L. L. Electronics Rozzbox Mk I - VEMIA

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"Rare and interesting little handmade synth, now discontinued. In virtually mint condition, scarcely used in its three or four years, and certainly never gigged or roughly handled."

Persephone Deluxe Ribbon Controller - VEMIA

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"As new, scarcely used at all (used just once for a project) - a hand-made controller, made in France. Ribbon controller with midi/cv and nice internal synth. A whole lot easier than playing the Theremin, French Connection or Ondes Martenot, but producing equally interesting playing modes. This particular model seems to be the deluxe version, with 'crocodile-skin' covering to its suit-case style casing. Really rare, unusual, and out of the ordinary. The serial number implies it is the eight ever made. Here's the blurb from the Eowave website (where it is still available at 1090 euros plus VAT: about 1025 GBP):- 'At the first sight, the Persephone reminds of the first electronic fingerboard instruments developed in the 1920s. But beyond this vintage look, the Persephone allies sensors technology and digital controls to a pure analogue generation of sound. The Persephone musicality will be determined by the way it is played. The Persephone respects the traditional play of the first non-keyboard electronic instruments with the right hand controlling the pitch and the left hand controlling the velocity. The ribbon zone can allow all kinds of play. When scaled, the Persephone can be played like a regular keyboard. Though there are no fixed preset notes with the ribbon, keyboard players will easily find their way. Guitars and bass players will certainly play it like a chord instrument and get sounds that are closed to cello or violin, especially when using vibratos. Jazz players will enjoy slapping the Persephone’s ribbon to get wonderful sonorities. Movie music writers and fans of sci-fi effects will enjoy its bi-dimensional structure, which allows creating eerie sounds very easily. A new fingerboard synthesizer Just like any synthesizer, the Persephone offers a classical synthesis architecture with an oscillator section, a filter section, a modulation section and a LFO section. With its 100% analogue oscillator, the Persephone can generate notes with a range of 10 octaves. Its lower frequencies go from a deep and resonant cello tone to a nearly human voice. On the highest pitches, it can reach very high frequencies. The oscillator waveform can be set between triangle and sawtooth for a more or less brilliant sound. The filter is a 12dB low-pass filter. Its ribbon control surface is pressure and position sensitive. While it requires the most advanced sensor technology and allows all kind of glissando a Theremin or les Ondes Martenot would allow. A scaling potentiometer allows scaling the Persephone’s ribbon from 1, 2, 5 to 10 octaves. The expression key, controlled by an optic sensor, can transmit the slightest vibrations on the key with an accuracy the mechanical systems never had. All the controls are digital. The four play modes - A, B, C and D - offer different hierarchy of control between the pitch, the velocity, a filter modulation and a LFO. Connections are located on the rear side of the front panel and are protected from dust and other source of deterioration by the Persephone suitcase top when not used. The Persephone like a CV/MIDI controller The Persephone has a CV out and a MIDI in/out. With its CV out, it can control any other analogue synthesizers and modular systems. With its MIDI in/out, it can also be used as a MIDI controller, what turns it into a powerful new kind of instrument.'"

Sherman-Quad Modular Filterbank - VEMIA

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"One of only 95 (and actually serial number 03, so presumably the third ever made), the mammoth four-MIDI-Filterbanks-in-one machine from Sherman. In excellent condition, with the front panel looking unused, and just a couple of slight marks on the back and side. With copy manual for the Filterbank 2, on which it's based; with extra info from Sherman about the new features on the QMF. http://www.sherman.be/qmf.htm Uses standard IEC mains lead (not supplied)."

Keyfax Phat-Boy MIDI Controller - VEMIA

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Sycologic M16 MIDI Matrix - VEMIA

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"A bit tatty, and missing its 9-pin D-sub connector lead, so sold as is. But no reason known why it shouldn't be working. It is a very useful programmable 16-in 16-out MIDI switcher / patchbay, made by the famous synth sellers and Fairlight importers, Syco. Has standard IEC mains socket."

350 Computer - Sequencer - VEMIA

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"Rare and interesting early sequencer from PPG. Has some quirks, but works fine and has some excellent features. Here's Lucid Sound's informal report after servicing it:- 'There were a few 'anomolies' with this, and very little info available on the web, but I've got it to a good useable state. It really is quite an innovative device. There are some great features here, like the ability to invert the notes in a sequence just by pressing a button, or 'immediate playback' where the sequence repeats what you've just played as soon as you lift fingers off keyboard (takes some explaining but it's good, trust me). Two transpose modes, immediate (waits until the end of the current note) or delayed (waits until the end of the loop) - brilliant. There is a sync in/out, which is a high frequency audio clock, so you can sync to tape, or as I did, use a VCO to control the speed of the sequence (great with an EMS). It's 1V/Octave out, positive trigger. A few strange things though: The 'manual' (translated and brief) says pressing middle C starts a sequence or any other key to transpose - not on this one, bottom C is no transpose, all other keys transposing up. There is a Gate output. This works from the keyboard but not from the recorded sequence even though the trigger output does - however even the guy who wrote the simplified manual that's avaailable online says, and I quote: 'there is no word HOW and what these trigger modes are (sorry!)' It'll also do real time recording, and there's a whole load of editing stuff (timing and pitch changes etc). In really nice cosmetic condition too."

PPG 1002 analogue monosynth - VEMIA

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"Superb early rare interesting analogue monosynth in excellent condition. I can't imagine there is a much better example of this synth in the world. The CV in is a strange non-linear design, but tuning on its own keyboard is perfect. Thoroughly tested by Lucid Sound, some screws replaced, the whole instrument serviced and calibrated where necessary. It is in excellent cosmetic condition, with the panel almost faultless, and all knobs in original condition. One of the neat (EMS-like) 'magic eye' buttons has lost its iris, so that the orange bit doesn't disappear when it is switched off. The solid wood endcheeks show signs of its age, but look fine, and somehow right. The keyboard is level and in first-class condition. There is a bit of paint scraping on the back panel, visible in the photo, and the protective rubber shielding round the mains lead is slightly broken, and has been strengthened with gaffa tape. The mains lead itself is perfect and completely safe. Beautiful."

Synton-Three bow-tie / handkerchief sets - VEMIA

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"Great fun - three mint unused unopened Synton promo bow-tie and handkerchief sets, in blue, red, and silver. Really nice moiree-type patterned material; a great piece of memorabilia. Very much from an era when men like Bob Moog and Felix Visser wore suits and had long conversations at trade shows. Sold in celebration of Synton, now that Felix is selling up his own gear."

Ppg-390 drum unit (rare prototype, n/p) - VEMIA

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"NB: THIS MACHINE IS A PROTOTYPE AND HAS NO PROPER CASING. IT IS ELECTRICALLY UNSAFE WITHOUT PROPER SHIELDING. ONLY BID IF YOU ARE A TECHNICIAN OR WILL HAVE IT MADE SAFE BY A TECHNICIAN BEFORE USE. Incredibly rare early PPG drum unit. Search for this on the internet and you will probably find evidence of only one machine - this one! Check the photo to see exactly the same knob pieces missing. The front panel (apart from the little bits missing on one knob and the four knobs missing on the right) is in excellent condition, and doesn't look anywhere near the 25 or so years old it must be. It uses EPROMS for sound storage - one seems to be missing. The amazing thing is that despite its ramshackle internal appearance (the largest veroboard circuitboard is also wobbly, because there is nothing to support the top) it partially works. Four of the sounds trigger and are well usable in all their 8-bit retro glory, and in theory it should be possible to get everything back to working order without too much difficulty. 240V, standard UK mains plug. BUT ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE NOTE THIS MUST BE MADE SAFE BY A COMPETENT ELECTRONICS ENGINEER BEFORE USE."

Big Briar Model 331 Touch Plate - VEMIA

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"The third of the touchplates that came from Bob Moog's friend and European accomplice Felix Visser, this was the Big Briar production model, although it still looks totally hand-made. This time, there are four controls, but all control voltages as well as any power are routed through the seven-pin DIN plug. Serial number 1024. Untested at present."