I sold almost everything - no regrets

[@lainet]

"Sold almost everything" but you still have so many beautiful synths left. ❤

[@EspenKraft]

Some of them are pretty ugly though.

[@le-berry]

Hell of a combo if you ask me....... @@EspenKraft

[@EspenKraft]

Like Rambo.

[@garethbull5303]

Even an Atari ST among them all.

[@ketuxx]

When a true synth head says : I sold every thing. you still get a video that shows a massive synth collection

[@mylarmelodies]

Ha, this! I would be very worried if someone sold a Jupiter 8 (as you ain't getting another one anytime soon)

[@EspenKraft]

If it was mine I'd sell it. Today.

[@mylarmelodies]

@@EspenKraft !!!

[@robgallagher6256]

@@EspenKraft to me, hopefully! Like your Prophet VS :)

[@ast4127]

@@EspenKraftI have a mint MKS-80 Rev 4 for sale - less space same power? :D

[@iSirTaki]

Last time i heard the Arturia Prophet VS against my Original there was a huge difference

[@bassc]

Have also been selling off gear recently and not replacing it and its been liberating. Had a lot of guilt not using things and overwhelm and feel happier now, like a weight has lifted. Strange the hold it can have.

[@Johnsormani]

Most of the gear I have is also a part of my pension plan. I have around 65 vintage synths and modules and around 45 vintage guitars and 15 vintage tube amps. I am 60 now and will need to scale down in a few years time . Let’s see 😊

[@dankeplace]

You are proof that you're not a furniture/trophy collector. You actually use what you own, and when you have no need for it, find a better place for someone else to enjoy. Kudos to you.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@rmriwatch]

Except he has a storage and shelves full of synths and samplers, smh.

[@dankeplace]

@@rmriwatch The butthurt is real.

[@rmriwatch]

@@dankeplace The thing is Espen is now trashing synth prices, while at the same time also only willing to part with the Prophet VS for the right price. He's part of the problem, people hodling gear that they have it in storage and shelves, while also acting like he's so forward thinking to sell everything. He's a hipocrite and possibly a sour man at this point.

[@dankeplace]

@@rmriwatch Espen can do what ever he wants, sounds like the only sour Karen here is you. You should try making some music rather than what gear other people have/have not. Shows us on the keyboard where Espen hurt you.

[@boris9712]

At least you kept a relatively nice collection of synths and units despite selling a lot.

[@EspenKraft]

I like to think so. ;-)

[@Roboami]

I agree with that mindset. I bought so many vintage synths over the years, only to keep my ultimate few favourites, which all get used more than ever!

[@petermartinez5052]

Love all 3 soundtracks on the wall. Tangerine Dream!!!

[@johnsaunders6510]

Not surprised the mighty Juno 106 made the cut. I've owned and sold a few of them over the years. It's the only one I regret selling. An easy to use workhorse of a synth and that can do almost anything apart from those Minimoog type leads. Sadly they are too expensive now and Roland refuses to re-issue.

[@OneSwitch]

Never liked mine personally. Very dry, 6 voices too few, not fat sounding compared to a Moog. I've never seen why they're so rated.

[@marial8235]

I love your collection as it really covers all of the “basses.” 🎵.

[@EspenKraft]

Exactly. That's the point. So many misses that. ;-)

[@KosmicKitchen]

It’s interesting to hear that former magazines were more focused on music techniques rather than gear. It’s a pity that such journalism is pretty much gone

[@jimbotron70]

The audience is gone too.

[@AdamSpade]

Looks clean and streamlined! I dig the shelving for the gear. I need to get me a Prophet X too. 😎

[@EspenKraft]

It's great.

[@pawnotdaw4559]

I’ve been on a similar tip lately, selling synths that have good plug in versions instead. I also will never sell my Six Trak. It’s so useful with the cc control. Feels good to purge.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I took for granted exactly how much equipment you had when 2023 began, Espen. I can’t question your choice of what to keep.

[@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND]

“ Jupiter 8 totally not worth the money “ but sounds nice 😅😅😅, love you Espen for beeing a straight shooter. by the way your studio looks dope 👌

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@leftmono1016]

I sold a Jupiter 8 many years ago. If I could go back in time and get it back, I’d definitely sell it again!

[@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND]

@@leftmono1016 ou yes it would be amazing to capitalise some good money on the “possession sindrome” of those rich kids (redistribution of the wealth ) by the way the JP4 sounds much better and unique than the jp8 once done some little CAP upgrades for tuning stability (easy stuff) and the key word here is “ How to bring unique sounds in a homologated contemporary environment “ which jp8 will not do even it sound great and warm everything on the jp8 sounds cliché.

[@leftmono1016]

@@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND - I also had a JP6 and really wanted a JP4 to make the holy trinity. A friend had one but wouldn’t sell it. The JP8 is a very nice thing to own, but as you suggest, it’s nothing special sound wise.

[@mallery7]

When they were worth 5k or less they were worth it but at today's prices definitely not imo

[@davetbassbos]

1 vote for more of the "What was in it" for old Keyboard mags, those are great!

[@coconutlust470]

Glad to see you kept the Alpha Juno. I too use it for life shows when I need something analog that's relatively no fuss.

[@EspenKraft]

Yes, it's a keeper. Mostly for the live setup now. Perfect for that. Light and compact. Easy to haul around and sounds so good.

[@ahmedalshalchi]

My friend , you are giving me hope and support to keep my vintage stuff but for EE TMIs ....

[@JobimSynthMusic]

sold "almost everything" , still have endless tons of stuff :)

[@EspenKraft]

"Endless tons" is a very relative term I'd say.

[@evanglicanism]

Always love a bit of practical talk. Hope you're having fun making music!

[@EspenKraft]

Fun is the foundation of everything. If I didn't have fun I'd quit. Today.

[@ReaderOfThreads]

I’ve never owned a synth or made music, but I find these videos of yours really interesting.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

Is going towards soft synths the biggest motivation for selling a lot of synths or some other factor. It was for me. I've replaced most of my hardware synths with software replicas, and I've been very happy with them. Only my Yamaha portable MODX is really needed of hardware synths, and a VST version of the Montage M is coming out in Jan 2024. I still like having at least one modern hardware synth and the MODX is highly portable for gigs too. Along with my laptop full of VST's, and additional MIDI controller keyboards, it's all I really need today. I collected synths & classic synths at a time when there weren't good soft synth clones of them. As mentioned many times, it was software synths that got me into synths in the first place back in 1985. I was amazed by what they could do then, and today, they've really come full circle and are far more about to replace countless keyboards as I once dreamed of with the technology. I still have several classic hardware synths in storage. I'll likely sell most of them eventually.

[@EspenKraft]

Not really. I just don't need 50 of them to get the jobs done. They only take up space and I wanted more room to breathe in here. It is after all where I spend most of my time.

[@classicarcadeamusementpark4242]

@@EspenKraft 50 hardware synths is a lot. I'm down to 13 keyboards and a few sound modules, but as VST's continue to do a great job in cloning hardware synths, my collection will be shrinking a lot at some point when I feel like selling many of them. In the mid 80s when I discovered software synths, my vision was much as they are today. But by the early 90s as they hadn't taken off as I had expected, my vision became to have an entire room full of keyboards. I had the same vision of my basement for my arcade machines. Well, the basement did get full of arcade machines, but soft synths greatly improved it was simply no longer necessary for me to have tons of hardware keyboards. Arcade, classic console & vintage computer emulation is also excellent and I built 4 MAME machines. So I really don't need tons of arcade machines either, but it does give the look more of an arcade.

[@personalwatching9312]

Baby dont hurt me, dont hurt me ,, no more

[@bepec1431]

nice room full of legendary soundtools and magacines

[@potaxpotax]

Cool to see this kind of video as opposed to hoard-inducing ones. Thanks! (Curious to know why you got rid of your series 500 rack.)

[@EspenKraft]

I prefer to do all the processing in the box now. Faster, easier and cheaper. And it sounds just as good.

[@jekunP]

Good that you are keeping your essentials :)

[@petercarrington948]

Love that dark blue cladding! Good for you Espen, It's so easy to overcrowd your studio. Less is more creative.

[@pmfont]

Glad you kept the Alpha Juno 2. I recently bought one after watching the videos you and Starsky Carr made . . . Loving it and already used it (and some of your patches) to record a new song!

[@Rsonixtunes]

Yes! Juno 2 is so underrated

[@Nutty663rd]

Seeing the S330 - I knew that sampler inside out! Wonderful to see one again and in use. :) Loving the channel!

[@JackNance22]

So many gems, you have great taste, Espen.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@wildchurch]

Looking forward to a QX-80 EX video - if you feel inclined to make one of course! I have 2 of them (neither of which belong to Anders Jensen). I’m fairly confident I know them inside out but an Espen Kraft video will likely reveal something hitherto unknown!

[@timowaag]

🤩 what a dream of a studio!!

[@XPJV]

With my Fantom-8 EX I also sold almost all my vintage synths! Never regret!!!

[@suitandtieguy]

Most envious of that Virgil Fox issue of Keyboard

[@DeirdreSM]

Still an amazing collection, now with tighter curation.

[@crypticmoses]

Great point about the focus of the magazines. I really feel like the focus of synthesizers and the community have gotten very corporate and somehow the focus is on the business side of things instead of the creative side of things.

[@trebleboost7]

Love it! Those Keyboard magazine covers were Nostalgiac. I had many of them - proving my age!

[@ToreHansen]

Keeping the best!

[@alman-world]

Here because of - Distort the preamp. Keeping the love alive.

[@jdmjesus6103]

Looks much more streamlined and manageable, well done. I should follow your lead and thin the herd a bit but i keep making excuses to keep them

[@notsofastener]

"I'm Espen Kraft and I'm selling off the 80s" :)

[@EspenKraft]

Is that the vibe you got from seeing 4 walls full of 80s gear? :P

[@notsofastener]

@@EspenKraft There's nothing more 80s than selling off the 80s

[@johanolofsson8558]

I sold most of my gear about two years ago. I have a few things left but nothing really special except one thing, my tb-303 in mint condition. That beast is going down with me.

[@McTroyd]

That Presonus 16.0.2 is a neat little mixer. A customer directed me to get rid of a fifteen year old (but still totally functional) 24.4.2. I intend to fix it up and find it a nicer home than the landfill where it was otherwise headed (especially being in the US). Would love to keep it, but I already have 2 under-utilized mixers, including my own battle-worn Mackie I'm never getting rid of. 👍

[@styrmugnsell4560]

Nice to see that you still enjoy the Roland MSQ-700. I was the who sold it to you (from Sweden). I had it for a couple of years but did not use it that much... Keep up your great work!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! This is not that one though. The one I bought from you I sold. This is another. ;-)

[@styrmugnsell4560]

Aha, wow! @@EspenKraft

[@nonsuch]

Good choice keeping the Sequential Circuits Six-Track. It's such a underrated machine. People stay away from it mainly because it's lack of knobs but, if you don't think of it as a performance synth and just use it for recording, it's up there with the big dogs sound wise. Saying it sounds "Fat" would be an understatement.

[@2000stephenellis]

I`m impressed Espen ! , not only your willingness to sell gear no longer needed but also how streamlined everything now looks ! great job !

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@dosgos]

No worries, still a world-class collection. Mixing things up keeps everything fresh.

[@MonsieurC64]

Hey, you kept a DSM-1 ! Makes me want to have mine repaired. I've had it for 30 years. I had a tons of fun programming and sampling with this machine.

[@theaudioeng]

No analogue filter though right on this rack vs DSS-1??

[@MonsieurC64]

@@theaudioeng Yes, same analogue filter as on the DSS-1, but no resonance unfortunately.

[@EspenKraft]

Wrong. It has the analog filter. It's lacking a RESONANT analog filter.

[@vewilli]

Very cool. I‘m always very interested in these things. 👍🏻💪🏻🙏🏻

[@onocoffee]

So great to see the Old School gear! The Jupiter 8 was my dream synth. Still have the SRV-2000 and Six Trak that you have. E-Mu2 and DW-8000? Wow.

[@barryward7633]

Thank you Espen as always I love to see what you are doing, I have in my workshop a Roland W-30 and a Korg 01/WFD both dead in need of repair by me, so far have found the Korg 01/WFD has no power on reset working so will pursue that fault and hopefully track it down, cheers from New Zealand.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@truthministry.]

I have owned pretty much every mono, poly synth and drum machine you can name, over a 35 year span, but now I have just 4 synths that I use and enjoy. Having a room full of old machines is cool, but you rarely get to use each on on every track made, and now the old machines are starting to fail with expensive repair bills and rare and even obsolete parts. I bought most gear in the late 80's when it was bargain prices, so made decent returns on the investment; and they got used on tons of records too. I find having just 4 synths makes me far more creative, less is definitely more in any studio.

[@lordvespatron]

Great samplers choice, S330 warm, S1000 boss sound, S900 hitting

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Impressive and chill little studio tour :) Really loved it. And i totally understand selling off gear that you really don't need when it's either barely used or you have found something more fitting to your needs. I might give the prophet VS a try as soon as the Behringer VS mini is available in stock and give that one a nice place in my setup. Yeah i keep my Arturia Microfreak too, mainly for the capacitive keys (i looooove those!!!) some of the synth engines (especially the wavetable mode that was added via Firmware update). The cassette Portastudios are awesome!! I have the biggest one of them, the 688 MIDI Studio and mainly got it to record and also do analog playouts from my digital multrack sources for achival purposes. Also having a Yamaha MT400 for analog Stereo Mixdown recordings or 4 track Demo-ing. And yeah xD like ALLLL Roland Synths (especially the vintage ones) they are definitely NOT worth the money people ask for xD But yes, they do sound amazing of course. But my god, are they oversold......

[@jessihawkins9116]

I’m not getting rid of any of my gear. They can bury me with it 😤

[@EspenKraft]

If you don't want help that's fine with me.

[@ColdRFusion]

I was affaid for the DX7, phew! Yep got to make use of the Jupiter-8 while you can :-)

[@aliasfd345]

a room full of synths is still a "SUPER MINIMALISTIC SETUP" compared to doing music just in the box via Kontakt, UVI, Arturia etc etc etc... I mean, in sense of limitation and not getting blown away by possibilities.. Thanks for opening my eyes again! :-)

[@someoneanonymous1]

Reminds me when JunkieXL had a massive clear out. I totally get it, as some point too much gear just hinders creativity and becomes hoarding for the sake of hoarding. Well done Espen for the courage to do it!

[@totopolo2379]

in this case he is desperate for money

[@EspenKraft]

Sure, selling vintage synths and then buying modern ones for the same money... yeah, I must be desperate.

[@someoneanonymous1]

@@totopolo2379 this is not a very kind response. What are you hoping to achieve with it?

[@TB-wvvvw]

@@someoneanonymous1 As Mr. totopolo is probably not capable of explaining his statement, I will step in to help him. Many people, (possibly including Mr. totopolo) have nothing but their expensive gear to help convince themselves they are good musicians, so they buy all they can and would only sell it if desperate, unlike Mr. Kraft who is actually highly skilled and simply sometimes sells unneeded tools. Also, many have a hopeless desire for attention they'll never get from talent or accomplishment along with some jealousy for others who have it, so moronic and pretentious comments on the internet are their desperate attempt to get some attention, even if only for a second. Or, he could just be a twit.

[@marcopoulos3493]

@@TB-wvvvw Dude, relax! Yes whatever the tools, creativity is key but if you haven't seen it coming you do not need glasses but a dog.

[@TobyBorrow]

Getting back to the core

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Okay, congratulations on sizing down. If I could keep only 5 items in your set up it'd be the Jupiter 8, Juno 106, TR-808, MSQ-700, and D-550. If I could only keep 5 items from my collection it'd be the same. Although, the Jupiter X, Juno X, and TR-8S are great as well. By the way, I enjoy those keyboard magazines too. I bought a bunch on ebay and it's fun to go through the interviews. Anyway, take care and Merry Synthmas! Sam.

[@ErichIzdepski]

selling and consolidating right now. Thanks, Espen.

[@EspenKraft]

Best of luck!

[@TeddyLeppard]

Good choice on the Juno.

[@VultureCulture]

Feels good to let gear go!

[@lasertrancer]

Atari ST stays until the end of time and I have gathered all - I mean all possible - Midi Extensions.

[@dirkbals2836]

Like the videos much,i am not a synth collector,but i just enjoy so much the challence of creating new compositions.Its the best thing that excists,use ys100 two korg 05rw modules,one k1 module,akai patchbay and brother pdc 100 disc composer sequencer and also a mixing console.Keep up the good work!

[@vito_vitoid]

Clear out all those sequencers from the shelves and put there the Alpha Juno and the DW 8000, they deserve to be there! :)

[@EspenKraft]

Can't do it. They're too long to fit in there.

[@atmobeat]

What is left? - a lot is left! However, in comparison to what you used to have, it should feel like "light luggage" to you. Way to go! (...and all of the good old stuff from the good old days is stored in your Prophet-X...)

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@basehead617]

having a master keyboard where you can't put your legs/knees under it is insane

[@EspenKraft]

I don't PLAY it when it's on there. :P

[@MikeVidler]

Nice to see that you kept the Alpha Juno 2 & the Korg DW8000 - My fav's

[@marcopoulos3493]

The cheapest one's withalmost no maintenance ;-)

[@westbethkid]

YES!!! YOU KEPT THE SIX TRAK!!!! I love mine and will never sell it

[@aikighost]

I've decided to go super minimal and Im in the process of selling everything except my Toraiz sp16 sampler an Elektron analog 4 and my iPad. Everything else is an indulgence.

[@EdvinLaura]

great studio tour!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@resynthesizer4565]

I get that way sometimes. I often fantasize about having a limited number of synths. Then I get GAS

[@besenkopf77]

Nice studio. I liked seeing so many magazines featuring Chuck Corea, too.

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Congrats on the clearance, it can definitely get out of hand. I'm shifting a lot of things at the moment and making some tough calls. Looks really neat and inspiring in your studio.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks my good man! My channel had really grown over my head in terms of gear and piling up so I'm super happy with things as they are now. After a long period of getting very little done I'm now super inspired to just charge ahead. ;-) Best of luck with your own decisions and tough calls. :)

[@ICanFixThat2]

He also clears comments too! @AlexBallMusic, btw your GF packs are awesome!!!!

[@hurricane6014]

Yes, I’ve noticed your 1st series Keyboard issues no.1 with Chick etc. I have them all from the first year through the 80’s. Sold the CS 80, CP 70, D50, 8000, D6 clav, Mini model D, Prophet 600, B3, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, DX7FD2, Mirage, VFX, RE 200, 69 triple pickup SG and so much more. Maybe I should have kept them all but, then what? Sell em? I had fun touring with these for years. Time for the new. Jmo. Good luck Espen🤓

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@toktok9975]

I appreciate the Miku Nakano figure you have on the speaker.

[@lqr824]

In fall 1985 I was deciding between a DX7 and a Mirage as my first keyboard. I decided Mirage and while waiting for a salesman to relieve me of my $1800, I spotted the new DW-8000 and it was cheap enough I could get the SDD-2000 delay/sampler too. I was ecstatic and loved that thing and probably knew it better than nearly anyone. I got another for US$100 or so a couple years ago as it turns on instantly and I can program any patch it is capable of in about 25 seconds. Interesting that you kept both. I'm toying with the idea of making a new CPU/oscillator board for it, but keeping the analog board, power supply, and everything else. My new design will have far cleaner treble and of course a lot more waveforms.

[@DamienPaulLabonte]

an 80s dream in an attic

[@TheAnthonycoulter]

Wow Espen a really great video !! Amazing keys samplers and drum machines but more importantly in the hands of a maestro!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@lisajohnson1528]

Jupiter 8 is the goat looks awesome still

[@blenderbuch]

Spotted a Mini freak 😂

[@__teles__]

That intro tune ❤

[@TheNAPSince2005]

We have time traveled about 30 years into the future!

[@bobfrode]

looks more tidier now :)

[@chambre466]

well done, good luck

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@toshidaboshi]

Still a lot of cool stuff for sure! I also spied a Minifreak box under the Jupiter 8 xd

[@EspenKraft]

Yes, I haven't had the time to check that out yet.

[@JoseVGavila]

You are my hero!. I wish I had the nerve to sell all the gear that I don't use 😅

[@EspenKraft]

Hoarding is a disease, so I fully understand that letting go can be hard. ;-)

[@lesalmin]

A couple of years ago I sold my DX7 which I really didn't use anymore and didn't have a place for it but lately I have realized that deep in my heart I still kind of regret selling it. 😢

[@EspenKraft]

It's only a dead thing. If you sold a family member, now THAT would be something to regret. Regrets don't work.

[@JoseVGavila]

@@EspenKraft well, my reason to keep most of them is that "I will eventually use it, when I setup my new studio", which is a real project I am working on but, well, I can use a portion of the gear and still have a very nice equipped studio. Yes GAS is an strong force to defeat!

[@DannyKavka]

I missed if you said this in the video...are the synth modules/drum machines/etc on the shelves still patched, or are they stored there and brought out if you need to use one?

[@matthewkinne7662]

This is absurd... good for you. 😊

[@IntertemporalTraveler]

Thanks for sharing as always. Just a room full of good sounds. Have you ever made a crazy midi programmed arrangement and just laid on the floor and listened to all those nostalgia machines sing?

[@EspenKraft]

No, that's not what I do. ;-) Cheers

[@DavidLilja]

You've kept a lot, if you ask me, so now I'm curious how much you've sold :D Great video by the way. You're studio looks really nice. Keep up the good work!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@lovsindaniel]

It's still an impressive list of kit. GAS is a problem with creativity... However with so many emulations of the iconic synths I still like the feel of the real synths, buttons, knobs, and rotaries, that real feel can't be replaced by the controllers or the mouse.

[@HOLODECK-MUSIC-PROJECT]

Espen is the guy, that sold most of his gear, making a video about that decision and decided 1 minute before selling to keep most of his gear 😂

[@dandare301]

Glad to see that your Korg DW 8000 made the cut !

[@EspenKraft]

I might sell that as well.

[@jukkauh]

Good to see you kept the K3m.

[@dojoguitare]

Ah, you kept the DMP-7 after all!

[@ohheyitskevinc]

You kept the Atari ST ☺️ A little sad the MKS-80 and MKS-70 appear to have gone though 😞 I hope Roland cloud, Cherry Audio or Arturia bring out an MKS-80 VST someday. It’s gorgeous for pads and of all my synths - it’s the only one I wouldn’t sell. I know there’s the Cloud Jupiter 6, and UVI have the Mercury-80, but they’re not quite there. Still a great collection (and the Jupiter 8 is ok too 😉)

[@brianp7022]

That prophet vs has to be all things to all men ( and women!) analogue, wave and digital …amazing.i wouldn’t think there are too many of those around

[@jason.martin]

LIve QA=What was the reason for selling a bunch of your synths? did you find the emulations just as good? Which ones did you sell? thanks for posting !

[@EspenKraft]

Will address that since so many asks. Cheers ;-)

[@balajirao8426]

Suprised to see the 106 still there