Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

I recently sold a Moog Prodigy on ebay, but the buyer is claiming that the VCA is making noise and static and is now wanting to return it and get a refund. When I sent it the VCA and all other functions were in perfect working order. Since the Prodigy was fine when I sent it I am assuming that it was damaged durring shipping. I sent it UPS ground and had UPS pack it and it was insured. So I have 2 questions:

1. How hard is it to repair a VCA, and how much does it cost?

2. We all know the risk of buying vintage gear and having it shipped, I have no intention of re-funding the buyer his money since I know for a fact it was working just fine before I sent it (I played it for about an hour right before I sent it and everything was 100%). I have gotten ahold of UPS and if they can give him a re-fund that would be fine, but if for whatever reason they won't it really ends up being my word against his and I am not giving him his money back and ending up with a broken Prodigy. Are there any other options I have to give him if UPS won't refund, I sold it on Ebay so maybe they can do something.

The cost depends on what exactly is broken. Is the the whole VCA or, say, just the Attack etc?

The noise and static thing can result from bad transistor(s)/capacitor(s). That cannot result from the shipping. The component(s) is/are just dead. This happens with age. Unless there was something like a loose inside (like a screw) that partially zapped something. Unlikely to me but I can be wrong.

Sometimes it's just an IC badly seated on its holder making bad contact. In this case, just gently push it back in. Avoid to touch the IC with your bare hands (static electricity is not good. Some are sensitive). Grould yourself by touching bare metal a few seconds and then you can do it. This can result from the shipping.

Hope that helps

Well I have good news, the buyer just contacted me and told me it was not the VCA at all but that he was getting mixer noise that had nothing to do with the prodigy let alone the VCA. This whole thing scared the c**p out of me though!