Saturday Synth Porn: This vintage modular is the first commercial Moog synthesizer sold.
It was built by Robert Moog (1934-2005), using pear tree wood from his own back yard in New York. It has three control panels, a five-octave keyboard with fifteen knobs, a wood stand, and pedals. It was originally commissioned and owned by New York-based dance choreographer Alwin Nikolais. The Moog modular synthesizer came with hand-written instructions from Moog on how to use it.
The synth is now part of the Stearns Collection of musical instruments at the University of Michigan.
A true legend.
Both man and machine! 🙂
Just when I think I couldn’t possibly harbour more admiration for Bob Moog,I see this beautiful modular synth.The cabinet of which,”made from the pear tree from his own back yard”.Wow.
I hope it still gets played. doesn’t get trapped in a glass cabinet for the rest of its life.
I work for the university and was a student here. It mostly stays under glass and hasn’t really been maintained, but it was recently sampled by a professor in our audio studio. Some modules are only partially functional, but a lot of it still works. Few in the university care about it as anything more than a curiosity and historical artifact,
My God! This synth is right here in Ann Arbor! I wonder how I can get a chance to play it?
That is just gorgeous.