Author Topic: MiniMoog (Read 184 times)

rogertvr · « **on:** May 31, 2005, 08:13:01 AM »

This has got absolutely bugger all to do with Alembics or any other stringed instrument for that matter.

But my beloved MiniMoog has developed the warbly problem these instruments get when they're not played enough (guilty - holds hands high) or they're getting on a little in life (it's just gone 27 years old).

It needs the gold-plated bars under keyboard the cleaned. I'm in the UK and I cannot find either the denatured alcohol or 91% or 98% isopropyl alcohol that I need to clean it anywhere. My local pharmacy can source 70% isopropyl alcohol BP but nothing stronger.

Can anyone help with further suggestions as to what to use (I know some of you in here own synths), or maybe suggest a source for the alcohol if you're in the UK? It's becoming unplayable in certain areas of the keyboard and it's driving me mad, not to mention the fact that the MiniMoog itself isn't overly impressed!

Cheers,

Rog

keith_h · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2005, 02:26:15 PM »

Let's see, some corn, some sugar, some water, a large copper boiler and the other type of alembic should give you the desired product. :-)

Keith
(Not to far from the largest moonshine county in North Carolina).

keith_h · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2005, 02:44:59 PM »

On a serious note the Moog Music website has a reference to the Hammond Hire Company in the UK for possible service. Maybe they can help. The URL is http://www.hammondhire.com

Even though they do not service the original Moog equipment the new Moog Music does have links to other folks that might be able to help. The Moog Music URL is http://www.moogmusic.com

Keith

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2005, 02:00:29 PM »

Everclear (grain alcohol) is 95% ethanol, and that is closely approaching the purity of denatured ethanol. Does britain even have denatured alcohol out of curiousity? It is simply pure ethanol to which impurities such as benzene have been added to make it unfit for human consumption, thereby skirting U.S. liquor taxes. I suppose we could export it though . . . You could always start harvesting starting fluid for ether (real nice solvent), just make sure everything is well grounded (yes, I am joking).

gare · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2005, 06:35:43 AM »

Rog..how old is your Mini ?
I have a 1977 model and I was getting false triggers and the warblys. A friend who's far more electronical than I checked it out and ended up replacing some parts on the VCO board, and completely recalibrated everything.
You may want to check out Arch Sound, they have rebuild kits for keyboards. I replaced a couple 'J' wires and all the bushings..big difference in the keyboard action. And, they're reasonably priced, I think the Mini parts were about 45$ US.
As long as it's torn down for cleaning, it's only a little more work, but well worth it.

Gary

rogertvr · « **Reply #5 on:** June 12, 2005, 08:48:09 AM »

Mine is dated 1978.

In the end, I cleaned it with gold jewellery cleaner on the recommendation of someone who had an identical problem with his own MiniMoog. It's fine now - in fact, it's not been as good in years!