Synthchaser

www.synthchaser.com
/ thesynthchaser
/ synthchaser
I repair an Oberheim OB-X that suffered some damage from the corrosive effects of mouse urine. We also see the dangers of leaving the old tantalum capacitors in synthesizers. I track down a memory retention issue causing the synth not to store patches correctly. I also show how to rebuild the OB-X power supply and change the battery.
Parts, service and synthesizers available on my website. I buy broken synthesizers!

[@Airabrab]

This channel is amazing. Please please please keep these videos coming. Such valuable tech overviews, troubleshooting, etc. Im watching everything you've posted and just wanted to let you know that your work on this channel is seriously appreciated.

[@TheFlyingBusman]

Clearly this was a mouse organ. Good to see this very tired machine back into a decent functioning state.

[@daveogarf]

OHHHHH, the legendary gray OBX! Had a chance to buy one once't, but it was out of my price range. #SAD

[@daveogarf]

I read that mouse urine is nominally Ph 5, on the acid side of things. BRILLIANT job, sir!

[@sondergleich4133]

Just got an obx from an old friend, but broken. This helps a lot, thanks. Will check your store!

[@mschorer]

Again, an amazing fix!

[@p8051a]

Great channel,subbed! Perhaps getting some kind of tripod in order to film some of the actual processes of de/soldering,cleaning or taking measurements would render these videos longer but also more complete as a repair reference. Keep up the good work!

[@dbzdude2002]

Super, super interesting!

[@miamigroove]

I have (2) OB-X's one working, one is not, which also had the JL Cooper "Patch 96" expansion installed. Im surprised you didnt use a socket for the new power supply battery (easier for future replacement). Also would love to see a detailed tutorial on removing the old soldered parts, which is often quite difficult on vintage equipment.

[@venusiansky]

miamigroove Yes, 3v coin battery socket is an excellent replacement. A previous owner of my OB-8 had that done. The fixed batteries do last long after it has been replaced, but the coin batteries last long as well but no soldering to replace.

[@TryptychUK]

venusiansky : Get yourself a solder sucker tool and some solderwick. Melt the blob around the component and suck it out with the sucker. Once the component is out, hold the wick against the track and heat it up with the iron. It will soak up any remaining solder if you wipe it around the hole. Then give it a clean with some solvent and a hard brush to remove any flux.

[@cosmicmatrix6238]

I wonder if the mouse was just chillin' inside the synth while it was being played! I'd like to live in a synthesizer.

[@venusiansky]

If I owned an OB-X, I wouldn’t be concerned about cost for a full overhaul. These synths are relatively rare and I sure wouldn’t want to chance something like a blown capacitor, possibly ruining an entire voice card. Though I suppose the owner was maybe just getting it to work to sell it. Unfortunately when these synths go up for sale, seller doesn’t always mention service history.

[@markorendas1790]

DID THE MOUSE HATE THE SYNTH OR JUST HAVE TO PEE. WHY WAS IT IN THE SYNTH

[@daveogarf]

Rodents like the smell of plastic wire insulation, which leads them to chew. No idea how the little blighter got into the case, though...

[@Cyberpunk9000]

Have you fixed an Oberheim Matrix 6? Keen to learn some common issues with this unit

[@daveogarf]

Oh, thank goodness! If you were Markus Fuller, you'd be saying, "Boose BAH" (bus bar), and I wouldn't understand a Gol' Durn thing you were saying! :-D

[@acoustic61]

"Whatever garbage in the memory" Sound like the horse patch!

[@OLLiGoldeaux]

👍

[@TheArpomni2]

What a coincidence ,, the Arp Omni 2 im just fixing had a mouse in it !!!! Its nibbled some of the Caps and peed all over too !!! But it must of got itself stuck inside for a while as its nibbled the bottom of every key lol the front part thats lower and sits behind the chassis front

[@Synthchaser]

I had picked up a Solina organ that had been the home to mice, but it was too far gone to save... On the bright side, now I have spare Solina keys!

[@Synthchaser]

Now I'm curious... How did the mouse get inside?

[@TheArpomni2]

Synth Chaser that crossed my mind too but just like your vid above i had the pee damage but mines worse as ot nibbled the few caps that had been changed from Tants It didnt get through Alloy cans but just the plastic sleeving leaving teeth marks on alloy. But its nibbled every key lower flange right along as though trying to get out ive now got synth all up and running 99.9% just a release issue i thought was maybe Op Amp or the 2n pnp transister next to Release plug but ive now worked out its the simplest of faults but end up taking hours finding ???? Yes the classic Release foot switch Jack corroded and open circuit lol acting like ot has foot control pedal in im embarraced to say took me two sessions with synth finding it lol amongst finding other faults

[@alphabeets]

Synth Chaser probably got in when it was young and smaller.

[@TryptychUK]

I once had a mouse in a a piece of lab gear. We found it fried on the 12kvw HT power supply. They can get in very small spaces like ventilation slots.

[@gavincurtis]

Tantalum time bomb.

[@adrianmarquez2489]

How does a mouse even get inside?

[@Synthchaser]

Best guess would be at the pitch bend & modulation levers. There's room there for something to get in.

[@alphabeets]

Maybe from under the keys?

[@alphabeets]

Love your videos, but please try to break the habit of filling every pause with an “uuuuuh”.

[@Synthchaser]

You've said this a few times. So I stop saying Uh and you go back and criticize 2 1/2 year old videos. I can't win.

[@rz350lc]

Too many uhms and errs. Could not make it past two minutes before scrolling to the end and posting this. Pause your speech if you can't think of anything to say. Not going to bother checking out your other videos. Disliked.

[@SPAZZOID100]

?????

[@foreverseethe]

Lol i know how the OP feels, I've done the same thing in other videos, but I feel the knowledge contained in this video outshines the inefficient delivery.

[@JimAlfredson]

LOL. People on the internet are so weird. “Hey here’s some invaluable esoteric information given for FREE. Hope you enjoy!” Some random anonymous internet troll: “TOo mAny UHs and ERrs! DISLIKE!” Get the fuck over yourself. And maybe get out of your parent’s basement while you’re at it.