A stage-played Moog Little Phatty analog synthesizer (serial #SE05336, manufactured 2007-2008) documented in the hands of two Black Eyed Peas keyboardists: will.i.am, who is photo-documented playing the instrument on stage prior to The E.N.D. tour, and Printz Board — musical director of the Black Eyed Peas — as the dedicated bass instrument throughout every performance of The E.N.D. World Tour (2009-2011). The instrument is extensively documented in Keyboard Magazine‘s August 2010 cover story and in the “World of a Music Director” video feature, in which Printz Board demonstrates it playing bass lines from the band’s setlist and describes it as holding down the bass for the entire show.
Video Documentation
Historical Context
The Black Eyed Peas — comprising will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, and Fergie — were among the most commercially dominant acts in the world during the 2009-2011 period, driven by The E.N.D. (2009) and The Beginning (2010). Their touring and broadcast appearances during this era included the 2011 Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show, the 2010 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (December 31, 2009), the 2010 American Music Awards, the 2009 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and numerous major international festival and arena performances. The E.N.D. World Tour ran from 2009 through 2011 and was one of the most technically elaborate production tours of its era.
The Moog Little Phatty is a two-oscillator analog monophonic synthesizer, notable for its fat, punchy low-frequency character — the quality that made it ideal as a dedicated bass instrument in a live pop production context.
Stage & Performance Use
The Moog Little Phatty was Printz Board’s dedicated bass instrument for the entire E.N.D. World Tour. In the “World of a Music Director” video, Printz Board states directly: “This is my dedicated bass. I’m pretty much holding down all the bass for the entire show.” He demonstrates it playing bass lines from the band’s songs live on camera.
In the August 2010 Keyboard Magazine cover story, Board described its use in extensive detail: “I love Moog to death. This is my newest Moog, and I probably have every other one they’ve ever made. I use it for most of the bass stuff, like ‘Let’s Get It Started.’ For most of my playing, I like the stock sounds. I don’t change it much until it’s within a song. Mostly, I use the ’13 Solid 1′ bass patch on the Little Phatty. It’s got the most punch and drive and it just pushes air nice and tight.”
On its use in “Rockin’ To the Beat,” Board described manipulating the filter cutoff in real time during performance: “I’ll hit the cutoff [slowly turns filter cutoff knob]. I’ll make the envelope open up and give it that funkiness over the course of a melodic line. I love doing that.”
Board also described its use for sound effects and dynamics: “I use it for a lot of subby sounds and play a lot of drops. It’ll just rumble the house when it gets to the bottom. I also do a heartbeat effect in ‘Boom Boom Pow.’ It thunders into the crowd. I just love it.”
The video also documents the microphone on Board’s rig used to communicate with monitor tech Eric Harris mid-show, the custom single sustain pedal serving both the Motif XS7 and Juno-G, and Board’s TV monitor used to see different stage angles during the performance.
Specifications
· Manufacturer: Moog Music
· Model: Little Phatty
· Type: Analog monophonic synthesizer
· Oscillators: 2
· Serial: SE05336 (manufacture date: 2007-2008)
Condition
Very Good. Moderate wear consistent with several years of touring use. The LCD display is free from scratches or scuffs. The large gray “moog” logo decal on the back panel is peeling around the edges. The keys have yellowed to a cream/ivory tone consistent with age. Some corrosion and oxidation is present on the metal hardware of the connection panel on the left side — jack housings, screws, and connector area — consistent with exposure to touring environments over an extended period. Per Techno Empire at time of original sale, all controls, buttons, and keys are in great shape and in perfect working order. Works perfectly and sounds excellent.
Included Items
No cables or power supply included.
Provenance
Acquired from Techno Empire (North Hollywood, CA) as part of the official Black Eyed Peas Collection launched on Reverb on July 23, 2020. George Pajon Jr. described the instrument in the original listing: “This Moog lived in Printz Board’s world onstage and was used throughout a few years of touring.” Extensively documented in Keyboard Magazine August 2010 cover story and the
video feature, in both of which Printz Board names the instrument, demonstrates it live, and describes its specific function in the show.
Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance
This lot will be accompanied by a Nostalgia Bandit Letter of Provenance — a document printed on official Nostalgia Bandit letterhead, signed by Nostalgia Bandit’s principal, and affixed with the official Nostalgia Bandit embossed seal. The Letter of Provenance reproduces the complete final auction description for this lot in full, memorializing all provenance documentation, attribution, supporting evidence, and condition details as presented herein. It is designed to travel with the lot through all future ownership transfers as a permanent, platform-independent physical record of the item’s documented history.
Shipping & Measurements
THIRD PARTY SHIPPING ONLY. Contact Nostalgia Bandit for a shipping quote: shipping@nostalgiabandit.com
» Item: 27 x 16 x 7″ · 20.50 lbs.
