Moog Bode Frequency Shifter model 6552 Owned by Walter Sear

via this auction

"This auction is for a super-rare rack mount Bode Frequency Shifter Model 6552 by R.A Moog. This is from the personal collection of Phil Cirocco of CMS / Discrete Synthesizers. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a rare piece of electronic music history.

This is serial #1001 and is the very first Frequency Shifter produced by R.A. MOOG. This particular 6552 was once owned by the great Walter Sear. It features ring modulator diodes that were hand selected by Harold Bode himself! It is listed in the Moog Archives http://moogarchives.com/ on the left menu select: "lists and charts", then: "custom sales" then: "frequency shifter".

There were 2 major incarnations of frequency shifters made by Moog/Bode. The first one (model 6552) is the one you see here. It is all discrete and uses actual diode rings and transformers for its ring modulator circuits. The second version (model 1630) is an op-amp chip version that uses balanced modulator ICs for its RM circuits. The second version, while being more convenient, does not sound anything like the first version.

I can say with confidence that you will never see one of these for sale again in your lifetime.

This Frequency Shifter is in excellent condition. There are no scratches on the front panel. It is #1 out of a known total of 11 units made. It was made by R.A. Moog under contract with Harold Bode. It is all original and functions perfectly. It is NOT a clone and it has a valid serial number and pedigree. It was recently calibrated here at CMS. It uses terminal strips in the back as all early Bode rack mount units do, so you will have to use a patch-bay nearby."


This one in via Keld.

Update via Michelle Moog-Koussa: I heard from Michelle Moog-Koussa, Bob Moog's daughter and Executive Directory of The Bog Moog Foundation. She stated, "I'm 99% sure that the model number and serial number are written in Dad's handwriting.

This piece was issued on August 21, 1968. Thirty-seven years later to the day the frequency of the whole electronic music community would shift as Bob's body left us......."