if you want the Moog sound, get a Moog. a Grandmother for $800 is a solid deal.
the only other thing I’d suggest is a Vermona Mono Lancet. they’re very Moog sounding, but smaller and cheaper, while still being quite well made. it’s not 100% THE Moog sound (it’s not a replica/clone), but it’s very much in the same ballpark.
Yes…if you want a Moog, specifically a semi-modular one without breaking the bank…get the Grandmother. Everything else is not a Moog.
The Mono lancet goes into Moog territory, but the filter is a bit on the weaker, less woody sides. If you want a Moog. Get a Moog. Everything else is “just like” a bit. Not really “a” Moog.
yeah a Moog is a Moog for sure. I just meant it’s not far off if OP is struggling to make the Grandmother deal happen. that’s for sure a better option though, and leaves much more room for experimentation and future expansion.
…a4 mk1…is kind of modular…it’s four truu analog mono synth with 2 osc plus sub in one box with the swedish sequencer, all plockabable on four individul lanes including sound lox plus one lane for cv control and one lane for fx only…it can change it’s face totally from one trig to the next one…
while can also act like a full fledged four voice poly synth…
don’t listen to those who say it can’t do bass…it can for sure !
and the whole thing can be catched easily around 700 bux and lower…hardly recommend this one, if ur into the swedish sequencer concept…
for that money u can easily get more voices at once…
and if ur into real moog flavour u could also search for a nord lead rack 2x…
virtual analog…but big in poly AND even four times multitimbral…!
and many times even way better than any real thing…
or go for simple as possible but original moog with their little super handy and easy taurus…
easy to catch 2nd hand for around 300 bux…
the best one trick pony ever, when it comes to all flavours pushing the lowest octave only…
Sorry, but a Nord Lead 2x sounds nothing like a Moog. It´s like watching pornhub vs. having real sex. The Nords have other qualities that´s for sure, though.
Just buy a Moog. I’ve owned many synths. Moog oscillators and components have a very particular sound to them. The way the oscillators beat, the filter character, usually whatever overdrive option they include. It’s always very satisfying.
Otherwise, literally any basic analog synth is going to be able to make similar timbres. Sounds that are about 90% the same. Like if you buy a cheap Behringer or something… it’s really not THAT much different. Not enough that anyone listening would know or care. But it is different. So if you want THAT exact sound, gonna have to pay for it.
I own a Moog Minituar and a Slim Phatty for this very reason.
Either will give you what you are after but the Slim will go all the way up the pitch range (Minitaur cuts off I believe about 1 octave over middle C).
Both go for less than they originally sold for (which seems rare these days).
Like others have stated, if you want the Moog sound, you need to get a Moog (though I’ve heard whispers that the Boog is fairly convincing…haven’t tested personally).
EDIT: one caveat. Both the Slim and the Mintaur have had issues with stuck notes when sequencing from my OT. It’s something about how the Elektron sequencer handles note on/off. It’s probably the same for the DT…FYI.
+1 on the grandmother. I’ve had mine for about 3 years now and it’s not going anywhere.
On paper it seems like a lot of money (and desk space) for what is essentially a relatively simple mono. In practice it’s a very inspiring machine to just turn on and create a patch with, everything sounds magical, even just simple patches. I never feel like I need more features.
If you can get one for cheap go for it!
Moog werkstatt. 200… Cheapest entrance into moog sound ever
I have never regretted buying the Grandmother. FAT BASS = NO PROBLEM
One more vote for the Grandmother here, it’s probably my favorite monosynth I owned and it has “that” Moog signature sound for sure. Being able to use the LFO as third VCO really help at making those nasty Minimoog bass, and the fact it is semi modular can really help getting weird and unusual sounds out of it as well, so it’s best of both worlds in my opinion.
I’ve never been so stuck-on or inspired-by a synth as much as the Moog Sub Phatty. I reckon they’re pretty cheap these days as they’ve been made “obsolete” by recent Moog offerings. That’s only if the semi-modular bit is a deal breaker. The CV functionality is pretty limited, but there is something to it. I did a few experiments and a how-to if you’re interested in some work-arounds.
What really makes it stand out is that it sounds very much like the ‘Moog sound’ from all of those classic records that used the Moog modular systems. There are plenty of Minimoog clones out there, but this is the rare keyboard that takes its inspiration from the original Moog systems. A great instrument.
Aka Gearspace.com 
I use Moog’s excellent Model 15 and Model D apps on the iPad, sequence them with the Octatrack, then sample the result.
Advantages: presets, portability, price. And I couldn’t tell the difference after mixing into a song.
Disadvantages: way less cool, no knobs to tweak.
I love Analogue Solutions! The synths are ace! But they are no Moog substitute. Too aggressive and more on the ARP site, imho. Nonetheless fantastic instruments. Nothing reaches that mellow melancholic woody wooziness of a Moog.
Another thread that tries to make me buy a grandmother 
