Hi - Im still sniffing around a few options on the Voyager (thanks for all the advice so far). Really like the Anniversary Edition light show but I have now seen an Signiture Edition being sold on eBay by a shop just outside London. It is surprisingly cheap (£1550 buy it now) and this is actually the third time its been advertised so its not going anywhere fast.
So, how come the Signiture Edition is struggling to be sold for 1/2 the new price? Which is going to be more desirable in years to come, the AE or Signiture edition?
I know this is all a bit silly but Im just trying to decide what version I want. The only thing putting me off the Sig’ is the hardware issues and the thought of having to get these rectified along with the associated cost. Probably not an issue in the US but in the UK we have to rely on 16 year olds ‘work experience’ technicians at Turnkey..
hmmm - just expired for a 3rd time with no bids.. The starting bid is only £1500 and there is no reserve. Seems like a BIG depreciation for a £3000 synth..
Still waiting on my purchase but should be within a week..
Buy the signature edition! It will be worth more in the future, and if the very minor hardware flaws bother you, mail it to Moog Music and they’ll fix it for free. That is a very good price.
Hmm…does seem odd. I like the Signatures. But I also like the black AE. Honeslty are you really thinking about the re-sale? Buy the one you like It’d be cool if my AE was signed, but no big deal. It’s not going to make me a better programmer or arranger.
I have to agree with that there’s something about the AE color and lighting scheme that grabs me more than the walnut/cherry woods.
I mean, I’m totally with having some of the old mini vibe going, but it seems to me that the AE’s (and Blue’s) lighting and coloring helps them eek out a niche of their own.
Sorry to babble, but my own AE is being delivered tomorrow and I can’t sleep I’m so psyched and excited!
“Honeslty are you really thinking about the re-sale?”
I know, I know, its not a great way to start off. Probably like getting married and considering a prenuptial..
However, I decided a long time ago to never buy another new synth because of the amount I lost on a Emu sample a VirusC (both purchased from new). Besides, I only like old analogue synths so I never thought I would be buying another new synth anyway.
I can only justify a Voyager on the grounds that I will have this synth until I die. BUT, there is always the chance that you may need to sell or can no longer justify having such an expensive item sitting around. Seeing £3000 Signature Editions failing to sell for £1500 on 3 occasions is a little worrying..
Good news - my AE edition is ready and should be getting it Tuesday/Wednesday..
Totally cool. I hear you about the drop in value for used synths. But that’s just the nature. I bought alot of my synths new too, Virus C Indigo, Voyager AE, etc. There’s always going to be something new that comes out and tries to overtake the previous generation. And damn it’s tempting but in the long run just not worth it. Unless you got the cash to burn
“I have a Signed Anniversery Edition Voyager. Do you think it will be worth as much /less as the signature edition in the future.”
I would imagine the SE will always be the ‘flagship’ model, hence, the most desirable/costly. If you are asking: “will the SE (or any other Voyager) ever be worth the original price”, then my guess would be that eventually it will, but not for many many years and the effects of inflation will cancel out the true value. They would also have to stop making them new as this will always have an effect on the used value.
Either way, you still have the hottest Voyager made so far but buying new gear is always going to cost you..
I’m not surprised the signature series has devalued so much. Moog bringing out the ae which looks far cooler, had better software, backlighting and no hardware problems sealed the sigs fate. Nobody is gonna pay 1500 more for bobs signature and a worse sounding/looking synth.
Have been lurking for a few days on the board. Waiting for my AE to arrive.
Got it Saturday, and all I can say is, Wow. Seeing one in a store doesn’t prepare you for having it at home.
All this talk about signatures on the AE got me to thinking. Does anyone know just how many AE’s were made? I know that my serial number is 645 and it’s one of the unsigned ones.
Great community here, and have learned a great deal by reading the old posts.
<< All this talk about signatures on the AE got me to thinking. Does anyone know just how many AE’s were made? I know that my serial number is 645 and it’s one of the unsigned ones. >>
Moog gave away the final AE in a contest last year, S/N 2004. Of course that doesn’t guarantee that 2004 units were made, but if someone offers to sell you an AE with a serial number higher than that, take a pass!
I have a maple AE, of which only 15 were made. My serial number is AE0237, which really doesn’t give much of a clue, as to the number produced, does it?
There are also 20 Walnut editions and apparently only 1 Curly Maple edition, all of which (along with the standard maple editions) were exclusively available from Big City Music.
As to how many black AEs were made, you could always email Moog and ask!
I’m not surprised the signature series has devalued so much. Moog bringing out the ae which looks far cooler, had better software, backlighting and no hardware problems sealed the sigs fate. Nobody is gonna pay 1500 more for bobs signature and a worse sounding/looking synth.
The SE has devalued because, what was supposed to be a limited edition . . low number synth has become a popular buy. Originally there were to be 100 SE’s and 500 performers . . and that was it. However, in the future, it’s more likely that collectors will pay bigger money for the real hardwood case and earlier serial numbers.
Regarding looks . . well that’s down to the beholder. Personally I would favor a real hardwood finish over any sprayed finish . . . the SE’s hand made cabinetry is gorgeous . . the performers machine made cabinetry looks like plastic . . the AE looks cheap all sprayed black (IMHO, and the backlighting, while fun, is a little gimicky) and as for the new Electric Blue finish . . I got to see one in NYC last week and all I can say is why? It looks like a very bad spray job.
What moog should have done is make a “Tough Voyager” . . build a molded plastic/ABS/Bullet Proof case for the performer.
Regarding sound . . my SE has yet to exhibit the few hardware faults that surfaced with the early SE’s . . I do not (as yet) get the glitchy sound at volume 5 and my pitch wheel tracks properly . . and in any case, these faults can be fixed under the 4 year warranty . . . so having had the luck of having my SE and a friends AE next to each other I can say there is no sound difference between the two.
When you buy a synth, it ships with the software that was installed at the time of manufacture . . so even on an AE or Electric Blue you will have to update the software at some point . . . my SE#86 is right up to date with it’s OS rev. and I have never found it a chore to update it.
Regarding looks . . well that’s down to the beholder.
Absolutely. I myself cannot see the point of the EB - it is really just a black AE with an extra quirk added to the cabinet. If they really wanted to introduce another variation, why not a redwood cabinet, with orange backlighting? I reckon that would be stunning.
the backlighting is hardly a gimmick- have been using my ae on tour and in between trax when the lights go down and i need to re-patch the backlighting is essential. its a godsend. and has the wow factor. genius.
It’d be cool if my AE was signed, but no big deal. It’s not going to make me a better programmer or arranger.
