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The Bob Moog Foundation is excited to announce its annual summer synth raffle, this year for a fully restored vintage Minimoog Model D signed by the legendary Billy Joel
All ticket sales support the nonprofit’s work inspiring future generations of innovators through the intersection of science, music, and technology. The estimated value of this instrument, even without the signature of a celebrated musician, is in excess of $10,000.
The raffle for this vintage beauty signed by one of the most beloved and best-selling American musicians of all time begins on August 1, 2022 at 7 a.m. ET, and ends on August 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET, or when all 5,000 tickets sell out – whichever comes first. Tickets are $25 each, or five for $100, 12 for $200, and 35 for $500, and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/MinimoogBillyJoel.
Funds raised from the annual raffle are used to grow the Foundation’s hallmark educational project, Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, which has inspired nearly 25,000 elementary school students nationwide through the science of sound, using a curriculum based on Bob’s lifework.
The raffles also support the Moogseum, the Bob Moog Foundation’s immersive, experiential museum in Asheville, NC, which brings Bob Moog’s pioneering legacy – and the science of sound and synthesis – alive for visitors of all ages. The Moogseum opened in late May of 2019, and has welcomed over 19,000 visitors from all over the world.
This particular Minimoog isn’t just signed by an icon: It belonged to Joel’s musical director, a musician of note in his own right – keyboardist, synth programmer, and orchestrator David Rosenthal, formerly of Rainbow, who has toured with Cyndi Lauper, Robert Palmer, and Enrique Iglesias, and programmed synths for Bruce Springsteen. Rosenthal used the Minimoog as part of his early ‘80s Rainbow touring rig, and the raffle also includes the original road case from his rock ‘n’ roll Rainbow years as a twentysomething playing Madison Square Garden.
The left-hand control panel on this Minimoog was modified to use a ribbon controller and modulation wheel, identical to that of a Micromoog. Its original left-hand controller, with the standard pitch and modulation wheels, was preserved, and will be sent to the winner.
Due to the desirability of this classic synth, its signature from Billy Joel, and its rock ‘n’ roll provenance with David Rosenthal and Rainbow, it will only increase in value. This Minimoog was fully restored by Synthpro Restorations, LLC, and is in excellent technical and physical condition, with minor physical flaws commensurate with the age of the instrument.
”The Bob Moog Foundation is proud to share this unique vintage Minimoog, signed by Billy Joel, a truly legendary musical figure who integrated the Minimoog into his music and performance decades ago,” said Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation. “In addition to Joel’s signature, the unique provenance of this Minimoog makes it a one-of-a-kind synthesizer – a collector’s item. We extend our deepest thanks to Billy Joel and David Rosenthal for their participation.”
The Minimoog Model D is widely regarded as the most iconic analog synthesizer of all time, and has been recognized as such by the likes of MusicRadar and SonicState.com. Its internal wiring configuration and front panel layout have defined general synthesizer configuration for decades. It is renowned for its robust bass and lead sounds, rooted in its three voltage-controlled oscillators (one of which can be used as a low-frequency oscillator) and its legendary filters. The Minimoog uses a 4-pole (24 dB/octave) low-pass filter with cutoff, resonance, ADS envelope, and keyboard tracking controls. To this day, Moog’s filter design is widely regarded as the standard to which all others are compared.
To learn more about the Bob Moog Foundation’s 2022 Minimoog raffle, click here: https://bit.ly/MinimoogBillyJoel
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