Came into stock: Due to arrive at RL Music in April 2013

Restoration Status: KSR to commence restoration once we deliver to their workshop in April 2013.

ETR (estimated time from restoration): Should be ready in May 2013

Remarks: Another nice early production version Minimoog and this really super (made around 1974) example became available to us – owning a serial number of 2863.

There is something special about owning an early model that become immediately apparent once you start playing it, it’s about the sound. Also, the cabinets that Moog were using for these earlier machines was of a high quality hard wood, and they always respond beautifully to restoration. The picture featured below was from a similar age Minimoog that we restored a few years ago, so you can see the cosmetic results.

This particular Minimoog has has the octave buffer board fitted, and the upgraded VCO board from the later Minimoogs, so it will make it track and stay in tune beautifully across the octaves.

Once the restoration has been completed, this Minimoog will be good for another 40+ years. These instruments are many peoples ‘dream synth’ so if you are after something special..to keep, then why not finally get what you always wanted.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £3990 BGP

Availability: This Minimoog is now SOLD as at 15th April 2013

RL Music is delighted to present for you our superb condition Pro-One from the classic Sequential Circuits family.

We purchased this particular Pro-One from a RL Music customer who has ben using the synth in current album projects for the last couple of years so it had been well looked after. This particular synth has been regularly serviced by KSR so it’s in great operational condition throughout.

This is an earlier production model that uses J-wire key contacts. The sound of this synth seems a little more aggressive than other Pro-Ones we have heard which really gives it a rather special quality. It’s probably down to the components being a little older as it just sounds more powerful somehow….very nice indeed!

The cosmetic condition is very good all round, although there are some reasonable signs of wear, so not a museum piece but more a musicians tool.

The Pro-One is a superb mono-synth, utilising CEM chip technology like its bigger brother, the Prophet 5. A really great sounding vintage analogue synth and very flexible modulation routing capability and wonderful built in arpeggio & 40 note sequencer.

This good condition example has just been fully serviced, thoroughly cleaned and calibrated by KSR, and is being sold with a full 3 month warranty.

Supplied the owners manual (PDF) and operates on EU voltage – 220V

Price: £1390 UK Pounds

Availability: This Pro-One is now SOLD as at 27th May 2013.

Click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

Came into stock: Due to arrive at RL Music in mid February 2013

Restoration Status: KSR to undergo complete restoration once we deliver to their workshop in February.

ETR (estimated time from restoration): Should be ready by April 2013

Remarks: The Arp 2600 is among the very finest vintage modular synths ever made and equally the most sought after. Global availability of these Mk 3 models is very scare now so we’re very pleased to have this example available for sale.

The restoration work we will undertake on this Arp includes; complete re-Tolexing of the cabinets & lids. A full system overhaul which covers: PSU rebuild, calibration/testing and the case and all sockets/switches/sliders thoroughly cleaned & system-wide calibrations. Keyboard assembly deep-cleaned with new bushings fitted etc. We may fit a new 17 inch reverb tank to this as well, depending on the tank that’s already fitted in the synth – we’ll check that during the strip-down for restoration.

These RL Music prepared Arp 2600 are almost in ‘as-new’ condition to look at and play when finished.  We can spend over £2500 UKP just in restoration costs for these models (synth & keys).

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £9500 UKP

Availability: This Arp 2600 Mk3 is now SOLD as at 5th April 2013.

Came into stock: Due to arrive at RL Music late January 2013

Restoration Status: KSR to commence restoration once we deliver to their workshop in early February 2013.

ETR (estimated time from restoration): Should be ready in February 2013

Remarks: We have been looking for a nice early production version Minimoog and this really super (made around 1974) example became available to us – owning a serial number of 26xx.

There is something special about owning an early model that become immediately apparent once you start playing it, it’s about the sound. Also, the cabinets that Moog were using for these earlier machines was of a high quality hard wood, and they always respond beautifully to restoration. The picture featured below was from a similar age Minimoog that we restored a few years ago, so you can see the cosmetic results.

This #2xxx serial number Minimoog has has the octave buffer board fitted so it will make it track nicely across the octaves, and once the restoration has been completed, it will be a real gem to play and will be good for another 40+ years. These instruments are many peoples ‘dream synth’ so if you are after something special for this brand New Year then why not finally get what you always wanted.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £3850 UK Pounds

Availability: This Minimoog is now SOLD on deposit as at 23rd January 2013.

This item is in Stock

Came into stock: November 2012

Restoration Status: Currently Being restored by KSR.

ETR (estimated time from restoration): December 2012

Remarks: Arguably one of the most sought after synthesizers in the world and we rarely have these in stock.

We have this beautiful condition VCS3 Mk2 going through restoration that has come from an film score composers collection. We’re not permitted to say who owned it but it’s been used in quite a few scores over the last 20 years. The condition of all the control surfaces is superb with only the cabinet needing some light restorative work by KSR. The whole system will be fully overhauled prior to sale although it’s been very well maintained and looked after over the years by professionals, for a professional.

Being a Mk2 it has the Prestopatch fitted and has silver anodised aluminum panels and coloured ‘Cliff’ control knobs. The EMS has a full compliment of Matrix pins and currently operates on US 110V. We can convert this to EU voltage depending on the buyers requirements.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £9990 UK Pounds

Availability: This synth is now SOLD as at 29th November 2012

Yamaha SY-1

How about owning the first synthesizer model ever made by Yamaha (from 1974) – the SY-1.

A nice & completely original condition super funky (mono) preset synth that sounds very similar to the mighty GX-1 upper manual (3rd tier). Arguably the perfect partner for a CS80 as well, and did you know it was the very first synth used in the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind (before the Arp 2500 in the later sequence)…a bit of trivia for you.

The architecture of the SY-1 is basically GX-1 tech and the distinctive resonant filters offer something quite different from the similar Roland or Korg present synths of the time. Lots of paddle-presets and even aftertouch with some useful real-time contour controls, like pitch attack (like the CS80). Its actually quite a little ballsy (btw – a different word for Phat) synth and very enjoyable to play….and look at.

A nice funky video by Kebu here:

KSR have conducted a full operational service on this very rare synth so it plays perfectly.

This example is sold with a full 3 months warranty and runs on EU (220V) voltage.

Price = £550 UK Pounds

Availability = This synth is no SOLD – as at 15th December 2012

Click the thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

Crumar Spirit

We present for sale, an almost ‘as-new’ example of a truly wonderful instrument – an overlooked and hidden gem of a vintage synth.

The synth was designed in collaboration with Bob Moog , Jim Scott & Tom Rhea back in 1983 and is arguably the evolution of what the Minimoog Model D might have been, and is feature packed.

VSE provides some useful background and specs on the Crumar Spirit, plus a short video by david Morley here: http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/spirit.php

The immaculate & striking ‘blonde’ wood case is completely original so has not needed any restoration at all, but KSR have conducted a full operational service on this exemplarily condition example as a matter of course, even though it was pretty much perfect when we received it.

This is a collectors/museum condition instrument so represents a really special find and long-term investment if your thinking in these terms. The Spirit seems to have been overlooked by many as a high-end vintage analogue synth but once this oversight has been corrected then you will see this become highly sought after and prices rocket – mark our words!

This example is sold with a full 3 months warranty and runs on EU (220V) voltage.

Price = £2890 UK Pounds

Availability = SOLD

Click the thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

Late Minimoog (Serial No. 11414)

We present a most beautiful example of world’s most famous synthesizer which has been fully restored by our partners KSR.

We have here a late production model was one of the last few hundred to be manufactured, around 1980/81, which makes this a very stable in tuning and tracking – utilising the buffer-board (factory fitted) and late Moog VCOs…a players synth!

A note on the restoration:

On this particular example, we have had the original Moog cabinet re-finished by KSR and the results are pretty impressive. The wood has been stripped, stained and wax finished and shows beautiful character in the grain as you can see from the pictures.

Operationally speaking from the restoration standpoint, we do not change any electronic components that would compromise the integrity of the 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, all pots and switches cleaned, 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 the work KSR have done does the synth great justice.

As you can see, the appearance of this professionally restored instrument is wonderful and the cabinet oozes a gorgeous vintage patina to the wood which makes the synth look wonderfully old-school…just as it should.

Considering the age, outstanding condition, and additional care taken in restoring this Minimoog, we are confident that she will see at least another 30 years of faithful operation. Being a Minimoog, this is naturally an excellent investment or 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: £3750 UK Pounds

Availability: This is now SOLD as at 20th November 2012

Click the thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

To celebrate the relaunch of RL Music in our milestone 10th anniversary, we have sweetened the news with the announcement that we’re running a free competition for all you synth fans out there.

I had originally wanted to hold and raffle style competition to sell tickets and raise funds to offer a high value prize and donate 40% of the proceeds to charity (did you see the RL Music Facebook post about that?). Alas, UK lottery & competition laws expressly prohibit me from doing that so….that’s that unfortunately.

The alternate way to get a really nice prize out to you all in the synth community was to offer one of my pro-restored synths for nothing….FREE! The Roland SH101 has a retail value to me of £695 UK Pounds and is a fantastic vintage analogue synth. I can just about afford to offer this great monosynth on a free competition basis and all I ask in return is the following:

If you sign up for the RL Music Newsletter (details in the footer on EVERY page on the RL Music website), then you’ll be registered for the competition.

Existing Newsletter registrants are automatically entered so there is no need to re-register..I have your details.

The SH101 give-away is open to everyone (world-wide) and the competition starts today – 3rd August 2012, and will remain open for registration until the 30th September 2012. A draw will take place on Sunday the 7th October to find the lucky winner.

The SH101 give-away competition includes all packing and shipping (fully insured) to the winner and the synth is supplied with a full 3 month warranty.

So, there you are..a professionally restored Roland SH101 vintage analogue synth for FREE, and you will also get our next newsletter in the post (printed edition) so a double whammy!

Good luck everyone and I hope you like the new RL Music website.

Richard Lawson
Founder & Proprietor of RL Music
RL Music

This item is currently being restored

Came into stock: August 2012

Restoration Status: Awaiting complete restoration by KSR.

ETR (estimated time from restoration): End September 2012

Remarks: Another fantastic condition Pro-One is getting ready for its next custodian and this one really is a keeper! Probably one of the fastest selling synths we ever get in stock, and if you own on already then YOU know why!

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £1250 UKP

Availability: Sold as at 10th September 2012

Yamaha CS30L

We present this pristine condition flag-ship monosynth from the fabulous Yamaha CS series of Synthesizers.

An amazingly capable synth with an array of routing facilities and the excellent CS filters for really serious sound exploration. The CS30L is built into a beautifully factory made flight-case which probably explains why these models are always in such excellent condition. It’s heavy with it’s lid but once that’s stored and the synth up on a stand then it commands some respect from its sheer magnificence!

There are a number of essential inputs for control including CV/Gate & pedals etc. so you can hook her up easily to a Midi to CV converter. There is also an audio-in for running external signals through the synth which just adds up to is a beautifully thought out and well executed design. Additionally, there are separate audio-outs as well for routing internal sound set-ups through independent & shared channels.

This CS30L has only just been fully serviced and is sold with a 3 month warranty from RL Music. like most top condition ‘CS’ synths we have seen in the UK over the years, this CS30 run on 110V voltage and works very happily on a small step-down transformer due to its minimal 35W power requirements.

We have purchased a brand new (UK spec/plug) step-down transformer – rated to 45W which is supplied free of charge with this synth.

The case & panels condition are immaculate and we have not seen a better example. The original legs are not present, but most owners would have this instrument up on a keyboard stand to play.

Price: £1220 UK Pounds

Availability: This CS30L is now SOLD as at 26th March 2013

Click on the Thumbnails for higher resolution photos.

Roland System 700 Lab Series Modular

This item is awaiting delivery to RL Music from the EU for restoration to commence

Came into stock: ETA w/c 16th July 2012

Restoration Status: Going through Restoration

ETR (estimated time from restoration): End of October 2012

Remarks: Finally a System 700 becomes available and we snapped it up before the seller said “ are you interested.” A very rare opportunity to dial into the pure System 700 sound without having to spend £40K to do so. With a Kenton Pro-2000 you have a 3 note poly modular.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: Estimated at £7990 to £8500 UKP

Availability: The System 700 Lab is now Sold as at 11th August 2012

Arp 2600 Mk3 + 3620 Keyboard

This item is awaiting delivery to RL Music from USA for restoration to commence

Came into stock: ETA w/c 16th July 2012

Restoration Status: Awaiting arrival

ETR (estimated time from restoration): End of October 2012

Remarks: A really beautiful condition Mk3 black & Orange 2600. It’s been a while since we have had one of these versions in stock so we’re excited to be able to offer this to our customers once ready.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: Estimated at £7990 to £8500 UKP

Update 20th July 2012: This instrument is now sold as at 2nd August 2012.

A true workhorse synth and as popular today as it has even been since its introduction in 1983.

This item is currently being restored

Came into stock: June 2012

Restoration Status: Awaiting replacement end-cheeks form Lamond Design and then final assembly and overhaul by KSR.

ETR (estimated time from restoration): November 2012

Remarks: Good condition Grey SRM version Cat which will have brand new end-cheeks manufactured for it.. We might have to replace the knobs as all are non-standard and the sliders caps are aluminum type – look very nice though so will keep these. This is a UK version and getting very rare these days.

Guide Price Post-Restoration: £1750 UKP

Availability: This synth was sold on 29th October 2012

The Yamaha CS15 has been hailed by many as one of the best monosynths ever made and we’re delighted to offer you the near-mint condition example for sale.

Like is bigger brothers (the CS30 & CS30L) the CS15 has an excellent and beautifully designed front-panel layout giving the synth an astounding and vast array of features. This complexity delivers a diversity of sound that is deeply satisfying to explore. Cleverly, Yamaha produced this smaller version of their flagship CS30 range so that people could access the power of this classic design without the higher price tag.

This is a professional grade analogue synthesizer and is as relevant today as any contemporary analogue synth and offers more in pure synthesis terms than just about any other synth in this category.

This CS15 has only just been fully serviced and is sold with a 3 month warranty from RL Music. like most ‘CS’ synths we have seen in the UK over the years, this CS15 runs on 110V voltage and works very happily on a small step-down transformer due to its minimal 15W power requirements.

We have purchased a brand new (UK spec/plug) step-down transformer – rated to 45W which is supplied free of charge with this synth.

As you can see from the picture, the synth also comes with its original and very smart blue fur-lined Yamaha flight-case, which a really nice touch.

Like the CS30 we are also selling on our website, the condition of this CS15 is without doubt the best we have ever seen. This would represent a fine investment but is also an everyday useable instrument for anyone looking to own a hard-core and powerful vintage analogue system.

Price = 790 UK Pounds

Availability = This instrument is now sold – at 8th August 2012

Click the thumbnail for higher resolution photos.