Building a Synth from discarded parts

[melodic_monad]

I was curious how feasible building a synth from discarded parts would be. It sounds like a pretty neat side project for the musically inclined freegans out there, or, like me, the freegan inclined musicians. What do you guys think?

[schmidtc]

sounds hard.

[Synthaholic]

What sort of discarded parts? Parts from various synths, to make a "Frankensynth?" Old coffee filters? Car parts?

Getting disparate parts to peacefully co-exist is probably more trouble than it's worth. Especially if there's anything digital involved (which rules out pretty much any polysynths).

Cobbling together a monosynth out of old analog parts could be done with some electronic smarts.

BTW, good luck finding a coffee filter that has resonance.

[StepLogik]

Most of the early 80's model Kirby vacuum cleaners contained a Moog filter you could probably salvage.

[garranimal]

Isn't that doing what is like a modular synthesizer?

[nathanscribe]

I am somehow reminded of the film Dogs in Space.

[pricklyrobot]

I am somehow reminded of the film Dogs in Space.

Great movie, and great music. Too bad both the DVD and soundtrack album are out of print.

[melodic_monad]

What sort of discarded parts? Parts from various synths, to make a "Frankensynth?" Old coffee filters? Car parts?

A mixture of whatever I can get my hands on, really. Any suggestions as to where to look? I have no problem diving into dumpsters or junk yards.

Getting disparate parts to peacefully co-exist is probably more trouble than it's worth. Especially if there's anything digital involved (which rules out pretty much any polysynths).

I Just want to build something simple and analog.

Cobbling together a monosynth out of old analog parts could be done with some electronic smarts.

I'll probably need some support along the way, so I grabbed a friend who is more knowledgeable than me.

BTW, good luck finding a coffee filter that has resonance.

Haha, I got a good laugh out of that.

I'm thinking of posting a wanted ad on craigslist asking for broken and discarded parts. Not sure anyone would be willing to just hand over junk. The goal is to not spend a dime, except on travel expenses.

[Yoozer]

Cobbling together a monosynth out of old analog parts could be done with some electronic smarts.

I'll probably need some support along the way, so I grabbed a friend who is more knowledgeable than me.

Then he should've told you already that it's an absolute b***h to desolder resistors. You can cut the wires of new ones to size .

[Blue Monster 65]

I am somehow reminded of the film Dogs in Space.

Great movie, and great music. Too bad both the DVD and soundtrack album are out of print.

DVD? I've got this on VHS and vinyl!

f**k kids and their new-fangled doodads ...

Scott

[pricklyrobot]

DVD? I've got this on VHS and vinyl!

f**k kids and their new-fangled doodads ...

Scott

As a matter of fact, I do have it on [dubbed] VHS, and the soundtrack on cassette (and I had to walk ten miles in the snow—uphill both ways—to get them ), but I was hoping to replace them at some point.

[steveman]

I have no problem diving into dumpsters or junk yards.

I'm thinking of posting a wanted ad on craigslist asking for broken and discarded parts. Not sure anyone would be willing to just hand over junk. The goal is to not spend a dime, except on travel expenses.

If you're lucky to find anything in a dumpster it's more than likely to need parts replacing - that might involve some money...
Probably won't have a power supply, so you'll need to figure out what power it's supposed to take, which'll probably involve destructive testing in the absense of anything like schematics.

I Just want to build something simple and analog.

What makes you think analogue is simple?

[melodic_monad]

I have no problem diving into dumpsters or junk yards.

I'm thinking of posting a wanted ad on craigslist asking for broken and discarded parts. Not sure anyone would be willing to just hand over junk. The goal is to not spend a dime, except on travel expenses.

If you're lucky to find anything in a dumpster it's more than likely to need parts replacing - that might involve some money...

Well if it was working it wouldn't be any fun! Although you're probably right about my chances finding something thrown out...

Probably won't have a power supply, so you'll need to figure out what power it's supposed to take, which'll probably involve destructive testing in the absense of anything like schematics.

Yay for the web! I hear it's world wide now. Although unfortunately companies tend to hoard their schematics greedily.

I Just want to build something simple and analog.

What makes you think analogue is simple?

I don't. My assumption (which could very well be wrong) was that if I went after analogue it would be easier to rig something together in a modular way.

[Blue Monster 65]

Methinks, Melodic, you might be better off getting the schematic/layout to a small mono and building that from scratch, should you wish for this experience. Repairing broken synths can be enough of a nightmare (when parts are no longer available, etc.), without cobbling together several disparate machines. Your idea is interesting, but I'm just not sure it's all that feasible. Granted, I'm sure there's a way one COULD make it work, but would it be worth the effort? I don't know, but I know I don't have that kind of time.

As a matter of fact, I do have it on [dubbed] VHS, and the soundtrack on cassette (and I had to walk ten miles in the snow—uphill both ways—to get them ), but I was hoping to replace them at some point.

A luxury! Why, when I saw it, I was living in a hole in the middle of the road! Father used to get me up six hours before I went to bed and ... umm ... erm ... what were we talking about again?

Scott

[anostaboss]

You could always go for the Atari Punk Console synth - a simple, fun synth project... that's probably not what your shooting for, but its a great starter for sure.