MOTM

HI 

> a) Except for "rarity", I don't "see" the $$$ placed on the Buchla. 

rarity is a big factor but also I notice that Pauls idea of what 
makes a modular great differs from what I think most buchlors 
look for in an instrument.. this is not a slam just a difference of 
opinion.

Buchlas instruments have always been pricey.. even when they 
were new they were among the most expensive modulars.

> However, the slide pots are
> useless, I counted 23 bad toggle switches and every jack 
needs replacing.

this has more to do with lack of servicing I am sure then actual 
poor build quality or design... most 200 series modulars were 
sold to schools and often didn't get the type of TLC any modular 
synthesizer needs... plus it is now 30 years old!

> I can't hear it in
> action, as all 7 (!) Power One supplies need replacing. Yep, it 
has *7* power supplies!

yup Dons supplies have to be the weak point.. I am sure he 
would be the first to admit this... he was into designing 
controllers and musical instruments not power supplies after all 
:)


> :) I just "borrowed" it for a week. It's going off for a $5000+ 
refurbish job (4 months at
> 20hr/week).

yikes.... I think that figure is err slighlty inflated.. I have been 
involved with number of Buchla system restorations over the last 
few years and have yet to see a bill that high... I guess if you were 
to change every jack, slider, pot, all the caps, and ICs it could get 
to cost that much.... or maybe we are charging too little! :)

just a note I read an earlier post from someone mentioning that 
he doesn't like all the colours that Don used.. the colour scheme 
and different knob sizes and module layouts were to help the 
user find the module they were looking for quikly as well as find 
the in/output jack with a glance rather then have to search 
around for it. 

 you have to remember that Don is an academic and his 
systems were designed for and marketed to Universities... the 
1/8th in jacks were there to make the understanding of signal 
flow easier for students to grasp... this may seem trival now but 
rememebr this was 40 years ago when there were few 
syntheszers on the planet and even few people who knew how to 
use them.

 I think MOTM stuff has wonderful build and sound quality but I 
personally think that all the modules are too similar looking and I 
think this can be a little confusing... I like the unique look of Dons 
Instruments.. sure the sound quality may not be up to some 
people standards but I think most people who use Buchlas are 
more interested in exploring Dons unique and interesting control 
modules which have not been available on any instrument until 
recently ( most of the new modular manufacturers seemed to 
have clued into the appeal of the Buchla modulars lately) 

take care
-r