Moog Music is an American company based in Asheville, North Carolina which manufactures electronic musical instruments. The current Moog Music is the second company to trade under that name. ased in Trumansburg in Upstate New York, Robert Moog's original company was founded as R.A. Moog Co. in 1953, manufacturing theremin kits and, later, modular synthesizer systems. This company would eventually become Moog Music in 1972, producing some of the most popular synthesizers of all time. (See Moog synthesizer for a list of synthesizers manufactured by Moog Music.) After becoming Moog Music, the company went through various changes of ownership, eventually being bought out by musical instrument manufacturer Norlin (who also owned the Gibson guitar company at the time). Norlin produced a number of synthesizers under the Moog name in the late 1970s, but they were less successful than Robert Moog's own designs. Poor management and marketing led to Dr. Moog's departure from his own company in 1977. Moog Music was forced into bankruptcy in 1986. The company liquidated and officially ceased operation in 1993. Robert Moog re-entered the music industry after leaving Moog Music in 1977, starting Big Briar to produce theremins under the name Etherwave. Big Briar expanded its range to produce a variety of analog-electronic musical instruments, mainly effects pedals called moogerfoogers. In 1999, Big Briar partnered with Bomb Factory to co-develop digital plugins for Pro Tools software based on the moogerfoogers. Robert Moog worked closely with Bomb Factory to ensure the product would remain true to the classic Moog sound. In 2002, Robert Moog reacquired rights to operate under the name Moog Music after a legal battle with Don Martin who had previously assumed the rights to the name Moog Music.[1] Another company, Moog CE, was selling modules for the original 1970s systems, and agreed to change their name to allow Moog to re-enter the market. After the company's name change, Moog Music began production of a recreation of the classic Minimoog synthesizer, the Minimoog Voyager. In 2004 Moog Music released a newly-designed theremin, the EtherwavePro. In 2006 Moog Music introduced a new 37 note, 2 oscillator synthesizer, the Little Phatty. Robert Moog died in August 2005 due to complications arising from brain cancer. After his passing the new president and owner of Moog Music became Michael "Mike" Adams. Hungarian band The Moog requested permission from Moog Music to use the name. This was granted on the condition that the band precede the name with "The".[2] In 2008 Moog Music released an innovative electric guitar known as the Moog Guitar, its first entry into the electric guitar market.