Rare Italian ELEX Vintage Analog Synthesizer SN 173 62

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via this auction

Note this is the first ELEX post on MATRIXSYNTH.

"This 1970s analog synthesizer is so rare that I can find absolutely zero mention of it anywhere on the internet (though if you do find something, please let me know!). I have come across a couple of references to other Elex branded synths online, but those appear to be fairly standard Italian string-synths along the lines of Hohner/Logan etc.

While the synth for sale here would also likely be classified as a string synth, it is not like any other I have owned or heard. The bass cello sound alone justifies owning this. It is obviously not the most versatile of synths, but what it does it does extremely well. With the added bonus that, due to its extreme rarity, you can be pretty sure you are one of the very few people in the world with access to precisely these sounds.

I'm about to relocate to the US, and considering that this is the heaviest synth I've ever lifted in my life (almost 27kg) it unfortunately has to go. I've used it on several recordings and it will be missed, but I cannot justify the cost of dragging this half way round the world along with all the other junk I own.

I brought this synth over from Italy and it still has an Italian plug on it. A simple and cheap travel adapter will fix that.

There obviously was once a lid, but it was already missing when I bought the synth. I have removed the slider switches so they don't get damaged in transit, but these will be included in the parcel along with the synth (it's a while since I removed them though, so I cannot be 100% sure all of them are there, but certainly most are). Other than that, see photos for various marks and defects. No problems with the sound at all."

Update: here's the Hohner version. via Ryan on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge.

Update2: some info via Micke on VSE (via Lorne on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge as well): "The keyboard you're describing is a basic electronic piano built in Italy by ELEX (Elettronica Excelsior for Hohner International* Belgium & UK. It was preceeded by a similar model called the HI piano I (K-1). Afaik, the original model appeared in '74 or '75 and the II about '77.

Elex were also releasing these ep's as well as the K-2 stringvox, K-3 Jazz-rock organ/piano and the K-4 stringer under their own brand name.

Around 1979 or thereabouts ELEX brought out new versions of some of their older keyboards like the Hohner International Globetrotter ep and Hohner Int. stringvox 3/XL (the same instrument is ocassionally found with the name "String-thing"), which were updated versions (all-black in color) of the Hohner K-1 ep and K-4 stringer respectively.

Hope this helps

Micke

* not to be confused with Matthias Hohner, Germany."