Vintage Synth Repair

Hi everybody,

I just got an ARP Axxe and I'm wondering if there is something wrong with the VCA because the note that I play stays always on when I release the key on the keyboard.
Does anybody could tell me if this is normal with this synth?
Thank you!

Nicolas

Hi Nicolas;

did you turn the "VCA Gain" slider up per chance?

Hi,

Yes, the "VCA Gain" dlider is up.

Nicolas

--- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, Malte Rogacki <gacki@...> wrote:

>
> Hi Nicolas;
> 
> did you turn the "VCA Gain" slider up per chance?
>

Hi,

Yes, the "VCA Gain" dlider is up.


Well, then turn it down!

The Axxe, Odyssey and 2600 all have those VCA Gain sliders. If you want to
control the VCA from the Envelope Generator you need to turn it all the way
down (and the Envelope slider up, of course).

Hi Neil,

Digikey has a 4PDT switch that I've used to repair an ARP Axxe. The Digikey part number is SW106-ND. I don't remember if the pin spacing was exactly the same but I made it work.

Cheers,
Alex

--- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, Neil Boughey <neil.n.sheila@...> wrote:

>
> Nicolas
> 
> I had an Axxe with what sounds like the same problem (and what is a v.common problem on this synth). Check out the sustain and hold switch. If this has failed, due to the way these synths are wired, it permanently gates or "locks" the synth in sustain and hold "on" mode. 
> 
> The tech who fixed mine me advised me that a replacement 4 pole switch of the type ARP used on Axxes, Odysseys etc are virtually impossible to source, hence he rewired the synth to bypass the sustain and hold circuit which fixed the problem, You will have to live without sustain and hold in future, but worth it to fix one of these very nice little analogs. Otherwise, try a squirt of contact cleaner on this switch, between the plastic slider and the copper plating beneath, if you're lucky the switch might still be physically sound, although i'm advised the contact strips under the plastic assembly tend to corrode or fall off.
> 
> Let this be a lesson to anyone thinking of buying an ARP. Broken sliders are a relatively easy fix,  broken 4 pole switches are v.bad news, particularly on the Odyssey or Solus which use a few of these on the VCF and VCA sections.
> 
> Neil Boughey
> 
> neilnsheila@...
> 07590 114633
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 15 Mar 2010, at 19:05, Nicolas wrote:
> 
> > Hi everybody,
> > 
> > I just got an ARP Axxe and I'm wondering if there is something wrong with the VCA because the note that I play stays always on when I release the key on the keyboard.
> > Does anybody could tell me if this is normal with this synth?
> > Thank you!
> > 
> > Nicolas 
> > 
> >
>

For the ARP DPDTs switches, the trick is to find one with a 15 mm posts. THis is really long, and it is indeed somewhat impossible to find one of this length.

The body however is actually a pretty standard size, so this part is not an issue.

First thing to do is to stop looking for one that is surface mount… you will not find it. Look instead for one that is at least 5mm longer than the average radioshack fare. I think this means about 10mm.

I managed to find some on ebay that looked had this slightly longer shaft. I soldered on 6 terminal posts from an old tape deck to serve as the mounting pins. You could use any, strong, conductive metal of the right thickness to do this.  If you tape off the top (I think they will short out if they touch the casing), you can get them up just high enough so that they look like the others from the outside.

Even if you do not go this route (trying to match the visual look of the original), I see no reason why one should have to lose this function just because it doesn't look right. Just buy any old switch and mount it somehow on the case taping off or whatever so it doesn't short out. Then run wires down to the original terminals on the board.  A toggle switch with nylon washers on either side of the front case mounting might work just fine… ugly… but you keep the function!

just my 2 cents...