http://cgi.ebay.com/MOOG-SYSTEM-55-rare-vintage-analog-modular-synthesizer_W0QQitemZ120455840575
sorry if this was discussed before
Beautiful isnāt it?
Thanks for sharing
The wood isnāt stock.
The mounting screws arenāt stock.
The module complement isnāt that of a stock 55.
One module is missing a screw.
One knob missing its reflector.
Another knob (Moog 921 waveform) has the wrong reflector.
The rubber feet used on the top portion isnāt stock.
The pilot lamp isnāt stock.
Thereās evidence of some spray having been used on some controls and jacks.
The manual supplied is a copy.
Yet itās a mint, perfect 55?
Previously the seller said it was a custom-made 55 built by Bob Moog, but now doesnāt include that text.
From all I can see, this was a āproject Moog 55ā- one built up from misc pieces.
I can only imagine the āperfectionā of the electronics inside.
Hereās a pic of one I restored: http://www.synthfool.com/moog55kl.jpg
It cost less than $60K (including international shipping and restoration costs), yet Iād never even suggest itās perfect.
Thereās a sucker born every minute.
If someone pays $60K for it, Iād suggest theyāre a āperfect fool.ā
Luckily not every sucker has $60K.
PWNED!
Wow, the one you restored is gorgeousā¦
Kevin, I see the missing reflector, and the wrong reflector, and the unoriginal cabinet, as well as the spray residue and unoriginal feet, as well as the ācustomā lamp, but whereās the missing screw? Canāt place it. 
Not that it matters, because Iām neither dumb enough to spend that kind of money on a POS 55, nor do I have 60kā¦period. 
whereās the missing screw?
Right-most 911 envelope generator.
2nd module from the right on the top cab.
A C-frame mounting screw.
I have about 4000 of those screws in stock and that particular Ebayār can buy one from me for the very special price of only $50. 
Theyāre 10 cents each for any one else.
Epic! Yeah I found it. Thanks Kevin! Iāve got a feeling that guyās got more than one screw loose, though.
Wow! Price jump, last time this went to auction it was only 50 grand?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110383187204
That listing was also shown here:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2009/04/moog-system-55.html
While the listing is quite misleading as to originality, it still has Moog modules in there. I would not feel guitly rearranging these into say, a portable cabinet or other custom enclosure, since it is not an original configuration. Iām sure the price is high to avoid Ebay fees, probably looking for a reasonable offer.
This seller also claimed to be dismantling the famous Moog CEMS because it had eight sequencers, and only needed four?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110400746531
I would think the CEMS would be worth more undisturbed, since it was reported to be built by Bob himself. A historic system that was slated to go in a musem, but ran out of funding. Was auctioned off at Viema last year. Info on that auction here:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2007/10/vemia-auction-update-joel-chadabe-late.html
Too bad the seller seems to have no respect for historic value of these Moogs. Kind of like the old tomb raiderās melting down ancient art/relics for the gold. 
50 bucks for a screw?
Jeez!
EricK
Thatās cheaper than a hooker 
Kevin, that is one spectacular picture. Thanks for sharing.
This IS Kevin Lightner weāre talking about, MC. Now I have pictures in my head that REALLY shouldnāt be there.
everyone up in arms over this $60K modular (I agree itās insanity). funny. i feel the same way when I see Taurus 1ās listed for more than $2000.
But as was mentioned earlierā¦ āthereās a suckerā¦ā
Thanks for the kind words on my photography, Mark.
The camera did all the work though.
I wish my work took 1/250th of a second to do.
As for T1ās, I agree prices can be quite tall.
But weāre talking about a 30+ year old synth designed to sit on the floor and be stepped on.
To obtain a really nice one today that still plays reliably will take some money.
I personally could find much better uses for money like that myself, but itās all relative to how much youāve got and how bad you want something.
Weāll see what the new T3 does to those vintage T1 sales soon too.
What a beautiful looking synth! Tell me though, unless āperfectā in your view means exactly as it wouldāve been delivered by RA Moog 40 years ago, what was less than perfect about this 55?
Or some luckā¦ four years ago I found a very clean very reliable set in a vintaj guitar store. Iām at a loss to explain why a store that sells '59 vintage les pauls for $300,000 lets these Taurus Is go for $1000 (!!!) With original moog fiberglass case.
This place sells the occasional accordian. I spotted the case and said to myself āthatās an awful big accordianā Popped the lid and they were inside, they never even put them out on display.
What a beautiful looking synth! Tell me though, unless āperfectā in your view means exactly as it wouldāve been delivered by RA Moog 40 years ago, what was less than perfect about this 55?
My statement was basically a comparative to that auction where the seller stated 4 or 5 times that his was āperfect.ā
I donāt believe anything is really perfect. At least as made by man.
If I can notice screws missing or whatever, Iād call that āroom for improvementā and certainly not perfect.
For example, if I replaced the screw that was missing, would it then be āmore than perfect?ā
On the 55 I showed, thereās some minor wood imperfections, a few small scratches and that sort of thing.
I just canāt bring myself to declaring any vintage synth as mint or perfect.
I donāt believe there is such a thing as a mint vintage synth, period.
How old does a synthesizer have to be to call it vintage? 1985? I have a dead mint Casio CZ-101, that I aquired unopened in itās original box. Including the 6 National Hi-Top batteries (not so mint). Not a scratch, finger print, or dust speck on it. I did fire it up and record it via MIDI just the other day, still sounds amazing.
Here is a pic of the CZ in the oiriginal hardshell case. It actually sparkles.
While Iām not a collector and believe a synthesizer should be played, I have enough CZ-101ās to set this one aside.
The original CZ case keeps the dust away nicely!
And the CZ sounds awesome with a Moog Modular. Killer combo!
CZ-101 lead over Moog Modular bass
Nice sounding piece. I just retired my v good condition CZ-101 from service as I found a better than average {has some light marks/scratches}CZ-5000 for $75 this week. Nice to have full size keys and another sequencer. I donāt have a mint anything (other than some DIās that are still in box.) in my collection. But almost all of it is in better condition than most. Most is studio only and never gigged. (Except the Vger and JX3-P/Planet S) Just keeping them in this condition is work enough. Iād hate to worry about keeping them mint! (Like the pipe organ and Bosendorfer at the local church.) Closest to mint for me is my modular. It has the least use and wear of anything Iāve got.
How old does a synthesizer have to be to call it vintage? 1985? I have a dead mint Casio CZ-101
No offense personally, but it appears youāre basing āmintā on external visuals.
Iām basing it on the natural aging and wear of electronic components.
24 year old electrolytic capacitors are not like new ones.
Silver tarnishes. Rubber degrades. PCBs flex and can crack connections.
Key pivots and other frictional surfaces can wear.
Metal can fatigue.
Part values can drift.
A person can have broken bones inside, but look fine externally.
Same for synths.
No slam, but weāre looking at these synths from two different perspectives.