New Member - AE - on the way!

Gary Smith · Post by **Gary Smith** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:28 pm

Hello everyone.

Just joined this forum tonight (June 19th) and have enjoyed the written conversations I have been reading here.

Thought I would let you know that I have ALWAYS wanted to own and play a MiniMoog ever since I first tried one on stage back in 1975. It belonged to a keyboardist in a great cover rock band in the day who invited me up on stage to get a closer look. What a treat!

At the time, I could not afford one, so I bought a Korg instead. It went on and on for me with many different synths, the ones I still have in collection are listed at the bottom of the mailing..

I ordered the DVD a couple months ago, and it was delivered on the release date. This 'documentary' really gave me the push to look into the Voyager now that I could luckily afford one.

I managed to locate the Anniversary model WITH Bob's SIGNATURE ! It took me only a day to realize that THIS should be my very first Moog synthesizer. So, to make a long story a little shorter, I picked up the phone, called and ordered the last AE-`signed' that my dealer had in stock

It should arrive at my door in a few days ! These are exciting times, especially for Bob and all the friends and fans he has here in the forum, myself included.

With that, I say again, hello to everyone and I am glad to join the group.

Regards,
Gary

OysterRock · Post by **OysterRock** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:45 pm

Congratulations to you, too! I have an AE myself (between you and me, its the best one! *wink*)

Gary Smith · Post by **Gary Smith** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 11:29 pm

Hello OysterRock !

Thanks for the reply, glad you have the AE model too! I read a post that says the finish (black) is rather heavy so the wood grain is hard to see. Is this true? I won't know until I get mine

I wrote a note to my dealer and asked if they had a production number for those made with Bob' signature on them. According to them, mine was the LAST one of the LAST 50 made. Does't that mean they are built in lots of 50?, OR just 50 ?

Guess I'll find out at some point - be interesting to know.

We'll chat more I'm sure..

......Gary

OysterRock · Post by **OysterRock** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:29 am

The wood grain is very visible, pictures don't really do the finish justice. I was planning on getting a performer model because I like stained wood, but went with the AE because I got it at about the same price of the performer. I'm really glad I decided on the AE, the finish is gorgeous.

Anyway, where did you order it from, if you don't mind me asking.

JvS · Post by **JvS** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:35 am

Hi Gary,

congratulations with your AE! I've got one too since a couple of weeks. Like you I wanted one ever since the early seventies. I guess that make us the same generation

. I've got one of the very last signed AE's in Europe from EMS in Germany. Man, am I happy with this baby!

The wood grain is very noticeable and it looks very good. Don't get confused by purists bashing the AE just because it's black. This is real high quality hardwood with a very nice structure and a beautiful black varnish. The backlit panel is awesome. If there only was an option like this for my Kurzweils! Often I have to search for the right buttons on a dark stage. Besides, it just looks absolutely great!

The MMV sounds very familiar, like meeting an old friend. No matter what the 'model D purists' say, this is just like the old thing, and more, especially when you connect it to a VX351 and a CP251. It's amazing how quickly you get the sounds you always wanted so badly.

Sorry if this sounds like a commercial but I'm just totally happy with it.

What kind of music are you going to use it for? I play mostly fusion/jazz and funk.

Take care,
Jan

Gary Smith · Post by **Gary Smith** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 10:25 am

Hello JVS and Oyster. HA! This is fun

Thanks your congrats and for the nice description on the black finish of the AE, glad there IS wood grain showing. I hope to see it for myself in a couple of days - as I count down the hours :O)

Yes JVS on the Mini D.. I remember going into a store, the fellow that ran it was involved with an electronic music program at one of the area colleges. I just found out he recently passed away, but, he sold Moog, Buchla and EMS sythesizers!! Real `lab' stuff. That week that I visited and looked around in amazement, they were having a SALE on the MINI ! They were running $1495.00 and it was out of my price range, and thats when I looked into Korg. Ended up with a MAXI Korg (K3) in 1976 which could do alot of nice things, duo phonic and close to an ARP Odyssey but for less.

I'm SO glad that Bob is back up and running and once again the chance to own one of his fine products is here, and for this, I could NOT let it go by me a second time, so the AE was a must

Mind you, I have quite the collection of gear from over the years, most all of it is in brand new condition which is hard to believe since it was on the road with me for a number of years (70ies - 80ies).

My AE will stay at home in my synth studio, it will come out when a few of us keyboardists get together to have our `Synthesizer Sumit', which is a day of just clowning around, making music and seeing what these instruments do.

Right now, I am in a Neil Diamond tribute showband playing orchestral keyboards (Korg Triton Extreme 76 / Emu PK-6 with Virtuoso ROM installed) and a Korg MS2000b. I don't think I will risk taking the AE to the stage just yet, as the 2000b can do most of the mono synth stuff. Well, I'm not exactly leaving the AE cooped up in its box, it will be setup and playable at anytime

My band from the 80ies is about to have its 1st reunion in 20 years and the rehearsals have just started! Keyboards for that are a Korg DW-8000, Hammond XK-2/Leslie 330 and a MS2000b. Its funny how my Triton as POWERFUL as it is, just can't get the 80ies style sound I need like my trusty old DW !

Ok thats it for now...... You know enough about me.

NOTE! JVS, you have a 2500 !?!? WOW! Believe it or not, I have on loan from ANOTHER professor (retired now) his beloved ARP 2600 ! I have not hooked it up yet, but he gave me a quick demo while at his home. Interesting, I have it for the summer

Its got some quirks and the S&H quit working for him. He doesn't use it at all and it just collects dust UNDER his grand piano. I swapped him my MOOG DVD !! (thats on loan)

Tell me more about your ARPS ok ?

You can write me privately if you want to go into further detail about our bands etc..

Oyster, do you have mp3 samples of your work ? Looking on your site.

Thanks for reading this LONG post.

Sincerely,
Gary

punkdisco · Post by **punkdisco** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 10:39 am

Nice one Gary. I got a signed AE about 4 weeks ago. Really lovely synth. Let us know once your's arrives..

see you,

JvS · Post by **JvS** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 10:48 am

JVS, you have a 2500 !?!?

OOPS! No I'm sorry. I didn't realize I ommited the K in front of the 2500 and 2600. This is all Kurzweil stuff. Nothing analog although I think Kurzweil is to digital as Moog is to analog. Amazing boards, the best polyphonic synths I ever played. I'll never give them up.

Cheers
Jan

Gary Smith · Post by **Gary Smith** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 10:59 am

Ok JVS, understood...

You really had me going :O) Yes, those are the big guns for Kurz. I ended up with the Triton, been a Korg man a LONG time, and everytime I put the TV on, I see one.... Pretty popular. I see that Jordan R. of Dream Theater uses the Kurz. controller.

But he JUST JOINED UP with `Synthesizer.COM' and has one of their modular systems now !! (so much more Moog connection ?)

I DO own ONE Kurzweil. The PC/2 module. Nice, but it has only ONE string sample in the whole machine!! The B3 section is interesting, but NO reverb effect is available for it! Kind of quirky like that. It just sits in my collection of rack gear for now..

Take care

Gary

OysterRock · Post by **OysterRock** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:18 pm

Gary Smith wrote: Oyster, do you have mp3 samples of your work ? Looking on your site.

They should automatically play when you goto my MySpace page. All the synthesizers on my songs is done by the Voyager.

Gary Smith · Post by **Gary Smith** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:33 pm

Hello OysterRock...

You asked who my dealer is... It is Audiosyncrazy in Florida. I was looking though the downloads and found that the Voyager newsletter has a dealer listing and mine is in there

I have production news today which I will post in a new subject..

.........Gary

OysterRock · Post by **OysterRock** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:20 pm

Gary Smith wrote: You asked who my dealer is... It is Audiosyncrazy in Florida.

I had a hunch that you might have gotten it from them, thats where I got mine! Great prices huh?

Moog Music Forum

New Member - AE - on the way!

New Member - AE - on the way!

AE's signed and UN-signed ###'s made ???