EMS Synth A Mk2

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

Came into stock: October 2017.

Restoration Status: A full service by KSR has already been carried out (completed on 1st November 2017), so this instrument is ready for sale now.

We’re delighted to be able to offer an EMS Synthi A Mk2 to our customers who want to experience a vintage EMS but don’t need the extra expense/facility of the KS (Keyboard/Sequencer) that the AKS model offers.

Identical to the Synthi AKS (synth) in sound & operation, the Synthi A is the ultimate portable synth, packaged in the same Spartanite case and offering the endless programming possibilities through the matrix panel interface. EMS originally named the Synth A the “Portabella” which followed the naming conventions of its early synths like the “Putney (VCS3 Mk1)” and Cricklewood (DK1) keyboard etc.

The EMS Synthi A was first brought to the market by EMS the same year as Moog launched the Model D Minimoog to the world – an auspicious year for synth fans indeed! This example we are offering for sale is a later revision, an Mk2, and was manufactured during the Datamonics company ownership period which would have been between 1979 to 1982. The Mk2 Synth A is usually identifiable but the power-conditioning components used internally, but the metal silver anodised panel is another way to quickly identify them, as the earlier (Mk1) versions were usually painted (white), although there may have been some cross-over.

Provenance
Our client literally rescued this Synthi A from a London school back in the late 1990s who were throwing it out, and the synth bears the marks of this being a genuine educational tool for children. You will see from the anodised metal panel that it was been hand-inscribed with “ILEA” and other markings. Most people in the UK would recognise that as meaning “Inner London Education Authority” – so this synth has faithfully served fresh young minds in its time, and perhaps even enthused a few (like we were back in the day) to take their love of synthesis further into adulthood….bravo!

Our client has used this instrument regularly since the 90s and even gigged with it for a few years in London, so this synth is not a ‘glass-case’ collector’s item by far, but to many people that brings its own appeal and means it has a genuine evidenced history & story to tell.
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At some time in the life of the instrument, an IEC power socket was fitted to the synth. The implementation is good. We assume that the use of the usual proprietary EMS power-cable was a problem for the school as these easily get lost, so someone fitted the IEC to it.

As this instrument is nearly 40 years old, and quite commonly, it did not come to us any significant service history from our client. We commissioned KSR to carry out an extensive ground-up overhaul to bring it up to a perfect operating specification, 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, re-finished & all hardware cleaned.
>Control Panels deep-cleaned.
>Every control component (potentiometers/switches/matrix panel), cleaned & lubricated
>Power-Supply re-capped & calibrated.
>Full system-wide calibration & soak-test.

The above restorative work is the minimum we asked KSR to carry out as they would all need this level of attention due to their age, but In addition to the above, the following work can also be carried out by request. This is a costed option, so is not included in the sales price listed at the bottom of this page:

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

*This Synthi A comes with a full complement of matrix pins, although to be honest, these original 38-year-old pins are well past there best so we would recommend you also purchase a brand new (full) set of matrix pins (supplied from EMS) for = £250 GBP

Our client did not ask us to get get the panels re-anodised/screen-printed as they always felt it’s history was an intrinsic part of the life of the synth, so it comes as it was used and intended for – an educational instrument in the 1970s with a genuine provenance. However, if you prefer to purchase this Synth A and then want to have the panels refinished (re-anodised/screen-printed) to look like new, then this is possible of course, so please contact us for a quote to have this carried out.

This instrument operates on EU 220V. The instrument is sold with a 3-month warranty from RL Music and we will also include a user manual in PDF format and a UK-plug IEC power cable.

Price: £7200 GBP.

Availability: This Synthi A Mk2 is now SOLD on reserve as at 28th March 2018.

Pictures of the actual EMS Synthi A Mk2 for sale are below.

BUY THIS SYNTHI A MK2

Moog Source

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

Came into stock: Available from RL Music from 1st March 2018

Restoration/Servicing Status: KSR have fully serviced this in February 2018, so it’s ready for sale now.

Remarks: We’ve not had a Moog Source in for a while so it’s been great fun diving into this machine again and hearing that distinctive vintage Moog sound. The 16 memory storage was quite a departure for Moog back in 1981 as they had not previously offered patch storage on a mono synth before, and the modern membrane panel design was also revolutionary for Moog at that time. It’s a super sounding machine and has a great many fans, but with prices going up in recent years it’s ‘value’ has been under pressure somewhat, so we are pleased to offer this example at an amazing price!

Moog Source: model #341 BX, S/N 2237X.

Our client, the owner of this Moog Source, purchased it in 1985 and it was used regularly until the late 1990s in his studio, after which it was stored away in its flight-case for a few years. It was later brought out in 2012 and used again up until 2015, so has been a reliable and trustworthy synth for decades.

The synth is in perfect operational condition and has just had a full service from KSR. Cosmetically, this is certainly not a collectors machine but it has been in regular use for most of its life, showing signs of expected wear and some marks to the control surfaces, but most importantly, the membrane, controls & keys all work perfectly and are undamaged – as you will see from the pictures we have taken (below). The price reflects the cosmetic condition, so has been agreed with our client to represent the best value Moog Source you can buy in the world today and they want a new owner to enjoy the amazing sound and character that this vintage Moog offers.

This Moog Source is sold with a 3 month RL Music warranty, runs on EU 220V and is supplied with its original hard-copy owners manual.

Price: £1490 GBP.

Availability: This Moog Source is now SOLD on reserve as at 6th March 2018.

Pictures of the actual Moog Source for sale are below.

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EMS Synthi 2013

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

Came into stock: Arrived at RL Music on 21st February 2018

Restoration Status: This nearly new EMS Synthi A is in perfect working condition and KSR have already given it a ‘health-check’ in the last couple of days, so this instrument is ready for sale now.

We’re delighted to offer a rare chance to buy a recently manufactured EMS Synthi A that Robin Wood at EMS only assembled in October 2013 (we have a copy of the original receipt). This Synthi A has also been fully modified by EMS with a suite of upgrades (done at the time of manufacture). As many of you know, the waiting list to buy one of these exquisite machines from Robin has been running at around 12 years, but we spoke to him recently and he confirmed that production is now finishing due to the Spartanite cases no longer being available.

This late 2013 model (serial number 45643) sounds identical & works the same way a vintage Synthi does, plus it has all the advantages of being a nearly new machine! It’s immaculate as you would expect and works flawlessly. This instrument has only had 2 owners since 2013, this first only having it for a couple of months (unused) before emigrating and selling it to our client. Our client found it did not suit their own style of music, so it’s barely had any use at all so it needs to find a new home.

A note of the EMS implemented Mods:
Oscillator Synth on Osc2
Voltage Controlled Shape Osc1 & Osc2
Filter mode switchable 18/24 db/oct
Filter ‘unslew’ switchable on filters CV
Buffered external gate input

Included in the sale (pictured below):
Original EMS Synthi User Manual
Proprietary EMS power-cable
Full set of Matrix Pins
2 x Matrix pin-to-3.5mm cables
Cinch-Jones-to-3.5mm loom

This instrument operates on EU 220V. The instrument is sold with a 3-month warranty from RL Music.

Price: £7990 GBP.

Availability: This Synthi A is now SOLD on reserve as at 28th March 2018.

Pictures of the actual EMS Synthi A Mk2 for sale are below.

BUY THIS SYNTHI A

EMS RVG

We are Brokering this vintage EMS module for and on behalf of our EU customer

Came into stock: Arrived at RL Music on 15th February 2018

Restoration Status: A full service by KSR will be carried out post-sale.

Remarks: An extremely rare vintage EMS ancillary studio module – the Random-Voltage-Generator, mounted in its original Afrormosia Wood case.

What is it, and what does it do?
The RVG produces a staircase type of output, the ‘steps’ of which occur randomly, but whose voltage range and time variance are controllable. The proprietary ‘facilities cord’ (pictured below) provides links all the outputs to a Synthi ‘A’ or VCS3, delivering VI to Input 1, V2 to Input 2, and Trigger to Attack.There is a very informative page on the ‘Old Tech – Vintage Synthesizer’ website that covers the RVG in some depth, so please click the link below to learn more:

http://www.oldtech.com/synth/EMSRandom1.html

As you can see from the pictures below, this RVG is in really nice 100% original condition with only some small signs of wear, as you would expect from a 45-year-old device. It’s is sold with a 3-month warranty and runs on EU 220V using the proprietary EMS power-socket (power cable supplied), and also included is the aforementioned proprietary ‘facilities cord.’

As with all Brokered Sales, the RVG 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 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.

Price: £1300 GBP.

Availability: This EMS Random-Voltage-Generator is now SOLD as at 22nd February 2018.

Picture of actual RVG for sale below, so please click on the thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

BUY THIS EMS RVG

Memorymoog LAMM

Restoration Status: Full restoration & upgrades were completed by KSR in September 2015 – this Memorymoog LAMM is in perfect working condition, but KSR will subject it to a ‘health-check’ post-sale, and it will also be sold with our 3-month warranty.

Remarks: This Memorymoog LAMM comes from our own RL Music Vintage Synth Collection, so has been part of our own in-house catalogue for a few years. As if being a LAMM was not enough, we have invested, with no expense spared, into having a Silent (Fanless) PSU solution fitted and a custom handmade wood cabinet..this is a really very special example guys!

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 an amazing upgrade to deliver 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

Having a Memorymoog in stock alone would be special enough but these Lintronics versions are highly coveted. The cost of implementing the LAMM upgrade is near the actual 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 Memorymoog go through 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 and a rather special one at that.

Bespoke: Custom Zebrawood (Zebrano) Wood Cabinet
In 2015, we commissioned Ross Lamond, of Lamond Design, to hand build a replacement wood cabinet for this Memorymoog out of Zebrawood. The finishing to the wood was completed by KSR (stain & wax) and the results created a truly one-off finish…a unique instrument which looks stunning!
http://www.lamonddesign.co.uk/index/

Upgraded: Synthtaste PSU Fitted.
We purchased a Synthtaste PSU for this Memorymoog in 2015 which KSR fitted to the synth for us. This upgraded PSU removed the needs for the noisy mains-powered fan that the Memorymoog uses, so this is now silent and much lighter! The Synthtaste PSU is also thermally efficient and low energy, so very much a modern power supply and worth the several hundred Euros it the cost to buy it and have it installed.
http://www.synthtaste.de/moog.html

Features summary for this Memorymoog LAMM:

The LAMM upgrade on this particular model was carried out Rudi at Lintonics in the 2000s and is running v3.1 Lintronics Software.
The LAMM was additionally pro-restored by KSR in Sept 2015.
The serial number on this Memorymoog (a ‘Standard Mk1’ version originally) is #1290x
The Memorymoog is an EU 220V system.
Custom Zebrawood cabinet handmade by Lamond Design (for RL Music) in 2015.
Synthtaste Silent PSU solution supplied & installed by KSR in 2015.

Documents included with the synth are:

Moog Owners and service manual (pdf)
Moog Technical service information manual (pdf)
Lintronics user manual (pdf)
Moog Memorymoog sound-charts (pdf)
LAMM sound bank collection ( 21 full banks ) – SysEx format

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

Availability: This custom finished & upgraded Memorymoog LAMM is now SOLD as at 19th February 2018.

Price: £13990 GBP.

Pictures of the actual Memorymoog LAMM are below – higher resolution images available on request.

BUY THIS MEMORYMOOG LAMM

Elka Synthex Mk3

Servicing Status: Full restoration was completed by KSR in October 2015 and has just had a full ‘health check’ in November 2017.

Restoration ETA: Ready for sale now!

Remarks: A truly immaculate condition example of the late version (Mk3) Elka Synthex – with factory MIDI.

This has to be one of the finest analogue polysynths ever made and was used by all the top artists of the 80’s, especially JMJ. Built-in 4 track sequencer 8 voice polyphonic, twin oscillator 24 dB/octave low pass filter 6 & 12 dB/octave bandpass filters 12 dB/octave high pass filter. The specification doesn’t tell you that this is a silky smooth performer, and in the right hand,s can deliver an almost polyphonic modular experience…just an amazing machine.

The overall condition of this Synthex is truly outstanding/pristine and comes from our own RL Music Vintage Synth Collection, so has been part of our own in-house catalogue for more a few years. This Synthex has most definitely been treated with love and care throughout its life and the cosmetic condition reflects this.

KSR had undertaken full restoration on the operational side in late 2015, as well as re-finishing the cabinet (strip, stain & wax) – every aspect of the synth was been addressed, including re-capping and deep-cleaning all the controls etc., so the synth plays beautifully. The recent health check found no issues.

Runs on EU 220V, and sold with a full 3-month warranty.

Price: £8500 GBP.

Availability: This Elka Synthex is now SOLD as at 4th December 2017.

Pictures below of actual Synthex Mk3 for sale. Click on the thumbnails for a high-resolution photos.

 

BUY THIS SYNTHEX

Memorymoog Plus

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.

BUY THIS MEMORYMOOG PLUS

Rhodes Chroma

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

Came into stock: September 2017.

Restoration Status: A full service by KSR has already been carried out (completed on 11th October 2017), so this Chroma is ready for sale now.

Remarks: We’re are delighted to be able to offer you this rare Rhodes Chroma from our current stock list. This particular example being customer-owned is in very good and all original condition throughout.

This customer owned machine does NOT have the CC+ CPU upgrade so is priced accordingly, but the restoration work we commit to in preparing these machines for sale remains the same regardless.

This particular example came to us from a UK customer. The Chroma had been owned & used by their family member – Kwame Kwaten from D-Influence, and he played it on Funky Times, Hypnotise and Hold On. D’Influence is a British production team and acid jazz band. You can hear these tracks in the following links (audio only):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRFIpaHALxg Funky Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEhGZI_eLes Hypnotise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQUpgS4Uk4A Hold On

The Chroma needed a full overhaul, which KSR has meticulously carried out, and additionally treated all the cosmetics like the (lighter coloured wood grain) wood cabinet and other surfaces. The Chroma’s laminate front-panel is in very good condition across the main control surface with only some minor cracking showing around the left-hand side screw-points (see pictures below). The now re-finished wood cabinet itself is in great condition, and shows a nice aged patina, with only the front left-hand corner with some damage of note.

You can see for yourself from the pictures we took (below) that the cosmetic condition is remarkable for a 35-year-old instrument, and we would grade this as “very good original condition – 8.5 out of 10 cosmetically.’

KSR, our vintage synth restorers, have gone through the entire system in great depth on the Chroma to ensure everything is 100% perfect operationally. At some point in the synths life, a heat-sink was added to the rear of the instrument – this is actually not such a bad thing to have, and had been implemented well.

The patches already loaded onto the synth are really nice as well and show the current owner (our client) has a deep understanding of how to properly programme these beautiful sounding vintage synths.

The Chroma is a very well loved and supported vintage model within the synth community. Chris Ryan has an excellent website dedicated to the model which has been an excellent source of knowledge and support generally: rhodeschroma.com

This Rhodes Chroma is sold with a 3-month warranty and operates on EU 220V. User & service manuals can be sourced from the rhodeschroma.com website as mentioned above. This Chroma is also supplied with its original dual-pedal controls (pictured below).

Price: £6500 GBP.

Availability: This Rhodes Chroma is no longer available for sale – as at 21st April 2018.

Pictures below of actual Rhodes Chroma for sale. Click on the thumbnails for a high-resolution images.

 

BUY THIS CHROMA

Oberheim Matrix 12

We are Brokering this Matrix 12 for and on their behalf of a UK client

Came into stock: Arrived at RL Music in September 2017.

Restoration Status: KSR have already fully undertaken a full service of the synth in September 2017.

ETR (estimated time from restoration): Available for sale now!

Remarks: These wonderful vintage synths are so hard to find these days in really nice cosmetic condition, so when an customer contacted us about selling their much loved (home use only) example, we jumped at the chance. This particular Matrix 12 is a US manufactured version which has the (factory option) ’12-individual outs’ fitted, and has the keyboard Aftertouch system installed (velocity was standard on all versions).

The Oberheim Matrix 12 offers a deep programmable architecture for those of you into tweaking but can also be a very user friendly hands-on preset machine with quick access for live use. This means they sit between that digital and analogue medium perfectly and are arguably the best of the hybrid technology of the mid 1980’s.

Once you’re familiar with the comprehensive programming interface of the Matrix 12 you have one of the most powerful analogue systems ever made. The M12 was the last of the old Oberheim analogue synth technology, was beautifully designed and a powerhouse of thick analogue goodness that was tragically lost from just about every synth made after, when we all decided that the DX7 was the future!

This Matrix 12 operates on EU 220V & US 110V, and is supplied with a bound photo-copy of the user manual…very handy. As with all our synths, the Oberheim is sold with a 3 month warranty.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £4990 UK Pounds

Availability: This Matrix 12 is now SOLD as at 5th October 2017.

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

BUY THIS MATRIX 12

Memorymoog

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.

BUY THIS MEMORYMOOG

Roland Jupiter 8

We are very delighted to present our forthcoming immaculate & fully restored Jupiter 8 (14 bit) which we are confident to say, will be the best condition example for sale in the world.

Came into stock: June 2017

Servicing Status: ‘Total Restoration’ currently underway by KSR & other service partners.

Remarks: We’re delighted to be able to offer what we consider to be one of the finest analogue polysynths ever produced – the Roland Jupiter 8. This JP8 is currently going through to an extensive ground-up restoration and will be immaculate both cosmetically and electronically. We have also supplied & are having fitted, a brand new Kenton MIDI retro-fit kit to this machine, so this JP8 also has significant MIDI control access via Sysex.

For more info on the Kenton MIDI kit functionality then please click the following link:

http://www.kentonuk.com/kcurrentmanuals/JUP85000.pdf

As many of you will know, we occasionally undertake a special project restoration work for these models that covered extensive operational and cosmetic restoration to bring them up to the highest possible standard, we term this ‘Total Restoration.’

The Total Restoration work produces an almost factory new looking machine as all the metal the panels have been stripped and re-sprayed & screen-printed, and the aluminium end-cheeks re-anodised. All the electronics have been completely overhauled by KSR, key-bed refurbished and even a brand new new perspex display etc.

This is the highest level restoration we can offer for these wonderful vintage synthesizers, costing over £2500 to implement. With eBay prices for average condition examples (not restored) sitting between £7300 to £8000 GBP from sources around the world, you can appreciate the difference in value to what we are offering here.

RL Music has developed this highly specialised treatment for the Jupiter 8 as professionally prepared instruments of this standard are in such high demand from customers with ultra-high expectations of quality. You will not find any other business around the world offering anything close this level of restoration for an historic/vintage synthesizer.

We purchased this Jupiter 8 from a UK owner who had owner it from new, and it had resided in the owners UK home studio, and although it played perfectly, it was showing signs of natural wear to the control surfaces, hence we decided to give it the full TR treatment.

This Jupiter 8 is a 14 bit version (serial #242xxx) and as mentioned, has been retro-fitted with a brand new Kenton MIDI kit. It is a EU/UK 220V system. We will also supply a PDF copy of the owners manual.

The Jupiter 8 is a professional grade historic/vintage instrument. This is a, A++ Collector Grade example that’s going to be highly sought after, especially because it is an RL Music restored & supplied instrument. This is a truly beautiful synthesizer to own and play, plus is also has very strong investment potential, so if you have been holding back for the right JP8 to come along then we recommend this one to you.

Sold with our extended-TR RL Music 6 month return-to-dealer warranty (all parts and labour covered), plus 12 months free telephone phone/Skype support from KSR

The Total Restoration work takes about 3 months to complete, and we are about mid way through the process at the moment (as at 3rd July 2017), so we estimate this Jupiter 8 being ready in around 6 weeks time.

Price: £POA* – This Jupiter is is now SOLD on deposit as 18:44 on 3rd July 2017.

*To avoid skewing the second hand market prices (eBay or Reverb etc.) with this unique opportunity, we’ve left this as a POA only.

Availability: This Total Restoration Roland Jupiter 8 can be reserved on deposit (20%) now please call or email for out price guide for this instrument.

Sample picture of the last TR JP8 sold below – more pictures to follow once the restoration work has been completed.

BUY THIS JUPITER 8

Yamaha CS80

This CS80 is currently located at our restoration partners – KSR in Surrey, UK.

This CS80 is one of two exemplary condition examples that we own on in our private vintage synth collection. We are looking to fund some exciting new projects going forward, so have decided to release one of these CS80 to public sale.

The CS80 we are offering for sale could be considered among of the finest examples in the world. It is still a 40 year old instrument with its original keys & buttons etc., but the restoration work invested into it, plus the modifications listed below, mean this is a very special machine, and we have produced only a small number of these very high-level restored examples in the last 15 years for discerning customers around the world.

The CS80 has already been fully cosmetically and operationally restored (Level 2) by KSR. Only RL Music get the ‘’Level 2’ restoration as this includes a much higher level of detailed restoration by KSR, including a full key-bed restoration and point-to-point cabling/solder-contacts integrity checking for the entire loom etc. The Level 2 operational restoration normally costs £3000 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already had this work applied of course, and is included in the sale price.

The following work has been implemented:

The restoration comprises (not limited to) the total replacement of all the old CMOS Logic IC’s, all of the dual op-amps, voice card, and power supply capacitors & transistors. In addition to this the TKC circuit board, which controls the polyphonic after touch of the CS80, is fitted with a set of bypass/decoupling capacitors for each IC to greatly reduce the chance of failure of the touch response circuit. To cap this off, a full calibration is then performed (voltages to within within 3 decimal places). The actual list of work is huge, and changes out several hundred components,  and includes a 7 day burn-in test period/stress testing.

In addition, RL Music purchased a matched set of VCO for the CS80 about 5 years ago, so the synth has a beautiful set of late production version IG-series VCO ICs. The full set would cost around £2500 to £3000 to source these days, that’s if you could even find them (unlikely), but we’re pleased to confirm this is included in the sale price. The original earlier production version IG-IC’s from this CS80 (production serial #12xx) were rotated into our spares during the restoration (not for sale).

All the RL Music supplied CS80s are serviced/restored by the world renown CS80 expert Kent Spong of KSR (Kent Spong Restorations) in London. Sound on Sound magazine (SOS) did an interview article on Kent, which you can find here:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun13/articles/kent-spong.htm

Warranty provided on this CS80:
The CS80 is sold with a 6 month warranty as standard which covers all parts and labour and telephone/Skype technical support. KSR also provide full 12 month after-sales technical support for the CS80 by phone, email and Skype post-warranty. KSR are world renown CS80 experts and currently support several hundred CS80 around the world for professional musicians/studios and enthusiasts etc.

Upgrade Option Fitted -1:
If Midi is required on the CS80 then we are normally able to supply and install the Kenton Midi retrofit Kits for an additional £850 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already has a brand new MIDI kit fitted, and the supply and installation is included in the sale price.

Upgrade Option Fitted – 2:
Total-Restoration Upgrade
All aspects of the CS80 cosmetic presentation are addressed including re-tolexing all the exterior (and lid), re-painting and screen printing all control surfaces. This work normally takes up to 12 weeks to complete.  For more information on what is included in this ultimate upgrade option then please call or email us for details. The Total-Restoration Cosmetic Upgrade Option costs £3000 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already had the Total-Restoration Cosmetic Upgrade applied, and is included in the sale price.

Upgrade Option Fitted – 3:
Solid wood surround (in Oak) beautifully hand crafted by Lamond Design, is normally supplied for an additional £750 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already has a solid Oak surround fitted, and is included in the sale price.

Upgrade Option Fitted – 4:
KSR have designed the special modification for the CS80 (The Cascade Unison Mod ) so that if you press a single note then you get all 16 VCOs but if you press 2 notes together then it’s 8 voices per note..then 4 notes its 4 VCO’s per note etc etc. Thus meaning that it’s a kind of polyphonic unison, and offers new creative control of the powerful sound the CS80 delivers. Nearly all CS80’s we have sold in the last few years have had these fitted and it definitely adds great sonic value with no impact on the systems reliability or longevity. The Cascade Unison Mod costs £850 GBP. We’re pleased to confirm this CS80 already has a Cascade Unison Mod fitted, and is included in the sale price.

Items of Note on this CS80 for sale:
Most CS80’s have lost their ‘Pedals, Music Stand and Legs’ over the years, so we are unable to supply these original accessories to the new owner, and this example for sale does not have any either. However, this CS80 does come with the original lid, which has been re telexed of course. We will supply a copy of the owners manual on PDF.

The CS80 has been safely kept in our secure storage for a while, so well be asking KSR to go over the instrument in detail once it has been sold & secured on deposit. The service/health-check will only take a short time, but included in this pre-shipping preparation will be a system-wide calibration & test.

This CS80 operates on EU220V, but can be converted to US110V if required (subject to quotation).

We can have the CS80 professionally packed (custom crated) and shipped pretty much anywhere in the world (subject to quotation).

Price: With ‘average to tatty’ cosmetic condition, and fault ridden examples of CS80 selling on eBay for £17,000+ GBP, we are inviting offers for this superlative example, so please email us with yours.

Availability: This CS80 is now SOLD as at 7th June 2017.

Picture of the actual CS80 for sale below. We took these in-situ at the KSR workshop on 31st May 2017, where the CS80 currently is available to demo (upon request). More pictures to follow shortly.

BUY THIS CS80

Roland Jupiter 6

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

Came into stock:  17th March 2017.

Restoration Status: A service by KSR has already been carried out (completed in May 2017), so this Jupiter 6 is ready for sale now.

Remarks: The current owner has used this synth in his home studio for over a decade, and had regular maintenance done on the synth to keep it in the best operational condition possible. The cosmetic condition is very good for a 34 year old synth, and we would grade this as a 8.9 out of 10 cosmetically, although there are some signs of wear, most notable marks can bee seen in the collage picture provided below.

You will notice easily that this JP6 is actually fitted with custom made wood end-cheeks. These actually look pretty good we think, but if you prefer the factory look then the original aluminium end-cheeks are also supplied (as per the picture below).

The Jupiter 6 has been a hugely popular polysynth since its arrival in 1983, and offers aficionados that beautiful vintage polyphonic analogue Roland sound for very reasonable cost, certainly when compared to its sibling, the Jupiter 8. Prices for these models in recent years has seen a significant uplift as vintage polysynths are getting more and more rare to find in good condition, so now is the time to invest into one.

This example has not had any modifications from it’s factory spec. This is often important for buyers who prefer to either leave them as stock, or upgrade them according to their own needs & budget, depending on what solutions may be available (Europa).

The Jupiter 6 is a professional grade vintage instrument that’s only ever going to become more sought after and rarer, so here is your opportunity to buy and superb example, fresh from the hands of a master synth restorer, and fully guaranteed.

KSR Service notes: KSR have carried out a full service of this JP6 which includes, but is not limited to:

>New memory battery
>PSU fully power-conditioned.
>System-wide calibration
>Clean of all pots, switches and key-contacts
>Re-loaded factory Patches.

Runs on EU 220V and is supplied with a PDF copy of the Roland owners manual.

Price: £2990 GBP.

Availability: This Roland Jupiter 6 is now SOLD as at 8th September 2017.

Click on the thumbnail for higher resolution photo of the actual Jupiter 6 for sale.

BUY THIS JUPITER 6

Oberheim OB-Xa

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

Came into stock:  17th March 2017.

Restoration Status: Full overhaul by KSR has already been carried out in April 2017, so this OB-Xa is ready for sale now.

Remarks: The OB-Xa is without doubt one of the defining polysynths of its time so understandably has a huge following of enthusiasts wanting to have that massive Oberheim sound in their own studio. Although similar to the OB8 in look,the architecture differs internally, and sonically it delivers a thicker/fatter sound that just makes it a more interesting proposition to its fans, and it’s certainly a lot heavier.

The current owner has used this synth in his home studio for over a decade, and had regular maintenance done on the synth to keep it in the best operational condition possible. The cosmetic condition is very good for a 36 year old synth, but does show reasonable signs of wear to the controls surfaces an some key-tops. We would grade this as a 8 out of 10 cosmetically, and the price below has been agreed with our client to reflect the condition.

This OB-Xa is an 8 voice system which KSR has just fully overhauled for us so it’s in 100% perfect in operation. This example has the 120 program memory upgrade fitted, as well as a Kenton MIDI kit – all good to go!

KSR Service notes:KSR have carried out a full overhaul of this OB-Xa which includes, but is not limited to:

>Keyboard bushing replaced & key contact system fully cleaned.
>New memory battery
>PSU fully power-conditioned.
>System-wide calibration
>Clean of all pots & switches
>Re-finished the wood end-cheeks (stripped, stained & waxed).
>Re-loaded factory (120 program) Patches.

Here’s a really good YT demonstration from a friend of ours – Marko Ettlich (RetroSound) of the OB-Xa: https://youtu.be/RsgSUPE4E7I

This OB-Xa operates on EU 220V and/or US 110V. it will be 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.

Sales Price: £3990 GBP.

Availability: This Oberheim OB-Xa is now SOLD as at 21st July 2017.

Click on the thumbnail for higher resolution photo of the actual OB-Xa for sale.

RESERVE THIS OB-XA

EMS Synthi AKS

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.

BUY THIS SYNTHI AKS

EMS VCS3 Mk1

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.

BUY THIS VCS3 PUTNEY