Discussion about the Korg PolySix synthesizer

Hi list,

I am considering going for a polysix but am put off by some 
quality/durability horror stories I've read. I have only ever owned 
one analogue synth- a Roland Juno 6. It is in beatiful condition and 
top working order. My research suggested that these were reliable, 
with sturdy keyboards and this was borne out in use.

On the other hand the poly seems to have been a popular live synth 
and most units have had their weak keys battered. That is my worst 
fear, that keys become intermittent or cut out completely, maybe 
even fall off!

Never experienced real VCO's either. I'm not very techy minded and 
probably wouldn't attempt the tuning myself. How many people here 
have poly's in full working order and how long could I expect it to 
remain so before requiring another service?

Thanks all,

Mike

I asked a similar question which was never really answered here in 
context, so I can empathize.  


> Never experienced real VCO's either. I'm not very techy minded and 
> probably wouldn't attempt the tuning myself. How many people here 
> have poly's in full working order and how long could I expect it to 
> remain so before requiring another service?
> 

Old Crow's site will give you enough information to keep a PolySix 
running.  My PolySix is in full working order thanks to info from 
this group and Old Crow's site.  If you get one that is suffering 
from the battery acid leak, my guess is if it's repaired correctly 
then you shouldn't have any other issues with circuitry other than 
normal component aging, wear, and eventual breakdown.  All 
electronics suffer from this so there's little you can do about it.

Pots may get scratchy, buttons may not work right, but again this is 
normal breakdown.  In most cases you can clean these and keep them 
working.  If not, then they're easy to replace.

The keybed is the worst offender when it comes to PolySix issues.  I 
used to have a Poly 61 with the same type of keybed and essentially 
the first time you remove the keybed to clean the contacts you should 
expect to have to get in there from time to time to keep them clean.  
It's an easy process which takes a few hours.

You can always try to have the contacts made more durable, which is a 
solution I intend to implement, but I'm researching the best way to 
do it.  I think the contact kits Old Crow talks about may be the best 
way to go.

As I've said to others here: IMHO the PolySix is well worth the 
trouble it takes to get it up and running and then the care and 
feeding it will require.  Nothing I've played has as much character 
as a PolySix.

Johannes, I saw this post of yours and have been considering this as 
a solution.  My primary concerns are: 

Will the tape last?  Will the foil last?  Would the foil somehow rust 
or corrode (due to climate issues [I live in the North East USA where 
it's pretty damn cold right now, and condensation concerns me, 
perhaps foolishly])?  How would the foil affect the contacts on the 
pcb?

Any insight?




> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I attach here one of my own posts I sent several months ago. It
> works until now without any problem. I can recommend this method
> out of this experience:
> 
> > From:   Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@c...>
> > Date:  Sat Mar 1, 2003  2:29 pm
> > Subject:  Re: [PolySix] P6 keyboard repair
>  >
> > I had the same with my Polysix. I did the following:
> > You need:
> > * a piece of aluminium foil, the kind you pack food into
> > * a standard office hole-puncher
> > * dual sided adhesive tape; not a thick one like "Scotch" but a 
thin
> >   one similar to normal adhesive tape but sticking on both sides.
> > * one free evening and a few good CDs to bring you over the 
evening ;-)
> > 
> > Take the keyboard apart and clean the PCB, if you did not already.
> > Glue the adhesive tape onto the aluminium foil and punch holes 
out of
> > it. Now take the little circles of aluminium and adhesive tape 
and peel
> > off the coating from the other side of the adhesive tape and glue 
the
> > aluminium foil onto the black rubber "thingies". That's it.
> > Since I did this several months ago each and any key is working 
perfect.
> > 
> > Johannes

toorglick wrote:
 > The keybed is the worst offender when it comes to PolySix issues.  I
 > used to have a Poly 61 with the same type of keybed and essentially
 > the first time you remove the keybed to clean the contacts you should
 > expect to have to get in there from time to time to keep them clean.
 > It's an easy process which takes a few hours.
 >
 > You can always try to have the contacts made more durable, which is a
 > solution I intend to implement, but I'm researching the best way to
 > do it.  I think the contact kits Old Crow talks about may be the best
 > way to go.


Hi,

I attach here one of my own posts I sent several months ago. It
works until now without any problem. I can recommend this method
out of this experience:

> From:   Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@c...>
> Date:  Sat Mar 1, 2003  2:29 pm
> Subject:  Re: [PolySix] P6 keyboard repair
 >
> I had the same with my Polysix. I did the following:
> You need:
> * a piece of aluminium foil, the kind you pack food into
> * a standard office hole-puncher
> * dual sided adhesive tape; not a thick one like "Scotch" but a thin
>   one similar to normal adhesive tape but sticking on both sides.
> * one free evening and a few good CDs to bring you over the evening ;-)
> 
> Take the keyboard apart and clean the PCB, if you did not already.
> Glue the adhesive tape onto the aluminium foil and punch holes out of
> it. Now take the little circles of aluminium and adhesive tape and peel
> off the coating from the other side of the adhesive tape and glue the
> aluminium foil onto the black rubber "thingies". That's it.
> Since I did this several months ago each and any key is working perfect.
> 
> Johannes

yes, johannes posted this in response to a question i
had a while back... and yes, this method works great
and is easy.
i also live in the NE usa (nyc) and the foil seems to
be lasting just fine. only thing is that i couldn't
get the double-sided tape to stick, so i used rubber
glue, which is working just fine.

- roy

brasilia
http://www.unovis.org

 
--- toorglick <toorglick@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Johannes, I saw this post of yours and have been
> considering this as 
> a solution.  My primary concerns are: 
> 
> Will the tape last?  Will the foil last?  Would the
> foil somehow rust 
> or corrode (due to climate issues [I live in the
> North East USA where 
> it's pretty damn cold right now, and condensation
> concerns me, 
> perhaps foolishly])?  How would the foil affect the
> contacts on the 
> pcb?
> 
> Any insight?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > 
> > 
> > Hi,
> > 
> > I attach here one of my own posts I sent several
> months ago. It
> > works until now without any problem. I can
> recommend this method
> > out of this experience:
> > 
> > > From:   Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@c...>
> > > Date:  Sat Mar 1, 2003  2:29 pm
> > > Subject:  Re: [PolySix] P6 keyboard repair
> >  >
> > > I had the same with my Polysix. I did the
> following:
> > > You need:
> > > * a piece of aluminium foil, the kind you pack
> food into
> > > * a standard office hole-puncher
> > > * dual sided adhesive tape; not a thick one like
> "Scotch" but a 
> thin
> > >   one similar to normal adhesive tape but
> sticking on both sides.
> > > * one free evening and a few good CDs to bring
> you over the 
> evening ;-)
> > > 
> > > Take the keyboard apart and clean the PCB, if
> you did not already.
> > > Glue the adhesive tape onto the aluminium foil
> and punch holes 
> out of
> > > it. Now take the little circles of aluminium and
> adhesive tape 
> and peel
> > > off the coating from the other side of the
> adhesive tape and glue 
> the
> > > aluminium foil onto the black rubber "thingies".
> That's it.
> > > Since I did this several months ago each and any
> key is working 
> perfect.
> > > 
> > > Johannes
> 
> 


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I think it will not last forever - of course. But probably it will
last far longer than when you just clean it (thats what I did before-
cleaning every two or three months). The foil cannot rust because
it is made of aluminium, but it may corrode. - I can tell you that
I did this more than one year ago and all keys are working perfectly.
The contact area on the PCB is coated with gold (which one brave
guy scratched away on my Polysix...), so it should not degrade under
normal circumstances (it should even withstand coffee or coke...)

Johannes


toorglick wrote:

> Johannes, I saw this post of yours and have been considering this as 
> a solution.  My primary concerns are: 
> 
> Will the tape last?  Will the foil last?  Would the foil somehow rust 
> or corrode (due to climate issues [I live in the North East USA where 
> it's pretty damn cold right now, and condensation concerns me, 
> perhaps foolishly])?  How would the foil affect the contacts on the 
> pcb?
> 
> Any insight?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I attach here one of my own posts I sent several months ago. It
>>works until now without any problem. I can recommend this method
>>out of this experience:
>>
>>
>>>From:   Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@c...>
>>>Date:  Sat Mar 1, 2003  2:29 pm
>>>Subject:  Re: [PolySix] P6 keyboard repair
>>
>> >
>>
>>>I had the same with my Polysix. I did the following:
>>>You need:
>>>* a piece of aluminium foil, the kind you pack food into
>>>* a standard office hole-puncher
>>>* dual sided adhesive tape; not a thick one like "Scotch" but a 
> 
> thin
> 
>>>  one similar to normal adhesive tape but sticking on both sides.
>>>* one free evening and a few good CDs to bring you over the 
> 
> evening ;-)
> 
>>>Take the keyboard apart and clean the PCB, if you did not already.
>>>Glue the adhesive tape onto the aluminium foil and punch holes 
> 
> out of
> 
>>>it. Now take the little circles of aluminium and adhesive tape 
> 
> and peel
> 
>>>off the coating from the other side of the adhesive tape and glue 
> 
> the
> 
>>>aluminium foil onto the black rubber "thingies". That's it.
>>>Since I did this several months ago each and any key is working 
> 
> perfect.
> 
>>>Johannes
> 
> 
> 
> PolySix "Digiest" Page: http://www.acc.umu.se/~amber/Poly6 
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
>  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolySix/
> 
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>  PolySix-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
>  http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> 
> 
> 
>

Hello all, I wanted to add to this thread, I tried this method 
tonight and it worked wonderfully! All the keys that were not playing 
before play just fine. I needed to double up the foil on one key 
since it didn't play still afterwards but with an extra layer of foil 
it worked great. 

I only applied the foil circles to the keys that weren't working, I 
let the other working contacts be (if they're not broke don't fix 'em 
kind of thing)

Anyways, wanted to say thanks for this tip. I'm back in business!




--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@...> 
wrote:
>
> I think it will not last forever - of course. But probably it will
> last far longer than when you just clean it (thats what I did 
before-
> cleaning every two or three months). The foil cannot rust because
> it is made of aluminium, but it may corrode. - I can tell you that
> I did this more than one year ago and all keys are working 
perfectly.
> The contact area on the PCB is coated with gold (which one brave
> guy scratched away on my Polysix...), so it should not degrade under
> normal circumstances (it should even withstand coffee or coke...)
> 
> Johannes
> 
> 
> toorglick wrote:
> > Johannes, I saw this post of yours and have been considering this 
as 
> > a solution.  My primary concerns are: 
> > 
> > Will the tape last?  Will the foil last?  Would the foil somehow 
rust 
> > or corrode (due to climate issues [I live in the North East USA 
where 
> > it's pretty damn cold right now, and condensation concerns me, 
> > perhaps foolishly])?  How would the foil affect the contacts on 
the 
> > pcb?
> > 
> > Any insight?
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >>
> >>Hi,
> >>
> >>I attach here one of my own posts I sent several months ago. It
> >>works until now without any problem. I can recommend this method
> >>out of this experience:
> >>
> >>
> >>>From:   Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@c...>
> >>>Date:  Sat Mar 1, 2003  2:29 pm
> >>>Subject:  Re: [PolySix] P6 keyboard repair
> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >>>I had the same with my Polysix. I did the following:
> >>>You need:
> >>>* a piece of aluminium foil, the kind you pack food into
> >>>* a standard office hole-puncher
> >>>* dual sided adhesive tape; not a thick one like "Scotch" but a 
> > 
> > thin
> > 
> >>>  one similar to normal adhesive tape but sticking on both sides.
> >>>* one free evening and a few good CDs to bring you over the 
> > 
> > evening ;-)
> > 
> >>>Take the keyboard apart and clean the PCB, if you did not 
already.
> >>>Glue the adhesive tape onto the aluminium foil and punch holes 
> > 
> > out of
> > 
> >>>it. Now take the little circles of aluminium and adhesive tape 
> > 
> > and peel
> > 
> >>>off the coating from the other side of the adhesive tape and 
glue 

> > 
> > the
> > 
> >>>aluminium foil onto the black rubber "thingies". That's it.
> >>>Since I did this several months ago each and any key is working 
> > 
> > perfect.
> > 
> >>>Johannes
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > PolySix "Digiest" Page: http://www.acc.umu.se/~amber/Poly6 
> > 
> > 
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > 
> > To visit your group on the web, go to:
> >  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolySix/
> > 
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >  PolySix-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > 
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> >  http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >
>

I actually 'invented' this method long ago (probably others before me
:-) ) but decided it might wear the board eventually being metal on
metal and all.  

I've developed a better way.  I'll have material that should be
optimal here soon to just put a whole new contact face on that is made
of the same type of material.  I'm having a special run done that is
thin enough to fit the gap reliably. I've tested some stock material
and it worked but I'm afraid bass might vibrate it and cause spurious
triggering.  -Bob   - Sounddoctorin.com

--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "hoggybogger" <yanbu@...> wrote:

>
> Hello all, I wanted to add to this thread, I tried this method 
> tonight and it worked wonderfully! All the keys that were not playing 
> before play just fine. I needed to double up the foil on one key 
> since it didn't play still afterwards but with an extra layer of foil 
> it worked great. 
> 
> I only applied the foil circles to the keys that weren't working, I 
> let the other working contacts be (if they're not broke don't fix 'em 
> kind of thing)
> 
> Anyways, wanted to say thanks for this tip. I'm back in business!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@> 
> wrote:
> >
> > I think it will not last forever - of course. But probably it will
> > last far longer than when you just clean it (thats what I did 
> before-
> > cleaning every two or three months). The foil cannot rust because
> > it is made of aluminium, but it may corrode. - I can tell you that
> > I did this more than one year ago and all keys are working 
> perfectly.
> > The contact area on the PCB is coated with gold (which one brave
> > guy scratched away on my Polysix...), so it should not degrade under
> > normal circumstances (it should even withstand coffee or coke...)
> > 
> > Johannes
> > 
> > 
> > toorglick wrote:
> > > Johannes, I saw this post of yours and have been considering this 
> as 
> > > a solution.  My primary concerns are: 
> > > 
> > > Will the tape last?  Will the foil last?  Would the foil somehow 
> rust 
> > > or corrode (due to climate issues [I live in the North East USA 
> where 
> > > it's pretty damn cold right now, and condensation concerns me, 
> > > perhaps foolishly])?  How would the foil affect the contacts on 
> the 
> > > pcb?
> > > 
> > > Any insight?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > >>
> > >>Hi,
> > >>
> > >>I attach here one of my own posts I sent several months ago. It
> > >>works until now without any problem. I can recommend this method
> > >>out of this experience:
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>From:   Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@c...>
> > >>>Date:  Sat Mar 1, 2003  2:29 pm
> > >>>Subject:  Re: [PolySix] P6 keyboard repair
> > >>
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >>>I had the same with my Polysix. I did the following:
> > >>>You need:
> > >>>* a piece of aluminium foil, the kind you pack food into
> > >>>* a standard office hole-puncher
> > >>>* dual sided adhesive tape; not a thick one like "Scotch" but a 
> > > 
> > > thin
> > > 
> > >>>  one similar to normal adhesive tape but sticking on both sides.
> > >>>* one free evening and a few good CDs to bring you over the 
> > > 
> > > evening ;-)
> > > 
> > >>>Take the keyboard apart and clean the PCB, if you did not 
> already.
> > >>>Glue the adhesive tape onto the aluminium foil and punch holes 
> > > 
> > > out of
> > > 
> > >>>it. Now take the little circles of aluminium and adhesive tape 
> > > 
> > > and peel
> > > 
> > >>>off the coating from the other side of the adhesive tape and 
> glue 
> > > 
> > > the
> > > 
> > >>>aluminium foil onto the black rubber "thingies". That's it.
> > >>>Since I did this several months ago each and any key is working 
> > > 
> > > perfect.
> > > 
> > >>>Johannes
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > PolySix "Digiest" Page: http://www.acc.umu.se/~amber/Poly6 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > 
> > > To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > >  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolySix/
> > > 
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > >  PolySix-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > 
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> > >  http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > >
> >
>

I wanted to report back about this, it's not working again. I let it sit for a month at most, came back and I'm getting the same problems with my key contacts. 



--- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, "hoggybogger" <yanbu@...> wrote:

>
> Hello all, I wanted to add to this thread, I tried this method 
> tonight and it worked wonderfully! All the keys that were not playing 
> before play just fine. I needed to double up the foil on one key 
> since it didn't play still afterwards but with an extra layer of foil 
> it worked great. 
> 
> I only applied the foil circles to the keys that weren't working, I 
> let the other working contacts be (if they're not broke don't fix 'em 
> kind of thing)
> 
> Anyways, wanted to say thanks for this tip. I'm back in business!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In PolySix@yahoogroups.com, Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@> 
> wrote:
> >
> > I think it will not last forever - of course. But probably it will
> > last far longer than when you just clean it (thats what I did 
> before-
> > cleaning every two or three months). The foil cannot rust because
> > it is made of aluminium, but it may corrode. - I can tell you that
> > I did this more than one year ago and all keys are working 
> perfectly.
> > The contact area on the PCB is coated with gold (which one brave
> > guy scratched away on my Polysix...), so it should not degrade under
> > normal circumstances (it should even withstand coffee or coke...)
> > 
> > Johannes
> > 
> > 
> > toorglick wrote:
> > > Johannes, I saw this post of yours and have been considering this 
> as 
> > > a solution.  My primary concerns are: 
> > > 
> > > Will the tape last?  Will the foil last?  Would the foil somehow 
> rust 
> > > or corrode (due to climate issues [I live in the North East USA 
> where 
> > > it's pretty damn cold right now, and condensation concerns me, 
> > > perhaps foolishly])?  How would the foil affect the contacts on 
> the 
> > > pcb?
> > > 
> > > Any insight?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > >>
> > >>Hi,
> > >>
> > >>I attach here one of my own posts I sent several months ago. It
> > >>works until now without any problem. I can recommend this method
> > >>out of this experience:
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>From:   Johannes Hausensteiner <jo.synth@c...>
> > >>>Date:  Sat Mar 1, 2003  2:29 pm
> > >>>Subject:  Re: [PolySix] P6 keyboard repair
> > >>
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >>>I had the same with my Polysix. I did the following:
> > >>>You need:
> > >>>* a piece of aluminium foil, the kind you pack food into
> > >>>* a standard office hole-puncher
> > >>>* dual sided adhesive tape; not a thick one like "Scotch" but a 
> > > 
> > > thin
> > > 
> > >>>  one similar to normal adhesive tape but sticking on both sides.
> > >>>* one free evening and a few good CDs to bring you over the 
> > > 
> > > evening ;-)
> > > 
> > >>>Take the keyboard apart and clean the PCB, if you did not 
> already.
> > >>>Glue the adhesive tape onto the aluminium foil and punch holes 
> > > 
> > > out of
> > > 
> > >>>it. Now take the little circles of aluminium and adhesive tape 
> > > 
> > > and peel
> > > 
> > >>>off the coating from the other side of the adhesive tape and 
> glue 
> > > 
> > > the
> > > 
> > >>>aluminium foil onto the black rubber "thingies". That's it.
> > >>>Since I did this several months ago each and any key is working 
> > > 
> > > perfect.
> > > 
> > >>>Johannes
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > PolySix "Digiest" Page: http://www.acc.umu.se/~amber/Poly6 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > 
> > > To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > >  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolySix/
> > > 
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > >  PolySix-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > > 
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> > >  http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > >
> >
>