90s Era Moog Modular 9501, 9502, & 9505 Modules

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9501 VCO via these eBay listings

These appear to be Don Martin Moog modules. He owned the trademark in the US for a period of time before it went back to Bob Moog. He also made a Minimoog which became known as the Donimoog. Alex Winter owned the rights to Moog in the 90s in the UK, and produced the "Welsh Minimoog".

Descriptions from the listings:

"This listing is for one Moog Modular 9501 VCO module. This module is from the brief period of time Moog modules were being remade in the 90's. Check out the pictures to see the quality; this module looks to be missing a couple of the socketed components and a resistor (plus a few of the switches need to be soldered). I am unsure of the functionality as I do not own a Moog Modular to test it with but in general it looks great. The module still has plastic on the front panel. This module is sold untested and as-is."

"This listing is for one Moog Modular 9505 Reverberation Unit module. This module is from the brief period of time Moog modules were being remade in the 90's. Check out the pictures to see the state of the module. I am unsure of the functionality as I do not own a Moog Modular to test it with but in general it looks great. The module still has plastic on the front panel. This module is sold untested and as-is. "

"This listing is for one Moog Modular 9502 VCA module. This module is from the brief period of time Moog modules were being remade in the 90's. Check out the pictures to see the state of the module. I am unsure of the functionality as I do not own a Moog Modular to test it with but in general it looks great. The module still has plastic on the front panel. This module is sold untested and as-is."

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Don Martin's Moog Music Cincinnati Modular System

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Not the sharpest pics, but this is definitely not something you see everyday. A Don Martin Moog Modular. Don owned the rights to Moog Music while Bob Moog was running Big Briar. Bob sued Don Martin to get the name back in time for the release of the Voyager and Bob Moog's re-entry into the synth market. There was also Alex Winters in the UK who own the rights to the Moog name at the time, making Minimoogs (you can see one here). Don Martin also made a Minimoog, often referred as the Donimoog.

This is a fascinating bit of synth history.

From the listing:

"Don Martin's Moog Music Cincinnati Modular System
8 modules + Power Supply and cables
you can find info about these modules at moogmodular.com and on the net (Bob Moog, Don Martin, lawsuit, etc.)

1 X 9501A oscillator controller
1 X 9501B oscilator
1 X 9504A low pass filter
1 X 9504B high pass filter
1 X 9503A random signal generator
1 X 9502 voltage controlled amplifier
2 X 9511 enveloppe generator

power suplly
connectors cables
s-trig cables (+trig converter if needed)

those modules are sold as collector items.

they are faithfull recreations of the first moog modular, using the same strange power voltage, fully compatible with original moog systems, but not with modern standards.

the high pass filter is not working properly, due to a component failure, but I can probably have it fixed.

I deliberately set a high price to avoid an impulse buy which could create a misanderstanding.

If you are interested, you can contact me, ask anything you would like to know and make an offer.

The photos are a little blurred so I will post more and better photos later.

Thanks for your interest."

See the Don Martin/Donimoog labels below for additional posts.

An Interview with Barry Schrader

Hi everyone! As you know Barry Schrader will be giving his farewell concert at CalArts on September 26. The following is the beginning of my interview with him. I opted to post the questions and answers as they come in.  New QAs will get a new post so you do not miss them and they will be added to this post so we have one central post for the full interview. This should make it easier for all of us to consume in our busy lives, and it will allow you to send in any questions that may come to mind during the interview process.  If you have anything you'd like to ask Barry, feel free to send it in to matrixsynth@gmail.com.  This is a rare opportunity for us to get insight on a significant bit of synthesizer history, specifically with early Buchla systems, and I'd like to thank Barry for this opportunity. Thank you Barry!

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The Moog 9504A Is Much Too Awesome To Sell!

Published on Nov 12, 2013 John L Rice·232 videos

"Even before I began video taping, I knew I couldn't sell my much loved 'Moog' 9504A. So I played around with it for a while and then decided to record some audio and also threw up the camera for fun.

The 9504A was made by Don Martin's company back in the 1990's after Bob Moog's company went out of business. I've read the Don Martin cloned the Moog 904A voltage controlled low pass filter using the most up to-date and perfected schematics from the original company and used nice/more modern circuit boards and excellent construction techniques.

Mr. Martin added a numeral '5' the the model numbers of all the Moog modules he cloned. So the 904A became the 9504A etc.

The patch is as follows:
M-Audio Keystation-88 MIDI keyboard to MOTM-650 MIDI to CV converter controlling
3 x MOTM-300 VCOs with 3 outputs of a MOTM-380 quad LFO modulating pulse width.
Pulse outputs of the MOTM-300s went to a STG Mixer and then out to the Moog 9504A.
The 9504A was modulated with a MOTM-800 ADSR and keyboard CV, both passed through a Moon Modular 525 attenuator.
The output of the 9504A went to a MOTM-190 VCA which was modulated by another MOTM-800 ADSR and the VCA output went to a Roland M-120 line mixer.
A Modcan Dual Delay 73B was patched into the M-120's effects loop and some reverb/EQ/compression was added during post.
A Sony CX700V camcorder was used and a Marantz PMD661 flash recorder was used for the main audio (I mixed a bit of the camera's audio into the final mix as well).
Video assembled in Sony Movie Studio."

Ladder 3,475,623

Published on May 1, 2013 JohnLRice·199 videos

"Just a quickly slapped together "high five" to Bob Moog for the honor he is posthumously receiving today for his ladder filter.

Those with sharp eyes and "in the know" will notice this is just a clone of the famous Moog 904A VCF. The 9504A clone was made by Don Martin in the 1990's I believe.

Other modules used included: Synth Tech MOTM VCOs, VCAs, ADSRs, VCAs and LFO Moon Modular sequencers COTK delay"

MATRIXSYNTH NAMM 2012 MEGAPOST

Just thought I'd consolidate everything into one post. First is the flickr set of pics I took (288 in total) in the order taken, followed by the videos in the order taken. Links to the individual posts at the bottom.

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Rare Don Martin Moog Modular 901B Oscillator

via this auction

"Near mint condition, fully working Moog Modular 901B oscillator. Rare Don Martin era from my working system. No scratches only the usual very light marks where the module fixes into the frame.

Sounds superb and as warm as the earlier R A Moog modules."

NAMM & NOT NAMM - New Products on the Synth Front

Well, it's that time of year again. Keep an eye out on the NAMM label (added to top right menu) for everything NAMM and more. More in that anything new will get the label whether it's shown at NAMM or not. It's about new gear. Updates in this post will be preceded in red. Some already in below. See "The NAMM List!" link under the Twitter, Facebook, and RSS labels on top of the right to get back to this post later.

(A note on the top site menus: I removed the iPhone and iPad labels as they go up in posts every day now so you can find them there. eBay links are on the right, so I removed it as well.)

That said, the following are some of the things to look out for. If you have any NAMM info feel free to comment and/or send it in. If I missed anything, let me know! If you are going to NAMM, feel free to send pics and video in.

On the list:

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Don Martin Moog Modules

images via this auction

The infamous Don Martin Moog modular. For those that do not know the story, Don Martin obtained the rights to the MOOG name after the company went under and while Bob Moog was doing business as Big Briar. Bob Moog eventually won his name back, but not without having to fight for it. You can see a letter from Bob regarding the name in this post. Be sure to click on the Donimoog or Don Martin link at the bottom of this post for more. The "Donimoog" refered to the Don Martin Minimoog. You can see some in the prior posts.
The modules in these auctions are an interesting bit of synth history.

Modules listed (note the first 901A nd 910 power supply are genuine RA Moog):

1 x '71 Moog Modular 901A Osc Controller Module
1 x RA MOOG 910 power supply
2 x MOOG 901A / Don Martin 9501B
2 x MOOG 911 / Don Martin 9511
1 x MOOG 902 / Don Martin 9502
1 x MOOG 904A / Don Martin 9504A

Note the Don Martin modules added the 5 after the 9. Also note the 901A is a 9501B? Not sure if that was a typo in the auction or the correct labeling per Don Martin.

Modusonics MOOG Modules

"All reissue modules are newly manufactured, based on vintage Moog Music Inc. Buffalo, NY design, and are hand-built and calibrated to meet or exceed original factory specifications. All newly designed Modusonic products are compatible with all vintage Moog Modular products. Modusonics reserves the right to change specifications without notice."

Title link takes you there. Note Modusonics was originally named MOOG CE. The owner, Michael Bucki renamed the company when Bob Moog sought the name back. You can read more about this and the infamous Minimoog Model E in this post. Note the Model E or Donimoog was manufactured by Don Martin of MOOG Music Inc., not Michael Bucki of MOOG CE.

Pictured is the 904A Voltage Controlled Low Pass filter.

Don Martin - Moog Music 9500 Series Modules

YouTube via therealretrosynth.

Remember the Don Martin Minimoogs? Well, he also manufactured MOOG Modules. Title link takes you to more shots.

Here's the list of Don Martin modules according to Cary on the AH list:
9501 Voltage Controlled Oscillator
9501A Oscillator Controller
9501B Oscillator
9502 Voltage Controlled Amplifier
9503 Random Noise Generator
9504A Voltage Controlled Lowpass Filter
9504B Voltage Controlled Highpass Filter
9504C Filter Coupler
9505 Reverberation Unit
9507 Fixed Filter Bank
9510 Power Supply
9511 Envelope Generator
9511A Dual Trigger Dealy
9512 Envelope Follower
9514 Extended Range Fixed Filter Bank
9521 Voltage Controlled Oscillator
9521A Oscillator Controller
9521B Oscillator
9560 Standard Interface
9591 Filter / Attenuator Panel
9594 Jack Multiples Panel
9595 Ring Modulator
9596 Sample & Hold
9598 Mixer
9599 4 Channel MIDI-CV Convertor
9800R Eight Unit Rack Mount System
9801P Cable Pack

Don Martin Mini

Click here for more images of this Donimoog sent in by an anonymous reader. According to the person that sent it in, the "sound is very good, and extreme close, quasi the same as the original mini, I only noticed a different filter tracking." Except that,there are 7 other main differences (physical) Can u find them?"

For those of you not familiar with the Donimoog, Don Martin actually owned the MOOG name in the US when Bob Moog was running his company under the Big Briar name. Bob sued and eventually won his name back. You can read more in this Sound on Sound article where the following was pulled:

"In the 1990s, three new companies appeared, each bearing the Moog name, although none was connected with Bob Moog himself. In addition to the short-lived UK company Moog Music Ltd (see the 'Cambrian Capers' box towards the end of this article), there was the US-based Moog Music Inc, a company owned by a character named Don Martin who made lavish promises of new Minimoogs and other classic Moog products, took deposits from customers, but failed to deliver and then allegedly disappeared. The other company was Moog CE, which built modules for original Moog instruments such as the System 55 and IIIC. The owner of Moog CE, Michael Bucki, recently reached an amicable arrangement with Bob Moog, selling his name back to him, and renaming his company ModuSonics. He is still in business.

With Don Martin's Moog Music Inc defunct, and Moog CE renamed, Bob Moog was then free to rename Big Briar Moog Music Inc, and to undertake the development of the Minimoog Voyager. Except in the UK, of course, where it is marketed and sold as the Voyager By Bob Moog"

So can you spot the 7 differences? : ) BTW, DO NOT MISS this post.

Bob Moog Letter to MMR - February 1998 - New Mini Mentioned

So is this the first public mention of the Mini to become the Voyager? If you know of an earlier mention please post in the comments.

This is a xcan of an article sent to MMR by Bob Moog, published in February of 1998. I checked the AH archives and the first mention was on Monday, April 20, 1998, in reference to this interview with Bob Moog in the May 1998 issue of Sound on Sound.

The company Bob is referring to in the letter is Don Martin's as he owned the rights to the Moog name at the time. Don produced copies of the original Minimoogs and some modules. The minis were eventually referred to as the Donimoog or the Model E, as the Model D was the last of the original Minimoogs. Bob Moog took Don Martin to court and won the rights of his name back in 2002. You can find more on Moog with a mention of Don on wikipedia.