I am a guitar player, but have come to the realization that, no matter what the song the following adage always applies:
More Moog = More good

So now I want a Moog or something resembling said instrument in sound and feel. Sadly, the only things that I seem to find are $500 or more. Even the used ones on eBay. And the ones on the low end appear to be real pieces of junk.

Sticker shock.

Is there anything out there that a poor noodler like myself can pick up for less than $300 or so? Of decent quality?

Probably not, but I figured that I'd ask.

Hi Todd A second hand Korg synth seems the best bet. There are various on Ebay for under $100. There are second hand Moogs on Ebay from time to time but they tend to be expensive. The old Moogs can be a bit temperamental btw.

Heya Todd,
If you record on a computer you can always use a VST synth they work & sound great, here's a good free VST MiniMoog

http://www.home.no/gunnare/downloads.htm

Now, if you want to play live with that it becomes more complicated, however there is the VST Machine. It's about $600.00 but it makes playing all those great VST plug-in's live a breeze.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/SM-Pro-Audio-Vmachine-Stand-Alone-VST-Player?sku=241884

Cheers,
Rick

You are most likely aware of the Casio, Yamaha line.
I like recording on minimal means with sparse overdubs.

But I like Casio CTK-411, the more recent CTK-720, and Yamaha Portasound PSS-470 for some quirky eighties type sounds.

I have more synths, but having a bunch of synths can not camoflouge whatever poor songwriting I have though. Or what I am out to do with my artistic goals

But the 411 and Portasound are the synths that I have used online.

The Casio CTK-720 comes with software.
Although all synths most likely do now.

That is how old most of mine are.

Those Casios are not Analog. Some purists won't even call them synths.

Cheapest analogs I've seen are the Roland Junos (around $100); Korg DW8000 ($100) and the Kawai SX.

You can go the Virtual Analog route and get an Alesis Micron ($400new, $300 second hand) or a Korg Microkorg (same price as Micron)

I notice the MOOGS mentioned in the post.
That came a bit before my time.
Those would probably be considered antiques (collectors).
Wonder if they would cost more even?

I was speaking of the keyboards before the internet revolution came along.
Those would still be digital though, though cheap.
Some of mine don't even have MIDI.

I saw one of these old, fancy keyboards once that had the tape player in them and also a DAT player and recorder.
Wanted to purchase it, but someone snapped it up.

Now I want something MOOG based.

Am I to understand that MOOGS are still made?

The thing I like about Casio is the realness in the sound and there seems to be more power behind the sound then the other synths I have tried.

I play guitar also.

I like having a compression in a sound but not overdoing it and having control over it, and I don't care for using software for compression or effects.

Moogs are still being made but by different companies than the original. Old Moogs are collectors items and usually this is reflected in the price. Some of them are very unpredictable and temperamental. There are modern Moog VST plugins available and most folk will use these as a first choice as originals can sell for thousands of bucks.

Thanks for that info Jim.
It is hard telling what a reputable company is with the scams online.

Perhaps the dealers of the MOOGS sell used ones too?

I am going to check the companies out from this post and see about the companies that made the MOOGS in the seventies.
If they still exist.

I have become increasingly afraid of frauds.

looks like some good used ones here

http://usedsynths.com/

I don't like the sound of the moog's at all, so I fail to see what your need is?

As a guitar player who likes to fiddle, you should get a midi interface and get a sampler like Kontakt from NI or some of the others. Gives you a lot more space to run on IMO..

yup to each his own. If you think about it, a minimoog is monophonic, has non velocity sensitive keys and has a lot of quirks. And so does a trumpet! But somehow, many players and listeners have loved the wheezy, fat organic sound of the minimoog!

I just scored a Korg 707 for $120- not analog but 1987 FM - sounds ok but really a just good strap-on controller (keytar baby!). And there's another one for sale locally - a Korg Poly 800 for $140 that I'm seriously thinking about buying.

new oberheim synth
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-sem-from-tom-oberheim.html

Dave Smith Instruments makes a dope analog desktop synth called the Mo Pho.....Its mono with midi input and output and sounds super phat.....and its like 400 bucks..
Plus dude invented midi and is real cool in person....