Expected Lifespan of Your Typical Voyager

The Moog Forum Minimoog Forum
1

I’ve had my Voyager for a year now. It has never left its stand in all that time, save for when it had to go back early on for a new KB scanner. Osc1 still tunes to A440 when the master tune knob is right on the pip mark on the panel, and the other two still sync with Osc1 when their knobs are just a skootch right of center.

All in all, I’d say it is in as good a shape as it was when it left the factory!

So, given that it remains where it is for the foreseeable future (of course, it would be covered when not in use…), how much time should it take before it starts showing signs of needing a “tune-up?”

How about for the long haul, given the same conditions? Will the KB start showing its age 30+ years from now? How about the encoders? How long before they start acting up? Components? Connections?

I recall Kevin Lightner saying that in his experience over the years, he finds that older synths tend to wear out just by the mere fact that they get old.

So, let’s say that someone buys a brand new Voyager. On the day it arrives, he/she drops dead because they’re so overcome with joy. So, their significant other, not knowing what to do with it, but not wanting to sell it, places it in its molded ATA case (with the little packets of desiccant), and stores it in the closet, in the hallway just off of the living room, for the next 50 years! Given the quality of the components, materials, assembly, etc., when his/her great grandson Johnny discovers it half a century later, and decides he wants to play with it, will he find a fine instrument, a temperamental, yet redeemable box 'O analog fun, or a money-hole that’s only suitable for displaying as an example of what we used to play, “… back inna day?” What do you think?

For extra credit, what things do you think would start going before other things during that time? (i.e., the panel backlight would be the first to go, followed by the the keyboard, then the oscillators…).

For extra-extra credit, which do you think might fare better in this scenario, an original Voyager, or an Old School? (Why? Why not?)

And please, “It depends” is not an acceptable answer. Besides, no one is gonna hold you to your answers anyway, this is purely for gits and shiggles!

Bob

Edit: Fixed a typo…

2

I believe a long time ago, Kevin said something about needing to store your synth in a temperature controlled vaccum or something like that to preserve the life.


I fare OS editions would last longer due to the lack of digital implementation, though as long as we aren’t all in nursing homes, we will have some sort of software archive.

I have a Select Ash Lunar and theres a minute where the computer kicks on after you hit the switch. Its not like the Micro, you see the light come on and its on. I fear one day the voyager will fail to boot up.


It hasn’t given me any problems yet.



I think a smart thing to do now is to have Moog send you another cabinet, and have fatar send you another keyboard assembly and hold those so 50 years down the line, if Moog goes out of business (Bob help us) then we can rebuild them ourselves.

I think the Foogers will last a long time too. These will be super classic in a few decades.


Eric

3

I read somewhere that you should exercise every knob and switch at least once a month to extend the life of a Voyager.

I use mine a fair amount, but never work all the knobs or switches during those sessions. I set a monthly alarm to remind me to do it.

4

A unit that is exposed to ambient air starts to age. Air quality and characteristics has a lot to do with the way the unit will age (extreme and fast changing temperature or humidity, saltiness etc). Rough usage conditions too. By comparison, it’s obvious that a well packaged unit stored in optimal conditions would have the more chances of coming out intact.

While not being a specialist on long term moog keyboard maintenance issues, it’s only common sense that simple systems stand the test of time better and can only be easier to maintain and fix. Mechanical can always be fixed… but electronics? Try to find a replacement LCD display or specific IC chip 30 years down the road. So simplicity is essential in electronics too.

I do wonder often about those things. A bit of a pack rat, I do have a number of items NIB doubles from the past, and some very well preserved vintage superior quality items such as a QUAD 33/303 in fully working order (the one powering my Voyager as we speak… on vintage Heil AMT3 - refurbished Rock monitors) and Stax headphones still performing A-1. I really wish I had a long time stashed NIB set of this stuff.

I am now a little bit too old to stash away this kind of stuff although the thought has crossed my mind. Am I really? If ever life preserves me another 20 years in good enough health to play, I can’t think of a better scenario than opening a brand new one very special lucky day. My bet is an OS is the near perfect long time survival candidate because of it’s simplicity. I am pretty sure it will work right out of the box and be ready to serve many years. Please stop me here as I am entering dream land… (I really love my OS) :slight_smile:

5

So you’re solution is to buy doubles of every electronic component likely to go bad in a piece of beloved gear? :slight_smile:

6

Well, to give you an idea, I am still flying my favorite RC CAP 232 to the max, a very exclusive composite foam laminate design that surpasses them all in weight and flying characteristics, but that sadly went out of production years ago. A first one died in a very ill advised stunt attempt, a second one was retired out of old age and vibration, a third one was involved in a spectacular mid-air that is still the talk of the town. Two more left (besides the flying one) and then they’re gone forever. :wink: Hopefully by then, I will only be able to fly Cubs. Hey hold on!!! that’s not exactly what i mean to say!!! lolll

7

I’d hate to venture a guess, BUT… I’m still using the Korg MS-20 I bought new in 1980. I’ve never had it serviced or calibrated, and it still works perfectly (and is still in tune w/ itself). So I don’t think 30 years is out of the question… And as far as my Voyager goes, it has a better build quality than the Korg, and in the past nearly 7 years (it’s a maple Signature Series) has had zero problems, and is still in tune. About all I can see going wrong w/ it is if there’s some kind of battery backup (for the programs/OS) becoming fully discharged…

-andrew bunny

8

I remember a few years ago I got a brandnew Voyager with horrible bad contacts of the rotary switches. The customer told me the Voyager was for three or four months in a ship on the ocean. I guess the salty air is very bad for the contacts.
Now my Voyager prototype is here for eight years and there’s absolutely no problem with pots, switches or the keyboard. This is much better than the Minimoog D model 30 years ago.

9

Do you have a taurus prototype too? Can you post some pictures of your Voyager?

10

No I’m not involved in the Taurus project.



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WOAH! Those are some funky bubbles outlined on the panel. :sunglasses:

12

Rudi, is that the machine you work with when you do software upgrades, or do you have another?

13

Hi,
when we start with the digital board and the software I used these boards:






I used the prototype for many years, but now I’m using the regular Performer Edition and an RME for software developing.

Have fun,
Rudi

14

This may sound a little soppy, sorry, but

man it’s cool to “hang out” with people like Rudi and Kevin etc. :slight_smile:

Thanks for taking the time

15

And it’s cool for me to “hang out” with musicans. Thank you, Internet!
Have fun,
Rudi

16

My Voyager is about 6 years old now and it’s held up very well. I’ve played it at hundreds of gigs and countless rehearsals and it is just starting to hint that it needs to be scaled. Honestly tho, It sounds so nice just a tiny bit off here and there that I might hold of on tuning it for now. It travels inside the Moog custom molded ata case with some silica gel and all is well. I am definitely 100% satisfied with how the voyager has held up.

I can’t comment on your extra credit but I will add this. I’ve gone through 2 pitch wheel torsion springs on my Andromeda from heavy use. It doesn’t feel like the Voyager has a torsion spring in it however if whatever spring(s) it does have in it eventually go I won’t complain.

17

Most of my friends that own Voyagers use them live and often, none have had any problems to speak of. just like the people who fix our old vintage gear now, there will be someone there to fix our Voyager in the future. Use it as much as you can. Life is to short to worry about what might happen in the year 2039. Buy the way ive owned two and have never had a problem.

18

Rudi, did you ever get that touchpad to work on the prototype?

I remember that was almost a showstopper and Moog replaced it with a touchpad design from the Big Briar days.

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Oh, I don’t think I’m all that worried about it, though it would be good to gauge when I can expect to need a tune-up. Nope, this is just a thread where we can get together and talk a bit about these things, that’s all.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the thread so far! Keep it coming.

Bob :smiley:

20

Oh, I remember the first touch surface was like rubber. The photo shows the prototype when I got it (2002). Meanwhile I replaced the touch surface.

BTW here’s an image of the very first model…