First Project Synth, SH-1000

Tardis · Post by **Tardis** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 2:40 am

I bought the Ratty Roland SH-1000 for $65 off eBay last week.
It arrived very poorly packaged. (Rule #1, never pack 'any' synth in foam peanuts, it causes damage, and leaves a mess.) Some key bridges got damaged. I found the pieces in the box after I removed all of those foam peanuts. I Super Glued the broken bridges, and they're good as old now.

I plan on restoring this P.O.S. to a functioning synth again. Aside from the obvious cosmetic flaws it appears to be 85% complete. The boards are complete, power supply is intact, pots, switches and sliders still move surprizingly well, the keybed is very nice, and the best part is finally getting that last slider cap I needed for the System 100

Stuff I need help with:
Before I start I need more information about this synth. I got an owners manual from Roland, but I really need some schematics for it. I also need help identifing parts. My friend is making the missing wood pieces for me. I need a measurement of the wood strip above the keyboard. If anyone has a good picture or copy of the control panel, I sure could use that too. I saw here a while back someone had custom decals made for the control panel on their synth. Who makes those? I need a 3 way 'Transpose' switch. Is there a place that sells new flip switches? Anyone here have one?
What's under the red wax?

I'll have more questions about this later. I don't want to mess it up by rushing the job. A lot of stuff is disconnected, I don't want to fire it up until I get a wiring diagram. Any info about this synth would be appreciated...Thanks.....

crystalmsc · Post by **crystalmsc** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:27 am

Here's some stuff you might need, including to add midi to the SH-1000:
http://users.rio.com/senorris/junk/sh1000/
http://www.synhouse.com/SH-1000-Notes/S ... hotos.html
http://www.synhouse.com/SH-1000-Notes/S ... Notes.html

Useful link while fixing synth:
http://cu.imt.net/~sounddoctorin/synthtec/synth.htm

Otherwise You can get the schematics for $32 here:
http://www.rangeraudio.com/manuals1.htm

Other manual/lit source:
http://mglinsky.www5.50megs.com/msg4.html
http://vintageplanet.nl/index.html

can't wait to see the finished result..with some creative twist (paint, wood, knobs, etc) may be..good luck!

Tardis · Post by **Tardis** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:51 am

crystalmsc wrote:Here's some stuff you might need, including to add midi to the SH-1000:
http://users.rio.com/senorris/junk/sh1000/
http://www.synhouse.com/SH-1000-Notes/S ... hotos.html
http://www.synhouse.com/SH-1000-Notes/S ... Notes.html

Useful link while fixing synth:
http://cu.imt.net/~sounddoctorin/synthtec/synth.htm

Otherwise You can get the schematics for $32 here:
http://www.rangeraudio.com/manuals1.htm

Other manual/lit source:
http://mglinsky.www5.50megs.com/msg4.html
http://vintageplanet.nl/index.html

can't wait to see the finished result..with some creative twist (paint, wood, knobs, etc) may be..good luck!

Awesome, thanks a lot crystalmsc...

I want to keep it original appearance wise. I'm masking off the "Roland" insignias 'for the sake of patina', and painting the rest with Rustoleum Black Hammered finish paint. I've had good luck with that paint. It hides surface imprefections very well. Then maybe make, or have some decals made for the control panel. My artist friend could probably hand paint the lines back on.
My biggest challenge will be the electronics. I haven't done an electronics project like this in years. In those days I modded CB Radios with channels and power, that was fun. I guess it's basically the same stuff, I just don't remember what I'm looking at anymore. Hopefully some of the synth techs here can lend a hand.

Jabberwalky · Post by **Jabberwalky** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:03 am

That kinda seems fun honestly. Am I weird? I bought a pro-one in condition close to that (except plastic can't rust) and I had a blast actually making it look good again.

Tardis · Post by **Tardis** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:09 am

Jabberwalky wrote:That kinda seems fun honestly. Am I weird? I bought a pro-one in condition close to that (except plastic can't rust) and I had a blast actually making it look good again.

Saving vintage gear feels good

.
It'll be taken care of in my hands.
It's the good Karma of recycling.

crystalmsc · Post by **crystalmsc** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:59 am

Tardis wrote:Awesome, thanks a lot crystalmsc...I want to keep it original appearance wise. I'm masking off the "Roland" insignias 'for the sake of patina', and painting the rest with Rustoleum Black Hammered finish paint. I've had good luck with that paint. It hides surface imprefections very well. Then maybe make, or have some decals made for the control panel. My artist friend could probably hand paint the lines back on.

it's ok, your painting plan sounds good, but instead of just hiding the rusty part..some fellow from the car modification garage will probably do some miracle by replacing all those rusty part with a new material..could be worth to save a classic for a good long use..dunno why, but I like to see creative work on synth..based on the unit condition, I sense that it could be easier to go the creative route rather than storing it's original looks..may be by letting your artist friend to be creative could be more fun for both of you too..here's a nice modified Juno-6 looks:

but sure it's all up to you, just hope to see it nice and fresh again, happy working..

crystalmsc · Post by **crystalmsc** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:08 am

Here's something to ligthen up the day

synthgeek5108 · Post by **synthgeek5108** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:02 am

that is so awesome that you know about repairs and whatnot. I really keep telling myself to take classes on that.

best of luck
M

premieklovn · Post by **premieklovn** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:44 pm

Nice project!

For inspiration check out these sweet plingplong-leads:

Tardis · Post by **Tardis** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 6:55 pm

That Juno looks great. I like the white look. I get what you're saying, I basically have a clean slate to work with. I could do almost anything to this synth and it would look better.

These demos are cool:

spookyman · Post by **spookyman** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:57 pm

This is what I did with my old Fender Rhodes from 1973. I bought it for 60 $, in very very bad shape, and make it "opticaly" new. The inside had a revision from a Rhodes Tech in Switzerland.

Sorry, i don't have pics from before. But it's easy to immagine. The tolex was missing for about 30 %, the case had big holes and was allmost broken on one side. Many tines where missing, also 5 tone bars.

Now it looks so :

Tardis · Post by **Tardis** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:10 am

Wow, I like the looks of that Rhodes spookyman. Love that heavy gold metal flake. You did a great job. It's very retro, like it came through a time warp right outta 1973, lol. I hope the SH-1000 turns out that nice.

Here's what I've done so far:
Stripped her down, cleaned all switches, contacts etc, and did my first visual inspection. The power supply caps look shady, and I'm still wondering what's under the red wax? Once I get all of the wiring figured out, I'll do a test fire to see what I'll do.

I took the control panel apart, cleaned and inspected everything. A few parts are tweeked out of place, but it appears everything is there.

Made a mock up of the wood sides. I don't think I'll be using these pieces, probably just get some plywood. I'll be using the same cheap simulated vinyl tape it came with originally.

Ain't I Mr. Slick Wieners, lol. I put the control panel on my copy machine and got a full sized mock-up of the control layout. I'm hoping to find a place that can make me new decals for it. I'm also considering doing the control panel in the simulated vinyl tape that's on the sides. That wood be different, LOL!

So far it's a fun winter project. Can't wait to see it when it's done...

crystalmsc · Post by **crystalmsc** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:09 am

Tardis wrote:I basically have a clean slate to work with. I could do almost anything to this synth and it would look better.

Great, can't wait to see result..thx for the nice demos.

crystalmsc · Post by **crystalmsc** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:13 am

spookyman wrote:This is what I did with my old Fender Rhodes from 1973. I bought it for 60 $, in very very bad shape, and make it "opticaly" new. The inside had a revision from a Rhodes Tech in Switzerland.

Sorry, i don't have pics from before. But it's easy to immagine. The tolex was missing for about 30 %, the case had big holes and was allmost broken on one side. Many tines where missing, also 5 tone bars.

Now it looks so :

this is very religious, wonderful!

Post by **Blue Monster 65** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:23 am

Good luck, Tardis! Looks like a fun project to undertake.

And probably beats the h**l outta the mud dawber wasps in the DX7 I had to repair!

Woof! - Scott