Synth Repairs.

[andydeedpoll]

I've got an old Korg Poly-61 (the old version, without midi) and it appears to be broken. it makes sound... sporadically and tunelessly, anyway

i won't even try giving you a run down of what's wrong with it, because i honestly don't know. All i know is that what i have managed to get out of it, i see potential for, and would like to be able to use more regularly in my band (i only use it in one song at the moment, where a random and tuneless synth solo is what is needed )

how easy is it to get things like this repaired and in a condition that makes them more useful? in the UK, as well?

thanks for any help

Andy.

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Dandy Andy:

Well, man, here in the Colonies we have many repair facilities, usually by the major vendors or the maker of the product. However, it is costly to ship the keyboard and repairs at either place are costly.

With all the models of synths out there, you might look into buying a mid-priced synth that "meets your needs for your band."

I used and still have a Yamaha DX-7. Used it for around 13 years or so and it performed well and never had to be repaired. [No beer ever got spilled down the keyboard ] But, I finally opted to buy a Motif by Yamaha.

The patches on the newer synths are outstanding. Many have reverb built-in; however, with many models, you can go in and adjust many parameters of the patch. I seldom have to do this as the sounds are so clean and brilliant and SO MANY OF THEM.

So, maybe you should visit some of the vendors in your area of England and get your hands on a few synths to see what they offer. I think that is a better way to go rather than footing a large repair bill for your synth which might have had treacle spilled on it or in it?

Cheers,
Green Hornet

[andydeedpoll]

thanks for the quick reply

yeah, there is a plan to get hold of a Micron or Ion (as funds permit) from the 'band funds'. but the kind of music we play, the more options the better

i might go and talk to a few music shops, and maybe email Korg.

are there anythings i can do for maintenance? batteries changing and stuff? or is it better to leave it to some one who knows what they're doing?

Andy.

[altitude909]

Look at the going rate for a used poly 61, if it is less than the cost of repair, junk it. Chances are that it will be

[dementedchord]

FWIW.... i'm an old techie and those things are known for two major problems bot of which are possibilities in your case.... the memory battery...which leaks and can eat through traces on the board... it can if caught earky enough be cleaned... butthe sounds then need to be reloaded from tape... you've got the tape right???? second problem is the generator chips... made by SSM no longer available...(though i think i may have some around here somewhere) in either case your proabaly best of trashing it... sorry...

[bsr2002]

Originally Posted by dementedchord

if caught early enough be cleaned...

WOW sounds like your board has cancer


Sorry, couldn't resist

[lumbago]

I have a Korg Poly 61. Yeah - a good workhorse, but with the cost of small recent second hand synth modules nowadays - like the Roland JV-1010 - I'd junk the Poly 61.

Opening it up is easy enough - clean it up with a vacuum cleaner - replace the battery, and gently press all the looms where they terminate - you never know...

[bsr2002]

Well, all kidding aside I did a little research here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/KORG-POLYSIX-w-o...em260044152843

and if I were you, go get a decent used synth or module. Just my $.02

[altitude909]

poly 61, not poly six. Two completely different synths. The 61 was the cheapo successor to the wonderful poly six and has the same interface as the 800, no midi (added to the poly61M in 1984) or realtime sound tweaking. They go for very cheap, I would not spend more than $150

[bsr2002]

Originally Posted by altitude909

poly 61, not poly six. Two completely different synths. The 61 was the cheapo successor to the wonderful poly six and has the same interface as the 800, no midi (added to the poly61M in 1984) or realtime sound tweaking. They go for very cheap, I would not spend more than $150

I stand corrected.