Would you buy any of these synths?

ikazlar · Post by **ikazlar** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:29 am

Hello,

this is slightly off topic... but would you buy any of the following synths? (all are mint).

1. Moog Sonic 6 (for $1998)
2. Oxford Oscar (for $2198)
3. Korg MS 20 (for $ 1298)
4. Roland System 100 (for $2998, all modules)
5. Arp Axxe (for $1298)

If anyone of you had any of these synths, would you mind making some comment as to whether they could fit with a Voyager.

Boeing 737-400 · Post by **Boeing 737-400** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:34 am

OSCar yeah man!

GregAE · Post by **GregAE** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:35 am

I used a Sonic 6 in high school, so I'm familiar with it. It's a two oscillator synth packaged into a hinged injection-molded instrument case. The panel layout and graphics show the signal flow - it's unique for a Moog. I'm pretty sure it was designed and built as a educational instrument for schools. It has two LFO's that can be summed together to get interesting CV textures. Fun to play with, but no interface or expansion capabilities AFAIK. The price seems high for an educational instrument that's 30 years old. Personally, I'm fond of it (it was the first Moog I ever played), but I'd take a pass.

All the other synths are highly desireable pieces of gear. Each has its own strengths, and none duplicate the features, capabilities and sound of another. Any one would make a fine addition to a studio. The prices, however, seem high, even for mint condition instruments. Check eBay to get a better idea of what these are going for.

bunnyman · Post by **bunnyman** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:16 am

RE: the Arp Axxe and the Korg MS-20.

When I was out to buy my first synthesizer (back in 1980), I was going to get the Axxe (having been familiar with the Arp name). The salesman showed it to me, but recommended the Korg MS-20 instead. His reasoning - the Axxe is a non expandable one oscillator overpriced piece of poop. The MS-20 has a completely expandable patchbay, a pitch to voltage converter that I could use my bass guitar (or voice, or any monophonic source) to drive the oscillators with, there were 2 oscs, there were 2 filters, etc. And, oh yeah, it only costs $500 instead of $700. Sold! Well, I still have my Korg, and it's in mint condition (they're built like a tank). The best Axxe I've seen is beat to hell - plus I can recreate most of it on my Doepfer 404 single space rack synth. Not to say that I wouldn't love an Arp Axxe; I just feel $1300 is a bit much for a 25 or 30 year old instrument with its capabilities. The MS-20 price seems a bit high, too. I wouldn't pay more than $900. Especially since there are sources for the coveted MS-20 filter section (Analogue Solutions and Doepfer both make MS20 clone filters; Wiard makes one that's a combo Buchla/Korg filter - the Borg). Just my 2 centavos - thanks for letting me reminisce...

-andrew bunny

monads · Post by **monads** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:44 am

Korg MS-20

sir_dss · Post by **sir_dss** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:08 am

The AXXE should sell for about $400.

ikazlar · Post by **ikazlar** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:09 am

Thanx guys,

generally the prices in Europe are rather high. You have to search for a long time before finding what you want in the price range that you can afford. The Roland System 100 is a rather highly desirable piece of gear for me (it looks cool too

)

I now remembered a very old guy who collects all kinds of stuff for years. He has an ARP 2600 and some other Moog stuff but they're so old and knackered - they probably don't function at all. The clue here is that this guy is unaware of what he has... He would probably sell the ARP for like 500 euros. But it would cost me a leg and an arm to get it fixed and refurbished. On the other hand I can't just sit there...

chihuahuaphile · Post by **chihuahuaphile** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:57 am

i would probably buy the axxe if i was it for $300-400 us. if i saw one.

there is a band here in texas called Yeti.kind of avant prog/metal
they use one and its pretty damn raw sounding. of course i think they put it through a amp with a little distortion.

TonyR · Post by **TonyR** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:20 am

wow those prices are about 1.5x above the norm. But oscar 0wns =)

kilgoretrout · Post by **kilgoretrout** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:02 pm

Save up and buy a LAMM Memory moog. I got one for about $2500, although I think that was a bargain.

Moog Beam · Post by **Moog Beam** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:08 pm

Hey,
I think I would go for one of the modulars to work with the Voyager and the VX351 and the 251...patchability and external audio input=fun.
The Roland system would be cool because it looks like a spaceship control panel...a beautiful synth. But the MS20 is a little more patchable, I think.

http://www.analogue.org/mr/ms20/