Minimoog makes a comeback

Moog Music has resumed production of the Minimoog Model D synthesizer after more than 30 years.

The portable synth will be shipping in the UK from next month (August) from its UK distributor Source Distribution. 

Introduced in 1970, the Minimoog Model D was the first portable synthesizer and served as the archetype for all electronic keyboards that followed.  Conceived as a response to the large-scale modular synthesizers of the 1960’s, the Minimoog’s portability, affordability and accessibility made it the go-to instrument for musicians looking to expand their range of sounds.  

Bernie Worrell used the Minimoog to establish Parliament Funkadelic’s futuristic funk sound, while Kraftwerk employed the Minimoog on the successful concept album Autobahn. Gary Numan, Michael Jackson, Dr Dre, and Bob Marley are among  the myriad artists that have used the pioneering synth.

Each Minimoog Model D is made at the Moog factory in Asheville, North Carolina.  It has a hand-finished aluminum chassis and  locally-sourced Appalachian hard-wood enclosure.  The firm has preserved the component placement and through-hole design of the original analog circuit boards, employing precision resistors and custom-reissued transistors to complete the circuit.

Though no changes have been made to the original sound engine or audio signal path, the Model D now includes a series of functional modifications to expand its sonic capabilities beyond the factory specifications of a 1970’s production unit. These include a premium Fatar keybed with velocity and after pressure available via top panel CV jacks, a dedicated analog LFO with triangle and square waveshapes, CV outputs for pitch, gate, velocity and after pressure, basic MIDI integration, and a mixer overload modification, which allows the Minimoog Model D to conjure thicker and far more overdriven sounds than before.

The Model will have an RRP of  £3599 inc VAT / SSP £3249 inc VAT. Stock will be limited each month.