for sale now.

Remarks: The (David Cockerell designed) EMS DK1, aka ‘The Cricklewood,’ analogue keyboard controller was made to pair with the EMS Synthi & VCS3.  The manufacturing date for this controller will be from between 1969 to 1972, so at least 47 years old.  The serial for is #2118, so Robin at EMS might have the manufacturing date for this in his archive.

This DK1 has just been subjected to complete service by Kent at KSR, so is certified 100% fully operational.  No deeper restoration has been applied to it other than some cleaning, so the wood and tolex has not been stripped or replaced, although it was not needed anyway as the overall presentation is very good.

You will notice that there has been a small slide-switch added to the control panel (between the input change toggle switches).  Our client, the owner, did not have this implemented, and has no knowledge of it, but Kent at KSR has told us that is serves no purpose and had no circuitry to it, so it’s a legacy mod that had some function for the keyboard in the last 40+ years, but no longer does anything.   The switch is non-functional, so does not interfere with the normal operation of the DK1.

Cosmetically speaking, the modification mention above could be removed and the whole panel restored to look standard, and if this was our own DK1 we might have invested into having that work carried out.  However, what we decided to do when discussing the with our client was to leave it as-is and price the DK1 accordingly, to reflect the effect the switch has to the presentation.  There is also a chrome cliff-knob cap missing.

The DK1 has two independent channels of CV, these can set to different modes, and the keyboard has its own built-in VCO for modulation options, plus as “Dynamic Channel’ output and a VCA.  You would connect the DK1 to the Synthi or VCS3 via the Cinch-Jones keyboard interconnect cable, and optionally, a second 1/4 inch jack cable for the ‘input ch2’ into the synthesizer.

The ‘Dynamic Channel’, can be used to operate the  DK1s 37 note velocity-sensitive keyboard. This means the velocity action sends a separate control voltage.  This would commonly be used for loudness control, providing you set the matrix-patch on your Synthi or VCS3 to operate that way. The ‘Dynamic Channel’ can actually be set to control almost any facility on the Synthi or VCS3…which is what these amazing synths are all about really.

If you need it, We are able to supply the Cinch-Jones keyboard interconnect cable to run the DK1 into either a Synthi or VCS3, price upon request.

Sold with a full 3-month warranty.

Price: £1290 GBP.

Availability: This DK1 is now SOLD as at 31st October 2019.

Click on the thumbnails for a high-resolution photo of the actual DK1 for sale.