Category: ARP

We continue the repair of the ARP Avatar, first repairing a problem with the synthesizer section, and then try out the guitar interface with the special hex pickup. Of course it’s not working, and we track the problem down to the D’ module which converts a guitar string to a control voltage. ARP never published the schematic for this module, but we use some basic troubleshooting skills to figure out the problem and get the Avatar working as a guitar synthesizer.

00:00 Intro & recap

00:48 Troubleshoot & repair of missing VCO 2 Square Wave and Filter LFO modulation

07:21 Controlling the Avatar with a vintage ARP Odyssey

08:15 Testing the guitar interface with the hex pickup

12:56 Troubleshooting and repair of string to CV conversion

20:56 Success!

23:56 Thoughts about the ARP Avatar and conclusion

My oscilloscope: https://amzn.to/3rm6b8d

My multimeter: https://amzn.to/3Ltgqi3

My desoldering tool: https://amzn.to/3PikaEf

Soldering station: https://amzn.to/402LjBh

Parts, service and synthesizers available on my website. I buy broken synthesizers!

In this video we have a look inside the ARP Avatar and see how it differs from the ARP Odyssey. We tear the synthesizer down and begin repairing it, fixing a short circuit in the trigger extractor circuit board.

00:00 Intro

01:20 Tour inside

04:29 Synthesizer teardown

07:55 Board E has a short circuit!

10:39 Replacing capacitors

14:41 Filter enhancement, switches and sliders

My desoldering tool: https://amzn.to/3PikaEf

Soldering station: https://amzn.to/402LjBh

My multimeter: https://amzn.to/3Ltgqi3

Take a rare ride into synth history with the original ARP Soloist Model 2700—the predecessor to the legendary Pro Soloist. This vintage gem delivers a quirky, expressive palette of preset sounds and touch-sensitive effects that set it apart from the crowd. In this functional demonstration I run you through the different presets and touch sensor effects found on this synthesizer.

 

In this video series, I’m repairing one of each different version of vintage ARP Odyssey! In this installment I bench test and repair faults with the 4075 filters, keyboard tracking, and a dead oscillator. Then we look at and listen to the finished Odysseys.

00:00 4075 Filter testing & repair

01:18 Keyboard control voltage repair

02:49 Dead oscillator repair + earthquake

08:42 Mk I White 2800 Finished

09:20 Mk I Black & Gold 2800 Finished

10:18 Mk II 2813 Finished

11:41 Mk III 2823 Finished

In this video series, I’m repairing one of each different version of vintage ARP Odyssey! In this installment we look at slider repair and replacement options, keybed refurbishing, and what capacitors need to be replaced.

00:00 Intro / Approach to refurbishing

02:30 Slider repair and replacement options

08:58 Keybed variations and refurbishing

17:08 Rotary pot repair

17:47 Power supply & fuses

19:05 Capacitor replacement

In this video series, I’m repairing one of each different version of vintage ARP Odyssey! In this installment we go over the differences between models, tear them down and compare their innards!

00:00 Intro

00:54 Mk I 2800 White – Outside

01:48 Mk I 2800 Black & Gold – Outside

02:20 Mk II 2813 – Outside

03:49 Mk III 2823 – Outside

04:35 Mk I 2800 White – Inside

08:02 Mk I 2800 Black & Gold – Inside

09:38 Mk II 2813 – Inside

14:28 Mk III 2823 – Inside

20:26 Revision I vs. Revision II Boards

I’m doing another run of the ARP Quadra MIDI adapters and the ARP Quadra Membrane panels, both of which products were previously sold out. ARP Quadra MIDI is available for pre-order (at a discount!) at the link below.  Contact me to be notified when the Membrane panel is available to order.

Synthchaser MIDI Adapter for ARP Quadra

 

We kick off the New Year on the Synthchaser channel with troubleshooting and repair of this ARP Pro/DGX Mk I, which is the same as the ARP Pro Soloist with the exception of having pushbutton switches for voice selection instead of toggle switches. This Pro/DGX has no output at all, so together we troubleshoot and repair it, and in the process I explain how one of the least understood circuit boards in the synthesizer works.

We continue the repair of Don Lewis’ original Model 2700 ARP Soloist. Among other challenges, we run into a big problem–the 4030 Violin voice submodule is dead. It’s encased in epoxy and no schematic is available, but will that stop Synthchaser? I think not…

• The Ballad Of Don Lewis DVD: https://amzn.to/3t2Nbw9
• My multimeter: https://amzn.to/3Ltgqi3
• My oscilloscope: https://amzn.to/3rm6b8d

My friend Don Lewis was a brilliant musician and engineer. Before he built his LEO (Live Electronic Orchestra) system, he used the original, Model 2700 ARP Soloist for leads. His ARP Soloist has been sitting unused since the 1970’s and in this video I begin to repair it so it can be donated to a cause Don was a part of. If there is enough interest, I will continue this video series.

The Ballad Of Don Lewis DVD: https://amzn.to/3t2Nbw9

My multimeter: https://amzn.to/3Ltgqi3

My oscilloscope: https://amzn.to/3rm6b8d