Keyboard Assemblies for Sale

[Stopp,Gene]

Hi DIY,

I've been rummaging through my DIY parts shelves lately, trying to
decide what projects I will actually get around to doing... there are
some things that I've had for a long time that I've never done anything
with. It has occured to me that it may be better to let these things go
to somebody who will actually do something with them, rather than just
sit on them for years and years. So, I'll start off with some keyboard
assemblies. I know that these are getting hard to come by and there are
people out there in DIY-land that don't even have ONE complete homebuilt
synthesizer.

I can part with 2 keyboards right now. They are 5-octave, single bus,
J-wire models, the older style Pratt/Read, with metal channels for each
key with the plastic black or white key screwed on with the little black
screw. Each key has its own color-coded return spring at the back. This
kind of keyboard assembly (the mechanical part, not the contact part)
was used on things like ARP's, Moog Modular 950/951 keyboards, and other
pre-velocity machines. These have a rather heavy feel, more piano-like
than the later cheesey lightwieght Panasonic keyboards. Now I'm not
saying they're better, just different.

Both keyboards have diode-matrix J-wire contact circuit boards. However,
one has the diodes in one way, and the other has them in the opposite
way. One is from a Prophet 5, so the diodes are oriented for logic-high
select keygroups, while the other is set up for the more traditional
logic-low select keygroups. People familiar with diode matrix keyboard
circuits will know what I'm talking about. Both are in very good
condition. All keys are straight and clean. All contacts are working.
I'd like to ask $100 each, plus shipping since I don't know in advance
where the ship-to is. I'm not sure how to handle deciding who to sell
them to if I get multiple offers - how about I give a deadline of next
Friday (2/20) 5:00 pm PST for private emails, and pick two out of a hat?
Suggestions welcome.

On the ASM-1 front, I need to say that I'm out! I can fill the orders I
have so far (barring any sitting in my PO box), but after that I will
need to go out and have some more made. Demand appears to be steady, so
I guess I'd better do it next week. Turn-around time for non-premium
circuit boards is about 4 weeks, so please bear with me if you are
planning to order soon.

On other topics, I just completed building a Big Briar Theremin (kit, of
course) last night. Took me about 4 hours, including drying time for the
finish. It is a very nice design, very controllable. Of course what
would you expect from Dr. Moog, who has been building Theremins since he
was 14? I was prompted to do this because of a little party I went to at
the NAMM show a couple weeks ago - it was a private party with
entertainment provided by some cool bands, including our old buddy Keith
Emerson who was playing with Marc Bonilla (guitar) and some other guys.
Well as you may know I usually get put in charge of the big Moog
whenever there's a show in town, so I got to set that thing up again -
it's still doing nicely, but the programmer modules in the top cabinet
are disconnected since they seem to be dragging down the power supplies
(hey isn't that a recent thread?). Anyway the honorable Dr. Moog was
there too, and we set up a Theremin on stage next to Keith's grand piano
(a fake case with General Music controllers in it, BTW). Sure enough,
during the song "Tarkus", good old Bob ran up on stage and did a
Theremin solo with Keith on ribbon controller! Quite a scene. I'm glad I
was able to be there for that.

I have realized that the Etherwave would drive my PLL pitch extractor
quite nicely. Of course this means that I need to put it into some kind
of enclosure - but as soon as I do this, I should have the capability to
drive my modulars from the Theremin. Watch this spot for updates......

 - Gene