minimoog serial # 2865 or #10 000 ?

[elbaroco]

Hello, I have the opportunity to acquire a minimoog. I have the choice of serial number 10 000 or 2865. I would like to be advised on which one to go for. The asked price is 3 780 USD. thanks

[EricK]

There are people far better suited to advise you on the Model D than myself, but there are far more important things to consider than the serial number.

Whats the overall condition of both units? Have you heard them or seen them in person? Have you any guarantees?

I have heard people buying a Mini to discover that the whole Osc board is missing?

If I was going to buy a vintage instrument that I could see, I think id have to inspect the circuit boards for corrosion, missing parts or things of that nature. I don't know the first thing about circuits but I can look at something and tell theres something broken or if there are leads that look rusted and I know what a poor solder joint looks like.

I would be wonderinf about the action, and the function of every pot and switch, and the quality of the outputs. I would be looking at the cabinet as a general indicator o how the unit was treated, or Id be trying to find out if the cabinet has been replaced.

Stuff like that, thats for more important than serial numbers.

Eric

[till]

Both serial numbers where original delivered with the older voice boards. But many Minimoogs where later upgraded to the new boards. These were different in sound, but way more temperature change resistant. So no detuning while on the stage/in studio.

I am owning a Minimoog with the late voice boards. But I heard older ones side by side. They sound better to me. But as always: this is a matter of taste.

So check the kind of voice boards. The differ fro the number of trimmers inside. Easy to check by undoing the screws of the aluminum back and opening the panel.

Old oscillator boards had 7 trimmers.
The new ones 12 trimmers.

And test both Minis before buying !

[Electrong]

If both were in the exact same condition, I'd choose the one with the lower serial number. That would indicate it has been taken better care of. Some do indeed feel the older Oscillators are warmer sounding. $3780US is around current full retail, right?

There is the flip side of the older one possibly needing some maintenance work before the later one, but if both were the same condition (they should be in perfect functional shape for that price in my opinion) then that condition rating would include any possible wearing down of key contact springs, etc.

I can't speak to the general quality of products being manufactured at the time of each Mini's coming out of the production line, but I have a general notion that things didn't necessarily improve over time there (although this notion could be completely unfounded).

[Kevin Lightner]

If both were in the exact same condition, I'd choose the one with the lower serial number.

No criticism, but I'd do the opposite.
While appearances being equal do indeed suggest care given to the earlier one, there is no denying that the higher the serial number, the less aging the instrument has experienced.
The newer one may have less wear too simply because it's younger.
But either way, wear affects them, but so does age.
I was charging more to restore older instruments because they required more parts to be replaced.

Owning serial #10000 exactly is attractive also.

You should definitely play each instrument to see which one you like better if you have the opportunity though.

[elbaroco]

Thanks to all for these valuable informations. I'll check these mini in depths.
As for price range, I was told 3 700 usd was a bit high do you agree ?.

D.

[EricK]

I think you might can get a few hundred off of that but there are people willing to pay 5000 for one so it just depends.

[Electrong]

Not saying eBay is the only indicator of value, but $3750 is the top end of minis going from that price down to the upper $2000's with one notable exception, that being a Musonics Minimoog (possibly the same one I saw a year or two ago on the 'Bay) that had been totally restored and original, by Kevin Lightner. That one went for $6000.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=38071

The others were all at or below the price they gave you for the 2 minis.

[minimoog56]

$3K should get you a cherry one... Just picked up my second in the 9700 serial number range for $2650 in good to very good condition... Mffwiggler board had one for $3K with anvil case, original sales brochures, manuals in the 5K serial number range and it did not move very quick...

[Camp Watson]

I have an original Mini Moog serial #1466 and wonder if anyone knows when it was made?
Works great, but I never use it anymore..

[EMwhite]

Probably '72-'73. If you look UNDER to adjustable panel, there might be a yellow tag with the inspector's initials and manufacture and final testing date. Despite these things being kicked around for ages and ages, this sticker usually stays put.

[thealien666]

Also, if you open the back cover, you'll most probably see signatures and dates of the employees that assembled it. Usually right behind the "controllers" section on the front panel. Anyway, that's where they are on mine.

From your serial number, we can deduce that your Minimoog D was the 466th to be produced. The production started at serial number 1001.
They stopped production momentarily at serial #1210 when they moved from Trumansburg to Williamsville back in 1972.

So yours could have been made in the early days of Buffalo, most probably 1973-74. But some parts of it might have been pre-assembled as early as 1972.

[Pascalilolo]

I have a Minimoog serial number 3 1 9 8 I would like to know what year it is tank you!

[alainhubert]

I have a Minimoog serial number 3 1 9 8 I would like to know what year it is tank you!

Probably 1973.