EMS Synthi 100 starting at 100GBP no reserve

via Peter Forest:
"The Synthi 100 that didn't get a bid in the last VEMIA now has to be sold without reserve, so if you'd like to be able to say you once bid on a Synthi 100, now's your chance. Since the bid will include full servicing we're relying on it getting a bit higher than the 100GBP start bid.

http://www.spheremusic.com/Bargaindtl.asp?Item=7459 - bidding ends a week today, Thursday 17 Dec, at or very soon after 20.00 UK time (GMT)." images here be sure to click on All Sizes followed by Original for the full glory.

Auction Description:
"START BID £100, no reserve; to be sold FULLY SERVICED by EMS experts Lucid Sound - ** the bid includes the servicing cost**. AUCTION ENDS 20.00 GMT OR SOON AFTER, THURSDAY DECEMBER 17. This wonderful Synthi 100, serial number 3007, was owned originally by Bruno Spoerri, and was the first ever to be sold to a private studio. He used it for many years. At some stage he decided he wanted some more variety within this massive system, and changed some (maybe 10%) of the modules' circuitry to more modern analogue designs. He also added some interesting and useful additional mods. Because of the modular nature of the beast (all the important boards are contained within card-frames for simple removal and work) it would be very possible to return these to their original design - all parts are still readily available. But our feeling is that it would be good to start with Bruno's mods intact, and only change back if they proved not to be useful or interesting. The winning bidder can decide what he or she prefers - if necessary after discussion with Lucid as the servicing proceeds. The bid will include complete servicing to Bruno's modded spec, whereas returning the machine to original factory spec might possibly involve some extra expense, payable to Lucid Sound. After Bruno Spoerri, it was owned by Felix Visser of Synton, who bought it as one of the centrepieces of a massive museum planned for the Netherlands. The museum never happened, and so he sold it 18 months ago. The new owner unfortunately has hit a crisis which involved having to move out of his current studio and home without having been able to use it once, and so the Synthi is up for sale again. It is in very good cosmetic condition. There is some cosmetic marking where damage to one of the massive pin matrices has been repaired - see the photo - and a small amount of corrosion on the right of the serial number panel. Apart from that, and the odd scuffs and marks consistent with its 35 years' life (including on the padded top), it is really lovely. The 'producer desk' in between the two matrices has been repaired and re-tolexed and looks great. All knobs are beautiful; all keys on the twin-manual keyboard are excellent. There are a lot of photos of this machine at http://www.flickr.com/photos/73278691@N00/ (or http://www.flickr.com/photos/matrixsynth/sets/72157622974821168/. The photos are poorly organised but do show most aspects of this gorgeous instrument. This is totally complete: it comes with the stand for the keyboards, the back panels, sliding front panels for the Synthi stand, a generous number of matrix pins (including some for the sequencer) - well into three figures, we think - and the original manuals, massive tomes like old bibles. This is the eighth out of less than 30 of these incredible machines, and one of very few (just 3 or 4?) to go to a private studio, so much less likely to be abused during its life by a succession of careless students or employees. Servicing will take a maximum of three months from the end of the auction - the hope is to do it more quickly, but three months is the worst case scenario.) The winning bidder will receive regular progress reports from Lucid. Payment: because of the considerable value we hope this will reach (exceptionally rare, beautiful, and fully serviced), there are special payment arrangements. 10% **non-returnable** deposit to be paid within 24 hours of the auction finish, by bank transfer, credit or debit card (or UK cheque by agreement) - and then the rest by bank transfer or UK cheque within 14 days of the auction finish. SHIPPING: we are willing to ship worldwide, with the buyer paying for crating and transport (and of course any import costs). We will also offer personal delivery in the UK mainland, northern France, Belgium, Holland, and possibly other countries, depending on distance."