Vintage Synth Repair

Hi-

Here's a problem I'm going to have to troubleshoot, and I would like 
some pointers if possible.  I own a Roland D-5, and the control panel 
lights (the performance-multitimbral-rhythm-mode light, the a/b 
selector light, and the first preset light in particular)fade out and 
are inconsistently lit.  I usually have to tap the top of the synth 
to get them working again, so it looks like a loose connection, since 
these three lights fade out at the same time.  

Now here's the question: How do I access the back of the control 
panel to get to those wires?  This is something I need to do 
carefully, of course, but the flakiness of the LED's might be a start 
of something else about to loosen, so I want to check it out.  I like 
the synth, even though it is an oldie, it's a great MIDI board, and I 
want to keep it maintained.  The patch/edit display screen is fine, 
and all the LED's work, so it just seems like a loose wire. Any 
suggestions would be great, thank you very much.

-Santos

Santos,

The problem is most likely a bad solder connection on a pcb.
Japanese synths are notorious for inadequate wave soldering and many 
connections can crack or become thermally stressed. I'd recommend 
opening the unit and inspecting the pcb connections closely, 
including the power supply.

It could also be a connector or cable from board to board.

Good luck!

Regards,
Kevin Lightner

http://www.synthfool.com









>Hi-
>
>Here's a problem I'm going to have to troubleshoot, and I would like
>some pointers if possible.  I own a Roland D-5, and the control panel
>lights (the performance-multitimbral-rhythm-mode light, the a/b
>selector light, and the first preset light in particular)fade out and
>are inconsistently lit.  I usually have to tap the top of the synth
>to get them working again, so it looks like a loose connection, since
>these three lights fade out at the same time. 
>
>Now here's the question: How do I access the back of the control
>panel to get to those wires?  This is something I need to do
>carefully, of course, but the flakiness of the LED's might be a start
>of something else about to loosen, so I want to check it out.  I like
>the synth, even though it is an oldie, it's a great MIDI board, and I
>want to keep it maintained.  The patch/edit display screen is fine,
>and all the LED's work, so it just seems like a loose wire. Any
>suggestions would be great, thank you very much.
>
>-Santos
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>vintagesynthrepair-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/


--

Kevin,

Sorry to take so long to get back to you.  Thanks for the info, I'll 
be checking it out this week and I'll let you know the outcome.  
Thanks again.

-Santos



--- In vintagesynthrepair@y..., Kevin Lightner <synthfool@s...> wrote:
> Santos,
> 
> The problem is most likely a bad solder connection on a pcb.
> Japanese synths are notorious for inadequate wave soldering and 
many 
> connections can crack or become thermally stressed. I'd recommend 
> opening the unit and inspecting the pcb connections closely, 
> including the power supply.
> 
> It could also be a connector or cable from board to board.
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> Regards,
> Kevin Lightner
> 
> http://www.synthfool.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >Hi-
> >
> >Here's a problem I'm going to have to troubleshoot, and I would 
like
> >some pointers if possible.  I own a Roland D-5, and the control 
panel
> >lights (the performance-multitimbral-rhythm-mode light, the a/b
> >selector light, and the first preset light in particular)fade out 
and
> >are inconsistently lit.  I usually have to tap the top of the synth
> >to get them working again, so it looks like a loose connection, 
since
> >these three lights fade out at the same time. 
> >
> >Now here's the question: How do I access the back of the control
> >panel to get to those wires?  This is something I need to do
> >carefully, of course, but the flakiness of the LED's might be a 
start
> >of something else about to loosen, so I want to check it out.  I 
like
> >the synth, even though it is an oldie, it's a great MIDI board, 
and I
> >want to keep it maintained.  The patch/edit display screen is fine,
> >and all the LED's work, so it just seems like a loose wire. Any
> >suggestions would be great, thank you very much.
> >
> >-Santos
> >
> >
> >
> >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >vintagesynthrepair-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

> 
> 
> --