74 Minimoog Model D or Voyager Rack???

I have an opportunity to buy a near mint Minimoog Model D for under 1500. I have always wanted one but since the Voyager rack came out, that looks pretty nice too and I thought it might replace my gas for a mini. Now I don't know if i should take the mini and save l8r for the voyager, or scratch this mini and save 500 more for the voyager. Its basically vintage old non midi moog analog coolness versus new shiny midified moog analog goodness. I don't have much space in my gear for boxy stuff , but I do have a space in desired sound for a mini.

If you had 1500, what would u do and why?

Have played the Voyager in music stores. I know others can get it to sound fat, but everything I got out of it was thin and wheezy.

A mint original Mini OTOH is like a fine aged wine, it will always be magnificent.

edit: I'll bet you will be able to repair that original Mini in 40 years still, while certain parts on the Voyager (CPU, touchpad, etc) will be obsolete and unobtainable.

Good point. I like the Voyager's possibilities, midi, visual appeal, etc, but I never thought about parts issues down the road. I would have thought that it would be the other way around with the mini, but i guess we will have to see if the voiyager is as legendary as the mini in future times. Thanks for the vote.

You should buy that Voyager and let me know who is selling the Minimoog Model D so I can buy the Minimoog. Anyways, I voted for the Minimoog...but you should get the Voyager.

If the Mini is truly "near mint", and you can get it for $1500, then buy it without hesitation.

Voyagers are plentiful and getting cheaper. Obviously, not the case with the Mini.

I'd go mini over a voyager rack anyday. Mini vs. a regular voyager is a much harder decision...

the original mini is the bomb, and thats RIDICULOUSLY cheap, so def go for the model D

Thanks. My guts says go for the mini, too.

What should I look for when I check it out. I'll tune it, check all knobs, ins and outs, and the keybed bushings. I think the only issue is a flickering light. What else should I check out?

that flickering light might be the OVERLOAD lamp... in which case... it's supposed to do that...

You'll always be able to get a second hand Voyager, A good Mnimoog at that price isn't likely to come your way again anytime soon. Grab that Mini

If your situation requires modern amenities like patch management, tuning stability, and MIDI, then you'd better go with the Voyager. Otherwise, that's a righteous price for a Minimoog... a synth that you can always sell for more than you paid for it if things don't work out. In the meantime, you can strut around the discussion boards with authority. Minimoog owners get respect!

Get the mini you big dumbass.

Thanks.

Hey Gebus. Are you on the Moog Music forums too?

Yes. I'm "Jeebus" at moogmusic, but I rarely ever visit or post there. Are you on the moogmusic forum?

Yep, as shakti. I just joined 1 month ago after gettin some foogers.

You know, every time I see your screen name, I think of my friend Gordon and imagine him saying the stuff you do. I don't know why, it just happens. Isn't that weird. . .?

I think Im gettin the mini. What should i check out and what size screwdriver should I bring to tune it?

Philips head screwdriver. What serial number is the mini? There are two different versions of the osc board, the "old" and the "new" osc board have different tuning configurations on the back panel.

I guess you should just try every knob, and make sure every osc wave sounds as it should. Play it for awhile and check the tuning stability.

I swear it was not me who voted for the LE! Get the to the Mini!

You should buy that Voyager and let me know who is selling the Minimoog Model D so I can buy the Minimoog. Anyways, I voted for the Minimoog...but you should get the Voyager.

no no he should let me know who is selling. and get Voyager. and ill send u a nice picture of mini. deal?

great deal considering how prices are going nowadays. damn, i remember almost pulling the trigger on several occasions, for old minis going for 1.3 - 1.5K, less than two years ago - i was that close. and thought ..oh well there's time, and i decided to go jp8 instead.. and then p5.. left who funds.. and then Bob left us.. and it aaaaall went haywire, no more reasonably priced "anything" with a moog logo on it.

pity. id love a mini. thats about the last vintage missing in my setup. i'd get it for 1.5k as that's how much its worth to me. but not more.

voyager/lp sound - i dont really like it that much. kinda lifeless at times. dull high end - no sweetness.

im having high hopes for the Macbeth's Factor X, and his take on the vintage sound. but again his projected pricing is outrageous. its 1.7k Pounds plus sh..

i'll just get a multimoog, and be happy.

I have both, the mini D doesn't leave the studio anymore it did its decades of road duty. By buying the D you will definately force yourself to learn subtractive synthesis if you do not know it already. I luv 'em both and sold off a mint Source awhile ago as it just sat and collected dust. They are different synths obviously and it has been argued to death on all forums the V vs D sound etc. Get the mini D as you will always find a Voyager in mint condition. Enjoy!

No matter what you decide, for now grab the original. If you decide on the Voyager down the road, make a few hundred selling the D and put it towards the Voyager.