How my Voyager went from Black to White

[datune]

My Voyager experience:

Back in may 2010, after working a crazy amount of hours, I decided to splash and get a Moog Voyager Electric Blue.

Sadly, some parts of it never worked, right out of the box. The touchpad, for example, never worked, not once. I called Moogmusic, and while they were very helpful and apologetic, nothing could be done.

The LFO Sync was broken too, the knob could be turned around 360°, which is not how it's supposed to work.

And than, to top it all of, only about 20 days after the purchase, I come into my studio, and see that, somehow, I really don't know how, a chip of wood was missing above the G1 key. I was heartbroken and very annoyed.

Fast forward a couple of months, at 25.11.2010 I decided, it's time to get this lovely synth fixed (what with warranty time ticking away). So I packed up the Voyager, dragged it into my car, and brought it back to the musicstore, providing details about what's not working, and also inquiring about the damaged wood and whether it is possible to fix this.

3 days after I brought it to the music store, I was browsing some local website, and talked to a guy who sold a Moog parametric (which I never bought). Wondering whether or not this device is really worth the 450 € he asked for it, I decided I would take a chance and ring Rudi Linhard (Lintronics Homepage for Memorymoog and Minimoog users!). I figured, if anybody might know a thing or two about Moog devices...

He was unbelievably patient, and very straight forward and helpful. Oh, and he also mentioned that MY Voyager would end up on his desk. He told me about the slew rate modification, and of course, I promptly ordered it (cost: € 150).

Next I get a call from Mr. Hund, the distributor for Moog in germany (e:m:c - electronic-music-components), and he talks to me almost an hour, making me feel very important and taking me through every detail about my Voyager, and asking me how that wood chip came to be.

Of course, I played it straight forward, and told him:"No, I did not take the Voyager out of the box with the wood being damaged, it happened later, though I do not know how". Being honest REALLY payed off, as you will find out later on in the story.

Next he tells me that I still have the cheap chinese junk keyboard in my Voyager, and that he would see to it that it got exchanged with a Fatar keybed, unless I declined. He also told me that he would inquire with Moog in the states about the cost of a new wood case, since sadly, the chip on mine could not be repaired, nor easily exchanged, only a complete exchange of the wood case would fix it.

In the meantime, since I was so curious, I decided to go ahead and ring Moog myself and ask about the cost of a new wood case for a Voyager. They said, roughly around $ 180 for just the electric blue case.
I also mentioned that I still had the crappy chinese keyboard in my Voyager, which I have to say, was not received very well by the person on the phone, whom I will not name! Apparently, Moog does not like to admit they too can make bad choices, let's leave it at that ;-)

At that moment, it occurred to me "I could get any case I want, now is the time" (since, originally, I wanted a whitewash voyager, see this post: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/5438286-post24.html).

"Yes, I could get a whitewash cabinet, though it would cost a bit more". I asked if I could also order all white switches, which was also possible.
So I got back on the phone with Mr. Hund, and much of the original excitement quickly faded, since he told me, it would take around 3 work hours (I think he said at 55 € / hour) to exchange the case, and of course I would have to add the 19% VAT and his 35% markup to the wood case and switches.

Now comes the most amazing part of this story, ready?

After two minutes, Mr. Hund said, he would exchange the wood case for FREE, and he would also forget about the 35% markup! He said, if I would have told him that the Voyager was delivered with the wood damaged, it would have been a whole different story. He said :" I know you would have been lying by then, because I have been to the Moog guys, and I know for a fact, that it is simply impossible for a Moog product to leave the factory with wood damage, and this could not have happened during shipping. So we would have had a serious argument."

In the end, I paid € 315.65 for the wood case and the rocker switches, thanks to stupid european import cartells. I HATE having to pay VAT on a product which wasn't even bought in Europe, but that's a different story alltogether ;-)...oh well...

What I really want to convey in this report, is that, yes, the Voyager is an expensive product, but boy, the service you get from everyone involved (incl. moog music, the distributor, the technicians, the music shop) around the moog is second to none. Even the local music store was super helpful and REALLY amazed that "A Voyager had to be sent in for repairs, wow!"

Of course, I would have preferred not needing any service at all, but I can tell you, I feel very confident for the future of my Voyager, what with such an amazing service available

So now, I am sitting at home, anxiously waiting for DPD (confirmed to be delivered today) to deliver my whitewash cabinet with ALL white switches and blue LED's Voyager, with hopefully everything working!

Obviously, I will post pictures once I get it unpacked and installed ;-)

UPDATE: It has arrived! For now I only have this iphone picture, I will post better ones later.

[hogberto]

nice story.

it's good to hear favourable reports of service.

make sure you post those pics.

[analogaddict]

Sweet! I've been in contact with Rudi too, I purchased a Lintronics midi kit for my old Mini D from him last year. He was very helpful and a great guy to do business with! :-)

[datune]

It has arrived ;-)

[hogberto]

the pics haven't. tutt

[hmmm]

its later already... hurry up. :P

[Batchainpuller78]

So aha, you no longer have the 'crappy keyboard'???
as that was my biggest disappointment when I got to play with the Voyager (early model) it's keyboard is wack compared to my Minimoog Model D
I did not know they changed this, is it better now?

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by datune

the Voyager is an expensive product, but boy, the service you get from everyone involved (incl. moog music, the distributor, the technicians, the music shop) around the moog is second to none.

I'm a service tech for one of the Moog's official distributors for Europe.

As you can see, they take just the best from the best.

[datune]

Originally Posted by hogberto

the pics haven't. tutt

You can't see the pics I added to my OP? That is weird, perhaps vBulletin has a cache enabled, you should be able to see them at some point though. Let me know if not!

I'll add more and better pictures by tomorrow, I'll have a friend come over and we will try to make some decent pictures. (shouldn't this sentence read: make some decent music? Oh well...)

[datune]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

I'm a service tech for one of the Moog's official distributors for Europe.

As you can see, they take just the best from the best.

Oh! Good to know, I didn't know that!

[kilon]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

I'm a service tech for one of the Moog's official distributors for Europe.

As you can see, they take just the best from the best.

Earth Control to Don

Deploy the parchutes !!!!

Seriously though, I think that is amazing to have people who geniunly care about their products and their customers. I see that over Camel Audio Forum, some users have been so rude that Admire those developers patience at replying politely. I wish I had that talent.

[Demokid]

When did Moog start to install the "'crappy keyboard" in the Voyagers? What is the difference between the keyboards?
I have an Anniversary Edition and I don't think the keyboard is crappy.

Regards
Demokid

[hogberto]

Originally Posted by datune

You can't see the pics I added to my OP? That is weird, perhaps vBulletin has a cache enabled, you should be able to see them at some point though. Let me know if not!

I'll add more and better pictures by tomorrow, I'll have a friend come over and we will try to make some decent pictures. (shouldn't this sentence read: make some decent music? Oh well...)

oops. didn't look at the top of the page.

very smart.

[living sounds]

How does it sound with mod?

[OurDarkness]

If you think Moog's service is awesome, wait until you experience Manley's service. The guys actually built me a NEW Massive Passive.
stike

[BM0]

Nice choice . I have a white wash Voyager, but with red/blue switches. Those white switches look very nice.

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by datune

He told me about the slew rate mod, and of course, I promptly ordered it (cost: € 150).

Cound not find anything on the web. What does it do?

[shaft9000]

that's gorgeous!

i've got a voyager OS -whitewashed- but those white switches are sexxxy thumbsup

[Brian!]

Great story and man that looks great!

[datune]

Thanks to everybody for sharing the joy, much appreciated!

I added some additional pictures to my original post.

Originally Posted by Demokid

When did Moog start to install the "'crappy keyboard" in the Voyagers? What is the difference between the keyboards?
I have an Anniversary Edition and I don't think the keyboard is crappy.

Regards
Demokid

Just google for it, or check the moog forums. You could also check with your local music store or call the distributor for your country, he will know.

Originally Posted by living sounds

How does it sound with mod?

I did not have time to really listen to it, I had a visitors. Hopefully I have more time on sunday...

For those of you who want to know more about this mod, search the moog forums or get in touch with Rudi Linhard...

[datune]

Originally Posted by living sounds

How does it sound with mod?

I still haven't been able to play around enough, but here's a post for you all:

Moog Music Forum • View topic - Interesting model D / Voyager comparision

[Estin]

so did this whole process cost about $4K with the initial voyager price + the repair and mods? It is super sexy looking though and i have always loved chicken head knobs.

[Leitmotiv]

Well, your Moog is... beautiful.

[boon]

i think the whitewashed moog voyager is beautiful. one of the sexiest looking synths ever. i lust for one.

[datune]

Originally Posted by Estin

so did this whole process cost about $4K with the initial voyager price + the repair and mods? It is super sexy looking though and i have always loved chicken head knobs.

Yup! Keep in mind though, I now have a complete Voyager Electric Blue wood casing PLUS all the switches extra. Also, I can now go ahead and easily repair the original wood chip, of course, I would have to remove the original paint, but this puts a lot of other new options into place (basically, I could have the case painted in whatever color I desire...).

Still, I agree, it's a lot of money I spent on top of the original price, but for me, worth it.

@ Leitmotiv and boon

Thanks

[Tibbon]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but this is pretty cool.

I am curious (and going to Google) about the lower quality key beds in some Voyagers. My signature edition definitely has a super nice Fatar key bed in it, but I've played on a few other Voyagers that definitely didn't feel as good.

While perhaps I'm partial, I think I have one of best sounding Voyagers I've ever played. Something is definitely *right* about mine in a way I can't quite explain vs a few of the electric blues I've played.

[fooloof]

Originally Posted by analogaddict

Sweet! I've been in contact with Rudi too, I purchased a Lintronics midi kit for my old Mini D from him last year. He was very helpful and a great guy to do business with! :-)

Mine took a month to make it to the States :(

And "helpful" wouldn't be the first word that comes to mind when describing him.

[Acid Mitch]

Originally Posted by seen-da-sizer

Cound not find anything on the web. What does it do?

It's been dicussed at the Moog Voyager forum

[datune]

Originally Posted by fooloof

Mine took a month to make it to the States :(

And "helpful" wouldn't be the first word that comes to mind when describing him.

What? Really? He has been extremely helpfull every single time I have been in contact with him. In fact, I was in touch with him just last week, and he sent me a new beta OS for my VOyager, including Videos to show how the OSC's should look like, cause I was worried about mine.

All of this, completely free of charge!

[Fordy]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

I'm a service tech for one of the Moog's official distributors for Europe.

Not the one in London by any chance? It's just mine's there now so you could be working on it