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Subject: Re: [chromapolaris] New Member Hopefully New Owner

From: "masonhu@..." <Masonhu@...>
Date: 2015-09-18

Do panels/membranes deteriorate over time even if the unit is not being used?
(or is it mainly heavy use that causes them to break down?_

i.e. If someone's selling a pristine synth is there still a pretty good chance the original panels underneath might be shot?



On 6/3/2015 2:21 PM, Bob Grieb bobgrieb@... [chromapolaris] wrote:
 
I replaced the panel on mine, and also helped a friend do his.
It's not that hard if you watch Paul's video and make sure
you follow each step.

    Bob

   

From: "Paul Krull paul.krull@... [chromapolaris]" <chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com>
To: "chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com" <chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 3, 2015 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: [chromapolaris] New Member Hopefully New Owner



 I have longingly studied the installation instructions for the replacement panels and they do seem pretty detailed and comprehensive. How many owners and with what kind of skill set have replaced their own panels? I worked in a music store that sold used synths many years ago and a couple Polarii came through with troubled membranes and I did do some investigating and poking around but it seemed like a losing battle with the brittle and deteriorating state of the ribbon. I hope I didn't leave the instruments in worse shape than I found them.
 PT
  



On Tuesday, June 2, 2015 6:11 PM, "steve.welk@... [chromapolaris]" <chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com> wrote:


 
I can attest to the wonderfulness of Paul's panels, and also for his generosity in sharing his expertise.  Thanks to his willingness to keep this cool instrument alive, my Polaris has been brought back from the dead.  It sat for many years (5-10, who knows) in my basement pretty much out of commission due to the broken flex problem.  I wasn't really sure what to do with it.  Then I found a book ("Synth Gods") in a 1/2 price bookstore, and it reactivated my interest in old analog synths.  It prompted me to research information on my old Polaris and i ran into Paul's replacement instructions.

Long story short, I bought a set of the panels.  He helped me debug a couple other problems, convinced me to try fixing a couple bad sliders and gave other good info (e.g. part number/where to find the ribbon connectors).  I now have a perfectly functioning (I think) Polaris again thanks to Paul.  I was even motivated to replace a couple chipped keys, found on ebay so now it looks pretty excellent too.

Amazingly enough, my D cells still registered 4 LED's of goodness after sitting idle all that time.  All presets were still there.

Anyway, only one question.  When pushing my master volume up past ~ 1/3 full scale, it gets pretty noisy. I gather this is "normal".  Was there ever a fix for this?  Do dedicated analog voltages/ground from the power supply board help?

Again, kudos to Paul!

Steve