Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

> Well today I had a look at my SDS IV, I've owned the thing for years,
> but it only ever gave noise and hiss (on both channels).
>
> Thanks to the people on this list who sent me the schematics of the
> SDS-3, I traced through the relevant parts of the circuit only to find
> ALL the LM3086's were faulty.
>
> Replaced them, powered it up and put through a big amp... Wow, the
> sounds are incredible. Some real Kraftwerk / BBC Radiophonic Workshop
> sounds in there.
>
> If you ever find one for sale, go for it !
>
> Phil.

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, jesper <jesper@...> wrote:
>
> Great news Phil!
>
> So now everyone else might regret not buying the spare I had until the
> day before yesterday. ;) (It's still on the list though)
> I bet you'll be looking for a SDS-III now Phil. :D
>
> --
> electronically yours, jesper
>
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se
>
> philmurr skrev 2013-03-03 19:05:
> > Well today I had a look at my SDS IV, I've owned the thing for years,
> > but it only ever gave noise and hiss (on both channels).
> >
> > Thanks to the people on this list who sent me the schematics of the
> > SDS-3, I traced through the relevant parts of the circuit only to find
> > ALL the LM3086's were faulty.
> >
> > Replaced them, powered it up and put through a big amp... Wow, the
> > sounds are incredible. Some real Kraftwerk / BBC Radiophonic Workshop
> > sounds in there.
> >
> > If you ever find one for sale, go for it !
> >
> > Phil.
>

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, jesper <jesper@...> wrote:
>
> philmurr skrev 2013-03-03 20:11:
> > I'm very happy my IV is working, next up is the SDS-V...
>
> Speaking of which...
>
> Can the tech guys here enlighten me regarding the program selector
> switches? I _guess_ the four switches end up at the same IC which opens
> the selected path... My hihat card works great upon startup if I stay
> with the factory preset. If I choose anything else it turns weird.
> Sometimes it plays some odd form of mix of all the presets but mostly
> it's just a lame and dull sound coming out. The LEDs either light up all
> or none. After fiften minutes or so it works as it should. It might be a
> bad soldering joint since heat might help...
>
> I dug out the schematics and looking at that crappy copy it looks as if
> the IC2 (14556) might be the culprit. IC1 is a 4013 btw. Any input from
> you soldering guys?
>
> --
> electronically yours, jesper
>
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se
>

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, jesper <jesper@...> wrote:
>
> philmurr skrev 2013-03-03 20:11:
> > I'm very happy my IV is working, next up is the SDS-V...
>
> Speaking of which...
>
> Can the tech guys here enlighten me regarding the program selector
> switches? I _guess_ the four switches end up at the same IC which opens
> the selected path... My hihat card works great upon startup if I stay
> with the factory preset. If I choose anything else it turns weird.
> Sometimes it plays some odd form of mix of all the presets but mostly
> it's just a lame and dull sound coming out. The LEDs either light up all
> or none. After fiften minutes or so it works as it should. It might be a
> bad soldering joint since heat might help...
>
> I dug out the schematics and looking at that crappy copy it looks as if
> the IC2 (14556) might be the culprit. IC1 is a 4013 btw. Any input from
> you soldering guys?
>
> --
> electronically yours, jesper
>
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se
>

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "philmurr" <philmurr@...> wrote:
>
> As the LED's are driven by IC2 and IC3, I'd definitely suspect one of them. IC3 is just inverting the outputs from IC2 so I think you're going to be correct with IC2.
>
> First of all I'd check that the solder connections for power to both chips are ok (14556 - pins 8/16 & 4011 - pins 7/14)
>
> --- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, jesper <jesper@> wrote:
> >
> > philmurr skrev 2013-03-03 20:11:
> > > I'm very happy my IV is working, next up is the SDS-V...
> >
> > Speaking of which...
> >
> > Can the tech guys here enlighten me regarding the program selector
> > switches? I _guess_ the four switches end up at the same IC which opens
> > the selected path... My hihat card works great upon startup if I stay
> > with the factory preset. If I choose anything else it turns weird.
> > Sometimes it plays some odd form of mix of all the presets but mostly
> > it's just a lame and dull sound coming out. The LEDs either light up all
> > or none. After fiften minutes or so it works as it should. It might be a
> > bad soldering joint since heat might help...
> >
> > I dug out the schematics and looking at that crappy copy it looks as if
> > the IC2 (14556) might be the culprit. IC1 is a 4013 btw. Any input from
> > you soldering guys?
> >
> > --
> > electronically yours, jesper
> >
> > - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> > www.electronic-obsession.se
> >
>

> there are caps on the card too that could be bad.
>
> i just recapped the power and connector plate on an SDSV and it looked
> like the caps were from the 1920's!
>
> JKLOL.
>
> z
>
> NEW ALLIANCE EAST!!!!
>
> --------------------------------------
>
> New Alliance East - Mastering
>
> New Alliance East - Facebook
>
> X :::: B :::: S
>
> ________________________________
> From: jesper jesper@...
> <mailto:jesper%40electronic-obsession.se>>
> To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Simmons_Drums%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 4, 2013 4:07 AM
> Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Today's repair...
>
>
>
> philmurr skrev 2013-03-03 20:11:
> > I'm very happy my IV is working, next up is the SDS-V...
>
> Speaking of which...
>
> Can the tech guys here enlighten me regarding the program selector
> switches? I _guess_ the four switches end up at the same IC which opens
> the selected path... My hihat card works great upon startup if I stay
> with the factory preset. If I choose anything else it turns weird.
> Sometimes it plays some odd form of mix of all the presets but mostly
> it's just a lame and dull sound coming out. The LEDs either light up all
> or none. After fiften minutes or so it works as it should. It might be a
> bad soldering joint since heat might help...
>
> I dug out the schematics and looking at that crappy copy it looks as if
> the IC2 (14556) might be the culprit. IC1 is a 4013 btw. Any input from
> you soldering guys?
>
> --
> electronically yours, jesper
>
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se

> well, if the power supply caps are bad they can hold an insufficient
> voltage until they 'warm up' and begin to function better.
>
> or filter caps can let through unwanted noise that gets better once the
> cap is heated and in tolerance.
>
> these can affect the sound of the whole device. if it was a linn drum
> it wouldn't boot at all because the internal computer would detect bad
> power voltages.
>
> z
>
>
> NEW ALLIANCE EAST!!!!
>
> --------------------------------------
>
> New Alliance East - Mastering
>
> New Alliance East - Facebook
>
> X :::: B :::: S
>
> ________________________________
> From: jesper jesper@...
> <mailto:jesper%40electronic-obsession.se>>
> To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com <mailto:Simmons_Drums%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 3:17 AM
> Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Today's repair...
>
>
>
> My experience is that when a cap fails it fails. There is no
> temperamental about it. This sounds a lot more like a crappy IC getting
> warmed and functional...
>
> --
> electronically yours, jesper
>
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se
>
> Nick Zampiello skrev 2013-03-06 00:31:
> > there are caps on the card too that could be bad.
> >
> > i just recapped the power and connector plate on an SDSV and it looked
> > like the caps were from the 1920's!
> >
> > JKLOL.
> >
> > z
> >
> > NEW ALLIANCE EAST!!!!
> >
> > --------------------------------------
> >
> > New Alliance East - Mastering
> >
> > New Alliance East - Facebook
> >
> > X :::: B :::: S
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: jesper jesper@...
> <mailto:jesper%40electronic-obsession.se>
> > >
> > To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Simmons_Drums%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Monday, March 4, 2013 4:07 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Today's repair...
> >
> >
> >
> > philmurr skrev 2013-03-03 20:11:
> > > I'm very happy my IV is working, next up is the SDS-V...
> >
> > Speaking of which...
> >
> > Can the tech guys here enlighten me regarding the program selector
> > switches? I _guess_ the four switches end up at the same IC which opens
> > the selected path... My hihat card works great upon startup if I stay
> > with the factory preset. If I choose anything else it turns weird.
> > Sometimes it plays some odd form of mix of all the presets but mostly
> > it's just a lame and dull sound coming out. The LEDs either light up all
> > or none. After fiften minutes or so it works as it should. It might be a
> > bad soldering joint since heat might help...
> >
> > I dug out the schematics and looking at that crappy copy it looks as if
> > the IC2 (14556) might be the culprit. IC1 is a 4013 btw. Any input from
> > you soldering guys?
> >
> > --
> > electronically yours, jesper
> >
> > - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> > www.electronic-obsession.se
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
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>

> yes, but maybe the fact that this card actually has a higher current

> demand may be problematic as well.

>

> especially if it's a crude digital circuit that needs enough to be passable.

> talking about that ,
>
> I remember having read a note
>
> "if you intend to put more than 5 cymbals modules in the SDSV. Please
> contact Simmons for a highered powered rack if 7 cymbals are required in
> a rack"
>
> "& do not fit cymbal or hihat in Channel 1 position as the 5v regulator
> on the piggyback board could short on the left hand cheek of the chassis"
>
> so there's quite some concern about that cymbal / hihat cards power feeding.
>
> Even if if it's not the problem yet , why not increasing the PSU caps,
> in the same time, so you have a better reserve ?
>
> Good luck
>
> ----- Mail d'origine -----
> De: jesper <jesper@...
> <mailto:jesper%40electronic-obsession.se>>
> À: Simmons Drums <Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Simmons_Drums%40yahoogroups.com>>
> Envoyé: Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:59:29 +0100 (CET)
> Objet: Re: [Simmons Drums] Today's repair...
>
> Nick Zampiello skrev 2013-03-06 16:11:
>
> > yes, but maybe the fact that this card actually has a higher current
>
> > demand may be problematic as well.
>
> >
>
> > especially if it's a crude digital circuit that needs enough to be
> passable.
>
> Good point - will keep that in mind and check for ripples/fluctuations
>
> if necessary.
>
> --
>
> electronically yours, jesper
>
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
>
> www.electronic-obsession.se

> As the LED's are driven by IC2 and IC3, I'd definitely suspect one of
> them. IC3 is just inverting the outputs from IC2 so I think you're going
> to be correct with IC2.
>
> First of all I'd check that the solder connections for power to both
> chips are ok (14556 - pins 8/16 & 4011 - pins 7/14)
>
> --- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Simmons_Drums%40yahoogroups.com>, jesper wrote:
> >
> > philmurr skrev 2013-03-03 20:11:
> > > I'm very happy my IV is working, next up is the SDS-V...
> >
> > Speaking of which...
> >
> > Can the tech guys here enlighten me regarding the program selector
> > switches? I _guess_ the four switches end up at the same IC which opens
> > the selected path... My hihat card works great upon startup if I stay
> > with the factory preset. If I choose anything else it turns weird.
> > Sometimes it plays some odd form of mix of all the presets but mostly
> > it's just a lame and dull sound coming out. The LEDs either light up all
> > or none. After fiften minutes or so it works as it should. It might be a
> > bad soldering joint since heat might help...
> >
> > I dug out the schematics and looking at that crappy copy it looks as if
> > the IC2 (14556) might be the culprit. IC1 is a 4013 btw. Any input from
> > you soldering guys?
> >
> > --
> > electronically yours, jesper
> >
> > - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> > www.electronic-obsession.se
> >