Fwd: [sdiy] Starting synth repair business. What IC's to stock up on & general advice.

[klosmon]

Steve wrote:


>Hi all,
>
>I am seriously considering starting up a synth repair business. Where
>I live there is a need, and I have a number of contacts that would
>send business my way as they currently have to tell people they don't
>know anyone that can help.
>Anyway, what would you stock up on, as far as IC's transistors opamps
>etc. that you think will become hard to find in the future,  but are
>available to some extent now (I am guessing the 3080 and 3280 recently
>discussed would be good to stock.)

Hello --
It would depend largely on what synthesizers you are going to be working with.
For example, I repair a lot of Sequential Circuits machines -- this has 
required me to keep a large stock of CMOS DIP on hand (4051, 4016 & 66 
switches, etc).  TL082 opamps, 311 comparators, 74XX regulators, one HELL 
of a lot of 2.2uf/50 volt electrolytics. etc etc etc.

Just look at the schematics, think about the work you've done over the 
years, and you'll have some idea.

As for keeping in stock everything you need -- not necessarily a good idea, 
unless you have a lot of funds & space available.  I've found that orders 
from Jameco, Mouser, etc can arrive within a couple of days (even with 
minimal shipping charges).  As for custom & obsolete chips:  once again, 
depends on what you expect to be servicing.  I once purchased a number of 
Yamaha custom ICs, thinking they'd come in handy somewhere down the 
line;  after performing service on my 100th machine, I realized only ONE of 
them was a Yamaha, and it didn't need a custom IC replaced.  I've since 
sold those chips...

As for your "general advice" questions -- I could go on for days.
Simplest advice is:  get your feet wet, try working on a few machines, see 
what you need for parts & equipment (I've been repeatedly surprised at how 
LITTLE, aside from schematics & the ability to read them & reason from them 
is required to make dead machines live again).  You'll be able to see 
fairly soon what YOU need for your situation.

Good luck --

~GMM
http://www.analogsynthservice.com/

PS  the only thing I can say for certain about dealing with musicians is 
that they NEVER EVER EVER show up when they say they will -- don't cancel 
your dinner plans because one says he'll be there at 7:00.