Mini The Moog

[monsterjazzlicks]

Hi folks,

Does anyone on this forum own an actual original Minimoog ?? i am thinking
of maybe buying one later this year but wanted to ask a few questions as i have never
physically played one before.

Even better, if anyone owns one here in the North West UK then i would be
extremely interested in any possibility of hearing one in person !!

However, they seem to sell for stupid prices such as £4,500+ which is of course totally ridiculous.

Thanks a lot,

Paul

[Gustavo]

I have played some and also the Little Phatty. About 5 years ago, they had both in a local music store (and haven't seen them since) In my opinion the little phatty was very close sounding to the Mini, a little different but most people in the audience will never notice. Most people will debate this, but in my opinion (specially because I am not a producer/professional) the voyager is not worth it. It may be worth it for some other persons, but not for me. I mean, seriously a mono synth for what was then 50,000 MXN?? way too much. I'd rather have the LP.

That is why I have got a DSI Mopho and preordered a MS-20mini, because their price is reasonable. Yet I dont use the Mopho, such an unintuitive interface, although its arguably the most flexible monosynth out there.

Saludos,
Gustavo

[monsterjazzlicks]

Most people will debate this, but in my opinion (specially because I am not a producer/professional) the voyager is not worth it.

i tried a Voyager but to me it sounded nothing like a Mini. Although i had only heard a Mini on recordings, the Voyager still sounded nothing like it (ie. how i had imagined a Mini to sound in the flesh).

[Gustavo]

oh didn't notice you were asking for THE mini. Most people I know when they talk about getting a mini, they talk about the voyager!

Back on topic, why are you considering so seriously the Mini Moog (I assume a Model D)? Just because it is a vintage loved synth (in which case MS-20 is too)? Because of the ladder filter (the LP also has that characteristic filter)?

Just want to say that even though vintage gear is great, if you can keep/find it in good shape, it is not always worth the price/effort. I think that there are times where if you aren't a collector or studio owner, buying newer synths has always more benefits. Such as stability or in some cases patch memory (very useful live).

[monsterjazzlicks]

Such as stability or in some cases patch memory (very useful live).

i am not at all bothered about MEMORY. It would be used alongside a Fender Rhodes and Hohner Clavinet and so therefore within a 'non-memory' keyboard enviroment. In a 'live' situation i would really only be using (say) 2 x Bass sounds and 2 x Lead x sounds. Though i would probably use it more experimentally if ever i took it into a studio.

[RedLeo]

Ask away

[monsterjazzlicks]

Ask away

Would you put it thru a pair of Mackie powered speakers or a Fender DeVille guitar amp ?? i currently put my Rhodes thru the Mackies and Clavinet thru the Fender amp.

[RedLeo]

Well, that's really an amp question rather than a synth question, but I'm sure it would work fine through either. It would undoubtedly have more balls and presence through the Fender, so it's really just a case of suck it and see which you prefer. A Minimoog's got such a dominating sound that it will pretty much work with anything within reason, so it's really down to how aggressive you want it to be - or not.

[monsterjazzlicks]

Thanks, i always kind of thought that modern (digital) keyboards sound better thru transister type amps, and vintage (analogue) sound better thru valve type amps ?? The Fender is so LOUD i have only ever had the volume on #3 !!

i was due the BUY IT NOW on a Minimoog yesterday on ebay. But just before i made the payment ebay contacted me to say the listing had been removed because it was fraudulant !! It was a result of someones account being hacked into. Can't believe it !!

[monsterjazzlicks]

i have just been offered a Mini (with MIDI) which has been fully serviced in Europe by Rudi Linhard (who has apparently said this was one of the best models to ever pass thru his workshop).

With postage etc it will cost about £4k i would think. Its a LOT of money !!