Vintage Synth Repair

Yup good advise.  I currently am in Montana and it's fairly dry here
usually but gets real cold.   I set up a portable studio with a rack
of MKS7, 10, 30 and a Kawai XD-5 along with a peavey SI board and
WS/AD rack and a computer for sequencing.  It's a pain to pull things
out since they're all fastened in so I just pray that everything is
ok.  CHips in general are rated to run ok down to the coldest temps we
get and if it's not running hey by the time I want to use it it's warm
enough again so I don't care if the chip works at those temps usually
:-).  Just that it doesn't get damaged.

The problem is expansion/contraction always and if you have something
that is already weak then this is the way to ensure that the problem
is more likely to manifest itself. -Bob

--- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "ferrograph632"
<ferrograph@...> wrote:
>
> sunlight is much worse than cold, but beware of damp, especially if
> the instrument has any exposed metalwork (like if the paint has
> started to come off a control panel for instance) as it will quickly
> rust. also likely to suffer from damp are the foam insulation
> materials like you would find under the control panel of a rogue, or
> pretty much any synth with slider controls. 
> occasionally, a build up of condensation on a board will cause
> problems when you move a synth out of cold into a warmer environment;
> let it acclimatise.
> other than that.... have you any instruments or other studio equipment
> with moving parts? I have had problems with 1/4" decks where the
> capstan refuses to turn because the oil in the bearings got too cold.
> this can lead to power supply &/or servo problems down the line. so
> always try turning any such part by hand before powering the device
> after storage.
> if you own a mellotron or a hammond, the same things apply. my m400
> has to be kept in a reasonably warm place or it seizes up.
> hth-
> duncan.
>