The Packrat (tm)

This little underground comic started out being made just for my own personal amusement, and also for readers of MATRIXSYNTH and a few other vintage synth geeks who shall luckily remain anonymous here. If you're a musician-slash-"gear whore" than man, this is your toon, particularly if you're into old keyboards. I guess that's not very many people. Regardless, for a brief run in 2005, and for five years from August 2010 through late 2014, monthly Packrat comics appeared in the once-great Keyboard Magazine. In 2018, a few new comics appeared monthly on the Facebook page for The Bob Moog Foundation. As for the future of The Packrat, who knows?

UPDATE 7/8/2022:
Here's THE LATEST PACKRAT ART!

Packrat Comic Archives
Click any thumbnail to see the comic!

2/23/05
Dusting off the Con Brio ADS200. In early May '05 Jose made this cool FAN ART! 3/6/05
Black synths or white synths? 3/20/05
A rat, an ARP 2600, and a timeless question... 3/24/05
What could be better than a Yahama GX-1? June 2005
The epic tribulations of a rodent gear whore begin at Keyboard Magazine!
July 2005
'80s flashback in this pseudo-semi- autobiographical anecdote.

August 2005
Never bite off more than you can chew, even if you're bucktoothed. September 2005
Sometimes too much is just plain too much. October 2005
Tribute to the late great Bob Moog. November 2005
What exactly do V.S.T.'s mean to an analog freak? December 2005
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, how shiny are your buttons! January 2006
This toon features copious knobs.

February 2006
Final Packrat toon for Keyboard Magazine explores the dark magic of the keyboard's LOGO. May 2007
Special new Packrat toon especially for the folks at AHNE 2007! July 2007
Here's another new one, with shouts-out to CustomSynth and Metasonix! May 2010
A "Get Well" card made especially Jeff Toman of CustomSynth. August 2010
New Packrat toons starting up for Keyboard Magazine again! Here's a special half-page toon to celebrate! Sept 2010
This comic celebrates the awesomeness of the Nord Lead Anniversary!

October 2010
Behold the MAD-Ray, part Memorymoog, part "Spies Like Us." November 2010
Why YouTube isn't always the most reliable resource. December 2010
Can Packrat learn from his nightmares? Does earwax float? Wait, I don't know the answer to that, either. January 2011
Packrat's new invention ushers in an invention of my own: a continuing plotline! February 2011
At the 1939 World's Fair, Packrat meets the inventor of the "Voder." March 2011
Packrat appears in 1955, where he gets some scientific advice from a certain learned sage.

April 2011
Packrat meets Dr. Hugh LeCaine, inventor of the first voltage-controlled synthesizer. May 2011
Dr. Lecaine helps Packrat complete part of his time-traveling journey home. June 2011
Packrat meets Bog Moog in 1964! July 2011
Still stuck in 1964, the Packrat heads to San Francisco to find Don Buchla. August 2011
Buchla is forever changed by his first encounter with a keytar... September 2011
Packrat figures he's permanently beach-bound in 1967, until he hears the dulcet tone of a theremin!

October 2011
What happens when the keytar's time circuits are amplified by a spherical array of 61 speakers? November 2011
Packrat hits a time-traveling analog speed bump in the 1980s. December 2011
Our hero gets a massive analog boost at a notable 1985 synth concert. Where will he end up next? January 2012
Welcome to the year 2112! February 2012
Packrat finally arrives home to realize his whole journey was one big joke on him. March 2012
Packrat's time-traveling days are behind him, but it looks like he's still living in the past.

April 2012
Upgrading software isn't that easy. May 2012
Are keyboard players invisible? July 2012
Explore the true "nature" of a signal path. August 2012
Art should be free, which is why non-artists have no problem charging. 7/29/12
Grainy shot of some art drawn live (on a 18x30 pad, mounted on an easel, with Sharpies!) at the Moog Store in Asheville, NC. September 2012
Nothing beats a metaphor involving spaceships!

October 2012
As club stages grow smaller, today's keyboardist has to learn to adapt. November 2012
Why do "keyboard players" need to know about all this other...stuff? December 2012
Another depressing sign of the times... January 2013
Values will be re-assessed in the new year! February 2013
Do you love the synth, or just the idea of the synth? March 2013
Buddy plays a numbers game with Packrat...

April 2013
Will the keytar truly ever be sexy? May 2013
Working with limitless gear can sometimes be limiting. June 2013
Gear doesn't make the player. July 2013
Packrat begins to get serious recognition for his art. August 2013
No more hiding behind a stack of keyboards! Featuring my band The Royal Din! September 2013
A rainbow rack of synths!

October 2013
It's OK to love your synth, just don't love your synth... November 2013
Buddy and Packs discuss the nerdiness of synth. December 2013
Do you only care about looking at synths instead of hearing them in action? 5-Dec-2013
Promotional comic for Kiwitechnics that fans of "Back to the Future" will appreciate! January 2014
Every kind of instrument you might play has its down side. February 2014
The danger of local pickups for online synth purchases!

March 2014
At what point will synths become infinitely expensive? April 2014
Every musician I know is always "thinking about starting up something new." May 2014
Somehow entertainers are the only people who get scoffed at for having the nerve to expect some form of payment. June 2014
Here's one possible explanation why there ain't too much "synth blues" out there. July 2014
People who can't read music might have weird brains. August 2014
Absolute keyboarding corrupts absolutely.

September 2014
Some synth pursuits are purely academic. October 2014
Every Packrat comic should involve a unicorn mask. Period. November 2014
Dogs do not belong in the Packrat universe. December 2014
Synth addiction can just be a bunch of tail-chasing. January 2015
Why are Future Times for synths so un-futuristic? February 2015
The Packrat bids a fond farewell.

April 7, 2017
The Packrat returns from the Quantum realm. December 7, 2017
Gearing up for a comeback! April 25, 2018
The Packrat starts up an acoustic duo. May 27, 2018
Celebrating Bob Moog's birthday with all the Packrat's friends! July 5, 2018
The Packrat teaches a lesson in Synth School. September 21, 2018
The Packrat decides to raffle off something unnecessary.

November 8, 2018
The Packrat ponders the possibly of opening up his own synth museum. December 27, 2019
RL Music presents a comic about spending your holiday bonus money on what really counts. June 8, 2022
The Packrat comes out of hiding for a new Oberheim synth.


2/23/05 Dusting off the Con Brio ADS200. In early May '05 Jose made this cool FAN ART!	3/6/05 Black synths or white synths?	3/20/05 A rat, an ARP 2600, and a timeless question...	3/24/05 What could be better than a Yahama GX-1?	June 2005 The epic tribulations of a rodent gear whore begin at Keyboard Magazine!	July 2005 '80s flashback in this pseudo-semi- autobiographical anecdote.


August 2005 Never bite off more than you can chew, even if you're bucktoothed.	September 2005 Sometimes too much is just plain too much.	October 2005 Tribute to the late great Bob Moog.	November 2005 What exactly do V.S.T.'s mean to an analog freak?	December 2005 O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, how shiny are your buttons!	January 2006 This toon features copious knobs.


February 2006 Final Packrat toon for Keyboard Magazine explores the dark magic of the keyboard's LOGO.	May 2007 Special new Packrat toon especially for the folks at AHNE 2007!	July 2007 Here's another new one, with shouts-out to CustomSynth and Metasonix!	May 2010 A "Get Well" card made especially Jeff Toman of CustomSynth.	August 2010 New Packrat toons starting up for Keyboard Magazine again! Here's a special half-page toon to celebrate!	Sept 2010 This comic celebrates the awesomeness of the Nord Lead Anniversary!


October 2010 Behold the MAD-Ray, part Memorymoog, part "Spies Like Us."	November 2010 Why YouTube isn't always the most reliable resource.	December 2010 Can Packrat learn from his nightmares? Does earwax float? Wait, I don't know the answer to that, either.	January 2011 Packrat's new invention ushers in an invention of my own: a continuing plotline!	February 2011 At the 1939 World's Fair, Packrat meets the inventor of the "Voder."	March 2011 Packrat appears in 1955, where he gets some scientific advice from a certain learned sage.


April 2011 Packrat meets Dr. Hugh LeCaine, inventor of the first voltage-controlled synthesizer.	May 2011 Dr. Lecaine helps Packrat complete part of his time-traveling journey home.	June 2011 Packrat meets Bog Moog in 1964!	July 2011 Still stuck in 1964, the Packrat heads to San Francisco to find Don Buchla.	August 2011 Buchla is forever changed by his first encounter with a keytar...	September 2011 Packrat figures he's permanently beach-bound in 1967, until he hears the dulcet tone of a theremin!


October 2011 What happens when the keytar's time circuits are amplified by a spherical array of 61 speakers?	November 2011 Packrat hits a time-traveling analog speed bump in the 1980s.	December 2011 Our hero gets a massive analog boost at a notable 1985 synth concert. Where will he end up next?	January 2012 Welcome to the year 2112!	February 2012 Packrat finally arrives home to realize his whole journey was one big joke on him.	March 2012 Packrat's time-traveling days are behind him, but it looks like he's still living in the past.


April 2012 Upgrading software isn't that easy.	May 2012 Are keyboard players invisible?	July 2012 Explore the true "nature" of a signal path.	August 2012 Art should be free, which is why non-artists have no problem charging.	7/29/12 Grainy shot of some art drawn live (on a 18x30 pad, mounted on an easel, with Sharpies!) at the Moog Store in Asheville, NC.	September 2012 Nothing beats a metaphor involving spaceships!


October 2012 As club stages grow smaller, today's keyboardist has to learn to adapt.	November 2012 Why do "keyboard players" need to know about all this other...stuff?	December 2012 Another depressing sign of the times...	January 2013 Values will be re-assessed in the new year!	February 2013 Do you love the synth, or just the idea of the synth?	March 2013 Buddy plays a numbers game with Packrat...


April 2013 Will the keytar truly ever be sexy?	May 2013 Working with limitless gear can sometimes be limiting.	June 2013 Gear doesn't make the player.	July 2013 Packrat begins to get serious recognition for his art.	August 2013 No more hiding behind a stack of keyboards! Featuring my band The Royal Din!	September 2013 A rainbow rack of synths!


October 2013 It's OK to love your synth, just don't love your synth...	November 2013 Buddy and Packs discuss the nerdiness of synth.	December 2013 Do you only care about looking at synths instead of hearing them in action?	5-Dec-2013 Promotional comic for Kiwitechnics that fans of "Back to the Future" will appreciate!	January 2014 Every kind of instrument you might play has its down side.	February 2014 The danger of local pickups for online synth purchases!


March 2014 At what point will synths become infinitely expensive?	April 2014 Every musician I know is always "thinking about starting up something new."	May 2014 Somehow entertainers are the only people who get scoffed at for having the nerve to expect some form of payment.	June 2014 Here's one possible explanation why there ain't too much "synth blues" out there.	July 2014 People who can't read music might have weird brains.	August 2014 Absolute keyboarding corrupts absolutely.


September 2014 Some synth pursuits are purely academic.	October 2014 Every Packrat comic should involve a unicorn mask. Period.	November 2014 Dogs do not belong in the Packrat universe.	December 2014 Synth addiction can just be a bunch of tail-chasing.	January 2015 Why are Future Times for synths so un-futuristic?	February 2015 The Packrat bids a fond farewell.


April 7, 2017 The Packrat returns from the Quantum realm.	December 7, 2017 Gearing up for a comeback!	April 25, 2018 The Packrat starts up an acoustic duo.	May 27, 2018 Celebrating Bob Moog's birthday with all the Packrat's friends!	July 5, 2018 The Packrat teaches a lesson in Synth School.	September 21, 2018 The Packrat decides to raffle off something unnecessary.


November 8, 2018 The Packrat ponders the possibly of opening up his own synth museum.	December 27, 2019 RL Music presents a comic about spending your holiday bonus money on what really counts.	June 8, 2022 The Packrat comes out of hiding for a new Oberheim synth.