Vintage Synth Repair

----- Original Message -----

From: Richard Cohen

To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 5:20 AM

Subject: Re: [vintagesynthrepair] cleaning keyboard contacts

I'm in Miami....

just an update on my restoration....

unscrewed the keyboard... lightly took off the flimsy, dusty cardboard
shieldings under the contact housing, cleaned all the contacts. plugged the
unit in... more keys worked than before... but not all...
turned the unit off... screwed all the major stuff back in... started to put
the outter casing together when i noticed that the two lines connected to
the power switch (which had previously been soldered) snapped right off from
the button!

to make a long story short... not only do i have the keys to worry about,
now i have 2 tortured power lines that need to be repaired.

i'm taking this to a shop when I hit the lotto.

it's a Korg DW8000... I'm better off saving my money and getting a MS2000...

or better yet, when I hit lotto, I'm getting a MiniMoog -- brand new!


>From: "Scott A. Robb"
>Reply-To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
>To:
>Subject: Re: [vintagesynthrepair] cleaning keyboard contacts
>Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 18:42:09 -0700
>
>MessageGood point about the alcohol. My bad to assume that we'd all be on
>the same page.
>
>Re: the repair shops: Yes, I am certain that there are good tech's and
>shops out there (Kevin Lightner of Synthfool for one). I am just really
>anal about my stuff and I look long and hard for the best condition synth
>of a particular model and then spend even more time completely restoring it
>cosmetically and taking it apart completely and cleaning / lubing it
>refinishing the wood etc. Then to have some bozo F up my work, lose my
>hardware and then have to give him money for the privilage just REALLY
>burns my ass. Especially considering that it's so simple to take a couple
>of extra seconds to organize and take care handling the equipment.
>
>It's unfortunate but I have seen this happen more often than not.
>
>So um, you wouldn't happen to be in the L.A. area, would you?
>
>Scott
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Keith Niver
> To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 3:37 PM
> Subject: RE: [vintagesynthrepair] cleaning keyboard contacts
>
>
> Be careful saying alcohol. Several different types, isopropyl,
>denatured, straight, etc. Soap and water normally work fine, just make sure
>you use some air to blow them dry or let them dry overnight. Would not
>suggest using anything very strong on the pc board contacts as you may ruin
>them, and then it's all over but the weeping and the wailing.
>
> As for the one thread reply about repair shops, don't condemn repairs in
>general because of one bad apple. I happen to take great pride in my work
>and try my best to get it turned around as quickly as possible, especially
>for a working pro. I also make sure I don't have any screws or parts left
>over and do a thorough check before it leaves the bench. There is a group
>called MITA that certifies techs. I am a certified MITA tech and a Master
>Certified Tech for one manufacturer and also certified by several major
>manufacturers who oversee the work you do on a regular basis.
>
> Keith Niver
> Master Certified Tech & Certified MITA tech
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott A. Robb [mailto:soul.lux@verizon.net]
> Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 10:58 AM
> To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [vintagesynthrepair] cleaning keyboard contacts
>
>
> Alcohol should work fine. The only Korg who's keybed I have looked at
>is the MS-20 so it's probably different than yours.
>
> If it's like the keybeds (mfg. by Mitsubishi) on the Korg Mono/Poly,
>Memorymoog and OB-8 take a look here for cleaning instructions:
> http://www.oldcrows.net/~oldcrow/synth/korg/polysix/keyclean.html
>
> Scott Rider is a brillian man but I would take slight issue with his
>suggestion to use an eraser on the contacts, this should not be necessary.
>You will want to use it (VERY GENTLY) on the black contact that is inside
>the rubber cup though and only a few gentle swipes. Hate to state the
>obvious but make sure you tet everything prior to buttoning it up.
>
>; I usually use alcohol followed by a contact enhancer but the latter is
>not required.
>
> Scott Robb
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Richard Cohen
> To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
> ; Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 8:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [vintagesynthrepair] cleaning keyboard contacts
>
>
> yes a korg DW8000.
>
> so i take it apart, and use cotton swabs and some sort of liquid and
>clean
> the back of each key and the contact part of the synth engine...?
>
> should i use alcohol or water? special formula?
>
>
> >From: "Scott A. Robb"
> >Reply-To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
> >To:
> >Subject: Re: [vintagesynthrepair] Re: AC POWER CORD
> >Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 08:30:02 -0700
> >
> ; >The thread is a little hazy (it's early, it could be me) but is
>this for
> >the Korg?
> >
> >Usually, cleaning the contacts is slightly time consuming but VERY
>simple.
> >If you bring it somewhere else, you have to realize that for the
>most part,
> >these people don't give a crap about your property and will pile
>other gear
> >on top of it while it sets on a shelf for weeks (only weeks if
>you're
> >lucky, could be months). Once they work on it they'll lay her on
>her face
> >on a carpeted bench full of bits of wire lead and solder globs and
>slide it
> >around etc. IOW, most don't give a crap about your stuff, it's just
>money
> >for them.
> >
> >If you're really lucky, you'll even get your unit back with most of
>the
> >fasteners (like the screws to close the cabinet or hold on the wood
>cheeks,
> >etc.) still there!
> >
> >If at all possible, do this stuff yourself and stay away from
>repair shops
> >unless you have absolutely NO OTHER alternative.
> >
> >I just got a white face Odyssey that the twit's over at MusicTek
>(North
> >Hollywood, Ca) put some healthy scratches on .
> >I've been unfortunate enough to buy two Oberheim's that have gone
>through
> ; >these people that both took FIVE months to get back! You can pay
>them a
> >"premium" rate (I think it's $180 an hour) and get on the "fast
>track" of
> >an 8 week turn around. Both Obies were missin quite a bit of the
>mounting
> >hardware.
> >
> >I am going tomorrow to help someone that had their OB-8 there for 5
>months
> >and got it back and they had not cleaned all of the contacts. It's
>under 90
> >day warranty so he took it back and MusicTek has had it 3 months
>now - just
> >to clean the contacts which they were paid to have supposedly done
>already!
> >These people REALLY suck!
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Richard Cohen
> > To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 6:35 AM
> > Subject: Re: [vintagesynthrepair] Re: AC POWER CORD
> >
> >
> > yeah... got it!
> >
> > no my problem is fixing the keys....
> >
> ; > out of a 61 note keyboard only about 9 work.
> >
> > someone mentioned cleaning the contacts...
> >
> > is this easy to do at home?
> >
> > how much would it be to get it done at samash... where the work
>is under
> ; > warranty?
> >
> ; >
> > ; thanks bro!
> >
>; > >From: "chromal"
> ; > >Reply-To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
> > >To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [vintagesynthrepair] Re: AC POWER CORD
> > >Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 00:55:47 -0000
> > >
> > >Richierich954,
> ; > >
> ; > >you said you checked out hosa gear, but I wonder if you have
> > >considered their PWC-178, which sounds like what you may be
>looking
> >for...
> > >
> > >
> > >Good Luck,
> > >Ben
> > >
> > >
> > >--- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Cohen"
> ; > > wrote:
>; > > >
> > > > hello everybody...
> > > >
> > > > i just bought a used korg dw8000 (as is) and need a 2 prong
>IEC
> > >power cord.
> > > >
> > ; > > i tried radio shack, hosa, guitar center, music stores, and
>nobody
> > >has them.
> > > >
> > > > any suggestions as to where i can get one of these is
>greatly
> > >appreciated.
> > > >
> > ; > > thank you.
> > > >
> > > >
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