Members enx Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 i need to find an analog synth in rough condition for a school project (i need to restore it) looking to spend not much (150 or less ish) what are some good places to look (other then ebay) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enx Posted February 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 a busted sh-101 would be muy beuno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eric Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 Try eBay or Walmart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members idiotboy Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 Forumite GilWe always seems to have a fixer-upper project going; perhaps he can address your question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members r33k Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 Find an analog that needs work? Heh, that's easy: 1. Find a vintage analog. Bingo! It needs work! See how easy that was??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members controlvoltage Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 I'd recommend craigslist. Here's a very handy (and potentially addictive) tool: the craigslist music gear finder. Searches all musical gear lists in whatever cities you choose for whatever search term you type in... so... PhatDuckk's Craigslist Gear Finder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gilwe Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 Forumite GilWe always seems to have a fixer-upper project going; perhaps he can address your question. I would sell him my "project" Matrix 6, but shipping won't make this an option I guess On the other hand this is no student project - the bastard has a totally corroded programmer board ! A busted SH101, or even a TB303/TR606 could be nice if he would be lucky enough to find any. I think a NiCD leaked Polysix would be a very easy find, and a very cool project to get some experience with. It's a great synth to own as well, so it quite worths the effort - so all in all that's a very good option. They all develop the same leakage problem if the battery is not replaced in time, and are sold like that on a constant basis on ebay. But beware, the fix is not a starter project and can tear your hair off sometimes, depending on how severe the leakage is... Much information about the fix is available on the web though, so you can get some direction. Actually, any polysynth with a leaking battery could work for that project, will be easy to purchase, and easy to find on the lists. You can check about what this kind of project involves, here: http://www.oldcrows.net/~oldcrow/synth/korg/polysix/repair.html The Vintagesynth gear forums are a good place to search for these, and the local flea market is probably the perfect place for non working instruments ! P.S R33K is absolutely right ! 99% of the vintage "working" synths will be found to have some issues. usually the type of problems starters would be able to deal with - scratchy sliders, caps to be replaced, bad heat sink contacts, battery replacement etc. What you consider "maintenance" rather than "restoration" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members filterthing Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 I'd recommend craigslist.Here's a very handy (and potentially addictive) tool: the craigslist music gear finder. Searches all musical gear lists in whatever cities you choose for whatever search term you type in... so...PhatDuckk's Craigslist Gear Finder that is a cool site:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enx Posted February 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 i came across a korg poly 800 for about $40 it doesn't power up and has 4 broken black keys hmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gilwe Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 That probably means a powersupply issue. Could be interesting if you're into that kind of project. High voltages in there so you really need to know what you're doing. If you're not confident don't risk yourself - get a 9v based synth like the SH101 you were thinking of But if you do know what you're doing, then the 800 is a great choice for a great price. There are a few mods available for it which will make it much more usable. Good luck ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enx Posted February 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 i'll have a robotics teacher (to assist with electronic stuff) and a room full of electronics equipment at my disposal after i get it working i can mod it i'd looooove an sh-101, but vintage Rolands (even broken ones) are outrageous at this point in time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gilwe Posted February 19, 2008 Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 You'll have to find the keys for it as well. This is not very easy. I got Polysix keys for sale but I doubt they are the same. Again, do not handle high voltage circuits unless you absolutely know what you're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enx Posted February 19, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 19, 2008 You'll have to find the keys for it as well. This is not very easy. I got Polysix keys for sale but I doubt they are the same.Again, do not handle high voltage circuits unless you're qualified ! the 'broken' keys just look cracked or crooked, they're still fully there another one ($0.99 at the moment), is missing around 10 keys completely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enx Posted February 22, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 22, 2008 for a poly 800 missing a whole octave, could i move the battery compartment over and remove an octave from the end? (nothing there except the battery compartment and keys) thus making it a 37-key (or 36-key) synth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Don Solaris Posted February 22, 2008 Members Share Posted February 22, 2008 it doesn't power up and has 4 broken black keys hmm That's easy. Start with the power supply and measure output voltages on the secondary. Good idea is to obtain a service manual so you know what voltages should be where, etc. I had a Monopoly that simply didn't wanted to play a note (keyboard was ok, gates were ok, etc). I replaced some op amps, and a transistor in VCA section, that appeared to not give output votages they were supposed to, but still no change. I tracked everything with the oscilloscope for about five days and still couldn't figured out where the problem is. Mad as hell, right as i wanted to give up, i spot a switch on the back (Postive / Negative GATE switch). I switch it up and down, and booom(!) synth starts to work. Turned out it was in the middle position. Conclusion: the most stupidest failures, take most time to be figured out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boose44 Posted February 22, 2008 Members Share Posted February 22, 2008 I'd recommend craigslist. Here's a very handy (and potentially addictive) tool: the craigslist music gear finder. Searches all musical gear lists in whatever cities you choose for whatever search term you type in... so... PhatDuckk's Craigslist Gear Finder Great link. thanks! -bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mate_stubb Posted February 22, 2008 Members Share Posted February 22, 2008 1. Go to Ebay 2. Search for "mint". Purchase. 3. Take dead synth from poorly packed box 4. Repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enx Posted February 22, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 22, 2008 That's easy. Start with the power supply and measure output voltages on the secondary. Good idea is to obtain a service manual so you know what voltages should be where, etc. I had a Monopoly that simply didn't wanted to play a note (keyboard was ok, gates were ok, etc). I replaced some op amps, and a transistor in VCA section, that appeared to not give output votages they were supposed to, but still no change. I tracked everything with the oscilloscope for about five days and still couldn't figured out where the problem is. Mad as hell, right as i wanted to give up, i spot a switch on the back (Postive / Negative GATE switch). I switch it up and down, and booom(!) synth starts to work. Turned out it was in the middle position. Conclusion: the most stupidest failures, take most time to be figured out. i think the internal memory backup battery is dead, and apparently some of the keys just don't push back up and some feel like the plastic tab holding them up is broken seems like an easy fix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members poumtschak Posted February 22, 2008 Members Share Posted February 22, 2008 That's easy. Start with the power supply and measure output voltages on the secondary. Good idea is to obtain a service manual so you know what voltages should be where, etc.Speaking of which, tons of service manual here, Poly 800 schematics included:http://technopolitan.se/ (link from the JD-800 list at Yahoogroups) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members milosch Posted February 22, 2008 Members Share Posted February 22, 2008 I had a Poly 800 for repair recently. It was not making the correct sounds. After reloading the factory presets it was essentially the same. I failed to figure it out, but was guessing it was the high dollar Korg chip... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enx Posted February 23, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 23, 2008 well i'm buying 2 non-working Poly 800's one isn't in bad shape (some key repair, new batteries, re-load factory patches) the other is to be used for parts or anything i can use it for if i can get it working, it's missing nearly a whole octave (some of the remaining keys are broken also), needs new batteries, and is most likely void of all factory patches also so, synths- $11shipping- $30 ishRescue kit- $15parts for repair and mods- ?? oh, and another thing, both are missing joystick levers, what can i replace them with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bruto Posted February 24, 2008 Members Share Posted February 24, 2008 oh, and another thing, both are missing joystick levers, what can i replace them with? Well, the Poly800's joystick is most likely a digital XY encoder, so any joystick that comes close to the original's values. You'll need to source the schematic. Even a computer joystick or trackball may work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enx Posted February 24, 2008 Author Members Share Posted February 24, 2008 Well, the Poly800's joystick is most likely a digital XY encoder, so any joystick that comes close to the original's values. You'll need to source the schematic. Even a computer joystick or trackball may work. hmm, a trackball would be muy sweet but is there a place where i could find replacement parts (keybed, joysticks) also, it may also be missing the circuit board under the joystick (the little one mounted to the bottom of the joystick), can i wire it to work with 2 mod wheels, or another joystick without the circuit board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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