Synthpro's Polymoog (video# 3)

[noizy4]

I like your Polymoog videos, good job...

[synthpro]

@noizy4 Thank you very much, glad you enjoy my videos!

Take care,

Jareth

[dalester82]

What a nice young man

[t8283287]

Been following your vids for a while now and you truly are an inspiration, keep rockin friend and get yourself a career in music technology, you will excel no doubt (oh and if you ever want to sell that Poly give me a pm ;-) good luck friend, keep the music alive

Gray

[synthpro]

@t8283287 Thank you so very much!! It is always a great honor to hear from people like you. I am going to look into music technology since you have brought that up.

Thanks again and if I do ever decide to sell the poly, I will be sure to remember you.

Take care,

Jareth

[t8283287]

@synthpro Hey Jareth, been checkin in from time to time, see how you are getting on, I have a question you may be able to answer? on the intro to Gary numans Metal, and the bassy synth on Cars, GN used a raspy type of patch, do you have any ideas what it is? also check out 'Analog days' a book written by Trevor Pinch and frank trocco, its about Bob Moogs early career and introduction to building Moog Synthesisers. cheers for now

[synthpro]

@t8283287 Thank you very much! Ah yes, Gary used a Minimoog model D for those sounds. I have actually created the bass sound from metal on my Little Phatty.

That sounds like a very cool book. I have been wanting to pick it up, but haven't had time.

Take care,

Jareth

[emjay946]

gotta love the VH

sounds like you know your numan for such a young chap.  respect

[bestrickie2]

Hey you've come a long way repairing the moog. I like how you used the fazer & you sound just like Gary Numan as you're playing note for note replicas in the key of E & putting the fazer into it really gives it the finishing touch of G Numan WELL DONE you know your stuff. Shame you're not in the UK as we have a lot in common. Please keep me posted. Cheers from Rich

[grabngonuts]

bravo, synthpro

[TheJuanbaudelaire]

Awsome how clean and complete how you got it.

Good job.

I just got the 203A Polymoog

very similar and maybe you can give me some pointers?

I'll make worth the while.

Agin great job with the DIY

[anton111ful]

nicely done. that polymoog string sound still makes hairs stand up on the back of my neck!

[synthpro]

@anton111ful Thank you. Yes it does have a sound of its own.

[pinballdan]

Well you will get a lot of hits since you said it's the model he used!Sounds so awesome & man you worked hard to fix it up!So I'm waiting for you to post some more GARY NUMAN! Do CARS! The intro & whole later part of the song is long slow notes on that keyboard!Man..Too cool..!

[synthpro]

@pinballdan Thank you! I do have a cover of Gary Numan Cars up, but I amy sure I will have more Gary Numan covers up in the future.

Take care,

Jareth

[pinballdan]

You gotta play MORE! Gary Numan!! on that thing!

Is this the model he used? Sure sounds like it!

[synthpro]

@pinballdan Hahaha, I will see what I can do. Yes, this is the model synth Gary Numan used.

Thanks for watching!

[paulsquared1]

Good job on your P-Moog man. I happen to own 2 of them. Both are the synth. model and need some work. Good to see there are parts available still so when time/money permits. I'll head into that project but I have others to tend to first. But thanks for the inspiration. I had but lost repair manuals & schematics and wonder if you have them. Let me know if you do, thanxa bunch

Paul

[synthpro]

Thank you Paul! It took me about 3 months to complete this project, but it was worth it. Wow, 2 synth models. I would like to have a synth model, but can't find one in my price range. I do have the manuals and schematics for them, but I am trying to find a way to compress them down to a file size that I can send through e-mail. They are just too big right now.

Thanks again.

[letmeatem]

man i wish mine was working , i have a 280a #1405

all the lights are working but no sound. did you fix yours up yourself? i look forward to any future videos

[synthpro]

you have the 405th one built! Have you checked to see what voltages you are getting out of the power supply? That is a problem most of the time. You will get the +5 volts which powers the lights, but the +15 and -15 volts may not be there.

Yes, I restored mine myself. It took 3 months to get it back in shape, but it was worth it.

Thanks for watching!

[kerzwhile]

This is just Killer!! Excellent Job!! Do You have a Prophet 5?? :)

[synthpro]

Thanks Man!!! No, I don't have a prophet 5, but I wish I did.

Thanks for watching!

[tranmerechris]

Interesting stuff. Good luck with it all

[synthpro]

thank you, I appreciate the luck.!

Thanks for watching.

[synthpro]

continued---- any polymoog before 3000 was still somewhat of a prototype and had a lot of problems. When you find one let me know and I will be more than glad to try to help you with any questions. I have not been under the hood of the 203a yet, but do have some ideas on how it works. I have also got the tech manuals if you would like a copy.

Thanks again!

Jareth

[arpquadra]

Thanks Jareth,when I get one I will let you know.Just need to find someone who is selling one now. :-)

[synthpro]

Your welcome!

Wishing you the best of luck!

[arpquadra]

Love your vids man on the Polymoog restoration.I am thinking of buying a 203a when the 'right' one turns up for sale.

I'm just a bit worried about the reliabilty issues with them.

Is the Polymoog really hard to work on ?

I heard if you get a polymoog with serial numbers above 3000 then they should be ok.

Yours sounds great by the way,good job getting it all working total respect man.

Take care,

Steve.

[synthpro]

Thank you Steve! If you find one in the right price range go for it. They are reliable as long as you do not move it around a lot, but even if you do that all you will have to do is watch the Mod cards (poly cards as some call them.) They are fairly tough to work on at times, but don't let that scare you. Most of these synths have problems with bad connections in the soldered joints and bad divider chips. Look for one with a serial number above 3000. That is true. Continued-----------------

[forgivn70x7]

Hi J, I can't believe that you fixed your polymoog. It sounds so great compared to your first video. The sound is very rich. I am impressed that all the keys work! Incorporate this keyboard into your songs and post them sometime.

[synthpro]

Continued---------

The solder tends to break loose and causes bad connections and since these synths use control voltages, the connections can effect the tuning. I ended up re soldering all the joints on mine and now it works well.

[bondbug73]

Thanks for your idea's. It does make sense what you say. I will look into it. You have done at great job with yours. About 5 presets inc Vox Humana are out of tune.

I've had them both since end of 03. The preset underneath the cover is signed by designer Dave Luce in March 78. One of the first presets.

[synthpro]

Your welcome! These things can be tricky when it comes to finding the defective component. if yours is like mine, it is probably just a bad connection somewhere. I have got the service manuals if you would like a copy. Wow, signed by Dave Luce! That is neat.

Have you been to a website called Dubsounds? they have a polymoog owners club that is real neat.

Thanks for watching!

[bondbug73]

Both look fine inside but I haven't looked hard enough at the connections. Thanks for the offer of service manual copies. I'll get back to you on that. Yes, Luce has signed it in black marker pen. Must be on of the first presets? Yes, I have seen the great Dubsounds site. I need to sign up my two.

Your Polymoog looks tidy. My preset has the wood look strips on still.

My 203a ribbon controller is a little worn. It has no wood look strips either.

Pleasure to watch your Polymoog vids.

[bondbug73]

Great video's. I have a 203a and 208a where I live in the UK. The 208a - some of the presets sound out of tune, and the 203a has a broken socket in the PSU.

[synthpro]

Thank you! That is neat that you have both models. It sounds like you may have a problem on your top left board or it could be some voltage problems with the circuitry for those presets that are out of tune. I had a similar problem, but mine was in the solder. continued------------------

[CDEFoxtrot]

I want to get a polymoog 203a, hopefully I can afford it. great video!

[synthpro]

I would like to eventually find a 203a, but the 280a is not too bad. It is not as flexible, but still a great unit!

Thanks for watching and the best of luck with finding a polymoog!

[StudioF]

that's an awesome piece of vintage equipment. great that you fixed the problems. take good care of it.

[synthpro]

Thank you! I plan on treating it well!

[RADS190]

OMG you legend, just watched all three of your vids and i feel your pain sir, i m still having hell with my 203. Those new divider chips look like a good buy. ive had to change some on mine but i couldnt get hold of any, just the schematics of the chips, so i ended up making it on makeshift circuit boards and discrete componants and soldering wires to the board where the legs of the chip would go, works well, easy to fault find, but the 203 aint got much room inside so it is a little crammed in.

[synthpro]

Thank you!!!!! I highly recommend the new divider chips! They work great.

Thanks for watching and the best of luck with your polymoog!

[UnchainTheNight1]

i cant wait for you to get a high quality version up man

PS reverb helps out a ton

[synthpro]

I will see what I can do about the quality issue.

Reverb does help. I also use a chorus pedal that makes the strings a little more interesting.

Thanks!

[rodsnratfinks]

Hey that thing's turning out good! I'm glad to see that you are have so much success with it. These old polys can be quite daunting!

[synthpro]

Yes it is! It has taken some major work, but now all the work has paid off.

Thanks for watching!

[beh0003]

Amazing progress you have made. It looks great, and more importantly sounds great. Thanks as always for sharing. Now go and get some rest :)

Bryan

[synthpro]

Thank you and your welcome! I am glad to be able to share these videos : )

Thanks again!

[analogpro7]

restoring old synths are a passion of love for the sounds those things make. glad to see (more like hear) that it's getting back to new =]

the 8 bit shift registers seem to be working great as a divider replacement. now let's hear 'are friends electric' =]

[synthpro]

Same here! There is just something about the sounds of vintage synths that new synths just do not have. I may try to play Are Friends Electric soon.

Thank you!

[GNeuman]

Bravo, bravo,bravo!!!

All your hard work has paid off admirably! You've done a splendid job, sir..

Thank you for sharing your Polymoog restoration project with us all...

I salute you

Best wishes,

mike

[synthpro]

Thank you and your welcome! I was glad to have the opportunity to share this rare restoration project.

I appreciate your intrest!

[DiversionUK]

Looking good!!! Pleased to see the Polymoog is getting there.

All the best

Dave

[synthpro]

Thank you Dave!

[64mung]

Man..I can't believe how clean that thing is..NICE WORK! Sounds great too! You've came a long way since the first video.

Keep up the great work!

64m >:-)

[synthpro]

Thank you!!!! It took a long time just to get all the years of dirt build up off it, but it is now clean. The only other cosmetic thing I like is re paint the master preset panel. I am going to do that after I get it working 100%.

[machman05]

Wahoo! Briliant work J! Almost there !

[synthpro]

Thanks! I seen your video and it sounds like you have made a lot of progress from what it was doing. Thanks again.

[attorks]

I am glad it is almost in full working order again. You have done a great job.

[synthpro]

Thank you!

[buffolife]

keep up the great work man!

[synthpro]

Thanks I plan to.

[lesingemonotone]

That vox humana preset is just about the most sweet sounding pad ever heard.

Thanks for sharing!

/kroffe

[synthpro]

Thanks! Yes, it is a great sound.