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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

2651.0. "Oberheim Owner Seeks French Assistance" by DYPSS1::SCHAFER (What's on YOUR mind?) Tue May 28 1991 20:32

    Any French noters out there?
    
    I just picked up a fire-sale OB-Xa and am looking for a MIDI
    modification for the thing.  Problem is, no one in the states sells
    them anymore.
    
    The only lead I have is a company in Paris called NUMERA, from which I
    purchased another kit for my 1st OB back in 1985 or so.  I have the
    following address data:
    
    	NUMERA
    	11 Rue Primatice
    	Paris, France 75013
    	(1) 45 87 17 56
    
    Would someone be kind enough to give these folks a ring and see if they
    still offer a MIDI mod kit for the Oberheim OB-Xa (and if so, what it
    would cost to get one over here)?
    
    Thanks.
    
+b
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2651.1EEMELI::VERGHESEWed May 29 1991 15:548
    There's a company I England who specializes in MIDI retrofits.
    They advertize regularly in Music Technology (UK) magazine,
    and if I remeber correctly, they have a retrofit for the OB-Xa.
    
    I'll check the name and address of the company tonight, if that's
    any help.
    
    Joachim
2651.2thanks - I'll be waitingDYPSS1::SCHAFERWhat's on YOUR mind?Wed May 29 1991 18:568
    Thanks for the offer - I'll take you up on it.  Given that I've struck
    out in the states, I'll take just about any help I can get at this
    point.
    
    It's strange how the "rest of the world" seems to value older equipment
    more than folks here in the US.
    
+b
2651.3$.0238388::MISKINISWed May 29 1991 20:3122
    
    >> It's strange how the "rest of the world" seems to value older
    >> equipment more than folks here in the US.
    
    Hi!
    
    	Perhaps we just don't advertise our "lust" for older equipment!
    
    	This way we can scoff it up REAL cheap, especially used/abused
    	stuff.  You should have seen the look on my friend's face when
    	I came back from a local used music store with a Roland MSQ700
    	for $99.95!  He paid $950 when it first came out (~1984).
    
    	It's really a weird phenomenon...  I personally think some of
    	the older stuff is made MUCH better than the new stuff.  It
    	may take a few old boxes to do the job of one new box, but
    	if you can live with that, it's a buyer's market!
    
    Just my 2 cents worth!
    
    _John_
    
2651.4synths can't handle their beerDYPSS1::SCHAFERWhat's on YOUR mind?Wed May 29 1991 22:0917
    Well, this thing was a real war-horse.  Was formerly owned by a band
    called Midnight Star (black/funk band - remember them?).  One of them
    spilled a beer in the thing, which caused the power block (including
    the switch) to fratz, and gummed up the keys tremendously.
    
    A band called the Walter Eugenes (obscure Ocean artists) bought it and, 
    rather than simply replacing a bad switch, decided to do major surgery
    and cut a hole in the top sheet metal panel, trying to use a light
    switch instead of the regular switch ($ SET FUSE/BLOW=TRUE).
    
    I got it for $50.  Lots of TexPads, a can of SwissMagic body putty, and
    lots of dis/assembly work later, I've almost got a 2nd OB-Xa.
    
    Now if I could just find someone who sells power switches, service
    manuals, and a MIDI retrofit, I'd be in the biz.
    
+b (who's almost O-D'ing on being able to note so much of late)
2651.5EEMELI::VERGHESEFri May 31 1991 05:579
    Sorry for the delay.
    I posted the address of that British company in 5.50.
    The OB-Xa retrofit kit plus installation costs 200 pounds,
    the kit alone is probably a bit cheaper.
    
    As for service manuals, you could try contacting Oberheim/Gibson,
    see note 5.37.
    
    Joachim_the_analog_freak
2651.6thanks!DYPSS1::SCHAFERWhat's on YOUR mind?Fri May 31 1991 12:0716
2651.7RGB::ROSTJimmy Blanton's love childFri May 31 1991 13:075
    The transfer of ownership to Gibson was messy at best.  One software
    developer I spoke with once told me that they managed to lose *all*
    the sysex documentation on the Xpander, for instance.
    
    						Brian