Post by MPPelli on May 5, 2011 19:44:01 GMT
A cheerful "hi!" from a new member and fellow synth enthusiast. I'm a professional musician (keyboards, bass guitar) with a passion for vintage keyboards with which I'm successfully clogging up my little studio. I'm also my own keyboard tech (competent techs are rarer than a nun in a bikini in Finland) and the "hobby" side of my keyboard escapades is buying non-working analog gear, fixing them, thinking about selling them with a good profit but ending keeping them in my collection.
I registered at this forum ages ago but only now thought about posting anything as I'm a brand new owner of a Polymoog Keyboard. ;D
This particular instrument (s/n 1621, date on the cover 3/12/79) spent the last 5-6 years in a music shop and at least 10 years before that in storage, here in Finland. I had had my eye on it for some years now. At first it was sold as working and about two years ago it was marked in-need-of-repair.
So, after a LOT of haggling, that's how I bought it, the other oscillator not working, almost half the keys not triggering, out of tune etc. But after I got it home, had a quick look under the hood and re-seated some boards, it's basically fine, at least playable, without a single touch of a soldering iron. All I'm planning to do at the moment is replace the caps in the power supply and get new bushings for the keyboard, maybe replace the LEDs as one of them is out already. Anything else I should consider working on, anticipating future problems?
I've noticed there are several places that sell replacement bushings for Pratt-Read keyboards (Archive sound, Vintage Vibe, synthrestore.co.uk). Prices vary, too. Any preferences or sellers to avoid? I plan buying lots as my Minimoog and ARP Explorer 1 need a keyboard refurbish, too.
Also, the pitch ribbon on the PMK is worn down, although working ok. I wondered, is there a way to replate the ribbon with anything (I'm looking at my old laptop and the touchpad material)?
Anyway, thanks for a great forum. Without your reassuring comments I wouldn't have dared to buy a faulty 280a to work on - a decision I'm already very happy with.
Cheers, Mikko
I registered at this forum ages ago but only now thought about posting anything as I'm a brand new owner of a Polymoog Keyboard. ;D
This particular instrument (s/n 1621, date on the cover 3/12/79) spent the last 5-6 years in a music shop and at least 10 years before that in storage, here in Finland. I had had my eye on it for some years now. At first it was sold as working and about two years ago it was marked in-need-of-repair.
So, after a LOT of haggling, that's how I bought it, the other oscillator not working, almost half the keys not triggering, out of tune etc. But after I got it home, had a quick look under the hood and re-seated some boards, it's basically fine, at least playable, without a single touch of a soldering iron. All I'm planning to do at the moment is replace the caps in the power supply and get new bushings for the keyboard, maybe replace the LEDs as one of them is out already. Anything else I should consider working on, anticipating future problems?
I've noticed there are several places that sell replacement bushings for Pratt-Read keyboards (Archive sound, Vintage Vibe, synthrestore.co.uk). Prices vary, too. Any preferences or sellers to avoid? I plan buying lots as my Minimoog and ARP Explorer 1 need a keyboard refurbish, too.
Also, the pitch ribbon on the PMK is worn down, although working ok. I wondered, is there a way to replate the ribbon with anything (I'm looking at my old laptop and the touchpad material)?
Anyway, thanks for a great forum. Without your reassuring comments I wouldn't have dared to buy a faulty 280a to work on - a decision I'm already very happy with.
Cheers, Mikko