Kurzweil Rumour Reliability?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kahuna
  • Start date Start date
bwindsor said:
First of all, you won't find anything in that price range as good...period.

Second, I have a Rumour that would sometimes cycle through its "booting up" when I first turned it on...never really locked on, just kept cycling, seemingly until it warmed up....couldn't figure out why it would do this, but anyway I decided to just leave it on all the time...it's now been on for about 5 months, never had so much as a glitch out of it...I normally don't leave my stuff on, but don't really see any harm in doing this, and it has corrected my problem 100%...just a thought.

Best of luck,

BW
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This cycling through boot up, does the output go on and off while the level led lights blink on and off?

I know of several guys that leave all their gear on permanently.
 
Bob's Mods said:
You can easily verify bad solder by banging on the unit when using it and listening for any change in its output. I'm surprized bad solder would get through these days with proper testing and inspection. This is easy stuff to catch at the factory. If you hear changes when giving it a good thwack (not enough to cause it to give up the ghost though) then you've got assembly errors that are actually easily fixed if you know what your doing.

Bob
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Ha! I feel like kicking the darned thing. I have tried very gentle taps. Maybe I should give it a more solid rap?

If the soldering is bad would I be able to visually find the dry spots and fix them myself?
 
By the way, Kurzweil support has already contacted me trying to help.

This is outstanding service. :D
 
kahuna said:
Ha! I feel like kicking the darned thing. I have tried very gentle taps. Maybe I should give it a more solid rap?

If the soldering is bad would I be able to visually find the dry spots and fix them myself?
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Don't be afraid to give it a good rap. Just know how far you can go without damaging it. This is one of my master tricks for bringing out intermitants such as bad solder and broken parts. Maybe pick it up put it down hard. The idea is to mechanically shock it without breaking it.

If the volume level changes with the banging, then you "most likely" have a some kind of joint problem or even a broken component problem.

Can you fix it? That depends on the exact location of the problem, your ability to find that location(s) and your soldering skills. Remember, any rework you do while the unit is still in warranty will void your warranty...unless you can do it in a way that they wouldn't be able to detect.

You've got to ask yourself "Do I feel lucky?".

Bob
 
Bob's Mods said:
Don't be afraid to give it a good rap. Just know how far you can go without damaging it. This is one of my master tricks for bringing out intermitants such as bad solder and broken parts. Maybe pick it up put it down hard. The idea is to mechanically shock it without breaking it.

If the volume level changes with the banging, then you "most likely" have a some kind of joint problem or even a broken component problem.

Can you fix it? That depends on the exact location of the problem, your ability to find that location(s) and your soldering skills. Remember, any rework you do while the unit is still in warranty will void your warranty...unless you can do it in a way that they wouldn't be able to detect.

You've got to ask yourself "Do I feel lucky?".

Bob
Click to expand...

My luck is a real mixed bag.

The only reason I am considering fixing it myself is because I live so far from help and I just want to get on with using the thing for making music rather than messing around with faulty electrical stuff.

My wife thinks I should just play guitar and sing around a campfire and forget about all these toys. :rolleyes:
 
Don't hit it too hard! ;)

Get it fixed or replaced, it's definitely not working right. This is not the kind of thing to agonize over, sometimes the factory just puts out a lemon. The thing is, it's your money and you have the right to own a Rumour that works properly. Either they fix it or exchange it, or you get your money back.

I personally prefer to exchange for a different unit (of the same thing) whenever possible. Once something screws up when brand new, I never quite trust it again.

Good luck, it sounds like you are in touch with the right people now, just keep after them and don't settle for anything less than a perfectly working Rumour.
 
I just looked inside and the soldering looks terrible in some places; irregular splotches, discolored and uneven with slightly burned circuit board around some particularly bad work. Quality components put together poorly, I'd say.

I may take it to a local electrician to redo the obvious sloppy work and see if the fault can be easily fixed. This would save all the hassle of sending the thing back to the US.
 
What a bummer; I feel for you! Kurzweil for as long as I can remember had a pretty decent reputation when it came to quality. Hopefully a re-solder job will remedy the situation so that you can put this bad experience behind you and allow you to move on. I know you don't feel this way now, but poor workmanship aside, that is one serious fx unit you've got there.
 
Taking it to a local electrician would almost certainly void your warranty and end any prospects of having the unit repaired or replaced through normal channels.
 
kurzweil was bought out by young chang years ago my buddy tells me. i wonder if quality has slipped?
 
kahuna,

The output does not go on and off when it is cycling, as it never actually comes on until it "locks in"...I had a power drop on the weekend (due to heavy snow, you wouldn't have that problem :rolleyes: ) and it cycled for a while, 5 minutes or so until it decided to lock on)...it's fine now, I wish it didn't do this, but I'm too busy to worry about it...."if" Kurzweil recognized a problem and offered a repair I'd package it up, but otherwise I can't really do without it...maybe someday there will be a KSP8 sitting here, but as for now...

Best of luck,

BW
 
I am returning the Rumour for a refund.

The retailer says Kurzweil are reorganizing and therefore stock is not reliably available. Makes me wonder if they will stay afloat. I hope they are around long enough to build their beautiful toys properly, again. What a shame to waste such solid technology with shoddy assembly.

Any body got a problem free Rumour for sale?
 
I sent the thing back. Shame really, such a nice sounding box.

I have heard reliable word about a new Lexicon Series 400 Chip being released early this year.

Maybe the new chip technology will out do the Kurzweil in both sound and build quality?
 
Got my replacement Rumour and it works flawlessly. I have been playing guitar and synth all day with my monitors outside my studio blasting the hills and valleys below us.

I am glad there are no neighbors close enough to be annoyed - I hope they liked the free concert! ;)
 
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