Akai Hexacomp questions

jrmy · #1 12-31-2009, 09:34 AM

A few years back, I purchased a used Akai Hexacomp for next to nothing ($60!), and it quickly became a mainstay of my live sound. It made everything sound HUUUUUUUUUUUGE! Unfortunately, over the last few months it's developed a weird problem - the attack on it has really started to wander, almost randomly.

From the little I've been able to find online, I think it might be a problem with one of the individual EQ channels, but I can't be sure.

I tried calling Akai, and they gave me the name of a repair shop in Jersey that handles a lot of their stuff, but when it got there, the repair people couldn't find any schematics or helpful info on the pedal, so they sent it back.

Does anyone out there have experience with Hexacomps? I've been trying other compression pedals, but so far haven't been able to find anything like it... if worse comes to worse and its beyond help, might the EBS Multicomp do the trick? I've seen it get a lot of love in the compression threads here.

Thanks in advance for any info!

Lapicide · #2 12-31-2009, 10:40 PM

If you really like the Hexacomp and want to stick with it, there is one on Ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/AKAI-HEXACOMP-C2...item25580206aa

jrmy · #3 01-01-2010, 07:16 AM

Thanks! I'll definitely keep an eye on that auction.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to drop over $150 on a new Hexacomp now that I've experienced the frustrations of trying to get a discontinued & obscure pedal repaired... but getting a new one would certainly solve my problem.

JohnDavisNYC · #4 01-01-2010, 10:16 AM

have you tried spraying out the sliders? those things can get all nasty and sometimes short out... sometimes the sliders on some synths i have get funky and a little Caig DeOxit in there and then slide it up and down like crazy for a bit.... power off, naturally...

sometimes a good cleaning is all it needs...

john

jrmy · #5 01-01-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnDavisNYC

have you tried spraying out the sliders? those things can get all nasty and sometimes short out... sometimes the sliders on some synths i have get funky and a little Caig DeOxit in there and then slide it up and down like crazy for a bit.... power off, naturally...

sometimes a good cleaning is all it needs...

john

You know, I'm ashamed to say that I never thought of that. It has been on my board for a long time, which means it's seen plenty of dirt & grime. I will try that at my bandmate's studio this week - he's got some good spray cleaners for his synths & stuff...