Rhodes Chroma Polaris

I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Thomas whom was the factory service manger for Arp,Fender and Roland.
 He sold me his Chroma Polaris and it worked wonderfully for years.  I had to pack it up and move.  When I unpacked it recently it did not sound.
I have the original tapes and manual that came with it.(also the box,does any one want the box and Styrofoam? Free - just pay shipping)

The front panel appears to work fine.
I was wondering what suggestions any one has for rebooting the instrument.  I will probably replace the battery at the same time.Thanks in advance
Best regards
Thomas Rizzi
rizzitech@...

I'm sure it's the battery.  I was given a Chroma Polaris 20 years ago -well, actually in trade for some sound design work, but got a great deal because it wasn't putting out any sound at all.  But when I replaced the battery -bingo!  I actually did reload the factory sounds, but since then I'm sure all the voices are custom.  The thing is just too easy to program... but it is nice to start from the factory for ideas.
Be real careful opening it up -that is where most of the failures come from because an internal connection ribbon can crack when it flexes after so many years.  I've got to open mine up again soon -this time I'm going to make access for changing the battery from the outside via an opening in one of the wood side panels.
Good luck.

------------------------------------------
When I unpacked it recently it did not sound.
...The front panel appears to work fine.
I was wondering what suggestions any one has for rebooting the instrument. I will probably replace the battery at the same time.Thanks in advance
Best regards
Thomas Rizzi
rizzitech@...

> From: rizzitech
> 
> I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Thomas whom was the 
> factory service manger for Arp,Fender and Roland.  He sold me 
> his Chroma Polaris and it worked wonderfully for years.  I 
> had to pack it up and move.  When I unpacked it recently it 
> did not sound. I have the original tapes and manual that came 
> with it.(also the box,does any one want the box and 
> Styrofoam? Free - just pay shipping)
> 
> The front panel appears to work fine.
> I was wondering what suggestions any one has for rebooting 
> the instrument.  I will probably replace the battery at the 
> same time.Thanks in advance Best regards Thomas Rizzi 
> rizzitech@...

A bad battery doesn't prevent you from turning the instrument on, and
creating a new program from scratch; it only prevents it from being
remembered when the power is shut off.

Just saying "it did not sound" doesn't convey much information. What did you
try? Some of the diagnostics listed in the service manual can be performed
without opening the unit up, and often narrow the problem down, if not solve
it entirely.

-- 

Ciao,               Paul D. DeRocco
Paul                mailto:pderocco@...

All I can say is, that in my situation, a fresh battery corrected the problem.  I would try factory resets as well, of course... before and after battery replacement, and definitely listen to the experts.


--------------------------
A bad battery doesn't prevent you from turning the instrument on, and
creating a new program from scratch; it only prevents it from being
remembered when the power is shut off.

Ciao, Paul D. DeRocco
Paul mailto:pderocco@...

Thanks again
You mentioned that they are easy to program new sounds. 
Where do you suggest I start? 
(after I reload the factory sounds.)
I have heard that soundiver is a good program to use but I only have a G3 Mac 
which doesn't work well with the internet.  I'm on a PC at this time until I get 
a new Mac
Thanks Again
Thomas





________________________________

From: Jumper <mao@...>
To: chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, November 20, 2010 3:11:38 PM
Subject: [chromapolaris] Re: No sound after storage

  
I'm sure it's the battery.  I was given a Chroma Polaris 20 years ago -well, 
actually in trade for some sound design work, but got a great deal because it 
wasn't putting out any sound at all.  But when I replaced the battery -bingo!  I 
actually did reload the factory sounds, but since then I'm sure all the voices 
are custom.  The thing is just too easy to program... but it is nice to start 
from the factory for ideas.
Be real careful opening it up -that is where most of the failures come from 
because an internal connection ribbon can crack when it flexes after so many 
years.  I've got to open mine up again soon -this time I'm going to make access 
for changing the battery from the outside via an opening in one of the wood side 
panels.
Good luck.

------------------------------------------
When I unpacked it recently it did not sound.
...The front panel appears to work fine.
I was wondering what suggestions any one has for rebooting the instrument. I 
will probably replace the battery at the same time.Thanks in advance
Best regards
Thomas Rizzi
rizzitech@...