What’s on *YOUR* workbench?

A few years ago I had all the hardware on my drumset powdercoated for a more unique look, but it was an amateur job and the finish had been flaking off for years. I finally decided to take it to a professional shop and have it sandblasted and coated right, and now I'm putting everything back together. Reassembly and tuning is a pain in the ass, but man it looks sooooooo much better.

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One for the bike nerds again.

A few months back I got a carbon fiber Trek bike. While I could ride it comfortably after adjustments, I found that it.was simply too big of a frame at 58cm but at least it will fit my dad.

I got myself a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 C2C. great aluminum frame and carbon fork but the Shimano Sora groupset is awful. The shifters feel flimsy. The Taiwanese Jalco wheels also felt rickety. So I sourced a period correct if not slightly older Shimano Dura Ace groupset and Mavic wheels (w/ Ultegra hubs). Cleaned them all up and polished them. Time to build!
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jcpst said:
I got myself a “real” breadboarding setup. Here’s my protoboard alongside the mini one I started out with. I actually have room now!

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You might want to pick up a more "cleaner" set of jumper wires. I got these a few years ago and they've been a godsend. You can actually see the components once the circuit is up and running! Tweezers are almost mandatory to not bend them up too much.

AUSTOR 560 Pieces Jumper Wire Kit 14 Lengths Assorted Preformed Breadboard Jumper Wire with Free Box: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

AUSTOR 560 Pieces Jumper Wire Kit 14 Lengths Assorted Preformed Breadboard Jumper Wire with Free Box: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com
 
BuddytheReow said:
You might want to pick up a more "cleaner" set of jumper wires. I got these a few years ago and they've been a godsend. You can actually see the components once the circuit is up and running! Tweezers are almost mandatory to not bend them up too much.

AUSTOR 560 Pieces Jumper Wire Kit 14 Lengths Assorted Preformed Breadboard Jumper Wire with Free Box: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

AUSTOR 560 Pieces Jumper Wire Kit 14 Lengths Assorted Preformed Breadboard Jumper Wire with Free Box: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com
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Woah those look great- thanks! I already had had these ones long before I made any pedals, used ‘em for the pinouts of an ESP32.
 
Populated the boards for the enclosures I have, only missing the MPF4393 - I think I have MMBF4393 somewhere so I'll try an adapter board for that. Also socketed the BC182B's on the Sandblaster since I couldn't find those, I'll try 2N5088 or PN2222A I think to see how they work out. I think they're the input and output buffer so shouldn't matter too much?
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And here's the Disappearing Act all finished up, it sounds pretty good and works nicely with the exception of a very high pitch whine. I assume it might be the charge pump? From googling it looks like it's a common issue with the LT1044 charge pumps, could be a bad batch or I could try a ICL7660SCPAZ instead which apparently sometimes helps. LT1054 might work too, some advice that you can't use it as a drop-in replacement, but other say you can (here). And last I think I have a TC7662BCPA or two around, but not sure if that's a drop in replacement or not. I'll have to look at some data sheets, but I'm sick right now so not going to dig in until I feel better.

Thankfully since I run a multi-FX unit, I usually run a low pass filter at the end of the chain (after the reverb) anyway, which removes the whine completely. I just happened to have it off this time so I even noticed it, but it's still bothering me a little bit knowing that it's there.
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Two different variants of the 535. Bought both in non-working condition for a song.

As far as I can tell, the one on the right is the first variation. Four range selections, switchable boost but no variable q. Bottom plate only refers to it as a 535. No Q.

The one on the left is a later model: six range selections, variable q, but the boost is not toggleable. Oh, and it's made to run on 18vdc.

I found a drawing for the latter:

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The former: no luck yet. They really increased the complexity of that circuit, what with the NAND IC and multiple op amps. Still traceable for a guy like me, though.

Considering adding a charge pump to the 18vdc guy. Wouldn't be too difficult. That one was clearly connected to a center positive PSU: when I got it, the 100 ohm current limiting resistor on the DC input was fried to a crisp.

Dunno about the early model yet.
 
Ran through all the calibration procedures on the keyboard for this ARP this morning. Setting all the trimmers didn’t solve the problem it has.

There’s something going wrong in the memory circuit. It’s a mono synth so it just plays one note at a time - the lowest note actively keyed. If you hold down a key and also press a lower note, it should switch to the lower note. If you release the low note it should return to the held higher note. With the portomento switched on, it behaves correctly, portomento off, it does not.

The manuals and schematics are great. I should be able to trace the problem down to where the fault is happening, it’s just making my brain hurt a little. I think this is the last issue I need to fix, then I can get it returned to my brother in law who has been waiting patiently for about a year for me to finish it. My goal is to get it done before Christmas so I can hand it off when I see him.
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Erik S said:
Ran through all the calibration procedures on the keyboard for this ARP this morning. Setting all the trimmers didn’t solve the problem it has.

There’s something going wrong in the memory circuit. It’s a mono synth so it just plays one note at a time - the lowest note actively keyed. If you hold down a key and also press a lower note, it should switch to the lower note. If you release the low note it should return to the held higher note. With the portomento switched on, it behaves correctly, portomento off, it does not.

The manuals and schematics are great. I should be able to trace the problem down to where the fault is happening, it’s just making my brain hurt a little. I think this is the last issue I need to fix, then I can get it returned to my brother in law who has been waiting patiently for about a year for me to finish it. My goal is to get it done before Christmas so I can hand it off when I see him.
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I would have assumed learning how to use that thing would be harder than fixing it 🤣
 
At least it's semi modular. Had a small doepfer modular system and it was quite an experience.

Good thing Bob made the minimoog easy back: the most popular system 55 modules in one box
 
Paradox916 said:
Even as someone who loves smashing buttons and switches, turning knobs etc. I can’t wrap my head around synth stuff I just lock up and my brain starts screaming.
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It’s a lot, but at least it’s ALL buttons knobs and switches. Menus and screens is where I start to tap out.

My buddy left me alone with some line6 multi pedal gizmo last week and I spent 20 minutes trying to access any kind of delay sound and failed. Turns out it had those knobs that are ALSO buttons. :rolleyes:
 
jwin615 said:
VCV Rack is a great free way to learn synths and what the module do. The free version covers all the basics. Great way to get hands on.
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That would be the way I would want to go about it, free software is awesome… probably won’t mess with it any time soon But I will definitely look into that down the road, I like a little electronica mixed in there.
 
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