The Minimoog Model D A/B: What Changed From Vintage to Reissue? (21 Iconic Riffs)

The Minimoog Model D is one of the most recognisable synth sounds ever recorded — from funk basslines to prog leads and classic pop hooks. In this episode, I’m doing a straight-up A/B comparison: a Vintage Minimoog Model D versus the 2016 Reissue, playing 21 famous riffs, leads, basslines, and effects back-to-back so you can hear what’s changed… and what hasn’t.

To keep these riffs true to the records, I’m using light, “record-style” effects where needed (chorus/delay/reverb), but the core sound is always the Minimoog. Both synths are treated the same, so the comparison stays fair.

Format

• Each riff is played on both Model Ds (quick-fire, short, and punchy).
• Each chapter is labelled Definitely (documented Minimoog) or Likely (strongly associated / commonly credited as Moog/Minimoog).

Your call: which one wins — Vintage or Reissue?

Definitely

• Intro
• Parliament — Flash Light (Bass)
• Rush — Tom Sawyer (Intro/Bass) — BONUS (originally Oberheim OB-X era)
• Pink Floyd — Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Lead)
• DEVO — Smart Patrol / Mr. DNA (Effects)
• Michael Jackson — Rock With You (Lead)

Likely

• Madonna — Holiday (Lead Line)
• Madonna — Holiday (Bass)
• Rick Wakeman — Catherine of Aragon (Bass Melody)
• Dr. Dre — Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang (Lead)
• D-Train — You’re The One For Me (Bass)
• Madonna — Borderline (Lead Line)
• Madonna — Borderline (Bass)
• Gary Numan — Are “Friends” Electric? (Theme)
• Gary Numan — Are “Friends” Electric? (Lead Line)
• Michael Jackson — Workin’ Day and Night (Bass)
• Michael Jackson — Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough (Bass)
• Chaka Khan — We Can Work It Out (Bass)
• Barclay James Harvest — Victims of Circumstance (Lead)
• Stevie Wonder — I Wish (Bass)
• Stevie Wonder — Isn’t She Lovely (Bass)
• Stevie Wonder — That Girl (Bass)
• Outro

If you enjoy these quick-fire, famous-riff shootouts, check out my other classics (M1, D-50, CS-80, DX7, Prophet, Jupiter series and more) — and tell me which synth you want next.

🎧 More Synth Icons episodes:

·       Hohner Clavinet D6 – Famous Riffs You Instantly Know

·       Roland Jupiter-4 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were Jupiter-4)

·       Korg M1 – Famous Riffs You Know (But Didn’t Realise Were M1)

🔧 Work with Andy

·       Production, mixing & mastering: https://www.andywhitmore.com/

·       Studio: https://greystokestudio.com/

📲 Connect with Andy

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

The Mini Mogue Model D. If there's one synth that feels like it sits at the centre of modern keyboard history, it's this one. It's the sound of fat bass lines, laser focused leads, and those instantly recognizable lines that can pull you straight into a record within half a second. For a lot of people, this is the classic synth sound, and it's been turning up across funk prog disco pop electronic, basically wherever someone wanted a part to feel bold, musical, and alive. So today I'm doing something very simple and hopefully very useful. Vintage Minimogue Model D 1979 vs the 2016 reissue. Same concept, same signal chain approach, and as a fair comparison as I can make it. With 21 famous riffs played on both instruments back to back so you can hear what's changed and what really hasn't. Quick note on record authenticity some of these sounds on the original recordings are going through some studio processing, maybe delay, reverb, and that kind of thing. So where it helps keep the rift true to the feel of the record, I'm using light record style effects. But the important thing is the chord tone is always mini moogue and both scents are getting treated in the same way so you can compare them fairly. And I've also done the rifts in two types. Definitely where the mini moogue is documented as being used, lightly, where it's strongly associated or commonly credited as mini moogue, even if the paper trail isn't clear. This is a quick fire format, short punchy comparisons, no long breakdowns. The whole point is let your ears make the decision. Alright, if you're ready, let's fire them up.

SPEAKER_01 1:33

Parliament flashlight. Chuck a Khan, we can work it out. Barkley James Harvest Victims of Circumstance.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

Two generations of the same design philosophy, big tone, fast workflow, and that unmistakable Moog voice that's found its way onto records for decades. And it's worth remembering why the Mini Moog became such a landmark instrument in the first place. It set a template for what a performance synth could be. Immediate, playable, inspiring, and built around the idea that you should be able to reach out and shape sound in real time. Now it's your call. Which one wins for you, vintage or reissue? And which rift did you recognize instantly? If you enjoyed this episode, I've got more famous rifts and synth specials covering other classic instruments, and I'd love to know what you want next. Which synth should get the A B treatment? Thanks for listening, and I'll see you on the next one.