[sdiy] Look what I've just been given!

[RMC]

Tony, everyone else on SDIY (and via separate email later, to all on AH)

> > www.richardcraven.plus.com/freegift.jpg

> If they were mine, I would replace the dodgy looking electrolytic caps, 
> replace the NPN pairs with canned LM394s and then fit temp cos. As well as 
> the usual clean contacts, remove dirt grime etc.

That's exactly my plan. I've found a couple of sources for the tempco 
resistors and Farnell still sell the matched pairs. I expect some of the 
pots might need to be replaced or repaired and as you say, I'll need to 
clean them all up generally.  The caps will get replaced too, especially the 
PSU caps. The only major addition will be matrix buffering - an invisible 
mod anyway.

My main aim during this process is to photograph the innards - I couldn't 
find any websites showing what they're like. I also hope to do a handful of 
MP3s to show the more musical side of the instruments.

I might modify one of them (change VCO3 to match the tuning range of VCO1+2 
for example, include VCO sync) and keep the other standard. Not sure yet. 
One of them has some 741s inside it on one of the boards, which is datecoded 
as 1973, so it would appear like it is an early one (although the 741s could 
be old stock used at a later date, it is true).

The story behind this sudden explosion of luck - I contacted the college 
where I did my A levels 23 years ago, just on the off-chance that they still 
had the synthi-AKS that I messed about with during my time there when I was 
at a loose end from time to time. They got back to me and said they had two, 
not one and that they were stuck down the back of some cupboard or other, 
unused and unwanted!

They said I could probably have one of them but instead I offered to restore 
both , thinkning to myself that I would probably take until the summer to do 
it: I would enjoy the electronics and history and playing with them, then 
the college would have them both back to incorporate into their Mucsic 
Technology classes.

Anyway, it turns out that in spite of my announcement to them that these 
would be worth a small fortune each, they are happy for me to have one as a 
gift and return the other "if and when" I finish sorting them out! I suppose 
I get one as payment for fixing the other (not least of which is the 
eletcrical safety aspects such that they are OK to use in a UK educational 
establishment).

I wouldn't be surprised if I end up with both of them - the college feels it 
is unlikely to be able to integrate the gear with modern Music Technology A 
levels. However, I will be doing my very best to restore then to fully 
working conditin and I willoffer the one back to the college. Maybe I'll end 
up with it on long-term loan, or maybe I will suggest I sell it on behalf of 
the college.

I'm off to find the connectors I need - there's no meains lead and there's 
no keyboard lead supplied with either of them. Any ideas on the keyboard 
socket make and model, anyone?

Thanks for joining in with my enthusiasm - sorry I couldn't help this slight 
boast!

Cheers

RMC, England