The A-Z of Analog Synthesizers by Peter Forrest

via this auction

SN 1964

Concert Co. "The Affair" vintage analog synth

via this auction
See the here for more.
"Strange and unusual synth made by "The Concert Co." called "The Affair," Model 8000. Not even listed in the Peter Forrest book. And, no information I could find at least on the www. It is a cross between a synth and a flute synthesizer. It has separate RCA outputs on the back for both plus a switch to shift the flute to main or main to flute (as they are slightly unconventional I will include two 1/4" to RCA cables). It is polyphonic for at least up to five notes. Caveats: there are several light scratches on the wood as depicted and other light scratching top bottom front rear sides - the biggest scratch is on the front lip right above middle C. The keys and sliders are sticky. I have included pictures of all of the tabs and sliders. Some of the controls do not appear to work, at least, I was unable to figure out the correct combination of switches to depress combined with sliders to adjust. From left to right: the electric bass preset voice is intermittent above the lowest octave (perhaps it was meant to work this way); the electric piano does not appear to work; the vibraharp works; the harpsichord works. I do not know the "quadratouch" tabs work but they did not appear to have any effect on the sound. I do not know how the "attacks/sustains" tabs work but they did not appear to have any effect on the sound. Both flute voices (open and stopped), and all of the "main voices" (vox brass reed and strings) work. The flute voice is particularly nice and from the design (separate output, etc.) it seems this was one of the main purposes of the synth. All of the "effects" tabs work, the "alteration" and "reiteration" tabs appear to do the same thing, which is to add a slider-adjustable hard vibrato - sounds pretty psychedelic, like something early King Crimson would use circa its "Lizards" album. The "synthesis" tab works and appears to combine an additive voice with one of the other voices when activated. There may be other issues I have been unable to discern, so regretfully sold with these caveats and "as is." If you know how to fix this stuff you could end up with a fine, unusual instrument."

CLICK FOR MORE »

EML Poly-Box vintage analog synth

via this auction
See the here for more.
"From the Peter Forrest guide to all things synth: 'A curious and rare product - only 130 ever were made. Designed to turn monosynths into pseudo-polyphonics. Twenty-six "note memories." Connect a monosynth audio out to the PolyBox input, play a note on the monosynth, hold down a chord on the PolyBox, and the PolyBox will fill out the chord from the original root note. Then you could route the PolyBox back into your synth (if it had an audio input) to use the synth's filter and envelope. The PolyBox's own sound was limited to pulse wave.'"

Wersi Bass Babb vintage analog synth

via this auction

"Not quite sure what to make of this synth, according to Peter Forrest's book it is 'a curious instrument with a row of twenty push-buttons underneath the keys, and then, below them, ten knobs. To the left are two sliders - one for wah-wah, one for glide. The copy talks of a pure bass guitar sound with a full range of flute stops - plus synthesized woodwinds and brass. Manual and automatic up/down, octave glide, variable attach and sustain, free-running wah-wah. With interfacing for remote control from external keyboard/pedals.' We have had it for about 20 years and used it on numerous recordings because of some of the strange sounds it is capable of making, particularly by using the wah-wah and glide controls. Everything works; it is in EXC cosmetic condition with no rips or tears to the tolex EXCEPT for a rectangle on back where somebody cut it off, or maybe there was an identification plate formerly attached. No lid - it looks as though it had one at some time past but now it's gone."

A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Books 1 & 2

via this auction

"A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers: Pt. 1: A-M and Pt. 2: N-Z by Peter Forrest.

Both books in good used condition. You can see from the pics that about 1/6th of the top of the cover of Pt. 2 has been faded by the sun.

All pages complete and books intact, but have been used.

Pt. 1 serial: 0026/8000
Pt. 2 serial: 0683/8000

The ultimate vintage synth encyclopedia."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Elektor Formant Modular Synthesizer

via this auction
"Elektor Formant Modular Synthesizer System very rare
Unique Opportunity
Early German 1970s

great condition custom/built Formant Modular System with keyboard it apparently came also from the very respected "martin Newcomb Synth collection " and is pictured in the Peter Forrest A to Z books

there is a fair amount of historical information on the Formant Modular on the internet a useful link is...

It has been fully restored by the synth guru at KSR ( kent spong ) each and every function configuration is

4 x VCO
2 x VCF 12db
1 X VCF 24db
1 x RFM (Resonance Filter)
2 x COM (Control and Output)
2 x LFO (Triple/Multi LFO Module) 6 LFOs in total
4 x ADSR
1 x ADSR Controller
2 x Dual VCA
1 x Noise
1 x Anlogue controller Keyboard and inter-connect cable

The specification is high and powerfull

This particular example has been very well constructed and as you can see from the pictures is in very good condition and being pure"old" analouge sounds extraordinary

Following the standard form-factor of most 1V/Oct analogue systems this Formant system would fit nicely into any existing analogues setup and being of 1970s German design offers the purist something really very special and different from the more contemporary modulars on offer these days

the recently full service by KSR is still under warranty aswell

Runs on EU voltage 220V"

Moog Memorymoog Featured in A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers for Sale

via this auction

"First version, original EU Export model, works natively @ 220v.

Serial number: 1009, one of the first 10 made.

Comes with Flightcase and original Moog pedal.

This is the actual Memorymoog pictured on the famous Peter Forrest' "A/Z Encyclopedia of Analog Synthesizers" book."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Early Musonics Minimoog

Two pics in via Bob Wittmann. These are for sale. If interested, contact Rob at: wittmanns@comcast.net.

Note the last two Musonics Minis listed on Ebay had BINs of $8,299.00 (posted here), and $8,800.00 (posted here). If anyone has any ideas what these are realistically worth feel free to comment. Note these numbers are just for reference and curiousity, not to set expectations for this sale. Contact Rob for more info if interested.

Update: via Peter Forrest of the A-Z of Analogue Synth books and VEMIA: "Musonics Minimoog depending on condition $6000 - $8000"

Roland TB-303 Devil Fish w/ MIDI in Aluminum Case

via this auction

"Serial #178, Version v.4.0B

In December 2003 I purchased my very first TB-303 via Peter Forrest’s VEMIA auction, it was immaculate and functionality perfect. In the next couple of years I purchased several TB’s, but it was clear that the first was the nicest, and so, in 2005, I sent it off to Robin Whittle to undergo the Devil Fish treatment.

In a stroke of luck, I happened to be lucky enough to acquire one of the revered and totally gorgeous alu cases that Martin Rothlisberger designed in his spare time and sent this to Australia so that Robin could built the Devilfish into it.

The fitment into the case is a very tricky affair, they are carved from solid blocks of aluminium by a computer, and thus super accurate; the problem lies in the TB itself, which hailing from the 80’s is not so accurate! Some of the potentiometer positions can subtly vary, and there are other pitfalls, for example the wires can get pinched in different places. This TB has been fitted to the highest standards possible. There are crazy aspects to it, like 2 by 2 carbon fibre washers, an even larger capacity lithium battery than the one Robin uses as stock for the bank memory back up and the rear of the case attaches via precision machined titanium bolts. It’s a functioning piece of design / art.

Robin strikes me as the classic genius engineer and in implementing the modification, I guess his priority is in making sure everything works, not necessarily whether it looks beautiful. As a result, I have expertly implemented a host of cosmetic amendments myself to make things like the LED’s shine more attractively, the knobs sit at a comfortable height and, perhaps most practically, I have implemented a delightfully simple but important idea that buffers the main PCB board, in the event that the machine ever falls face flat, which due to the design by Roland, does leave the machine quite susceptible to a cracked PCB. Some of the ideas I have shared with Robin (to his interest!), others I have not as yet, but I suspect he and other TB enthusiasts would find them interesting, if not a touch obsessive :-)

As the numerous pedantic personal touches might indicate, I never foresaw parting with this machine, but am contemplating it primarily for two reasons, I have another Devil Fish (non MIDI version) so I wouldn’t miss this one all that much, principally I am interested to acquire something entirely different for my studio, which would entail raising the necessary funds.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Peter Forrest's A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers books

via this auction

"A complete two-volume set of the most comprehensive encyclopaedia of analogue synths and keyboards in the world - direct from the author. Now that all completely mint copies of the A-M part are sold out, I'm selling sets which include an A-M which is not mint...

"The A-M is a printers' run-on copy, so had no serial number, but I have written that in it, and the N-Z is serial number 855. Both books will be signed by the author - if you want a particular dedication, please say when you pay.

The original A-M was produced in 1994, and then re-written and expanded in 1998. There are probably nearly twice as many words crammed in to the second edition as there were in the first. The second edition has 320 pages, 16 of which are full colour, while the original edition only had 240 pages. There's a whole lot of extra information about EMS, Moog, and many other manufacturers; a greatly improved index, and a new index to the musicians mentioned in the book. So if you're into, say, Tangerine Dream, you can find the 25 pages on which they're mentioned; Tim Blake, 8 pages; and even Tim Buckley on two.

The first edition was printed in a run of 2000, and 2000 copies of this revised edition were also printed. This second edition has been officially out of print for well over a year now, so is impossible to buy via any bookseller like Amazon.

The original N-Z was printed in 1996, in a run of 2000, and then the second revised edition (of 3000) was printed in 2003. It has 384 pages, including 16 in full colour. Please check the photos to see the sort of coverage you will get of rare, obscure instruments like the Syntons and Wavemakers or ultra-famous offerings like the Rolands and Yamahas.

The total number of words in these two books is probably over half a million. With hundreds of illustrations, charts, etc., the whole package provides a comprehensive guide to analogue synths, organs, electric pianos, theremins, etc., up to 1998 for ones beginning A-M, and 2003 for the N-Zs. The books have been well-reviewed in magazines all round the world, by people as knowledgeable as Mark Vail and Gino Robair, and enjoyed by some of the best-known names in electronic music, such as Fatboy Slim, Hans Zimmer, Herbie Hancock, Aphex Twin, Chemical Brothers, Depeche Mode, and Adrian Utley of Portishead.

Who's selling: my name's Peter Forrest. I've been writing about synths, keyboards, effects and recording gear for over 20 years now, and for 14 years I have been running an internet auction called VEMIA (Vintage Electric Musical Instrument Auctions) which specialises in synths, drum machines, effects, and so on. Please check my eBay feedback to see that you can bid with confidence. Feel free to email me any questions."

I have a copy of these books. They are absolutely amazing. Highly, highly recommended. This is the ultimate analog synth reference book. This is also listed in the Synth Books section.

Pages pictured:

-Cover
-Roland System 100 and 100m
-Roland Pics
-Exclusively Analogue Aviator, F.A.T. and Farfisa
-Moog The Source
-Cano Electronics, CEI, Cellulophone, CFR Associates, INC, Chadacre, Chamberline
- Buchla, Crumar, Stylophone, Digisound Mod 80, EDP pics
EMS
- College, Series3000 - note that is not a x0xb0x
- Wavemaker
- Yamaha
- Moog pics

CLICK FOR MORE »

JUNOST-21 - soviet guitar-like poly synth

via this auction

samples at the auciton and http://ruskeys.net/

"Here description from the "A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers" book by Peter Forrest:
JUNOST'21: Polyphonic 48-note (F-E) strap-on velocity-sensitive synth with mod grip.
- Fairly unique, since most synths of this type are mainly monophonic.
- The mod grip has volume and pitch-bend wheels, and unison/chorus switch.
- Sliders on the main synth body for LFO depth, speed, delay, routing to filter or VCO. VCF and VCA each with AD envelope.
- Presets: three banks of four. Two-digit LED. Din connectors for mains and audio out. External PSU; very long lead. The keyboard itself weighs 6.5 kg."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Alisa 1377 - Vintage Soviet Analog Synthesizer (1)

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

"ALISA-1377 - RARE SOVIET-ERA MONOPHONIC ANALOG VINTAGE SYNTH BUILT IN 1985 BY LUBERETSKY PLANT IN THE SOVIET UNION. Some description from the book "VINTAGE SYNTH'S A-Z" by PETER FORREST [synth books]: • 44-note (F-C) 1-VCO monosynth. • Designed as a standard monosynth, but also a source of "non-standard-electrical signals for scientific and educational needs. • VCO has controls for waveform, FM, mod amount, PWM, harmonics, portamento, tuning, and octave switching. • Simple vibrato LFO; VCF; ADSR. • Switching is generally done with push-buttons. • Connection on the rear panel : on/off switch, OUTPUT on standard 1/4''jack, fuse (0,5A) . SWITCHABLE VOLTAGE WITH FUSE POSITION BETWEEN 220V/110V/127V/. For USA or Japan users voltage transformer is NOT necessary!!!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Synth Museum book NOS 1994

via this auction

"This was produced to celebrate the opening by Bob Moog of what was then the biggest synth museum in the world. The foreword is written by Bob Moog.

Full colour large-format paperback, laminated cover, 118 pages, full of excellent pictures of the great synths in the collection.

As the Museum doesn’t exist any more, it’s highly unlikely that the book will ever be re-printed. I believe I have the last brand-new copies available.

Instruments covered include: ARP Solina, Pro/DGX, Solus, Little Brother, Omni, Omni II, Blue Meanie, 2500, 2600, Sequencer, Odyssey;

Buchla 100, 200, 700;

E-mu Modular, Emulator II;

EDP Wasp Special, Gnat, Spider;

EML 101, 200, 300, 400, 401, 500;

EMS VCS3, AKS, Pitch-Voltage Converter, Synthi 100;

Korg PS3100, 3200, 3300;

Moog Liberation, Sonic 5, Sonic 6, Bode frequency Shifter, Syn Amp, Vocoder, 12-Stage Phaser, Modular 3c, 15, 35, 55, 3P, Memorymoog, Micromoog, Prodigy, Minimoogs, Multimoog, Polymoog, String Filter;

Oberheim 2-Voice, 8-Voice, Matrix-12, Xpander;

Polyfusion modulars;

Roland System 700, VP330, System 100M, MC4B, MC8, MC202, TR808, TR909, TR55, Revo 30, TB303, JP4, JP8, SH-5, Chorus & Space Echoes;

Sequential Prophet 5, 10, Split 8, Pro-One;

Birotron, Chroma, Ondioline, Kobol Expander, PPG 2.3 & Waveterm B; Gleeman Pentaphonic, Synthex, Wavemakers, OSCar, Formant, CS-80, etc..

Who's selling: my name's Peter Forrest. I've been writing about synths, keyboards, effects and recording gear for nearly 20 years now, and I run an internet auction called VEMIA (Vintage Electric Musical Instrument Auctions) which specialises in synths, drum machines, effects, and so on."

Peter has a number of other items up for auction here.

Vintage MOOG MEMORYMOOG analog synth

via this auction

"One curiosity: this actual synth has been pictured on the unfamous "A/Z Encyclopedia of Vintage Synthesizers" book written by Peter Forrest; you can see it greatly pictured inside the book' gallery! :)" [available in the synth books section]

Users Manual by Dominic Milano

JUNOST-21 - soviet guitar-like poly synth rare!

via this auction

"Here description from the "A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers" book by Peter Forrest:
JUNOST'21: Polyphonic 48-note (F-E) strap-on velocity-sensitive synth with mod grip.
- Fairly unique, since most synths of this type are mainly monophonic.
- The mod grip has volume and pitch-bend wheels, and unison/chorus switch.
- Sliders on the main synth body for LFO depth, speed, delay, routing to filter or VCO. VCF and VCA each with AD envelope.
- Presets: three banks of four. Two-digit LED. Din connectors for mains and audio out. External PSU; very long lead. The keyboard itself weighs 6.5 kg."

Check out the manual cover. Samples at the auction and ruskeys.net.

CLICK FOR MORE »

ELECTRONIKA EM-04

via this auction

"HERE THE DESCRIPTIONS FROM PETER FORREST BOOK "VINTAGE SYNTH'S A-Z": Elektronika EM-04 - 49-note (C-C) split multi-keyboard. This seems to have appeared in two very different forms. Both have sets of sliders to the left of the keyboard and in three sections behind it; but one is a neater, flatter machine with a carrying handle at the forot, while the other has fold-down legs, a little Farfisa-like, and a reverse-colour keyboard for the bottom two octaves. Divide-down tone generation; 'slalom' effect. Size: 790 x 490 x 155 mm. Weight: 18kg."

"EM-04 HAS A FOUR MAIN SECTIONS OF CONTROL:
1-st GROUP (left manual) - attack, sustain, bass, violin, alto, string, orchestral, brass
BRASS FILTER - attack, sustain (level, on/off), cutoff, resonance
2-nd GROUP (right manual) - attack, sustain, bass, violin, alto, string, orchestral, brass
MASTER - fine tuning, main volume level, tone (brightness), slalom (pitch slide), gavai (finger pitch controller), string/organ select, brass 1-2.

CONNECTIONS - output 5-din, pedal input 5-din, power socket, fuse, power on/off switcher."

samples at the auction via ruskeys.net

CLICK FOR MORE »

Peter Forest's A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers

via this auction

This is just a glimpse of what's in there. An absolute must have for the synth enthusiast. My words, not the auction. Seriously the A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers is the desert island set of synth books. Highly recommended. Note they are listed in the Synth Books section.

"A complete two-volume set of the most comprehensive encyclopaedia of analogue synths and keyboards in the world - direct from the author.

The original A-M was produced in 1994, and then re-written and expanded in 1998. There are probably nearly twice as many words crammed in to the second edition as there were in the first. The second edition has 320 pages, 16 of which are full colour, while the original edition only had 240 pages. There's a whole lot of extra information about EMS, Moog, and many other manufacturers; a greatly improved index, and a new index to the musicians mentioned in the book. So if you're into, say, Tangerine Dream, you can find the 25 pages on which they're mentioned; Tim Blake, 8 pages; and even Tim Buckley on two.

The first edition was printed in a run of 2000, and 2000 copies of this revised edition were also printed. This second edition has been officially out of print for a year now, so is impossible to buy via any bookseller like Amazon. I thought I had run out of every single mint copy of the books, but today my wife was doing a bit of cleaning and pulled out a drawer, and discovered two packets of books underneath the drawer. We then looked in the other side of the chest of drawers and found two more packets, making 96 books in all. This particular book is one of the books that the printer printed as 'run-on' - when a printer is supposed to print 2000 they will always do a few more to be certain they have done enough, in case a few have blemishes. That means it has no official number in the limited edition, so I have numbered it out of 2096 and initialed the number. (But just to be more complicated.... we're disappointed to find that many of the books have some slight defects from their long time in non-perfect storage - mostly where one or two of the colour photo pages have stuck together in places - talk about synth porn..... - and you can see where they have had to be peeled apart. Usually on the page edges, not very serious, but there when you look for it. So this unblemished A-M is one of only very few still in existence - the rest will have to be sold as imperfect.)

The original N-Z was printed in 1996, in a run of 2000, and then the second revised edition (of 3000) was printed in 2003. It has 384 pages, including 16 in full colour. Please check the photos to see the sort of coverage you will get of rare, obscure instruments like the Syntons and Wavemakers or ultra-famous offerings like the Rolands and Yamahas.

The total number of words in these two books is probably over half a million. With hundreds of illustrations, charts, etc., the whole package provides a comprehensive guide to analogue synths, organs, electric pianos, theremins, etc., up to 1998 for ones beginning A-M, and 2003 for the N-Zs. The books have been well-reviewed in magazines all round the world, and enjoyed by some of the best-known names in electronic music, such as Fatboy Slim, Hans Zimmer, Herbie Hancock, and Adrian Utley of Portishead.

Who's selling: my name's Peter Forrest. I've been writing about synths, keyboards, effects and recording gear for nearly 20 years now, and I run an internet auction called VEMIA (Vintage Electric Musical Instrument Auctions) which specialises in synths, drum machines, effects, and so on. Please check my feedback to see that you can bid with confidence. Feel free to email me any questions."

CLICK FOR MORE »

General Music No More

http://www.generalmusic.com

via AH: GeneralMusic declared bankruptcy laying off 75 workers

Their official website appears to just have you see here on the left. It's sad to see any synth company go under. Condolences to all at General Music.

Update via antonio on the AH list: "I received a couple of requests about Generalmusic history and in the meantime I received an email from Roberto of VIEI yahoo group (italian synth and organs) that I'm translating (kind of :D )here:
Generalmusic moved first steps thanks to an accordion built in 1890 in the Antonio Galanti artisan laboratory with the help of 3 sons a company was created: the award-winning factory Galanti accordions. After accordions they started crafting classical and electric guitars (much
later). In 1959 the 3 brothers founded in Mondaino the General Electro Music (GEM) company. At the start they worked for other companies like Baldwin, Thomas, Vox with no internal brand.
In 1966 they created the first branded GEM instrument: the "Minigem", a portable electronic organ. It was a big success and they decided to expand creating other 2 companies the "Intercontinetal Electronics" and in San Marino, "Titanic Music". In Marignano, where is the current (closed) factory, they created the "Laboratorio Elettroacustico Musicale" (LEM) specialized in amplifiers. In 1987 GEM acuires the ELKA brand and 1994 changes the name in GeneralMusic (GEM, LEM and ELKA). Other brands acquired during those years are pianos Schulze Pollmann, (plant Fermigliano) and church organs Ahlborn in 1992. During the 80s and 90s the company had about 450 workers. Many analog keyboards were created under the GEM brand: Pk4900 a Gem synth, the Instapiano, Instastring and many others (I guess Peter Forrest would be more precise than me!).

now seems really the end of the story...

thanks (to Roberto)

antonio"

Every Conductor Needs a Synthi

I saw this one on SURROUNDHEAD. Anyone know if it's an original? It's not listed on the Every Advert Needs a Synthi site.

Update via Matt in the comments: "It's listed in Peter Forrest's A-Z "As well as the Every Nun Needs a Synthi advert, there were also aads on similar lines for Every Picnic.., Everey Band.., Every Christmas.., and, more bizarrely, Every Conductor.., and Every Opera - this last one designed to co-incide with Glyndebourne"

Peter Forrest Interview on VICMOD

"As most synth heads know, the two books you simply must own are both from Peter Forrest!

The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers is a synth lovers dream with so much information about all the great and not so great synthesizers specs and history. I caught up with Peter and asked him some questions."

You can find the full interview on VICMOD.