David's Polymoog Restoration (video# 6)

Finally have David's polymoog 100% working Still have some parts to replace but all controls work as they are meant to.

The VCF envelope section and modulation amount had some bad CA3080 op amps and a bad CD4016 quad bilateral switch.

Thanks for watching,
Jareth

[synthpro]

That is really neat! Polymoogs sound great and there is a warmth about them that no other synth really seems to capture.

Thanks again for your comments, really appreciate them,
Jareth

[ldtregent]

I've been in love with the sound of the Polymoog since I was 15. I came across a used one in 2008 for about $2, 000 Canadian but it had some problems and the size and weight of it overwhelmed me so I didn't pick it up. Beautiful to see you restoring them!

[synthpro]

Thank you very much, I really appreciate the kind words! You are right, the poly has a sound that really is unlike any other polysynth.

Take care,
Jareth

[synthpro]

Thanks, I finally broke down and got me a modern scope, it is a tektronix TDS 2012, nice to be able to store programs for instant recall. I still have a 1976 Tektronix 465M which I use as well.

[synthpro]

Totally agree with you Adam, polymoog is a beast all on its own no doubt.

In today's world using modern electronic components, polymoogs can become very reliable as well.

[latasha]

I'm diggin' that 3-channel digital scope in the background.

[synthpro]

Thank you very much Steve!

Take care my friend,
Jareth

[synthpro]

I agree with you. Seems like when you atart stacking voices through synths with independent filters, you get a muddy tone at some points. most other polysynthes used Curtis filters which are nice but every synth had about the same filter response, really glad moog stuck with the discrete filter circuit throughout their production. Even the Memorymoog has moog filters.

[GNeuman]

Amazing restoration job, there cant be many people around who can do this!

[soundmanhaven]

your amazing great work on the poly :) wow it has a very nice sound of its own love the moog sounds :)

[synthpro]

Oh yes, there are many things that can be updated on the polymoog to make it a very stable unit. IC's were very new back in 1975 and there are a few that seem to break down faster causing audio noise and unstable or dead controls. The most common failures are the 4007 CMOS switches for VAR/PRE and also the CA3080 opamps associated with the VCF's LFO section.

[synthpro]

Totally agree with you. Curtis is great by all means but really used way too much. I do like the AX-80's use of the curtis filters because I believe they overdrive them a bit so you have this neat tone that I could not even get out of the prophet 5.

[adamborseti]

The Polymoog, besides being woefully unreliable, doesn't deserve all the shit people give it. WE KNOW, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A MOOG. That's why we love it! You can sit your Minimoog on top for the fatter stuff, but for chords and strings you don't want a giant 3-VCO sound, you want a thinner, more transparent type sound! That's where the Polymoog shines! Although, it can be pretty bassy

[synthpro]

Haha, Eric, you are just going to have to find you a polymoog.

[AnalogNoiseLab]

Hi Jareth. Thanks for your great video's.
When you have the time could you try and reproduce the Vox Humana patch on the 203a on video or just the settings? That would be frickin cool. It's ok if you don't :o) Best wishes

[adamborseti]

Really? I had a feeling that there was some way to fix the problems....