Vintage Synth Repair

Ok I've learned my lesson with Korg parts ;-)

I have 2 x 01/w FD both with the similar noisy fault on all outputs.

Pretty much changed everything from the opamps to the caps, switched power boards and output analog boards all to no avail.

So assuming the copyright issues with the original manufacturers could be overcome would it be worth it having some short runs of motherboards made for a variety of synths. Would anyone be interest to start this as a project?

Not just for Korgs but other old synths with common faults.

It must be better to repair one machine than to rip the heart of another 2 or 3 to keep one going. I know we are not quite there yet with 3d printer fab for this type of thing so costs wont be incredibly cheap but it might be more friendly to the environment to repair rather than make land fills.

Anyone else have any opinions on this one? Of course the manufacturers may be totally against it in which case it would be a no-go.

Best regards

Tee.

ShinopShinoBeing Souncloud Page

Prices Korg 01w fd are going for these days it would be much cheaper just getting another used unit before spending 10 minutes opening it. With very few exceptions this is true for most of the rom player of the ‘90/’00s. This coming from a person still having some love for the good old M1 and the EMU romblers J





hans





Fra: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com]
Sendt: 18. mars 2015 08:51
Til: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
Emne: [vintagesynthrepair] If it were possible








Ok I've learned my lesson with Korg parts ;-)





I have 2 x 01/w FD both with the similar noisy fault on all outputs.


Pretty much changed everything from the opamps to the caps, switched power boards and output analog boards all to no avail.





So assuming the copyright issues with the original manufacturers could be overcome would it be worth it having some short runs of motherboards made for a variety of synths. Would anyone be interest to start this as a project?


Not just for Korgs but other old synths with common faults.





It must be better to repair one machine than to rip the heart of another 2 or 3 to keep one going. I know we are not quite there yet with 3d printer fab for this type of thing so costs wont be incredibly cheap but it might be more friendly to the environment to repair rather than make land fills.





Anyone else have any opinions on this one? Of course the manufacturers may be totally against it in which case it would be a no-go.








Best regards





Tee.





 ShinopShinoBeing <https://soundcloud.com/shinopshino_being/>  Souncloud Page






 <https://soundcloud.com/shinopshino_being/> ShinopShinoBeing


Contact email: teesquared@... Classic and progressive rock inspired songs. Influences like Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Genesis, Yes, Gong, Frank Zappa & The Tubes.


	




 <https://soundcloud.com/shinopshino_being/> View on soundcloud.com


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Even if one gets past the intellectual property issues with the manufacturers, the problem of sourcing parts is virtually insoluble. Integrated Circuit factories cost billions - and the old equipment is removed and junked shortly after the next generation of new equipment is installed. So, getting even a short run of some vintage chip (say for example, a Curtis chip) would require building the equipment to make the chip.

Once that is solved, there is also the issue that all of the older equipment used lead-based soldering, both internally and on the board interconnects. It is now illegal to manufacture these items in the European Union and many other places.

I serviced electronic musical equipment for over 30 years. Toward the end of that time, my largest single problem was locating replacement parts. (for that matter, not just electronic parts, but also items like replacement key-switches or buss bars for Hammond).

For that matter, I'd really like to get some GOOD 811A tubes for my ham radio amplifier. The Chinese tubes available today are pathetic. I bought over a dozen 1950's-1970's "NOS" tubes and managed to get three out of the lot that produce full power (600 watt out - the Chinese new tubes produced 200 watt out with the same input, and one blew a hole in the glass envelope after a couple of hours use).

Sorry to be the bearer of not so good tidings,

Jim

MoodyBluesKeys

On Mar 19, 2015 7:52 PM, "xp_sucks@... [vintagesynthrepair]" <vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
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> So assuming the copyright issues with the original manufacturers could be overcome would it be worth it having some short runs of motherboards made for a variety of synths. Would anyone be interest to start this as a project?

Even if you could figure out a way to make it economically feasible, I don't see how you'd get around the issue of custom designed & made chips for different units. If you're just dealing with really old stuff from the 1970's, (analog gear) that might be a different story.

As far as I have understood, you cannot have copyright on a how circuits 
are connected, just on the PCB layout and the schematic. So, it is 
totally OK to reverse-engineer a PCB and make a replacement. However, if 
there are any programmed components (ie. microcontrollers, FPGAs) on the 
board, then you are stuck, because the software is protected by 
copyright and cannot be replicated unless you write your own software 
from scratch (a huge undertaking).


Motherboards are tricky in this regard, as they contain software. You 
would have to write new software, a lot of work, but it is possible (as 
far as I know, this is how the Kiwi-106 and similar upgrades are made). 
Analog boards are much easier, as you can trace the board and lay out a 
new one.


Karl H.

Yes all comments noted and thanks for your resposes..

Yes seems that until all our manufacturing is with 3d printers or advanced version thereof, reproducing old hardware and circuits seems way too costly for amateurs.

So the short of it is regretably I'll be parting out these 01/w FD's. Exclusing the motherboards, if anyone wants anything please let me know.

Best regards

Tee.