The Official Sequential/Oberheim Forum

SEQUENTIAL/DSI => Pro 3 => Topic started by: codecae on February 14, 2021, 10:03:21 AM

Title: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on February 14, 2021, 10:03:21 AM
While I couldn't necessarily spare the funds for the Pro 3 SE, I still wanted to get closer to the visual appeal.  After designing and 3d printing some router templates and mounting brackets, my standard edition has now shed it's plastic side panels and has some new furniture-like red oak instead!

What do you think?  :)
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: chysn on February 14, 2021, 10:23:32 AM
Nice work! I’ve been considering a project like this. For me it’ll be more of a summer thing.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: guyaguy on February 14, 2021, 10:38:02 AM
Looks nice!
Where do I place my order?  :)
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on February 14, 2021, 11:11:18 AM
Nice work! I’ve been considering a project like this. For me it’ll be more of a summer thing.

It was a fun endeavor, but not without its challenges.  Given that the screws were on the bottom and the sides had screw heads protruding from them, finding a method to flush mount to the side wasn't easy.  I think I finally settled on something that works well though.

Would've been simpler if there was a way to mount directly to the side, but the circuitry inside didn't leave much room for screws to protrude too deeply inside of the panel.  Making use of some of the holes punched into the side, I was able to get a nicely mounted bracket that allowed me to hide all of the screws on the inside.   Kind of nice not having any screw heads visible on the outside.

Would like to also find a way to obscure the little notches on the top that held the side panels.  Toyed around with trying to route and chisel out a snug fit so that the side panel would cover them up but it wasn't really worth the extra effort imo.  Getting that tolerance tight enough would've been tough and any gap would've driven me insane.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on February 14, 2021, 11:14:19 AM
Looks nice!
Where do I place my order?  :)

Hah, thanks! 

No joke -- I almost considered setting up something that would let me offer something like this at a fair price.  Maybe also offer a few different colors like red oak, walnut, mahogany, etc.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on February 14, 2021, 11:26:40 AM
While I couldn't necessarily spare the funds for the Pro 3 SE, I still wanted to get closer to the visual appeal.  After designing and 3d printing some router templates and mounting brackets, my standard edition has now shed it's plastic side panels and has some new furniture-like red oak instead!

What do you think?  :)

That looks gorgeous!  Even the Standard Edition was made for wooden ends.

Sequential should make the SE a limited edition, and then add wood cheeks to the Standard Edition.  This really is the way to go, and with a huge savings.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: timboréale on February 14, 2021, 11:40:42 AM
Sequential should make the SE a limited edition, and then add wood cheeks to the Standard Edition.  This really is the way to go, and with a huge savings.

As someone who wants to buy an SE in a couple years depending on finances, I'd rather they continue producing them as usual, personally. ;) But I'd love to see the standard edition get wood ends too, absolutely.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: guyaguy on February 14, 2021, 11:42:07 AM
Looks nice!
Where do I place my order?  :)

Hah, thanks! 

No joke -- I almost considered setting up something that would let me offer something like this at a fair price.  Maybe also offer a few different colors like red oak, walnut, mahogany, etc.
I’d probably be interested if you do it. I like wood caps but didn’t need the tilt of the SE.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: SynthWolf on February 14, 2021, 12:02:03 PM
While I couldn't necessarily spare the funds for the Pro 3 SE, I still wanted to get closer to the visual appeal.  After designing and 3d printing some router templates and mounting brackets, my standard edition has now shed it's plastic side panels and has some new furniture-like red oak instead!

What do you think?  :)

Wow! That’s beautiful work! It made the pro3 look like a whole new synthesizer with a whole new look. Very very nice my friend!
Cheers!
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on February 14, 2021, 12:24:00 PM
Sequential should make the SE a limited edition, and then add wood cheeks to the Standard Edition.  This really is the way to go, and with a huge savings.

As someone who wants to buy an SE in a couple years depending on finances, I'd rather they continue producing them as usual, personally. ;) But I'd love to see the standard edition get wood ends too, absolutely.

That's $500 just for a tilting panel and a wood strip along the front.  I agree that those features are desirable, but at such a price?
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: guyaguy on February 14, 2021, 12:59:33 PM
Sequential should make the SE a limited edition, and then add wood cheeks to the Standard Edition.  This really is the way to go, and with a huge savings.

As someone who wants to buy an SE in a couple years depending on finances, I'd rather they continue producing them as usual, personally. ;) But I'd love to see the standard edition get wood ends too, absolutely.

That's $500 just for a tilting panel and a wood strip along the front.  I agree that those features are desirable, but at such a price?
Apparently to many. Sequential reported the SE and standard were selling equally at launch.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on February 14, 2021, 01:15:09 PM
Sequential should make the SE a limited edition, and then add wood cheeks to the Standard Edition.  This really is the way to go, and with a huge savings.

As someone who wants to buy an SE in a couple years depending on finances, I'd rather they continue producing them as usual, personally. ;) But I'd love to see the standard edition get wood ends too, absolutely.

That's $500 just for a tilting panel and a wood strip along the front.  I agree that those features are desirable, but at such a price?
Apparently to many. Sequential reported the SE and standard were selling equally at launch.

All things considered, the woodwork does require some additional tooling, work and a care during construction (not to mention all of the rest of the additional parts for the case). 

It's a bit of a premium at $500, but as a flagship monosynth it's not entirely unexpected to see this kind of hike in price, all things considered.

For me -- I didn't really need the tilt and already planned to do the wood myself so my choice to get the standard edition was with this in mind.

The SE is still a beautiful beast and likely worth every penny to those who shelled out for it.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on February 14, 2021, 01:57:37 PM
While I couldn't necessarily spare the funds for the Pro 3 SE, I still wanted to get closer to the visual appeal.  After designing and 3d printing some router templates and mounting brackets, my standard edition has now shed it's plastic side panels and has some new furniture-like red oak instead!

What do you think?  :)

Wow! That’s beautiful work! It made the pro3 look like a whole new synthesizer with a whole new look. Very very nice my friend!
Cheers!

Thank you for the kind words! 
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: creativespiral on February 14, 2021, 02:46:17 PM
While I couldn't necessarily spare the funds for the Pro 3 SE, I still wanted to get closer to the visual appeal.  After designing and 3d printing some router templates and mounting brackets, my standard edition has now shed it's plastic side panels and has some new furniture-like red oak instead!

What do you think?  :)

Looks great, codecae!  Nice work!

I've got a bunch of extra Tigerwood deck material sitting in my garage... making me think I may need to take on a weekend project and turn my standard into an LE :)

Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on February 14, 2021, 03:02:02 PM
While I couldn't necessarily spare the funds for the Pro 3 SE, I still wanted to get closer to the visual appeal.  After designing and 3d printing some router templates and mounting brackets, my standard edition has now shed it's plastic side panels and has some new furniture-like red oak instead!

What do you think?  :)

Looks great, codecae!  Nice work!

I've got a bunch of extra Tigerwood deck material sitting in my garage... making me think I may need to take on a weekend project and turn my standard into an LE :)

I bet with all of that grain variation, it would be a head-turner, for sure! 
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: timboréale on February 14, 2021, 03:25:41 PM

That's $500 just for a tilting panel and a wood strip along the front.  I agree that those features are desirable, but at such a price?

To me, yes. I buy instruments, not tools, I don't buy many or often, and I try to only buy ones I love, not just like.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on February 14, 2021, 03:30:34 PM
I buy instruments, not tools, I don't buy many or often, and I try to only buy ones I love, not just like.

I agree with you.  If the Pro 3 only had a longer keyboard, I would consider it worth the price.  But the 3-octave keyboard is what kills it for me.  Even 3 1/2 octaves might suffice; but 3 is far too musically restrictive.  It's too bad Sequential won't be offering a module version.  This instrument played on a Rev 2 or Prophet-6 keyboard would be a delight.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on February 14, 2021, 04:27:35 PM
I buy instruments, not tools, I don't buy many or often, and I try to only buy ones I love, not just like.

I agree with you.  If the Pro 3 only had a longer keyboard, I would consider it worth the price.  But the 3-octave keyboard is what kills it for me.  Even 3 1/2 octaves might suffice; but 3 is far too musically restrictive.  It's too bad Sequential won't be offering a module version.  This instrument played on a Rev 2 or Prophet-6 keyboard would be a delight.

I can see how having the lower end of the keys drop down to maybe an F would offer more for performance-wise.  In my opinion, this doesn't hinder it musically, though.   

The things you can do with it sonically, paraphonically and with modulation put it on a different tier than its competition, musically speaking.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on February 14, 2021, 06:14:01 PM
The simple fact is, if a melody doesn't fit on the keyboard, then it just doesn't fit.  My melodies tend to have a wide span and to be played at two different octaves.  And having to hit an octave switch can be a pain and often impossible.  Ah, so close....
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: timboréale on February 14, 2021, 06:41:12 PM
The simple fact is, if a melody doesn't fit on the keyboard, then it just doesn't fit.  My melodies tend to have a wide span and to be played at two different octaves.  And having to hit an octave switch can be a pain and often impossible.  Ah, so close....

At the risk of veering totally off-topic, I totally agree, that's the biggest gripe I have with the Moog Subsequent 37, and my second-biggest gripe with the Pro 3, the biggest being the lack of dual filters as on the Pro 2 (which I'm seriously considering as my next purchase, but that's not an urgent need at the moment) - which, to get back on topic, DOES have wooden end cheeks. ;)
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on February 14, 2021, 08:20:06 PM
Well, maybe Sequential will soon produce a polyphonic synthesizer based on the Pro 3, with a five-octave keyboard and glorious wooden end cheeks.  Then we'll both be happy!
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: creativespiral on February 14, 2021, 10:45:48 PM
I'm with you guys on the extra octave.   

4 octaves for Mono/Para synths is ideal.
5+ octaves for poly synths with 5+ voices.

I don't really get the point of skimping an octave from the above listed minimums...  If space saving is really a concern, just make a desktop/rack unit for that demographic, and build these premium synths with player's keyboards.

An octave range for bass notes, with melody spaced 1-2 octaves above... that's pretty standard playing scheme.  I've found that with the Pro3, I end up playing a lot more with D or E key signatures, just because the keyboard constraints... that's actually the thing I miss the most from selling my MatrixBrute... the extra octave.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: guyaguy on February 14, 2021, 11:36:06 PM
I'm with you guys on the extra octave.   

4 octaves for Mono/Para synths is ideal.
5+ octaves for poly synths with 5+ voices.

I don't really get the point of skimping an octave from the above listed minimums...  If space saving is really a concern, just make a desktop/rack unit for that demographic, and build these premium synths with player's keyboards.

An octave range for bass notes, with melody spaced 1-2 octaves above... that's pretty standard playing scheme.  I've found that with the Pro3, I end up playing a lot more with D or E key signatures, just because the keyboard constraints... that's actually the thing I miss the most from selling my MatrixBrute... the extra octave.
I’d go for a 4 octave Pro-3. Maybe throw an extra slider on there. Toss in some extra CV outs. Mm hmm!
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: iluvchiclets on February 15, 2021, 05:16:06 AM
These wooden end cheeks look amazing - they make the instrument look like a serious synth! (The all-black regular version looks a bit toy-ish to my eyes)

Let me know if you ever decide to sell pre-cut wood cheeks....
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on February 15, 2021, 12:39:25 PM
I'm with you guys on the extra octave.   

4 octaves for Mono/Para synths is ideal.
5+ octaves for poly synths with 5+ voices.

I don't really get the point of skimping an octave from the above listed minimums...  If space saving is really a concern, just make a desktop/rack unit for that demographic, and build these premium synths with player's keyboards.

An octave range for bass notes, with melody spaced 1-2 octaves above... that's pretty standard playing scheme.  I've found that with the Pro3, I end up playing a lot more with D or E key signatures, just because the keyboard constraints... that's actually the thing I miss the most from selling my MatrixBrute... the extra octave.

The Pro 3's three-octave keyboard is especially surprising, following the Pro 2.  Although four or five are ideal, three-and-a-half would be a tolerable bare minimum.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on March 03, 2021, 06:37:53 AM
These wooden end cheeks look amazing - they make the instrument look like a serious synth! (The all-black regular version looks a bit toy-ish to my eyes)

Let me know if you ever decide to sell pre-cut wood cheeks....

I think I've settled on african mahogany.  What do you think?
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on March 03, 2021, 06:41:09 AM
Oh, that's gorgeous.  It looks like a whole new instrument. 
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: codecae on March 03, 2021, 06:54:55 AM
Personally, I'm never going to take these off and I think it takes the instrument to a new level.  I would like to think some other proud owner would feel the same.

Having designed all of the mounting hardware, used solid/high-quality wood, (happily) hand fabricated and finished (no CNC), it's not certainly without a little bit of work to build them.   But now I've come up with something that I could build fairly efficiently.

While I certainly don't want to upset our Sequential friends, I'm just kind of curious what would kind of value this kind of upgrade would have to someone.  Is this something worth paying for? (hopefully asking this doesn't make me some sort of pariah on the forum).
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: iluvchiclets on March 03, 2021, 07:58:38 AM
These wooden end cheeks look amazing - they make the instrument look like a serious synth! (The all-black regular version looks a bit toy-ish to my eyes)

Let me know if you ever decide to sell pre-cut wood cheeks....

I think I've settled on african mahogany.  What do you think?

I think it looks great!🙂
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: bax on March 05, 2021, 03:45:47 PM
Agree; that looks beautiful.  Might very well be interested myself if you do end up deciding to offer these up for sale...

Thanks!
bax
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Fuenstock on March 19, 2021, 02:44:25 PM
I've got a bunch of extra Tigerwood deck material sitting in my garage... making me think I may need to take on a weekend project and turn my standard into an LE :)

Please do!
and then make a video documenting the process, Hahahaa.
Title: Re: New cheeks!
Post by: Sacred Synthesis on October 26, 2021, 07:31:44 AM
I'm surprised no one has offered wood ends for the Take 5.  I think the appearance of that instrument would be greatly improved by a couple of thick wooden cheeks.