Wiardgroup

Back in 1996, there were only two companies making modulars. 
Dieter Doepfer and Rex at STS.

Darwin Grosse liked the modules I was was building for myself 
and suggested I make more of them for sale. I said, "It would 
have to be the Weird Synthesizer Company, because I don't want 
to make anything normal" and that's how the joke got started.

Weird.com was taken, and while playing around with anagrams, 
I came up with "Wiard" and that was available. I did not know it 
was a proper family name, and when I post the "Weird" 
pronounciation, I started getting hostile letters from 
grandmothers threatening to have all their grandchildren mail 
bomb me.

So I corrected the pronunciation to "Wired" per their request.

While researching the meaning of the word "weird" I discovered 
it did not mean what I thought. It actually means "Fatelike or of 
the Fates" because the three Greek Fates are called the "Weird 
Sisters" as they appear in MacBeth.

This seemed appropriate. There is so much complexity in 
modular synthesizers that you may be the first on to hear a 
certain sound. You were "fated" to find that patch, and that fits 
into the overall aesthetic.

The 300 series was destined to be a commercial failure. The 
modules were handicapped from the start by blue anodizing, a 
two color faceplate, unpopular graphics. A Utopian object in a 
world desperate to be practical and professional.

It is only through supernatural intervention that the 300 series 
has made it this far. The project was in continual danger of 
collapse, but somehow at each moment, a sale would appear to 
magically save the day.

I have simply served as the humble caretaker of this adventure. 
Providing services as the Fates decided. But I am reaching the 
limit of my physical abilities. So it is time to start considering 
finishing up systems and completing racks. I am sure the Fates 
will excuse their humble servant.

Let me know about blank spaces that need to be filled. I will plan 
a last run of 300 series modules to satisfy those building 
systems. Those who have already been quoted, or have paid for 
300 series modules will be receiving them as they are finished. 
Sebastian, don't worry, you will get your modules.

I want to phase out the 300 series modules gracefully. The 1200 
series is now the focus of my interest and I feel like continued 
300 series production is blocking my progress.

If you are still accepting orders for 300 modules, I'll place
a number of items up for sale immediately to fund a system.

Regards,

-Mike

--- In wiardgroup@y..., "grantrichter2001" <grichter@a...> wrote:
> Back in 1996, there were only two companies making 
modulars. 
> Dieter Doepfer and Rex at STS.
> 
> Darwin Grosse liked the modules I was was building for 
myself 
> and suggested I make more of them for sale. I said, "It would 
> have to be the Weird Synthesizer Company, because I don't 
want 
> to make anything normal" and that's how the joke got started.
> 
> Weird.com was taken, and while playing around with 
anagrams, 
> I came up with "Wiard" and that was available. I did not know it 
> was a proper family name, and when I post the "Weird" 
> pronounciation, I started getting hostile letters from 
> grandmothers threatening to have all their grandchildren mail 
> bomb me.
> 
> So I corrected the pronunciation to "Wired" per their request.
> 
> While researching the meaning of the word "weird" I 
discovered 
> it did not mean what I thought. It actually means "Fatelike or of 
> the Fates" because the three Greek Fates are called the "Weird 
> Sisters" as they appear in MacBeth.
> 
> This seemed appropriate. There is so much complexity in 
> modular synthesizers that you may be the first on to hear a 
> certain sound. You were "fated" to find that patch, and that fits 
> into the overall aesthetic.
> 
> The 300 series was destined to be a commercial failure. The 
> modules were handicapped from the start by blue anodizing, a 
> two color faceplate, unpopular graphics. A Utopian object in a 
> world desperate to be practical and professional.
> 
> It is only through supernatural intervention that the 300 series 
> has made it this far. The project was in continual danger of 
> collapse, but somehow at each moment, a sale would appear 
to 
> magically save the day.
> 
> I have simply served as the humble caretaker of this adventure. 
> Providing services as the Fates decided. But I am reaching the 
> limit of my physical abilities. So it is time to start considering 
> finishing up systems and completing racks. I am sure the 
Fates 
> will excuse their humble servant.
> 
> Let me know about blank spaces that need to be filled. I will 
plan 
> a last run of 300 series modules to satisfy those building 
> systems. Those who have already been quoted, or have paid 
for 
> 300 series modules will be receiving them as they are 
finished. 
> Sebastian, don't worry, you will get your modules.
> 
> I want to phase out the 300 series modules gracefully. The 
1200 
> series is now the focus of my interest and I feel like continued 
> 300 series production is blocking my progress.

While I'm saddened to hear that the 300 series modules are being 
phased out, I'm happy to hear that does not mean the end of Wiard or 
of your work on designing new and interesting modules and sound 
makers.  I also hope that this will allow you more time to make 
music and other creative ventures.

I for one can't wait to see what comes next for Grant and Wiard.  
I've been lusting after the 300 series for quite some time, but the 
1200 series seems really promising, based on the Noise Ring (very 
cool demos, by the way), and is more my range (cheap quasi-
student).  In any event, that the 300 series was made at all is 
something that I consider a great thing for the world.  Stradivari 
made a limited number of violins (or del Gesu, to use a slightly 
less well known example of equal quality:), nor did Don Buchla make 
many Thunders (at least from my attempts to find one!), but the 
world is a better place for the ones they did make.  Same for the 
Wiard 300 series IMO.  

Thank you for all the hard work, and is there a waiting list for the 
Noise Ring yet?  :)

J.R. "Bulldogge" Ross
& Snuffy, too:)