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Vintage Analog Synth - Need A Tech (North-East)


Marsy
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Hey guys,

So I bought an Arp - Quartet recently and it sounded great for 10 minutes.

Then when switching patches it seemed to be stuck on 'organ' sound. When I press a different patch it switches into that patch (the led for that patch lights up) but the organ led remains lit too.

The only sound I can get from the synth is when I press the organ patch and only have the 'celeste' slider up (on) if I slide up the organ slider (1 octave lower) it cuts out all sound.

I have no technical knowledge of analog gear, but I've had a look inside and sprayed contact cleaner on a few bits I thought could be relevant but nothing has changed.

On a separate note I have also noticed that the tuning was flat, and when I turned the tuning pot the sound cuts in and out and you have to kind of gently let go of it in the right position to leave it producing sound. I believe this should be totally unrelated to the main problem.

If anyone can input any advice or suggest someone who could perform a service for me that would be fantastic. Preferably somewhere reasonably local to Teesside would be ideal.

Many thanks in advance guys,

Stephen

Edited by Marsy
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You might get some help from this website where others have had problems and serviced the Arp Quartet and the Siel Orchestra (the same bit of kit)

http://www.vintagesynth.com/arp/quartet.php

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/siel_orchestra.php

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Hey howie,

I looked there.. I can't see any user info or servicing info, only general information.. Maybe that's because I'm on mobile? I'll check on a laptop later but I'm thinking a service is required!

Thanks again = )

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If you don't get any joy there, go to the [url=http://www.soundonsound.com/forum]Sound On Sound forum[/url] and ask for the contact details of the reputable synth repairers in the UK.

Be warned though that these people are generally fairly busy and many of the components used in these old synths are now out of production so getting it fixed might be a long and expensive process.

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Cheers redx,

I'll check that forum too mate.
I really think that it can be repaired without the need for replacement parts, or at least I sincerely hope so!
I mean it worked fine and still powers up and produces sound. It could just be a simple fix for someone in the knowledge!

Fingers crossed coz it sounded great!

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I got my totally knackered Wasp synth fixed by Ben at Cyberwave EMS cost £100 and he replaced parts and set it all up - best money I've spent as most of these old things are very quirky circuit wise and I'm quite handy with a soldering iron ;)
- here's a link if you use him tell him I sent you.
http://www.vintagesynths.co.uk/

Edit - he's not local to you but I did everything via courier and it all worked fine. Let us all know how you get on the Quartet is one of the synths I would love to own again. Good luck!

Edited by ash
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[quote name='Marsy' timestamp='1404899855' post='2496747']
Cheers redx,

I'll check that forum too mate.
I really think that it can be repaired without the need for replacement parts, or at least I sincerely hope so!
I mean it worked fine and still powers up and produces sound. It could just be a simple fix for someone in the knowledge!

Fingers crossed coz it sounded great!
[/quote]

I hope you are right, but unfortunately just because some of it is working don't necessarily mean that fixing the non-working parts is going to trivial or not have to rely on finding out of production components (and the only way to get these nowadays is generally to find another synth of the same model with a different fault and cannibalise that).

These are the guys that get regular recommendations for synth repairs on Sound On Sound:

[url=http://www.synthrepairservices.com]James Walker at Synth Repair Services[/url]

[url=http://www.synthprof.com]The Synth Professor[/url]

I personally wouldn't go elsewhere.

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  • 3 weeks later...

The other chap is Tony Allgood at Oakley Sounds in Penrith although he mainly builds his own now he will sometimes look at an interesting oldie - which yours is. He bought a Logan String Melody off me a year or so ago, knowledgeable and friendly. :)
Link -
http://www.oakleysound.com

Edited by ash
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Cheers ash,

I've just sent tony an email.
Still a fair drive for me, but if he was prepared to take a look at it I'd have maybe try and encorperate taking the synth over with a day out at the Lake District.

Still would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows any techs slightly closer?

Thanks again,
Stephen

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Why do you need to take the synth in person to be fixed?

Vintage synth repair as you are probably discovering is a highly specialised occupation and there are only a few people in the UK who really know what they are doing in this regard. I'd rather pack the synth up well and send it to someone with a good reputation rather than someone who just happens to be in easy driving distance of where I live.

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I'd be inclined to look at what your petrol costs would be to visit a suitable tech, factor in the potential need to leave it with them whilst they source parts and effect a repair and a second round trip to collect it and compare that with the costs of a decent courier for shipping it both ways.

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The Quartet isn't a particularly valuable synth and it's pretty robust so yes I'd agree that in this case it's worth considering options further afield. I was happy to courier my Wasp synth as it wasn't a heavy item and I bought it as 'scrap' although on its return journey it was rather better insured!

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Hi guys,

Well, I bought the synth from eBay a month ago for £180. It looked a little bit rough round the edges but was 'working - sold as seen'

When it arrived it worked sweet for 2, 10 minute sessions then after I attempted to switch patches it became 'stuck/broke'

I feel it may have been damaged by courier, but also it may not have been! I would be prepared to wrap it up well and risk a courier again for a repair.

I suppose what I'm pondering over is 'how much should I invest in this synth?'
If someone localish could take a quick look and make an easy fix then of course that would be ideal. And I can't help but feel like there is a possibility that this is an easy fix.

Alternatively I feel like £100-£150 would be the limits of what I'd invest in the way of a repair.

I have never had anything professionally repaired before, so I don't know what sort of prices to expect..

(Ash, Tony at Oakley mailed me back today saying I can book it in for a repair in September if I wish.. I don't know what to do!)


Thanks again

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Hi Howie,

I have been inside yes. Nothing seemed to have come adrift. I was hoping to get into the 'organ' patch button to see if it was stuck or jammed as I feel this would explain the problem I am suffering.

But to gain proper access to this area it seemed I would have to undo 4 solders to drop out the board from the 'hood' of the synth.

So I just sprayed in a little contact cleaner where I could and examined all visible areas.. Everything looked tip top!

=(

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[quote name='Marsy' timestamp='1406575713' post='2512668']
Hi guys,

Well, I bought the synth from eBay a month ago for £180. It looked a little bit rough round the edges but was 'working - sold as seen'

When it arrived it worked sweet for 2, 10 minute sessions then after I attempted to switch patches it became 'stuck/broke'

I feel it may have been damaged by courier, but also it may not have been! I would be prepared to wrap it up well and risk a courier again for a repair.

I suppose what I'm pondering over is 'how much should I invest in this synth?'
If someone localish could take a quick look and make an easy fix then of course that would be ideal. And I can't help but feel like there is a possibility that this is an easy fix.

Alternatively I feel like £100-£150 would be the limits of what I'd invest in the way of a repair.

I have never had anything professionally repaired before, so I don't know what sort of prices to expect..

(Ash, Tony at Oakley mailed me back today saying I can book it in for a repair in September if I wish.. I don't know what to do!)


Thanks again
[/quote]

The thing with electronic instruments from the 70s is that unless there is something very obviously physically wrong with it, getting it repaired could be a lengthy and costly process, especially if the part that has failed is now long out of production.

However having done a bit more research on the ARP Quartet it appears that it's not technically a synth but is derived from organ technology so someone who is conversant with the workings of 70s style electric organs might be able to fix this for you. There is a PDF of the service manual available [url="http://manuals.fdiskc.com/flat/ARP%20Quartet%20Service%20Manual.pdf"]here[/url].

Edited by BigRedX
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[quote name='Marsy' timestamp='1406578301' post='2512739']
But to gain proper access to this area it seemed I would have to undo 4 solders to drop out the board from the 'hood' of the synth.
[/quote]

If that "4" is not a typo then I may have identified what is wrong with your keyboard.

This photo clearly shows 5 solder connections between the instrument selector switches and the main voice control board.

Edited by BigRedX
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Hey red,

Thanks very much for your help!

The '4' wasn't a typo.. But it was from memory, of over a week ago. So it's not impossible that I'm mistaken!

Tomorrow I'm going to take a photo of the inside just like the one you've uploaded, just incase anything 'stands out' to someone with a bit more technical knowledge than myself!

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As a last resort I can put you in touch with a tech guy who is fanatical about refurbing old synths. He works for PMC speakers.

He did a full restoration on my Moog Taurus 1 pedals, including fitting the updated trigger switches. I was completely happy with his work.

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  • 2 months later...

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