Buds vintage Mini Moog restoration

09/19/2022

So this is a happy find tonight. I unsoldered the transformer secondaries to check the voltages, hoping like hell that they are there. Well, the pics show what I believe are expected and valid AC voltages for sending to the diode bridge, caps and the +/- 10volt regulators. Sweet relief, its looking like I won't have to replace a Power transformer! Good damn news. And wallah! The Neon power light is still working. That was a added pleasant surprise bonus. Check out the pics.

09/14/2022

Last night I finally found time to disassemble some Minimoog boards. I think one of the first things I will do is to identify the best caps and diodes for replacing them on the rectifier filter board. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to make sure the power transformer is all there. I do know that the primary coil is intact with a very low ohms reading. Hopefully not too low? Heres some pics and please feel free to offer any insights into what you see and recognize. This particual MiniMoog had the 4th oscillitor installed for low frequency modulation, which opens up the third oscillator for tone purposes. And, it also has had the fine tuning oscillator modification. Seems as though you can pull out for the fine adjust. Thanks for coming by!

08/08/2022

08/08/2022

Finally have some time to post a few pics of Bud's Mini Moog. I will get back with a pic of the back panel where there is more information. Concert season is over in another two weeks where there will be plenty of time to open this babee up to get shots and info from each of the internal boards and components. Stay tuned!!!

07/26/2022

Some images and information should be up this coming weekend on Bud's vintage mini moog. It's been extremely hectic with 5-6 outdoor concerts per week with my Beatles tribute band 4EverFab. If you are in the Mass/New Hampshire area consider stopping by for some Beatles done very nicely. 4EverFab.net
See "schedule".

07/18/2022

So my old friend and bandmate "Buddy" just handed over his early 70's vintage Mini Moog. He hadn't taken it out of its case in 30 years and it was recalled that it did not power up or make a sound then. I've been working as a senior R&D/Sustaining engineering technician at Zoll Medical and have build a couple of tube amps plus most of my guitar pedal board. I was feeling up for the job and looking to the day where we would all have the great satisfaction of seeing this old beast back in sonic performance action once again.

I always held that the Mini Moog was one of the greatest pieces of gear to ever hit the music scene and I was lucky enough to be in bands with friends who hopped on the synth wagon right at the beginning. (Hi Chris, Hi Curt) !!!.

And so begins the process. I have already received a generous and uplifting welcome from a few of the forums that carry the legacy and knowledge for making a Mini Moog restoration a feasible task, if not a formidable one depending on the condition of the thing.
Well, at first glance, Bud's vintage Moog showed a generous and continuous line of keys popping up from the key bed like little stone posts, and weren't very eager to depress back down. So, we've got a little work cut out for us here, and some decisions to make.

But, I am definitely excited and looking forward to this venture and will be looking for guidance and tips through this process. Its relieving to know that the vicissitudes of vintage Mini Moogs' have been well documented by people like Kevin Lightner (RIP) who reportedly have left a plethora of knowledge and notes for us new comers to this particular restoration.

Feel free to join in and bring your experience and comments to the page. I welcome you all with open arms, brains, scopes, DMM's and soldering irons, and whatever else it will take to make this a successful and rewarding Mini Moog restoration.

And I imagine Buddy will be pretty happy if I succeed!

Best,
Phil Donovan