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This is my Polymoog
Keyboard...
The photo wasn't
scanned from some 70's promotional brochure, it was taken today,
(7th July 05) in preparation for this article!
"Born"
on 15th August 1978 in Cheektowaga, Buffalo NY. This is number
1017, the 17th Polymoog Keyboard ever made, (all serial numbers
started at 1000)...
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which means you are
looking at a 27 year old synthesizer, (I can scarcely believe
it myself). I'm extremely fortunate, not just because the Polymoog
is a rarity but in this sort of condition, is exceptional. I
was lucky enough to obtain one in very good condition and then
have it completely rebuilt by a fellow Polymoog obsessive and
technical wizard, Colin Vincent. This Polymoog used to belong
to Marvey Mills who runs the brilliant Electromancer website,
(see links) and was sold in good
condition but was begining to show signs of age. Colin took
her on as a restoration project for me and went way beyond the
call of duty and fulfilled my dream of owning a concourse condition
280a.
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Click
the preview icon to hear my Polymoog Keyboard playing the "Replicas
Intro" if this clip doesn't blow you away, I would be surprised! |
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So why this obsession
with the Polymoog Keyboard?
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Simple really...
it's because of one particular sound it makes called "Vox
Humana".
Anyone who, like
me, first started getting into synthesizers in the late 70's
will remember Gary Numan's
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I will never forget going to see Numan live and hearing the track
"Replicas" played as an intro completely solo on a Polymoog.
The ground quite literally would shake and the sound is like nothing
you will hear on any other synth. It is a Numan "trademark"
sound but as he doesn't |
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big 1979 hit "Cars" and his album "The Pleasure
Principle". The big fat string sound on "Cars"
and the rest of that album IS Vox Humana. It's a really unique
sound that many of us will have tried to re-create on various
synths over the years. Sometimes, I've got close but I have never
heard a truly authentic imitation of that sound in 26 years, (either
my own or anyone else's including Gary Numan himself). |
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seem
to have any interest in it these days, I think it's time for a
revival!!! I've only had the Polymoog a matter of days and have
already started using it in a contemporary electronic situation
and believe me, it holds its own incredibly well even against
the most sophisticated modern synthesizers and huge distorted
beats. There is no doubt that its unique sound is due to the very
strange sound generating architecture employed in the Polymoog
(see Polymoog History)
and would explain why no amount of "wobbly saw waves"
will come close - despite my best efforts, I realised it was inevitable
that I would have to own the real thing! |
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What now follows
is a indepth photo gallery detailing all the repairs and modifications
that were made to my "PMK" to bring it up to such
a high standard and some eye candy pics of the completed project.
The "techy" pictures were provided by Colin and sent
to me via email as a series of "teasers" while the
project was in progress and contain useful information for anyone
considering taking on a restotation of this magnitude. Click
the NEXT button at the top of the page to proceed.
Finally, I want to
thank Jordan Gibson, Marvey Mills, Steve Roper and Andy Boucher
for their support and understanding (we are all mutually obsessed)
and especial indebted thanks to you Colin, a nicer guy you're
unlikely to find. Mate, I owe you big time!
Gwyneth Paltrow
has now left the building...
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