Moog Modulars on display

The Moog Forum Moog Music General Topics Forum
1

If you live in the Washington DC/Maryland/ Northern Virginia area, here’s your chance to get up close and personal with a few Moog Modular synths. The University of Maryland at College Park currently has a modest synthesizer exhibit featuring a Moog System 15:





a Moog Model 3C:




a rare ElectroComp sequencer:




and various related period memorabilia:




The exhibit is in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library reading room, and runs through March 23rd.

While there, you can also listen to the Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music (another rare bit of recording memorabilia), hear examples of EM from famous composers and performers, and peruse the stacks for current and out-of-print textbooks on synths and electronic music.

This is a very cool and rare opportunity to view some legendary EM hardware, and well worth the effort to see it. For info, directions and hours:

http://www.lib.umd.edu/PAL/SCPA/moog/

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  • Greg
2

Dnmt! Y brk my kybrd! I frgt t pt n a bb, nw th drl hs stppd th vwls frm wrkng!

3

Fwiw, the top synth is a Moog 35, not a 15.

4

You’re right, it is. The display placard on the table incorrectly refers to it as a System 15. It didn’t seem right to me at the time, but I knew that ultimately some sharp-eyed forum member would identify it corrrectly! :slight_smile:

5

I’m surprised that no one has noticed the modification to the IIIc’s keyboard controller.

6

I noticed, but it’s a custom thing.
Was that one of those Roger Powell custom jobs?
Mike Bucki’s work?
Moog’s?

7

Judging from the one-piece panel labeled “R.A Moog” and the extended keyboard casework, I would think it’s a Moog mod.

8

The Holy Grail..The sight of those beasts still puts me in a state of awe…very nice indeed!

9

Just an aside, but does anyone know what a copy of the Nonesuch Guide would be worth now?

I don’t have one, but I know a man who does. It was a great help to me back in the 1970s.

10

I also saw the exhibit, very cool. When I saw the keyboard controller on the IIIC I commented that it was not “standard”, I recall seeing a photo of one some where over the years though. I’ve always thought it would be cool to have a Modular with a keyboard controller with mod and pitch wheels :slight_smile:. Also I didn’t think the System 15 label was correct. I wasn’t sure if it was a 35 though.

KL was there a system 35 in the late 60’s or could it be a custom config or 1C variation. ?

If you’re close by it’s worth stopping by for a visit.

Brian

11

It may have been a very early 35 or one changed at the factory or later on.
Instead of a 907 fixed filter bank, this one has an env follower and a filter coupler.
You could probably tell if you were given an opportunity to look in the back.
The production tags would have the dates.
Also, installation of a 904C filter coupler isn’t a trivial thing.
So if that wiring looks all stock and nicely bundled, the factory probably did it.
If not, it was probably added later.

12

Unfortunately, the back panels of the '35 and IIIC weren’t accessable for photographs, and the displays couldn’t be moved, so no serial numbers or date of manufacture was observable.

The '35 is property of the university, but I haven’t been able to ID anyone there who knows the specifics about this instrument. I’ve contacted the owner of the IIIC (on loan to the university) to see if he can provide additional information about this synth.

I should also mention that if you go to see the exhibit, be aware that photographs aren’t permitted without first getting permission from Vin Novara, the curator of media collections at the university.

13

FYI, the Nonesuch Guide has been re-released on CD:

http://www.amazon.com/Nonesuch-Guide-Electronic-Music/dp/B000E112SE

I’d guess that the value of the original has diminished somewhat now that the content is available on CD (the information is no longer exclusive). Still, who knows what a vinyl collector might pay for the original?

  • G
14

Thanks. I didn’t know about the CD. That’s good. I’m quite surprised, actually. The score for Peace III must be pretty small now, though.

15

All the modules in that 35 are badged Moog Music and the VCOs are 921s. It is definitely 1970s build, however not a stock 35 configuration.

By the 70s the modulars were built by the custom engineering department so you could get a modular with a custom configuration.

16

I think I’ve seen Moog Music modules dated 1969 before.
Last ones I’ve seen were in Stevie Wonder’s Moog 55.
They were dated 1979, if I recall.
No Moog modulars here now, but expecting another Moog 55 soon.
I’ll check when it was made. Most I’ve seen are from 1973 or so.
Not that any of this is important. I’m just curious about this stuff. :slight_smile:

17

hehe…never really understood this…do photographs steal the synthesizer’s “Soul”?

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Isn’t that a mis-quote from a Howard Jones song? :slight_smile:

Actually, I think it has more to do with photographing students & faculty members (I’m guessing it’s some kind of a ‘rights’ issue). Still, it is their policy and I was certainly going to respect it. Got lots of good still pictures, and BrianG took some video of the gear that he may get posted soon.

But photos and video doesn’t do it justice - nothing beats seeing it in person if you can.

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yeah, i totally agree with that…its funny that whole “you look taller on TV” or “you look smaller in movies” totally applies to synthesizers in photographs… I visited a fellow synthesist in my town who had a frac-rack modular and doepfer and I was blown away by how small they were (considering my only experiences in modular synthesis have been Synthesizers.com twiddling).
I’ll have to admit, the smaller modular form factors are pretty darn small…but cute to boot!

20

I contacted the owner of the IIIC and asked if he could provide some background and general information on the instrument. Here’s the response I received:

"Hi Greg,

As promised, here is some info regarding the IIIC. I did get a chance to run through the forum questions and comments too. As you can imagine, I’ve been spending quite a bit of time returning emails and phone calls in regards to the Modular. It’s amazing how much interest is generated through an exhibit like this.

The instrument was built in 1970 and includes a ribbon controller …which I was a little uneasy about putting on display (and didn’t), and a 1200 mixer, which can be seen at: http://moogarchives.com/ under instruments/modules/1200. There were only 3 of these mixers made (special orders at $3900 a pop) according to the custom sales summary at Moog Archives - which makes it very unique in my opinion. It is a real workhorse. The “whole” instrument was originally bought by Morgan State University and was used some time there before being put into storage. In its time, I am told a number of well-known composers who came through this area played on or performed on this instrument, most notably Milton Babbitt. Unfortunately, all of the reel-to-reel tapes/recordings of performances on this instrument were lost or thrown away. In addition to things tragically thrown away… supposedly, the original 951-keyboard controller was “thrown in the dump”. (Or stolen, sold for a quick buck at the pawnshop as a “keyboard” or who knows, but it my steriously disappeared before I got to it.) I became the owner of the Moog Modular in 2004/2005. I had the fortunate experience of finding the keyboard controller that you see on display through an auction on ebay and bought it quickly for $750.00. It is a very interesting thing with the modulation, pitch “bend” control wheel, isn’t it? I decided to use Mike Bucki as the restorationist for this instrument. We didn’t do much aesthetically but did a whole lot internally. For starters, we calibrated and tuned the 901 oscillators, cleaned and re-calibrated all the trim pots, some 902 VCA repairs, and replaced the ribbon on the ribbon controller. The instrument is fully functional. One of my favorite features on this instrument is the 905 reverberation unit consisting of a dual spring/delay that, besides giving you “echo”, also serves to add color to the sounds, etc.

You also asked if the instrument was being used for performance/compositional purposes. This past year I used it briefly in a performance called Blind Spot…pre-recorded material, and next year I am working on collaborating with a modern dance performance.

I have a question for you and anyone else on the forum who is interested: If you were given the chance to own a system like the IIIC or other historically significant synthesizers like this one, how would you utilize it? Or not utilize it? I’ve had some interesting suggestions so far including an exhibit at the Smithsonian or Franklin Institute in Philly. The exhibit that I initiated at the University of Maryland was my initial attempt to educate, inspire, generate ideas and discussions, bring like-minded individuals together (similar to the forum), and of course pay respect to one of the greatest forward-thinking people of our time - Robert Moog.

Anyway, just interested in any suggestions you may have."

How about it forum people - anybody have any thoughts/comments?

  • Greg