Moog Music
The cosmic commandos at Moog Music are bringing back some classic synthesizers from the golden age of electronic music. These aren’t just any keyboards, mind you, but three Cadillacs of bleep-bloop, the System 35, System 55, and Model 15 first developed in the 1970s. Moog Music will be recreating these storied synths using the original designs and making them available on a very limited basis—with prices to match.
Moog took the first step on this epic endeavor last summer when it recreated the Emerson Moog Modular System, a near-perfect replica of Keith Emerson’s Moog, complete with the massive patch bays and spaghetti of cables. It wasn’t some digital look-alike, either—it was based on the original schematics and hand-built using old-school manufacturing techniques. That instrument (which you can still custom order for $150,000) appeared at the Moogfest 2014 music festival.
Armed with the knowledge gained from that experience, the Moog Music engineers have decided to recreate three amazing machines from the 1970s.
If you’ve never seen the System 35, System 55, or Model 15—you really can’t miss them, they’re beasts—you’ve almost certainly heard them. These are the same machines rock keyboardists used to paint the hazy, space-prog otherscapes of the 1970s. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Yes, Rush, Brian Eno and Tangerine Dream all used them. But they also made Stevie saucier and Herbie hotter. And, being open-minded adults viewing the history of music through the long lens of time, we can freely admit that Moog’s modular synths made for some pretty kick-ass, adventurous disco records.
Moog Music’s engineers pulled out the original circuit board films to print the new boards, then fired up their soldering irons to make these new editions. Since these are big, true analog devices built by humans, they are both rare and expensive.
Only 55 units of the System 55 will be offered, and each one will cost $35,000. Moog will make 35 copies of the System 35, for $22,000 a pop. For the smaller Model 15, Moog is making 150 of them, each priced at $10,000. Moog is also building some optional extras to go along with the new synths: a five-octave duophonic keyboard, a sequencer extension cabinet, and a dual 960 Sequential Controller for the 35 and 55.
The silk kimonos, embroidered capes, and sequined uni-suits are not included, but absolutely necessary to compliment the package. Or at least a nice plate for your curry.
Finally, here’s a new video about modular sound synthesis the folks at Moog Music shared with WIRED:
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