Looking for a Taurus II set of Moog bass pedals

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:48 pm

Well...

I have been putting alot of research lately into what would be good to have for our Rush material, for we're thinking of doing a whole set of it...we are loosely thought of as a tribute band to Rush, 'cause we're 3 people and have the equipment similar to what they have, it easy to get the sound..

I have been thinking of doing some decent upgrades to my synth-side; I have a Korg DW-8000 that had some great sounds, like the sound that leads off 'Tom Sawyer' and is throughout the song...it is RIGHT on that. Unfortunately it needs a new internal battery for the memory and a reprogramming. It is a good older programmable digital synth that can be had for cheap that has good voicing.

I am looking into getting an Oberheim OBX-a, just to be authentic but I don't know if I need to. Gotta find a later one with MIDI...

Another one that I want to buy is a Korg MS2000, which in this day and age is the poor man's Mini-Moog. They sound awesome and it's polyphonic too, with all the old school waveforms. I'll get one soon.

The Roland JV-1010 is just a brain-box with hundreds of preset sounds that I activate with the PK-5 pedals. I don't use these to their full potential, I have the JV-1010 in my rack behind me so I just turn around to dial up what ever I want, it's that close. he PK-5 can be programmed a number of ways, but I just use it maninly for simple Rush sounds, like strings--but it can be used to trigger samples and other things if you want to get that complicated. And with everything MIDI'd up, you can use the PK-5 with other units too.

REMEMBER that in those days, for those songs, Geddy's synths were heavily modified to give him those capabilites, which is MIDI today. I'd go with whatever you can afford and as modern as you can, it will be easier.on you.

learning_curve · Post by **learning_curve** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:18 pm

Well now that was an educational thread for me!.... I hope some others benefitted from this one as well. Very good gentlemen. Dave I am very pleased with your honesty. I was worried, frankly, about just how versitile those old Moog pedals were. I'll bet they have tons of sounds in them but, like you, I am not sure I want to take the time to learn how to set these quickly for different uses. I,d have to have one of my electronic wizard friends set these up for me and before I was done I would have a lot of money tied up in a great old system that I have torn apart and destroyed it's value.... these are great for someone who knows how to use them or has only a limited need for them. Can't beat them for what they are but I guess you have to put a lot more time than I have into them to become good with them. Thanks Dave.. Always good to hear from you.
I think I will be depending on these foot pedals way to much and will need to go the more modern route and come up with something a little more user friendly.
Thanks so much to both of you for taking the time for me and explaining your equipment. I have gone in a new direction from my first thoughts about how to tackle the Rush factor!

John I will email you about those old keys you have. perhaps if I can find all the things I will need to make these perform what I need this will be the way to go. By the way John....Dave has one fantastic collection of Ric's but Holy God you have some real early Ricky's. I was going to find one I liked the best and tell you what one I had a fancy for but Dam...When I was done scrolling down I found it almost impossible to like one more than another. I guess because I am looking for a nice 12 string that I like your 68 370/12 MG the most of all..... but that 1999 325/12 V63 is stunning too. See.... I can't even pick out a 12 string! It's hopeless. Nice guitars guy's
I'd love to see about a dozen or so of you big time rick collectors get together and set your collections out in some historic location for a photo shoot! That would be something! I'll bet you could even sell tickets. Hell I'd buy one!

We all, are always learning....so how come I am the only guy who's out here on the curve???

Randy

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:04 am

Randy wrote:

"..I'd love to see about a dozen or so of you big time rick collectors get together and set your collections out in some historic location for a photo shoot! That would be something! I'll bet you could even sell tickets. Hell I'd buy one!.."

We did just that back on the 5th of November in Winchester, Va. Do a search on the Mid-Atlantic Rick Fest and you find all kinds of pics and posts. There have been quite a few get-togethers of Forumites showing off their gear in many locations. Don't worry, it'll happen again..

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:06 am

We're all somewhere on the curve, but due to the nature of the curve itself, you just can't see us!

Someone once said something to the effect of "the day you stop learning is the day you die".

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:41 am

Randy FYI

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-70s-MOOG-TAURUS-MKII-SYNTH-PEDALS_W0QQitemZ7382090077QQcategoryZ29552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/MOOG-TAURUS-MKII-SYNTH-PEDALS_W0QQitemZ7382858397QQcategoryZ38071QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

learning_curve · Post by **learning_curve** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:01 am

Yep Found the set for starting bid of $600 today. Been looking at the Fatar pedals as well by studio logic and 17 note capacity instead of the 13 and these can control anything including lights! Thanks Dave & John I also found a old Roland synth that has taurus control capabilities? I am finding a whole bunch of choices. Going to be fun nomatter what I go with. I can't wait to add this to my list of tricks. Randy

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:33 am

I have a set of Fatar pedals I might be willing to part with. They're pretty heavy, but never used.

learning_curve · Post by **learning_curve** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 2:43 am

Chris I have emailed but no response? Is your email current. I will try again or just email me. I am interested. You wouldn't happen to have a nice old Korg kicking around as well?

Randy

learning_curve · Post by **learning_curve** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:10 pm

Very Odd? Your email is not working or I will assume you have changed your mind. No response again to emails or this last posting? Not sure I quite understand what happened? Hope All is well.
Randy

learning_curve · Post by **learning_curve** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:33 pm

If anyone knows Chris or how to get in touch with him let me know please? I have some of the mail I sent returned as undeliverable today? I would like to find out about the pedals he has but apparently Chris does not check in to this section nor this thread very often? Thanks My Email is good.

Randy

relayer · Post by **relayer** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:54 am

Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to really crank them up (not gigging, and the houses are too close together here ;-p), but I have both the Taurus II's and the original I's, as well as those custom pedals that are regularly sold on eBay. I bought the customs because I was impatient to get *something*, and there weren't any Taurus' during that time period (i.e. it was basically an impulse purchase). They are very well built, but essentially are low end '80's synth pieces operated by foot (there are 2 choices, IIRC - one module being a little more expensive than the other). The Taurus II's are nice, and do give more sound options than the I, but frankly some of those sounds aren't really all that usable, particularly for what you want. Even more importantly, they're not quite there as far as the "quintessential" Taurus sound (think Genesis, Yes, etc.). As I mentioned earlier, I haven't had the opportunity to really put them through their paces, so I can't really comment on the tuning drift issues. Obviously the big problem with Taurus I's is their rarity, and thus higher price tag.

BTW - Randy, how's that potatohead 8 coming along? I was almost ready to start a thread trying to get an update.

learning_curve · Post by **learning_curve** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:29 am

Chris Thanks for the Taurus rundown...I have been looking and asking as much as I can around other sites and to those selling custom built units on the bay. So far it looks like I will be going with a similiar set up mentioned already in this thread. I think I have given up on the Taurus set up. They are the coolest thing though! I will be buying everything seperately and by using midi controls for switching through the various sounds I will program and a set of bass control pedals hooked into a real nice Korg "Trinity" I am trying get locally for a good price. This should set me up quite well. I can even switch off the pedals and use the unit as a back up keyboard if needed. I know this will not be cheap but with this kind of capability I can make most any sound I want. Hell I can even Jam with myself using some of the funky Hammond sounds???? So I will be all set with the Rush sounds soon.

I have waffeled so many times on the Potato head I ended up custom ordering an 8 string bass from Hamer. They built be a fantastic copy of the Billy Blades bass with the tiger maple top and back and sound chambers. Active pickups and 32" scale. Custom inlays and just a fantastic bass to play.
I converted the Rick into a 5 string Jazz. But I use it so rarely and because it is a modification they do not sell as well. I am currently taking it back to a 4. I bought the CV and the tints to get the colors right and my first attempt was luckily "perfect". So I will bring it back to it's original status and it will look even better than it should when I am done. I am thinking of letting it go along with a great original 4001 fretless (in the tuxedo) sometime soon. I am doing well with my 5 string jetglo and the Hamer 8 and a new Fender aerodyne 4...These give me all the bass notes I need.

Sure wish I could contact Chris-Antosy?? I find it funny when someone makes an offer on a site like this then you never hear from them?? There must be something wrong with the emails??

Anyway Thanks
Randy

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:21 am

Sorry, I've been away from this site for a while. That's an old PM. Use this:

[email protected]

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:24 am

Randy, that Hamer model is a Jack Blades, not a Billy Blades, is it not?

learning_curve · Post by **learning_curve** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:10 pm

Yep Jack Blades sorry?? Where did I come up with Billy? Must be loosing it........ Here's a web site that shows it real good.
http://www.8stringbass.com/MainFrames.html

THese are expensive but It sounds fantastic and it plays like a standard 4. Thanks Chris. I'll be emailing ya.
Randy