1976-77 EMS Synthi AKS SN 45377 with Original Box

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I'm not 100% sure, but this could be the first post to feature the original box of a vintage EMS SYNTHI. That's a rare little bit of synth history right there.

"This particular unit, serial number 45377, was originally purchased in 1976 or 1977 by Hal Butler, the keyboardist at the time for the band Creed out of Memphis, Tennessee. Later known as "Southern Creed", and not to be confused with the 90's Christian band of the same name, Creed was an up-and-coming rock unit who went on to be signed by Asylum in 1978 for what turned out to be a one-shot deal that led to their only album, the critically-acclaimed "Firecracker". Although they still occasionally play reunion shows, the band ultimately broke up, and Hal went on to play with a number of other projects, including "Jimi Jamison's Survivor."

In the mid 1970's, however, Creed was already working regularly, and Hal was looking for another synth to add to the show. "I was attending a physics class at Memphis State [now the University of Memphis]", he explains, "and I asked some of the guys in the class what they thought was the best synthesizer at the time. They were all electronics geeks, and they told me that I had to get an EMS 'Putney'".

"At that time", there was no one in Memphis who was selling EMS, but I found a music store in Southaven, Mississippi called 'Good Vibrations' who agreed to order one." Even at cost-plus-10% deal, he remembers paying, after shipping, over $2000.

"I planned to use it for the first time at a show in Memphis at a place they called 'The Ritz'. Five dollars a head, sold out. We loaded in, and I set up the EMS with the only patch I had learned so far, and we sound checked and left. That night, we walked out on stage for the show and I turned it back on, but nobody warned me that the oscillators needed to warm up and be re-tuned. I couldn't control it, and I wound up playing everything on my Arp. The EMS went into my closet and stayed there."

With only occasional forays out of the closet for some home recording (estimated at less than ten hours use since new), this EMS has remained in its original cardboard box in a temperature-controlled, non-smoking environment. The only significant damage is to the bottom of the cardboard box, which someone in the original band cut out to use as a "Creed" stencil for travel cases.

The original EMS manual is included, as are the power and keyboard connection cords. The cords remain supple. The hard plastic briefcase is entirely intact with no cracking or crazing. The case latches work smoothly and lock with the included original keys. The synthesizer itself remains firmly attached to the case with the original mounting knobs. There is no sign of loosening or any attachment failure.

The unit powers up readily and both lights and the meter appear to work properly. All patch bay pins are present and appear like new. All visible connections are straight and free of any obvious corrosion. All knobs on both the Synthi and the keyboard turn smoothly and easily, but there is some scratchiness in both output signal controls. This appears to be improving steadily with use.

This is an outstanding opportunity to purchase a rare 1976-1977 EMS Synthi AKS in near-perfect condition. Although the sequencer has not been tested, the unit appears to be otherwise functioning normally with the exception of the scratchy pots previously noted."