The resonance slider is usually the most used pot on a synth so it would have had the most wear and strain over the 30 or so years. It could be cool to swap your pencil repair (cool job!) with a least used fader like the 'noise' or 'sub' if they are also 100ohm. Great video Markus .. Great tips as always!
I am absolutely in love with your channel Markus! I am completely worthless when it comes to repairing synths but I am feeling somewhat educated after watching any of your videos. This is what I was looking for all along. Very entertaining AND relaxing. Great vibes! Thank you.
Thanks for the really nice tip with the pencil :-) FYI, to repair flexible PCBs I use a nickel conductive pen (from Chemtronics) but the bad thing is that sometime this pen dries to quickly and becomes unusable after a few months. And I also use the same technic to put back the screws ;-)
+markusfuller My guitar pedal just stopped working for no reason. Signal goes thru when bypassed but not when engaged. Everything lights up as normal and I've tested all the chords. Any ideas?
Oh I could not say. I would be tempted to get inside with a multimeter and make sure everything is receiving the correct power then check the bypass switch to see if it is indeed diverting the signal through the circuit.
You would think that there would be a product out there longer lasting than a pencil. What a great trick, the pencil is . I wish you lived in montreal. We could use a guy like you.
Another fine video with great advice. I've also had to repair the power supply plug a few of times on my casio CZ-101 (Perhaps it's a 101 thing :p) & have lost count how many times I've ran a 4B pencil down the tracks inside an 80's graphic EQ to reduce crackle. Great advice, as these top-tips work every time and has extended the life manyfold. As well as conducting electricity, graphite is fantastic lubrication & 30 year old solder is a well known cure for a cold ;)
when screwing metal screws into plastic sockets,THIS is important: always screw counter-clockwise to "seat" the screw in the threads already there!!! if not you will create another set of threads that will diminish the structural integrity of the plastic. this is a must if you will screw/unscrew several times.
On the topic of desoldering: I once tried to desolder a faulty olimexino 85. I had put the things on the wrong side of the board... the board had too small holes for me to be able to actually get the solder out. "good thing you didn't have to lose the processor". Too bad it's so cheap that the postage would cost twice the material cost ( or something like that ). Anyhow, it would be nice to see different microcontrollers being part of a synth voltage controller setup, with home made codes, gui (even the most simple gui), and "keyboard". But I have this one problem: I no longer think that voltage does what it says on the tin. I just fear that I will harm my computer or instruments, so I simply do not dare. There's a saying... "friskt kopplat hälften brunnet"... and it basically means that "go ahead and do what ever you want to do, as well as you expect to fail..."
I really enjoy your videos. If you have a chance, could you show how to repair the pitch bend of the SH-101 or similar style machine. Mine is not working properly and would like to fix it.
Hi there, What about using a conductive compound let's say that one which is used for fixing silicon rubber key contact? BTW, I recently faced an issue with degrading keys on my CASIO PX-3 keyboard. After having no luck with getting brand new spare parts for that at reasonable cost I eventually made up my mind to fix it on my own. Although I could fix the faulty keybed by myself first I didn't want to deal with any temporarily solution cause I did really believe that it's all about rubber pads are worn. But in fact it turned out to be just loss of conductivity of PCB pads which are coated with some sort of graphite compound. Thorough cleanup with IPS didn't bear any fruit so I went with the "key pad fix" from above and so far so good! I have to say that job was a quite delicate thing to do so I used an artist paint brush of "000" grit to lay the compound on then removed all the unwanted material with a sewing needle.
well..sometimes the trace actually cracks and you can scrape down the surface insulation and tin it then lay a wire across to the power jack..or jack is busted... I just spray deoxit and work it a bunch of times for oxidation/dirt. Lots of times commonly used sliders just wear out. Some functions have high tolerance to variations, some do not. Eg. on a juno the sliders are mostly encoders basically that sweep between + and - volt source. So as long as they are about a few K they'll likely work. And yup 120 some k is usually a decent slider in leu of 100K :-) I use dielectric grease to make it so wear is minimized etc.
Amazing thanks for your videos they are so educational and entertaining I wish you would have been on TV decades ago on sunday mornings here in Canada instead of those renovation and yard shows! Cheers
Hey marcus, I have Roland rs09 the keys A, D# and F# on All octaves suddenly dead. Can you help me on how to fix it. I suspect not dirty contact since it happens suddenly and it's happening specifically on all octaves,thanks!
Bloody brilliant video Markus! I really enjoyed watching this. I'll have a look in my DIY electronic boxes. I might have a pot just like it. I'll tell you if I find it. =D
Hi, your videos are very helpful. I have a question about the the action on my sh1000. holding a note and the pressing a note down works then release back to the original note. if i try to note up i get nothing.
+fkthewhat Many thanks, I'm learning as I go along. I sometimes make the video then make notes on what to do or not on the next. I sometimes watch my early video's and see all the mistakes i make with camera work and editing and its like a diary to me of my learning curve.
+Michael Bauers Im sure something will turn up one day as there seems to be a return to analog happening at the moment. Im interested to see what the NAMM 2016 show will show us next week. but the ARP was remade by Korg so I think Roland could do an analog SH-101 remake
+Luis Suarez one thing I have done in the past is place wax on the screw insert it then put glue around the post where it is cracked and slip over a piece of heatshrink tubing then when it is set take out the screw and hopefully it works for a while. though to be honest it is not always succesfull
Hi I use to work in electronics for a living but these synth repairs are just for the youtube community. and I have many synths and make music myself as a hobby also. :-)
Hi Markus Your Videos are always very entertaining and interesting! I have a little question concerning your future videos: Do you think you can do some sort of introduction-video where you share your knowledge about soldering, its basics and the general tricks? Kind regards from Switzerland :)
Hi I know it was some time ago you posted this video, do you have a link to the faderpot for this synth as I'm replacing the triangle pot on a SH 101. thanks for any help.
Great video, again! Quick question, what temperature do you set your soldering iron to desolder a part? I've never removed anything with a solder sucker easily :)
+Elsif Hi Elsif. I was using a cheap Antex all in one iron with no temperature control. I think it is 240v about 15 watts though I have no idea what temperature it is working on.
***** markusfuller Thanks, guys. Sounds like the temperature isn't as important as i would have guessed. I always have the tip temp set to 650 to 700 faranheit, so I guess it's just down to something I have to practice a bit more.
I wish I could get Markus to look at my Virus Indigo. Everytime I move the modwheel, it freezes the synth and I have to re-power it on and off for it to start working again. Annoying if you nudge it after working on a patch for half an hour.
Yeah, someone suggested to me updating the firmware, I ended up selling it in the end though. I think I'm going to get the Blofeld or maybe pay out big and get the Polar TI next.
Hi Dominic. I wish I did get them for free. but I have to buy them myself or swop and change with other people or buy broken and repair them. I dont keep them all though as i have to sell some off to buy others.
Glascott Symes Hello to be honest swithcleaner is only a temporary fix as it can dissolve the lubricant inside the pots. to do a real clean that will last for years see Synthesizer Keiths video called Potentiometer Cleaning Showdown.
How can I contact you? I just got a SH-101 that works but its got some kind of crud or mold in between the faders,inside the DC IN 9v-12v and also the RES fader in the VCF makes a really loud (unnatural) noise or static.
+BobsCosmic Ripple Hi Bob, unfortunately I only make these video's up to try and share a little of what I know (and i certainly do not know everything) It also helps that people sometimes leave good comments and share a little info with others. I do work full time and only make these video's in my little bit of spare time so do not really have time to do repairs for people, a lot of items are my own or the odd one for a friend now and then but they wait weeks before i get around to things. there are a few facebook groups about keyboard repairs and I guess they can make answers for you or hopefully if someone reads this maybe they know your problem. I think a good start would be to try and clean out as much of this crud/mould as possible.
Thank you so much for getting back to me. If you ever have any spare time can you explain the wright kind of cleaning tools i might need? All of the faders have crud on the colored part of the faders ( orange, green, yellow) and also is the RES supposed too have a small static noise sometimes?
+markusfuller Will the color on the fader knobs fade if i use too much. (At the moment I barley see the orange,green, and yellow color on the knobs)Also the silver sequencer buttons have some kind of mold on them. Iam a newbie to this and did not know i was paying for a dirty SH-101.
Oh I thought you meant the mould was in the tracks of the faders I did not realise it was on the surface of the buttons. I would gently remove the buttons and wash in warm soapy water.
+Marcus Henrique Hello Marcus, The bender is just a couple of potentiometers and maybe they need a proper deep cleaning. Its a bit awkward to get inside the actual pots but Im just guessing that would be the first thing I would try.
Im not sure where I would be looking next. I do not have one on my desk to compare. the one I had was a repair for a friend and that has gone back now. I cannot guess what could be wrong. have you checked all the other switched & pots to the left of the keyboard. also I would start to look for cracked circuit board tracks and even dry joints.
+Terry marsden ThankYou Terry. Sorry it took me so long to make one. as you may hear in my voice I have a bad cold for about a week. Now im all ready for the snow and cold weather :-)
+markusfuller yeah Markus, i understand, all whats with graphite contacts... ;) so but its only for footbridge until to real repair of the parts i think. you vid's allways best and very good to understand :) there are a lot of in my favorites now, :D
The resonance slider is usually the most used pot on a synth so it would have had the most wear and strain over the 30 or so years. It could be cool to swap your pencil repair (cool job!) with a least used fader like the 'noise' or 'sub' if they are also 100ohm. Great video Markus .. Great tips as always!
Mmm smells lovely! Not something you normally hear when fixing electronics, I love the smell also.
I am absolutely in love with your channel Markus! I am completely worthless when it comes to repairing synths but I am feeling somewhat educated after watching any of your videos. This is what I was looking for all along. Very entertaining AND relaxing. Great vibes! Thank you.
Thanks Alexander I must confess that I too have learned many things by watching other youtube videos.
I never tire of seeing 101's being repaired.
+Michael Smith it was a clean one at that!
***** Apart from someone liking Josh Wink a bit too much. Resonance slider? I'm surprised the cutoff slider wasn't fiddly, as well.
+Michael Smith And I just purchased one from eBay. They are expensive little shits.
+Michael Smith And well worth it.
Thanks for the really nice tip with the pencil :-) FYI, to repair flexible PCBs I use a nickel conductive pen (from Chemtronics) but the bad thing is that sometime this pen dries to quickly and becomes unusable after a few months. And I also use the same technic to put back the screws ;-)
any video you do is ALWAYS interesting Mr. Fuller! Cheers!
+Marc Abernathy Thank You Marc :-)
+markusfuller My guitar pedal just stopped working for no reason. Signal goes thru when bypassed but not when engaged. Everything lights up as normal and I've tested all the chords. Any ideas?
Oh I could not say. I would be tempted to get inside with a multimeter and make sure everything is receiving the correct power then check the bypass switch to see if it is indeed diverting the signal through the circuit.
Okay! I will try and see what happens
this is becoming like CarTalk or something
You would think that there would be a product out there longer lasting than a pencil. What a great trick, the pencil is . I wish you lived in montreal. We could use a guy like you.
Hi Markus, I use pipe cleaners for cleaning those tiny spaces like here in the power socket. Just a hint.
Another fine video with great advice. I've also had to repair the power supply plug a few of times on my casio CZ-101
(Perhaps it's a 101 thing :p) & have lost count how many times I've ran a 4B pencil down the tracks inside an 80's graphic EQ to reduce crackle. Great advice, as these top-tips work every time and has extended the life manyfold.
As well as conducting electricity, graphite is fantastic lubrication & 30 year old solder is a well known cure for a cold ;)
+brickscratch I think its the 30 year old lead solder that sent me mad or is it madder ?.
when screwing metal screws into plastic sockets,THIS is important: always screw counter-clockwise to "seat" the screw in the threads already there!!! if not you will create another set of threads that will diminish the structural integrity of the plastic. this is a must if you will screw/unscrew several times.
On the topic of desoldering: I once tried to desolder a faulty olimexino 85. I had put the things on the wrong side of the board... the board had too small holes for me to be able to actually get the solder out. "good thing you didn't have to lose the processor". Too bad it's so cheap that the postage would cost twice the material cost ( or something like that ).
Anyhow, it would be nice to see different microcontrollers being part of a synth voltage controller setup, with home made codes, gui (even the most simple gui), and "keyboard". But I have this one problem: I no longer think that voltage does what it says on the tin. I just fear that I will harm my computer or instruments, so I simply do not dare. There's a saying... "friskt kopplat hälften brunnet"... and it basically means that "go ahead and do what ever you want to do, as well as you expect to fail..."
I really enjoy your videos. If you have a chance, could you show how to repair the pitch bend of the SH-101 or similar style machine. Mine is not working properly and would like to fix it.
Hi there,
What about using a conductive compound let's say that one which is used for fixing silicon rubber key contact?
BTW, I recently faced an issue with degrading keys on my CASIO PX-3 keyboard. After having no luck with getting brand new spare parts for that at reasonable cost I eventually made up my mind to fix it on my own. Although I could fix the faulty keybed by myself first I didn't want to deal with any temporarily solution cause I did really believe that it's all about rubber pads are worn. But in fact it turned out to be just loss of conductivity of PCB pads which are coated with some sort of graphite compound. Thorough cleanup with IPS didn't bear any fruit so I went with the "key pad fix" from above and so far so good! I have to say that job was a quite delicate thing to do so I used an artist paint brush of "000" grit to lay the compound on then removed all the unwanted material with a sewing needle.
Great temporary fix.
Also, you can turn the pencil around and use the eraser to clean up electrical contacts of dirt and grime. Handy things pencils.
+slider2732 Yes thats true. I did not think of mentioning that. I use the eraser end to shine up copper track.
A note for your viewers - Works well for bringing back 80's game cartridges and arcade game boards in the same way :)
*Opens A Legendary Vintage Synth*
"Mmmmm, smells lovely!"
-Markus Fuller
well..sometimes the trace actually cracks and you can scrape down the surface insulation and tin it then lay a wire across to the power jack..or jack is busted... I just spray deoxit and work it a bunch of times for oxidation/dirt. Lots of times commonly used sliders just wear out. Some functions have high tolerance to variations, some do not. Eg. on a juno the sliders are mostly encoders basically that sweep between + and - volt source. So as long as they are about a few K they'll likely work. And yup 120 some k is usually a decent slider in leu of 100K :-) I use dielectric grease to make it so wear is minimized etc.
Mark, have you ever seen an SH-101 that is stuck on a note? Like you can play other keys, but always defaults to one note?
Great stuff! 101 rules. looking forward to the minilogue teardown.
Amazing thanks for your videos they are so educational and entertaining I wish you would have been on TV decades ago on sunday mornings here in Canada instead of those renovation and yard shows! Cheers
Thanks Yan. I have been on TV several times but only in the background as an extra.
What is the electrical law that states it only works when someone else is watching (or the opposite depending what your aims are).
Great! Simple pencil can do magic fix =)
Thanks, Markus, again!
Hey marcus, I have Roland rs09 the keys A, D# and F# on All octaves suddenly dead. Can you help me on how to fix it. I suspect not dirty contact since it happens suddenly and it's happening specifically on all octaves,thanks!
Hey Markus...great videos! Please I need some help with a stuck on ‘hold’ button...any ideas??? THANKYOU!!!!
Bloody brilliant video Markus! I really enjoyed watching this. I'll have a look in my DIY electronic boxes. I might have a pot just like it. I'll tell you if I find it. =D
Thanks markus, The sustain slider on my SH-101 may have the same problem!.....I shall investigate.
+Chris Thorpe Hi Chris it would be interesting to know if it is the same problem where just a clean up or replacement of the slider will do the fix.
Hi, your videos are very helpful. I have a question about the the action on my sh1000. holding a note and the pressing a note down works then release back to the original note. if i try to note up i get nothing.
Markus can I use this pencil trick to repair my volume slider which Go from zero to very loud when push it up a bit?
What about using conductive paint? Cheers for the vid.
Hey Markus, loving the pace and editing of this vid. Keep up the good work as always :)
+fkthewhat Many thanks, I'm learning as I go along. I sometimes make the video then make notes on what to do or not on the next. I sometimes watch my early video's and see all the mistakes i make with camera work and editing and its like a diary to me of my learning curve.
Great video. This is so popular, but there's so much affordable analog now, I wonder if someone can get the same sounds from a modern board
+Michael Bauers Im sure something will turn up one day as there seems to be a return to analog happening at the moment. Im interested to see what the NAMM 2016 show will show us next week. but the ARP was remade by Korg so I think Roland could do an analog SH-101 remake
Any idea on how to repair a pitch bend? it just does it's own thing automatically whenever I use the modwheel.
Love your videos! I've run into the split plastic screw post problem before. I would love to see you do a video on fixing broken plastic parts.
+Luis Suarez one thing I have done in the past is place wax on the screw insert it then put glue around the post where it is cracked and slip over a piece of heatshrink tubing then when it is set take out the screw and hopefully it works for a while. though to be honest it is not always succesfull
Hi I use to work in electronics for a living but these synth repairs are just for the youtube community. and I have many synths and make music myself as a hobby also. :-)
+markusfuller Thanks for the tips! Sometimes I feel like I unintentionally acquired a synth repair hobby...
+MKUltra Thanks for the advice. I suppose it's a bit like dentistry - you have to hold onto whatever bit of root you've got left.
Why not use a dab of conductive ink? It lasts and it has resistance, you can actually draw resistors with it.
Hi Markus
Your Videos are always very entertaining and interesting! I have a little question concerning your future videos: Do you think you can do some sort of introduction-video where you share your knowledge about soldering, its basics and the general tricks? Kind regards from Switzerland :)
+computerandmusic Hello, Yes that sounds like it could be a useful video. I will see what I can do. many thanks from Markus
You can get replacement sliders but they're bloody expensive. Anyone had luck finding close alternatives?
Didn’t know that! Nice!
Hi I know it was some time ago you posted this video, do you have a link to the faderpot for this synth as I'm replacing the triangle pot on a SH 101. thanks for any help.
Hi Nick im not sure wher the fader was purchased from. you could try RS-components or Mouser
markusfuller Thanks for taking the time to reply, much appreciated, found it on mouser.
Maybe automotive window heater repair fluid. It's silver-based.
I have since found a Nickel conductive pen made by MG Chemicals that may do for future repairs.
Couldn't you just thicken the lines with solder same way they fix broken traces?
Markus great channel.
Interesting that the pencil brought it back to life but seriously if it were that old i wouldn't think twice about chunking it into a trash can!
Great video, again! Quick question, what temperature do you set your soldering iron to desolder a part? I've never removed anything with a solder sucker easily :)
+Elsif Hi Elsif. I was using a cheap Antex all in one iron with no temperature control. I think it is 240v about 15 watts though I have no idea what temperature it is working on.
***** markusfuller Thanks, guys. Sounds like the temperature isn't as
important as i would have guessed. I always have the tip temp set to 650 to 700 faranheit, so I guess it's just down to something I have to practice a bit more.
I wish I could get Markus to look at my Virus Indigo.
Everytime I move the modwheel, it freezes the synth and I have to re-power it on and off for it to start working again. Annoying if you nudge it after working on a patch for half an hour.
That's a software problem most likely. Virus synths are digital.
Yeah, someone suggested to me updating the firmware, I ended up selling it in the end though. I think I'm going to get the Blofeld or maybe pay out big and get the Polar TI next.
Good work, interesting as always!
Hi Markus!! Where do you get all these synths? Do you get them for free?
Hi Dominic. I wish I did get them for free. but I have to buy them myself or swop and change with other people or buy broken and repair them. I dont keep them all though as i have to sell some off to buy others.
markusfuller interesting! Thanks for your reply :)
I use soft pencil 6B at old tv remote controls :D it works ;D
Is it ok to use switch cleaner spray to clean the pots and faders on the 101? Mine are starting to get a little crackly.
Glascott Symes Hello to be honest swithcleaner is only a temporary fix as it can dissolve the lubricant inside the pots. to do a real clean that will last for years see Synthesizer Keiths video called Potentiometer Cleaning Showdown.
I figured it be a bit harsh. thanks
How can I contact you? I just got a SH-101 that works but its got some kind of crud or mold in between the faders,inside the DC IN 9v-12v and also the RES fader in the VCF makes a really loud (unnatural) noise or static.
+BobsCosmic Ripple Hi Bob, unfortunately I only make these video's up to try and share a little of what I know (and i certainly do not know everything) It also helps that people sometimes leave good comments and share a little info with others. I do work full time and only make these video's in my little bit of spare time so do not really have time to do repairs for people, a lot of items are my own or the odd one for a friend now and then but they wait weeks before i get around to things. there are a few facebook groups about keyboard repairs and I guess they can make answers for you or hopefully if someone reads this maybe they know your problem. I think a good start would be to try and clean out as much of this crud/mould as possible.
Thank you so much for getting back to me. If you ever have any spare time can you explain the wright kind of cleaning tools i might need? All of the faders have crud on the colored part of the faders ( orange, green, yellow) and also is the RES supposed too have a small static noise sometimes?
I mainly just change the whole fader or if I have none in stock then take them apart and clean with isopropyl alcohol and cotton buds - or Q-Tips .
+markusfuller Will the color on the fader knobs fade if i use too much. (At the moment I barley see the orange,green, and yellow color on the knobs)Also the silver sequencer buttons have some kind of mold on them. Iam a newbie to this and did not know i was paying for a dirty SH-101.
Oh I thought you meant the mould was in the tracks of the faders I did not realise it was on the surface of the buttons. I would gently remove the buttons and wash in warm soapy water.
Fantastic video
hello friend. i have a roland sh-101 and bender is no working. can you help-me?
+Marcus Henrique Hello Marcus, The bender is just a couple of potentiometers and maybe they need a proper deep cleaning. Its a bit awkward to get inside the actual pots but Im just guessing that would be the first thing I would try.
+markusfuller i will replace the potentiometer and still not working. I downloaded the service manual, checked the tracks end not found faults.
Im not sure where I would be looking next. I do not have one on my desk to compare. the one I had was a repair for a friend and that has gone back now. I cannot guess what could be wrong. have you checked all the other switched & pots to the left of the keyboard. also I would start to look for cracked circuit board tracks and even dry joints.
Love your videos. Screwdriver Time!
Thank You Richard . much appreciated.
Would make a great T shirt.
Great videos! Keep em coming!
+Perry Pelican Thank You
Truly Amazing. Pardon me while I get my jaw off the floor!
Very cool fix! Oh, Dance Macabre near the end. :)
+ThomasGrillo Thanks Thomas. & well spotted on the end notes
+markusfuller great vid, did this do anything to confirm the accusation the 101's were cheaply made in 1983.
Hi Richard. It did not look cheaply made at all. It just looked like regular 80s electronics.
markusfuller that's what I thought
Nice one Markus
+Terry marsden ThankYou Terry. Sorry it took me so long to make one. as you may hear in my voice I have a bad cold for about a week. Now im all ready for the snow and cold weather :-)
Great video, very useful
Nice video! Grtz Danny
101 is a pretty cool synth also to repair ! ; )
tnx for the pencil tip !
greetz :D
+thePOLYGIRL Thank You. the pencil trick works with TV remotes and lots of other fixes.
+markusfuller yeah Markus, i understand, all whats with graphite contacts... ;) so but its only for footbridge until to real repair of the parts i think. you vid's allways best and very good to understand :)
there are a lot of in my favorites now, :D
Hi Yes its only a temporary fix really but sometimes that temporary fix can last for years.
+markusfuller
\o/ yay !
Old simple Roland analogic synthetiser but good...
+fritagogo1 But Short Keybord ! ...
+fritagogo1 But Good idea the Out jacks ...
Hahaha ...... "If you believe that, you ..." Hahaha
cool
HB B or D
+fritagogo1 As in the Pencil ?. I think it was the softest I could find - 6B
Yes ! I use pencil 6B ( my ex old keyboard Korg Monopoly ) Problem Contact
brilliant and very useful. thanks mate