One thing I'm doing tonight...

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sweetbeats

sweetbeats

Reel deep thoughts...
Finally getting around to doing a full-function test on this M-312 I picked up with my as-of-yet-to-be-worked-on 58 several months ago. My plan all along was to flip the mixer. So I'll check it out and if it is something more than belly-up I'll clean it up a little and get it listed. It's kinda fun to row a mixer through its gears. I know it powers up and all indicators work...meter lamps are dead...two of the belly panels need straightened out...anyway...

IMG_6935.webp
 
Well this is a new one on me...

Okay first of all I confirmed the dead meter lamps are just that...dead lamps. There is power getting to them.

Next I went through and tested all functions...scratchy switches and pots abound...but everything else works...except...none of the line input jacks work, nor the tape return jacks.

I start taking the belly panels off and I see some hand-written numbering marks on the main cross-brace of the chassis...then I recognize the weird lumps sitting on the brace...transformers. Okay...so somebody has added transformers to the mic inputs. Interesting. Okay. I start tracing the wires to and from the trafos, and cross-referencing with the schematics. Somebody converted the insert jacks to balanced line inputs...and lopped off the wiring from the tape input jacks 1-8 to input channels 1-8. So there are no tape returns accessible on channels 1-8 (only in the monitor mixer), the line input jacks on the channels go nowhere, and there are no insert jacks anymore because they are balanced line inputs. The transformers look like garbage too.

Having inserts as well as the internal path from the tape return jacks to input channels 1-8 is a considerable loss of functionality. I just can't understand why somebody would hack like that.

So I'm pretty sure this mixer could benefit from a recap, it is missing the side panels...the meter lamps are burned out...it needs a good cleaning, and somebody went and messed up the inserts and tape returns.

I'm trying to decide if I should bother ripping out the trafos and reverting the insert, line input and tape return wiring.

Thoughts? Regardless I'm going to sell it as much as I like the M-300 mixers...I love the feature set, the look, and I think they sound nice.

I'm just trying to decide if it is worth the work to make it "normal", and then ask a little more money for it than I think I could get trying to sell it in its current janky state.

If you look closely you can see the transformers lined up on the cross brace...one of them is hanging free there behind the brace:

IMG_6939.webp
 
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Wow!!!! That mixer looks really clean too....... Surprise :)....... I've got a 244 thats the same way... Looks great on the outside, but when you open it up, there are jumpers going everywhere.....

That looks about the size mixer I'd like when we settle down again. Is the 300 series pretty easy to work on???
 
Yes it looks nice on the outside (save for the missing panels).

On a side note, I really like that brown tile! :)
 
[MENTION=15503]beagle[/MENTION]: The floor is vinyl if you can believe that...it was the cheap regular stock item at the flooring store. We've been happy with our selection!

So you guys are saying the mixer looks really clean but the pictures are deceiving...it's really filthy. Take my word for it.
[MENTION=29]Brad[/MENTION]: the 300 series are *okay* to work on. As you can see they have individual channel cards which is good, but they are all nutted to a solid dress panel, so if you need to work on a card you have to remove the bottom panels, remove the buss PCBs that run across the bottom of the cards, then remove the knobs and nuts for the card you want out. Then because cards are tied together with PCBs it's not easy to have a card powered while out of the mixer for troubleshooting. But mind you this is not at all uncommon with a mixer in this price bracket, and the sound is nice, the feature set is great, and overall it is soundly designed and engineered in my opinion. In order to have easier access you get into a higher bracket or two with individually removable channel modules on ribbon cables or plug in type to a motherboard. The M-300 series mixers are a real winner in my book. I think the M-312 is the sweet spot...more compact than the M-320, but includes separate aux busses in the monitor mixer, and the talkback section that the M-308 lacks.
 
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Whats your time worth to you? You aren't going to get more for it by "returning it to an as built condition".
Even leaving the Xfrms in place and repairing the other wiring...how many hours before you exceed the delta of what you paid for it and what you can get for it?
 
Hey Cory,
I'd describe it in detail what you've found and stick it on Ebay.....surely your time will be better spent on other stuff? Even if you got it back to better than new, the market for analogue gear is sadly disappearing fast.....in fact for any gear. I reckon kids are no longer picking up guitars etc. Either that or strip it and sell it for parts.....but then there's time in stripping it too and then posting out parts would be time consuming.....Get rid I say.

Al
 
Thanks for the perspective, guys. You are right. I should just put it up on Craigslist for $150 or something with some detail about its condition and oddities.

I'm always wanting to make stuff "right", but this time I think I'll do the uncustomary and cut and run.
 
Lol... amazing what people do. I'd sell it as is. Someone will probably see the word "transformer" and jump all over it. :)
 
Whats the goal?; I mean as far as a mixer you're gonna keep and use in your studio.
Keep and use the M prototype?

I'd put the energy into that. And flip, with as little work as possible, other stuff.

However, that being said, doing work on gear that doesn't result in what would seem viable income when selling it, can be priceless in terms of experience gained.
I do believe you could do a side business of fixing stuff for others.
......if you wanted. :D
 
RFR said:
Whats the goal?; I mean as far as a mixer you're gonna keep and use in your studio.
Keep and use the M prototype?

I'd put the energy into that. And flip, with as little work as possible, other stuff.

However, that being said, doing work on gear that doesn't result in what would seem viable income when selling it, can be priceless in terms of experience gained.
I do believe you could do a side business of fixing stuff for others.
......if you wanted. :D
Click to expand...

Yeah the M-__ prototype is for sure the keeper.

Flip with as little work as possible on something like this (a "big" analog mixer...for which the market sucks right now for sellers) seems like a great idea to me.

I would LOVE to have a side business repairing/modifying equipment. Seriously.
 
Well the threads you put up are an excellent calling card.
They show your attention to detail, your work ethic, and the level of dedication you have.

This is why I was saying earlier that what you might lose financially on a piece of gear, you could get back in other ways.

I mean pretty much anything that came on the mkt "refurbished by sweetbeats" would inspire confidence with that buyer.

You could be like a Chris Mara of vintage tascam (and others) gear.

So, all the detailed threads you do when restoring a piece of gear could pay off in the long run should you turn this into a side business.

It's the power of google, when you do a tascam search you come up.
:D
 
.......you know....... "Sweetbeats" is not a bad name for a repair shop..........
 
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