Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

Synth technicians in the Los Angeles area?

2014-03-03 by <ocguitar@gmail.com>

I'm looking for a technician in the Orange County or Los Angeles area who would be able to install the KiwiSix upgrade and revive my Polysix. I'd be willing to attempt the install myself but I've never cut traces before and it looks a bit daunting. The Polysix had battery damage on KLM-367 that I attempted to fix last year. This was after cleanup, and then after installing a new IC and battery:
http://imgur.com/M8POlkz
http://imgur.com/Nab9GYz
I replaced an IC and followed Old Crow's lithium battery guide but I was never quite able to narrow down the problem. The knobs all seem to work (adjusting the octave knob, cutoff, etc. definitely alters the sound), but it just makes crazy noises. Here's what it sounds like after powering up as I mess around with the knobs: https://soundcloud.com/ocguitar/korg-polysix-death-sounds

Anyway, I'm not familiar with fixing bad traces so I decided to just order the KiwiSix + Power Supply upgrade. I don't know what problems will remain after installing the upgrade. I'm hoping replacing KLM-367 will fix the problem but at least it'll get me closer to pinning down what's wrong. Honestly, I'd just like to get this thing fixed. Does anyone know of a reliable synth repair place in this area that could do this for me?

Re: [PolySix] Synth technicians in the Los Angeles area?

2014-03-03 by Bob Grieb

Who needs circuit bending? We've got battery acid!
Very crazy noises...
:-)

From: "ocguitar@gmail.com" <ocguitar@gmail.com>
To: PolySix@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2014 4:15 AM
Subject: [PolySix] Synth technicians in the Los Angeles area?

I'm looking for a technician in the Orange County or Los Angeles area who would be able to install the KiwiSix upgrade and revive my Polysix. I'd be willing to attempt the install myself but I've never cut traces before and it looks a bit daunting. The Polysix had battery damage on KLM-367 that I attempted to fix last year. This was after cleanup, and then after installing a new IC and battery:
http://imgur.com/M8POlkz
http://imgur.com/Nab9GYz
I replaced an IC and followed Old Crow's lithium battery guide but I was never quite able to narrow down the problem. The knobs all seem to work (adjusting the octave knob, cutoff, etc. definitely alters the sound), but it just makes crazy noises. Here's what it sounds like after powering up as I mess around with the knobs: https://soundcloud.com/ocguitar/korg-polysix-death-sounds

Anyway, I'm not familiar with fixing bad traces so I decided to just order the KiwiSix + Power Supply upgrade. I don't know what problems will remain after installing the upgrade. I'm hoping replacing KLM-367 will fix the problem but at least it'll get me closer to pinning down what's wrong. Honestly, I'd just like to get this thing fixed. Does anyone know of a reliable synth repair place in this area that could do this for me?

Re: [PolySix] Synth technicians in the Los Angeles area?

2014-03-03 by Alex Prescott

Ed of synthesizer repair in Hollywood installed my Kiwisix kit. He is very honest and fair in his pricing.

On Mar 3, 2014, at 1:15 AM, <ocguitar@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm looking for a technician in the Orange County or Los Angeles area who would be able to install the KiwiSix upgrade and revive my Polysix. I'd be willing to attempt the install myself but I've never cut traces before and it looks a bit daunting. The Polysix had battery damage on KLM-367 that I attempted to fix last year. This was after cleanup, and then after installing a new IC and battery:
http://imgur.com/M8POlkz
http://imgur.com/Nab9GYz
I replaced an IC and followed Old Crow's lithium battery guide but I was never quite able to narrow down the problem. The knobs all seem to work (adjusting the octave knob, cutoff, etc. definitely alters the sound), but it just makes crazy noises. Here's what it sounds like after powering up as I mess around with the knobs: https://soundcloud.com/ocguitar/korg-polysix-death-sounds

Anyway, I'm not familiar with fixing bad traces so I decided to just order the KiwiSix + Power Supply upgrade. I don't know what problems will remain after installing the upgrade. I'm hoping replacing KLM-367 will fix the problem but at least it'll get me closer to pinning down what's wrong. Honestly, I'd just like to get this thing fixed. Does anyone know of a reliable synth repair place in this area that could do this for me?

RE: Synth technicians in the Los Angeles area?

2014-03-03 by <josh.nursing@gmail.com>

Sounds like a typical Polysix with traces (and possibly ICs) damaged on KLM-367. Fixing KLM-367 properly should resolve it completely.

The installation of the Kiwisix upgrade should not only make you have a working synth, but will also add several excellent features like higher patch storage count, full MIDI implementation with high-resolution external NRPN control with 4096 values, etc...

Yash

Re: [PolySix] RE: Synth technicians in the Los Angeles area?

2014-03-03 by Stephen Laughlin

Cool! I just contacted Ed of Synthesizer Repair and I'm going up to see him tomorrow. He mentioned that one problem with the KiwiSix upgrade is that it actually adds a small amount of noise/hum. It's actually mentioned in the manual. He found that it was caused by something about sample and hold, originally scanning at 50-60hz being increased to a much faster rate. He mentioned he has a working Polysix board he could install if I preferred that option but I think the new features are worth it. My whole setup is built around MIDI.

Thanks ya'll!

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 8:59 AM, <josh.nursing@gmail.com> wrote:

Sounds like a typical Polysix with traces (and possibly ICs) damaged on KLM-367. Fixing KLM-367 properly should resolve it completely.

The installation of the Kiwisix upgrade should not only make you have a working synth, but will also add several excellent features like higher patch storage count, full MIDI implementation with high-resolution external NRPN control with 4096 values, etc...

Yash

Re: [PolySix] RE: Synth technicians in the Los Angeles area?

2014-03-03 by Alex Prescott

Sweet! Ed is a cool guy.

On Mar 3, 2014, at 2:23 PM, Stephen Laughlin <ocguitar@gmail.com> wrote:

Cool! I just contacted Ed of Synthesizer Repair and I'm going up to see him tomorrow. He mentioned that one problem with the KiwiSix upgrade is that it actually adds a small amount of noise/hum. It's actually mentioned in the manual. He found that it was caused by something about sample and hold, originally scanning at 50-60hz being increased to a much faster rate. He mentioned he has a working Polysix board he could install if I preferred that option but I think the new features are worth it. My whole setup is built around MIDI.

Thanks ya'll!

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 8:59 AM, <josh.nursing@gmail.com> wrote:

Sounds like a typical Polysix with traces (and possibly ICs) damaged on KLM-367. Fixing KLM-367 properly should resolve it completely.

The installation of the Kiwisix upgrade should not only make you have a working synth, but will also add several excellent features like higher patch storage count, full MIDI implementation with high-resolution external NRPN control with 4096 values, etc...

Yash