Cheap Minimoog?

[moogsaurus]

Since the late 70's my favourite synth was always the Minimoog, great looks/sound/king of cool!
Cheapest I ever found one was for 450 pounds around 1981, no, I did'nt buy it! checked out RL Music (English dealer) he's currently 2 for sale 7000 & 8000 pounds (what that translates to in dollars is anyones guess?) i've a 77' model D, serial 9*** bought for 600 pounds, (years ago) great condition, smooth panel controls - lovely!
How much have you paid for yours? (or be prepared to pay?)

[Sweep]

Yes, I remember those low prices as well - ruefully, as I would have bought loads of stuff if I hadn't been unemployed in the first rash of Thatcherite madness. I may well have bought a MiniMoog then, but a VCS3 would have been first (I'd used one at the end of the 70s but not owned it), and then probably an ARP 2600.

I haven't checked Richard Lawson's site for a while, but I think at least one of those Minis is a very early one and worth more because of components and condition. Also all his synths have been meticulously restored and serviced by Kent Spong, so his prices may not be a guide.

I'd expect prices in the region of £3000-£4000 at the moment, but I wouldn't pay that. If I was rich I might, but if I was just comfortable I'd spend that kind of money on something else, personally. I did consider bidding about £1000 on a cosmetically poor but working Mini a few years ago, but didn't. It had belonged to Steve Hillage and I've got every recording it was used on, but that still didn't tempt me. It might have done if I hadn't got the Voyager (yes, I know they're not the same, but similar enough for my purposes).

[rarecomponent]

It even hurts to write this...

I was offered a Minimoog in the early 80's for £100 !!!!

and I turned it down because it was not polyphonic !!

well at the time I knew nothing of synths being a string player

.....but live and learn.....live and learn

[MC]

I paid $1000 for my RA Mini back in 1992, just before the prices started climbing. Even that was on the high end of market value but I knew it was an early one and am glad I sprang for it.

Been playing over ten years prior to that and had never owned a minimoog. Got by with my PAiA modular Back in 1983 I turned down an offer to buy a minimoog for $200. Yeah, live and learn...

[moogsaurus]

Yeah - i've sold stuff to RL before: Pro one's, his mark up is staggering! Soho soundhouse used to restore and sell vintage stuff,but like a few big stores - they're no more! there's something undefinable about the sound of the Moogs - now I've repaired early 1972/73 ones in the past, sonically not much difference, maybe production runs imparted slightly different characteristics on the sound. Yeah unemployed - in Glasgow in the 80's, McCormacks music (moog dealer) had a walnut Mini in - stunning...400 pounds, trade in -i'd no money. damn...unemployment!

[americankiwi]

I bought 2 mini's last year (2012) cost me $200 total!!

[thealien666]

Bought mine two years ago, in need of some TLC electronically, but in good shape cosmetically. It's a 1975 with the more common old oscillators board. Paid $800. Invested around $700 in upgrades, mainly the keyboard contacts system (now optical instead of mechanical) and bushings, and some other stuff too like oscillator sync, and Tempco relocation for better stability.

So, all in all, one could say that I've paid $1500 for it, total. Not counting the hours of my time spent on fixing it. Not bad, considering how much a Mini in excellent shape with Opto Key system go for on eBay these days...!

[JohnLRice]

I got my Model D for $125! Yes, It was the late 80's early 90's and it was from an ex-bandmate who needed so cash. It was actually a fair amount for me to spend at that time.

[moogsaurus]

I'd 2 Minis for repair 10-12 years back, they had a painted brown finish which was flaking off - really bad looking! the owners had no idea on their market value - they were just glad to get them back making music!
Guess there's still a few "bargains" to be found,some folk just lose interest,and put things in storage! I'd bought a 1 owner ARP Odyssey 2 years ago, mint/manual, 9 miles up the road from me, he wanted 600 pounds (he got 600 pounds!) excellent synth..so keep dreaming - you never know!

[MC]

I know a local tech who scored a one owner pristine condition ARP 2600 a few years ago from a retired vet. The owner sold it to him for $600 (!!!) and kept the Omni "because it played chords" (!!!!!!)

[Kevin Lightner]

I've never bought a Mini, but have been given a couple over the years.
Always sold them after fixing them up.
One particular Mini was given as a finder's fee for locating some rare modulars.
I sold it to Brian Kehew who loaned it to Bob Moog to use for his Namm Big Briar demos.
That was a good feeling because thousands of people got to play a model D.

Model D prices have gone up past their original retail prices.
Most synths that do that will continue on an upward trend.
If you can afford one, they're not such bad investments.
It's like being paid to own one.

[noddyspuncture]

I was very luck with all my Mini's. I have three. The first cost me £550 with flight case back in 1985. Then in the early 90's I was offered 10cc's old Moog's... a Minimoog again with flight case, and a Polymoog Synth. The lot for £300...! The Polymoog never worked and was sold for more than I'd pain for the lot. It was in the days before eBay. I sold it to a guy who already had four and was trying to make a good one out of them all.. Then, most recently - about two and a half years ago - I bought my third, from a friend in the USA, New York. It had been stored in a shed etc... not used for decades and had a water damage cabinet which was falling apart, rusted up range switches...etc Really needed to be totally restored. I got that one for $500... which is like £300. The restoration was great fun and it's now a very good Mini. And I love them all...

[Mitchell Chastain]

I got my first Mini in a second hand music store here in Atlanta. It was the early 80's. I traded in my first synth, a Micromoog, and had to pay an additional $100. Funny thing is, when I told the guy I was there for a Minimoog he told me they were all in a cabinet in the back of the store and told me to go pick one. I slid the door open to this display cabinet and drug out at least 7 of them on the floor. I really didn't know that much about them as far as early or late ones so I just went by the serial # and got the newest one there. I still have it today and has never had a problem. I did refinish the cabinet a few years back.
For the next few years I probably bought and sold 8 or 9 of them and I don't think I ever paid over $200... (one exception... I bought one that needed a little cabinet work 5 years ago for $800.) One of them is an RA mini. I remember thinking at the time that I had never seen that particular badge on the front before. I still have it too.
I've managed to hold on to 5 of them and they all are in great shape and sound wonderful...
I never dreamed they'd ever go up in value. I just always loved finding them and making them look and play like new.

[thealien666]

I'm afraid the days of finding a dusty old Mini stored for some years in an attic at a low price are seriously numbered. The only hope of getting a cheap Mini these days, is to find one in need of TLC.

I can't believe the prices they're asking on eBay these days. It's crazy.

[chris j]

I can't believe the prices they're asking on eBay these days. It's crazy.

now you know how much I paid for mine