Hi. Another CS80 here!
2004-12-22 by cybermooks
Thanks to David for starting this interesting group!
I recently got a CS80. I must say for many years I had little interest and used
to think who needs an old heavy synth with a few patches, but in recent years
started appreciating its features and started looking for one as it was the only
major synth I didn't have.
The guy I bought it from said everything was working but it needed tuning (he
had partially tuned it once with a guitar tuner). The history of this unit seems
to be that it was used and probably gigged for part of its first decade, but has
hardly been used at all in its second. Turns out this guy was an engineering
student when someone gave it to him nonworking. He and his fellow students
did an analysis and found the only thing wrong was a burned out chip, which
they replaced. But the guy wasn't a keyboard player, didn't really know how to
play it so it just basically just sat there for years, turned on periodically.
When I played it it sounded pretty awful, but I figured I'd repair it and took it.
But when I got it home and adjusted the controls it sounded great. As far as
tuning goes he had left the Detune II lever down. Once turned off it actually
sounded pretty much in tune. It only goes out of tune on a held sustained
note, which is more a bit of oscillator drift I believe.
So I've lucked out; apart from some worn and torn Tolex everything inside is in
perfect working condition and everything is functioning.
On tuning I've been looking what to use, although I have a pretty good ear.
Someone recommended a Conn Strobe which is pretty pricey for what I would
need it for; I've come across a cheap Korg CA-30 chromatic tuner that does
C1-C8, and I'm wondering if that might be adequate. Does anyone have any
opinions on tuners for this purpose?
Another (dumb) question: Where is the serial # located? I can't find it to enter
in the database. Thanks.
I recently got a CS80. I must say for many years I had little interest and used
to think who needs an old heavy synth with a few patches, but in recent years
started appreciating its features and started looking for one as it was the only
major synth I didn't have.
The guy I bought it from said everything was working but it needed tuning (he
had partially tuned it once with a guitar tuner). The history of this unit seems
to be that it was used and probably gigged for part of its first decade, but has
hardly been used at all in its second. Turns out this guy was an engineering
student when someone gave it to him nonworking. He and his fellow students
did an analysis and found the only thing wrong was a burned out chip, which
they replaced. But the guy wasn't a keyboard player, didn't really know how to
play it so it just basically just sat there for years, turned on periodically.
When I played it it sounded pretty awful, but I figured I'd repair it and took it.
But when I got it home and adjusted the controls it sounded great. As far as
tuning goes he had left the Detune II lever down. Once turned off it actually
sounded pretty much in tune. It only goes out of tune on a held sustained
note, which is more a bit of oscillator drift I believe.
So I've lucked out; apart from some worn and torn Tolex everything inside is in
perfect working condition and everything is functioning.
On tuning I've been looking what to use, although I have a pretty good ear.
Someone recommended a Conn Strobe which is pretty pricey for what I would
need it for; I've come across a cheap Korg CA-30 chromatic tuner that does
C1-C8, and I'm wondering if that might be adequate. Does anyone have any
opinions on tuners for this purpose?
Another (dumb) question: Where is the serial # located? I can't find it to enter
in the database. Thanks.