Taking care of an Electric Blue Voyager paint

The Moog Forum Moog Music General Topics Forum
1

Hello!

I own an EBV, which is around 7 or 8 years old. It has spent most of it’s life in the USA, but last year I bought it used and brought it to Costa Rica, in the very heart of the tropics! Humidity factor here is quite relevant.

I deserve to be punished for what I’m about to say. For the last 3 months aproximately, I’ve been really busy with my college studies and I have abandoned my synths. In the case of the Voyager, it spent most of the time with a dust cover over it. Finally on vacations, I removed the cover only to discover something terrible, it was starting to grow some white mold on some parts of the wood! I guess the humidity on the environment getting trapped under the dust cover, without much ventilation and light caused the mold to grow.

Well I inmediatley removed it with a dry cloth, but I think it affected the paint a little bit.

I don’t have air conditioner, and I dont have the money to by an electric dehumidifier at the moment. What Im using is a cheap dehumidifying solution (calcium chlorine buckets I think) that passively absorbs humidity from the environment. Hopefully that will help to reduce the chance of mold growing again.

But talking about the paint itself, is there any product I can apply to help protect against mold growing but that doesnt damage the paint?

Thanks for any help!
Andrés

2

To be honest i’d be more concerned about what’s happening inside. Might be worth opening it up and checking the electronics.

3

If you can afford a Voyager you can afford a window unit air conditioner right? It’ll remove the humidity from the air.

4

Ok, so I opened it, it seems to be fine to the naked eye.

I’ll certainly be more careful and take some actions to cotrol the moisture on the environment.

Something elese. Do you know if there is any benefit on turning on the unit occationally to kind of warm up its circuits if I’m not using it for a considerable amount of time, lets say a week or more?
I mean, would that help in any way?

Thanks for the replys!

5

You need to turn that thing on every day and tweak those knobs!

6

First and last, get an air conditioner or a dehumidifier for that room.

Second, you need to get some kind of a case for the synth, and store it in the case with desiccant packs when you’re not using it. I’d recommend the molded ATA case, but anything that can be sealed from the high humidity should do, including the box it was shipped in. You can actually get a permanent desiccant canister that can be “recharged” by heating it up in the oven, they’re usually sold in gun shops. Just don’t store it with the synth while it’s still hot! If you cannot get the air conditioner, or dehumidifier, storing the synth like this when you’re not using it should be sufficient.

Until you do the above, when the synth is not in use, cover it with a light cotton cover, like a bed sheet. This is a temporary method that will keep the dust off, yet allow any excess moisture to evaporate, rather than accumulate on and inside the synth. However, definitely get that case and desiccant.

Third, contact Moog to see if there is a way, or even a need, to protect the paint from the humidity, as well as how you might clean the mildew stains. Only follow Moog’s instructions as regards this, as you might make it worse and probably void the warantee.

Also, ask Moog what they recommend as far as how to store the synth when it’s not being used, as well as for long term storage while you’re away at school.

Fourth, while my recommendations may be “close enough for government work,” follow Moog’s recommendations over and above anything I’ve written here, as they know the environmental limits of your synth.

Finally, don’t sweat this too much, these synths are being used all over the world in every environment that you can imagine. They’re pretty tough little instruments!

Good luck, don’t sweat the small stuff, and use that synth every chance you get!

Humbly Submitted,
Bob

Edited…

7

Hey Bob, thanks so much for taking the time to write all those suggestions, I appreciate it and definetly try to implement them ASAP.

I won’t let this happen again.

8

We’re keeping an eye on you! :wink:

Please let us know what Moog tells you, and how you make out with everything. And, enjoy your time off from school! :smiley:

Bob