Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

Hello
I am relatively new to the synthesizer world and have been trying to figure this out for a while. Recently my K1 has been making a lot of hissing noise, more than usual since this dinosaur is known to have that airy quality. It all started when I, after not playing the synth for a couple of weeks since i was busy, plugged in my headphones and noticed that it was making a very noticeable hissing the after about 15 seconds there would be a puffs and the hissing would go away for about 5 seconds then it will start all over again. Strange I know. Then after being on for a while the puff was gone but the hissing was constantly there. I can still play and heard the sounds with or without the hissing being in the background. The MIDI capabilities are, no problems there. I really don't want to replace the K1 because I am very sentimentally attached to it, and probably can afford to buy a new one, but even if I did I wouldn't replace it. How can I fix this problem, could it be a matter of maintenance, like i just have to dust off a few things. I have never done that, I to tell you the truth i don't know much about synth maintenance.
Thank You for sticking around reading this I hope someone can help me, since there's no repair shops around where I live.

i have had a problem like this with every piece of kawai gear i have ever owned and it was almost always the power supply going to seed.

i would try that first. other than that, it might be a cap busted. you can peak inside and see if any of the big blue/black things are leaking a sort of snot looking substance. (note that some caps are epoxied on, so dont confuse that with a leak)

I second Tallow's opinion.

Thanks for the advice, any other suggestions would be appreciated.
also, are you suggesting that i should replace the power supply, or if need be the cap. Where would I go by finding these items. I'm sorry I know that I'm asking alot of questions but I am very new with synths.

you could find an equivalent power supply at radio shack or wal mart.

off the top of my head- 9volts DC 500 milliamps (ma)

what are the specs on the back of your ac adaptor/power supply/wall wart

And check the electrolytic capacitors too (trademark )

sorry about that, the k1 wall wart should be 12 volts, 600 milliamps...

just take the power supply to radioshack and tell one of those idiots you need the equivalent. there should be at least one guy there that can read beyond a 2nd grade level.