Arp Odyssey cleaning

[Necrosturbator]

Wow, I didn't know you could that to electronics. 

[vagoedivago]

oh my god......I like the philosophy of removing the actual dirt instead of spraying a solvent on it. I need to clean a sh101 a 09 and a juno6, any advise?

[BillieJean900]

:O what u doin? lol does it still work? :|

[yearsgobyband]

Sorry to come back to you like this, I don't want to bother, but Simple Green has many different products, and I' m not sure witch one I should try to clean my arp synths... can you tell me witch one you take..!

thank's again, david.

[yearsgobyband]

Thank's Synthfool, you've been very helpful, have a nice summer... and good beer, david.

[yearsgobyband]

Thank you for your kind response, I understand very well : this is not a ''how to do it!''

... those keyboards you've cleaned this way, did you ever hear if they seemed to develop problems after,

I do understand that you would not do this, if you knew it wasn't OK, but if I should be careful on one thing, what would your opinion be?

I have three ARP keyboards: Odyssey.., Axxe.., and ProSoloist..!

Thank you for taking care of all those fine machines... and thank you for your time..,david

[Synthfool]

@yearsgobyband I own no analog synths myself, so I can't say I've had the chance to test them long-term. But I've been doing this sort of cleaning since about '94 and haven't had any returns or complaints that I could see would be related.

The only comment I once received was on an Ody where the slide switches required more force to move, likely from increased friction from the cleaning. But the client said they loosened up afterward and he was happy. I'd avoid a prosoloist's touch sensor tho.

[yearsgobyband]

Can you tell me please what kind or what brand of soap you use to clean those keyboards...

Thank you,

yearsgobyband

[Synthfool]

@yearsgobyband Simple Green. Non-toxic, bio-degradable, won't hurt plastic. Great stuff.

But please remember that my videos are not "how to" videos. I am simply showing how much dirt vintage synths can accumulate and this is how *I* tackle the problem. Good luck if you do try it.

[shap3rs]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[kidtronic]

I followed Kevin's advice and used the kitchen sink and did a pat dry, cold air blow dry and then out onto the deck in the summer sun, but I watched it like a hawk and turned them to make sure they didn't get overheated. Both odysseys play very well. Watch out if you have hard water with lots of minerals and salts in it, those colour stains on midwest tubs that ain't dirt.

[Synthfool]

@kidtronic Glad it worked out well for you. :)

But just to be clear to folks visiting this page, this isn't really advice- it's how *I* do things.

Your mileage may vary.

[jonathan401]

@Synthfool Hey Kevin, thanks for posting this - it's very helpful. I can almost hear those PCB's saying "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah" as 30+ years of dirt and grime is washed away. I have 2 questions: Can this cleaning method be performed on a Quadra? I'm not sure if there are any components to steer clear of. Also, do you know if any of the Caig lubricants are OK for the sliders? I have their CaiLube MCL, DeoxIT D5, and Pro Gold.

[Synthfool]

@jonathan401 The PCBs should be no problem on a Quadra, but I'd advise caution against getting the touch membranes wet. I never use any Caig products. Some I believe may actually be harmful in the longterm or if over-applied. Unfortunately, the lube I prefer was banned by ROHs laws and I have nothing else I can recommend. Also certain capacitors and carbon resistors may absorb water. Dry completely,but expect the possibility of replacements. Always avoid getting ceramic body ICs wet too.

[jonathan401]

@Synthfool OK, got it. Thanks again - your technical advice is most graciously appreciated! I hope to get this beauty as close to 100% as possible in the coming months, and this advice along with the posted service manual and schematics from your website is helping greatly.

[damage5f6a]

thanks kevin

[damage5f6a]

hi again, is the new luberex formula to thin? can you suggest something else to use? thanks kevin.

[Synthfool]

@damage5f6a Yeah, the old stuff was much thicker and stickier. It created that nice "drag" feeling on the slider.

There are places that sell chemicals just for this purpose, but they're all expensive.

I have no suggestions for any alternative products, but lubes come in all sorts of viscosity and as long as it isn't conductive, it'll probably work ok if thick enough.

I don't like silicone lube much for sliders, but even that's better than new formula Luberex. Good luck!

[damage5f6a]

hi kevin, hope your well. i gave the oddy a wash and it came up great, thanks. can i ask exactly where i apply the luberex inside the slider?

[Synthfool]

@damage5f6a Thanks.

If your Luberex is white in color, it is the new formula and is not recommended.

The old formula (which I use) is no longer sold.

I use a hypodermic syringe to place the lube.

It is placed where it rubs: top and bottom. Avoid the contacts inside, but lube the rest. Again tho: if your Luberex is white in color, it is not what I use. The old formula is dark brown and thicker.

[damage5f6a]

@Synthfool thanks again,looks like i,ll have to use another product...

[shawnrudiman]

wow. this just blew my mind! but it is really a genius idea to get all the grime out! then say blow it dry with a compressed air and some isipropyl alcohol if needed in spots where waters sitting..? thanks for posting this!

[syzygywell]

wow ballsy!

[marciomoraes70]

Sorry, I don't understand... I always believed that water causes damage to electronic circuits. Could you clarify this? Thanks

[Synthfool]

@marciomoraes70

You believed some truth, but not in all cases. :)

If powered, yes... water would be bad for almost any electronic device.

If water is left to cause corrosion, that would be bad too.

But water doesn't damage many components, especially if dried off immediately afterward.

In the case of the Odyssey, there are no components that will usually suffer and it's better to clean away the dirt than to leave it in.

[damage5f6a]

hello kevin, firstly thankyou very much for sharing your expertise with us all. i,m considering giving my oddy a wash, i was concerned about the bend potentiometer, appears to be on the board in the video, anything to watch out for regarding this? thankyou.

[Synthfool]

@damage5f6a The bend pot won't suffer. My greatest concern is if a chip is cracked or a part (like a capacitor) damaged where water might get in. The items like pots and switches are usually fine with a bath.

[34672rr]

Holy shit, that is crazy, i thought it was a joke when i first saw it.

[ThePerrorabioso]

dou you have a video that explains how to clean the korga karma keys? because my karma doesnt sounds.

thanks

[Synthfool]

The Korg is not a vintage instrument and the techniques shown in this video are not recommended for it.

They may ruin it.

I'd recommend taking the instrument to a Korg authorized service station for service.

Good luck. :)

[BaconBricks]

It's SO satisfying to see all that dirt leave and go down the drain.

[RodmanSan]

Just see this video the first time...had to LOL as the wife was sitting next to me with her mouth open and asked me what the hell he is thinking to do it like this...;)

Great stuff Kevin...!

[Subtronik]

You are a genius Kevin, may you live forever.

[blowtorch5]

Thanks Kevin for giving my Ody a much needed colonic. -Brian

[doubleRRify]

i didn't know you could do that.

[81ZX]

No chance on shooting a video on how to correctly dry it afterwards? :)

[Synthfool]

Sorry, no.

But I shake excess water from the board, use an air compressor set to 100PSI (or less) and put the board(s) in front of a powerful fan afterward.

We live in the desert too, so drying is very quick.

[Kinor7]

Why can't you show us that? :)

[Synthfool]

@Kinor7

I don't have an Odyssey here right now and it's wintertime? :)

This also isn't a "how-to" video.

It is what *I* do.

You may have to find your own solutions using other methods. Good luck. :)

[Kinor7]

Well, I didn't mean I wanted to see how the ODDYSSEY was cleaned, just synths in general, to see how you dry 'em after using this method. Would be cool if you could show us that, now or later, with what ever synth.

[Synthfool]

I suppose I could show something, but it seems sort of obvious to me. Compressed air, fans and those sort of things are used and there's not much to really show or instruct. You're basically trying to get as much water out as quickly as possible. Nothing very entertaining or scientific. The only thing I could suggest is that if you use an air compressor, don't use more than 100psi.

Too much pressure can cause damage sometimes.

[analogmadness]

This shit is crazy!!!! RESPECT!

[ipnoteca]

i'm going to throw my synthi directly into washing machine...LoL...

unbelievable and amazing...

[lundijuno106]

I can't believe it!

[cnightwing]

Wow, Kevin that is awesome. How long does it take to fully dry ? What's the procedure? Do you bake it ?

[shaft9000]

My Juno-6 could use a shower, too...

[synthmonger]

5 stars!

[Voltor07]

That's awesome, Kevin! Maybe I can do the same thing with my Farfisa after using Tarn-X on the contacts. Pressurized distilled water would work just as well, right?

[tobinater]

kevin, you rule. THE synth repair master.

[Pehr81]

hehe, it looks like when our dog takes a bath ^_^