Vintage synth repair: who/where?

[bassteban]

I have a Kawai K3 hybrid synth that needs work; does anyone heer know of a trustworthy repairperson/place/shop in the Sacramento area?

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

It's been a while since I've heard a peep from any of my vintage synth groups, but I'll see if there's any useful info I can roust from them.

[billbern]

Originally Posted by bassteban

I have a Kawai K3 hybrid synth that needs work; does anyone heer know of a trustworthy repairperson/place/shop in the Sacramento area?

The only one I know is in Ohio.
Wes Taggart at Analogics

http://www.analogics.org

[bassteban]

Thank you both.

[knarleybass]

Ed Miller in Hollywood, he is the very best!

[bassteban]

I appreciate all input, but this thing is HEAVY & I really don't want to ship outside of driving range(Sacramento).

[Baryonyx]

God, an old synth has to be one of the hardest things to fix like!

[bongomania]

I used to know a couple guys in San Francisco who could do it, if you were willing to drive up there.

The K3 was a cool keyboard, I liked it. Sure, it quickly became obsolete, but I recall it having a fatter, darker, dirtier tone than some of the other hybrid keyboards of the day.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by bongomania

I used to know a couple guys in San Francisco who could do it, if you were willing to drive up there.

PMing...

[elros]

Kevin Lightner.

http://www.synthfool.com/

I don't know much about the geography though.

[winston]

Steve-Not sure exactly where this guy's @ but http://www.analogsynthservice.com/ is in the Bay Area.

I saw props for his shop chops with Prophets (the first analog synths w/microprocessors, IIRC) in this thread @ Vintage Synth Explorer.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Rainbow Electronics in Sacramento does a lot of work on vintage gear. John McCormack there might be able to service your synth.

[bassteban]

Bumpin this up; I've contacted Winston's suggestion, haven't heard back. Also looking into Rainbow in Sac; any others I should be aware of?

[bassteban]

I still haven't done the repairs- I treid to get w/a guy in San Jose but it seems that whenever I can afford to plunk down the money and have the free time available for the medium-sized road trip, the dude's all booked up. I've also been considering the more pricey but closer(Rainbow, Sacramento)option, but I'm wondering if there are any new developments in this area.

[winston]

Hi Steve, I've seen www.synthgeeks.com from Oakland posting on the East Bay Craigslist in recent months. Don't know anything about them, but might be worth a shot.

[bassteban]

Hey- thanks, Winston. I've emailed those guys about a synth they had FS; I may yet discuss repairs w/them as well. BTW, I got aholld of the guy who has the Stammie in your Avatar; he's NOT interested in selling. ~sigh~

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

Rainbow Electronics in Sacramento does a lot of work on vintage gear. John McCormack there might be able to service your synth.

I just realized John McCormack was one of the guys I was thinking of! I couldn't remember his name before. The other guy I was thinking of was JBOT (Jay), but his site doesn't have any useful info about repair work anymore. http://www.capturedbyrobots.com/index.htm

[winston]

Funny, I actually went to music school (DePaul U) with the guy who does Captured By Robots--he's an excellent bassist.

[bassteban]

Well, I finally went to Rainbow in Sac. Didn't see John, though I talked to him on the phone. Dropped off a Roland JX8P+PG800 and an Ensoniq ESQ-1; they said they'd call w/a diagnosis in about two weeks. Maybe by then I'll have a stand.

[bassteban]

Rainbow called last night- the synths should be ready in a couple of days.