Moog Music Forum

Greetings Moog People!

The kind folks at TalkBass suggested I pose on this forum a question I asked there. So here goes....

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The copy and paste version:
I've owned a set of Taurus pedals since about 1977 or so; second owner. I used them in prog rock and also a glam metal band back then, but they went neglected after I joined up with a rather well known surf band in 1981. Retired in 1988.
Fast forward 32 years. I've recently started playing again, involved currently in a compelling new age project. Still the same gear for the most part, old jazz basses, Sunn stuff (the greatest amps evah!), etc. Recently added some more portable Gallien Krueger stuff.
Anyhow, the Taurus pedals are being reworked and the tech wants to install microswitches to replace the existing contact setup, which is of course corroded. Other than that the pedals are fine....and stock, in extremely good shape.
I won't take these out on the road again....much less myself, lol....but the question remains, do I leave the pedals stock (and somewhat prone to contact corrosion) or mod them with the switches, favoring reliability.
What does the community think? I now know that I knocked 10K off the value of my '63 Fender VI when I had it refinished back in the late 70's...since sold it anyhow...but should I ever decide to part with the bass pedals, I don't want to do something like that again.

Reliability/originality.....Thoughts?

Peace out-
Big Kahuna

>>>>>>>>>>I'll add the following from downthread, now that I'm in the right place to ask:

Micro switch contact changeout would solve the reliability issue for certain, and this is what the tech suggested. He also understands the dilema I'm juggling regarding keeping the pedals unmodified.
My techinician is actually the chief engineer for an FM radio station I do a couple of shows on, and a good friend. His rates are thus rediculously reasonable. So that isn't a concern in this particular situation....
The other fix to the silver oxide corrosion was to clean clean clean and then install a gold wire for the pedal contacts. This would keep the pedals much more "stock", but he says they'd need to be cleaned about once a month to keep them completely reliable.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>And:

Link to the Moog site, the forum button is at the bottom of the page...
http://www.moogmusic.com/
Many Taurus-1 experts there, including Kevin Lightner and Mike Caloriso (MC).
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So thanks to the folks at TalkBass, here I am amongst much Moog.....and it is wonderful. What does the community here on the Moog Music Forum think about this question?
I should add that the pedals, whenever they are up and running again by whatever means, will not be played out, rather kept in a recording studio.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. It's nice to be a member here.

Peace Out-
Big Kahuna

Frankly you're getting too hung up on vintage authenticity. Yes the contacts will corrode. So will guitar strings and spark plugs. Did changing guitar strings ever devalue a '59 Les Paul? Did replacing the spark plugs ever devalue a '57 Chevy Corvette?

LAMM Memorymoogs have a lot of stock components replaced and their market value is higher than a stock Memorymoog.

Direct and to the point, MC. A pleasure to meet you.....the TB community holds you in high regard.

This doesn't sound like changing spark plugs to me. I get your take on things and that's why I'm asking the question.....but a 59 Les Paul that has the pickups changed out, even to something new, beautiful, and fabulous, is now a 59 Less Paul.

It's no longer original.....and the marketplace would value it as such, as perhaps players looking for that certain sound might. I understand with the case of Moog pedals we are just talking about changing out the "on" switches, so perhaps this is a vintage Jazz Bass player's perspective rather than a synth guy's perspective?

Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

Peace Out-
Big Kahuna

Yeah, if I was buying an old set I'd want them to work. It's the same as replaing contacts in a knackered keyboard. I think most people would want to play a keybed/footbed that doesn't re-trigger notes or not trigger some notes than keep it original. Only things that change the sound would really devalue - even mods that add features but unaffect the original sound are fine (as MC says with the Memorymoog).

Either live or in the studio, it's a horrible feeling to step on your Taurus & have no note - or worse, the wrong note - come out.
Ditch the antiquated wire contacts for the microswitch upgrade, & play those Taurus! As others here have pointed out, there were built to be played.
As I stated over at the TB forums, the T-1's glitchy contact wires are a big part of why I'm playing Taurus-3s these days. The T-1 can be a tempermental beast, but upgrading the old contacts is one of the best ways you have to keep the old bull fighting.

Hello again, Moogness folk......thank you to all who offered their thoughts. I decided to go ahead and mod/upgrade the pedals with gold contact microswitches.

Peace out-
Big Kahuna