Vintage Synth Repair

Hi guys, i'm new around here... 
I've been having some problems with my precious Memorymoog and even though i have an experienced technician working on it he's NOT a Moog/Memorymoog expert, so he's having a hard time diagnosing the problems... I would greatly appreciate any help i can get. 

Thanks!

Major Problem: "Brain Dead" (no sound or lights) This problem slowly became worse over the past few months... First it would just lock up every once in a while and i would just turn it off and then back on... a few weeks later, the lights and display started flashing and then it went completely brain dead.

Minor Problem:  "Self Editing" The Memorymoog display would randomly show the current position of the Voltage Controlled Amplifier's "Release control" even though it hasn't been touched by anyone.

the place would be probably modusonics  aka  moogce.com in Lockport NY
cannot remember the man's name but he's an old-timer from the  
Memorymoog factory days.

On May 18, 2009, at 3:45 PM, metatronix1 wrote:

> Hi guys, i'm new around here...
> I've been having some problems with my precious Memorymoog and even  
> though i have an experienced technician working on it he's NOT a  
> Moog/Memorymoog expert, so he's having a hard time diagnosing the  
> problems... I would greatly appreciate any help i can get.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Major Problem: "Brain Dead" (no sound or lights) This problem  
> slowly became worse over the past few months... First it would just  
> lock up every once in a while and i would just turn it off and then  
> back on... a few weeks later, the lights and display started  
> flashing and then it went completely brain dead.
>
> Minor Problem:  "Self Editing" The Memorymoog display would  
> randomly show the current position of the Voltage Controlled  
> Amplifier's "Release control" even though it hasn't been touched by  
> anyone.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

--- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, Russ Rose <russrose@...> wrote:
>
> the place would be probably modusonics  aka  moogce.com in Lockport NY
> cannot remember the man's name but he's an old-timer from the  
> Memorymoog factory days.
> On May 18, 2009, at 3:45 PM, metatronix1 wrote:
> 
> > Hi guys, i'm new around here...
> > I've been having some problems with my precious Memorymoog and even  
> > though i have an experienced technician working on it he's NOT a  
> > Moog/Memorymoog expert, so he's having a hard time diagnosing the  
> > problems... I would greatly appreciate any help i can get.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Major Problem: "Brain Dead" (no sound or lights) This problem  
> > slowly became worse over the past few months... First it would just  
> > lock up every once in a while and i would just turn it off and then  
> > back on... a few weeks later, the lights and display started  
> > flashing and then it went completely brain dead.
> >
> > Minor Problem:  "Self Editing" The Memorymoog display would  
> > randomly show the current position of the Voltage Controlled  
> > Amplifier's "Release control" even though it hasn't been touched by  
> > anyone.
> >
> >
> >
Not being a MOOG expert (yet) I'd say , if there are any socketed ICs
Get a ground strap on your wrist and remove any socketed digital ICs and re-socket them . It may help...The power supply check is also a GOOD idea.
> >
>

>>Major Problem: "Brain Dead" (no sound or lights) This problem slowly became worse over the past few months... First it would just lock up every once in a while and i would just turn it off and then back on... a few weeks later, the lights and display started flashing and then it went completely brain dead.<<

check the condition of any & all ribbon cables, connectors & socketed chips. read the story of the LAMM on the linntronics site. most of the MM's problems were due to poor connections, especially the power supply, & even my LAMM occasionally needs something pushing home after it's been moved. if you can, measure the power supplies where they arrive at each board, make sure you're getting the full voltage.

half the problem with servicing the MM is that it's a nightmare inside, & the first glimpse of this rat's nest can be a bit daunting.


>>Minor Problem:  "Self Editing" The Memorymoog display would randomly show the current position of the Voltage Controlled Amplifier's "Release control" even though it hasn't been touched by anyone.<<

sounds like a A>D gone bad, or else a noisy pot... more likely the former. could be related to the poor connection problem too. if the brain thinks this pot has been moved, it will switch the display to show the new value.

let us know how you get on- that's part of the usefulness of a list like this.

duncan.

Thanks guys!

It's all very helpful. I'll be sure to keep you updated. Hopefully others will benefit from this too.



vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "metatronix1" <metatronix1@...> wrote:

>
> Hi guys, i'm new around here... 
> I've been having some problems with my precious Memorymoog and even though i have an experienced technician working on it he's NOT a Moog/Memorymoog expert, so he's having a hard time diagnosing the problems... I would greatly appreciate any help i can get. 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Major Problem: "Brain Dead" (no sound or lights) This problem slowly became worse over the past few months... First it would just lock up every once in a while and i would just turn it off and then back on... a few weeks later, the lights and display started flashing and then it went completely brain dead.
> 
> Minor Problem:  "Self Editing" The Memorymoog display would randomly show the current position of the Voltage Controlled Amplifier's "Release control" even though it hasn't been touched by anyone.
>

Good news! The major problem has been solved! It was the buss cable between the ops panel and the main pcb.

I'm also thinking about having the power supply rebuilt... Can anyone give me a quick outline on how to do this? Or Is it really necessary on the newer Memorymoog Plus models serial # 2700?

Thanks again for your help!





--- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "metatronix1" <metatronix1@...> wrote:

>
> Hi guys, i'm new around here... 
> I've been having some problems with my precious Memorymoog and even though i have an experienced technician working on it he's NOT a Moog/Memorymoog expert, so he's having a hard time diagnosing the problems... I would greatly appreciate any help i can get. 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Major Problem: "Brain Dead" (no sound or lights) This problem slowly became worse over the past few months... First it would just lock up every once in a while and i would just turn it off and then back on... a few weeks later, the lights and display started flashing and then it went completely brain dead.
> 
> Minor Problem:  "Self Editing" The Memorymoog display would randomly show the current position of the Voltage Controlled Amplifier's "Release control" even though it hasn't been touched by anyone.
>