I foolishly sold my original Analog Four (mk1) that was in perfect condition, as I bought a Analog Keys. However, over time, I started to miss the small compact box like nature of the Analog Four. So I bought a used on off ebay. I tried real hard to find one that was in good condition.
It works well and I can live with it, but there are scratches all over it.
It just got me to thinking. How do people mess up these rugged synths? I mean I have an Mk1 Octatrack, Rytm, and Keys and I have used them like crazy, and NONE of them have scratches or other damage.
Also the thing smells like cigarettes. Seriously. People should be forced to mention if they smoke in the room they use it in.
I have a home studio with no pets or kids, drink very little and don’t smoke anything inside my residence.
At the other end of the spectrum is the person who chain smokes, keeps raccoons as pets (they like to make beats), and has a weekly residency at a bar where fights regularly break out.
I think it’s probably been gigged. Sounds like backpack rash and has the complimentary odors to go with it.
I’ve bought a couple things that were pretty stinky, gone so far as to take them apart to scrub the chassis and buttons in soapy water. Baked some silicone number pads in the oven based on something I read on the internet. Kept stuff in a bag with a bowl of baking soda.
Voodoo. Witchcraft. Praying to Joe Pesci. It all works with about the same ratio of success, some better than others depending on the specific issue.
Also, to hopefully be helpful in the event you don’t already know this but Elektron may or may not have (and will sell you) a faceplate left in the warehouse. I’m not sure the cost of a MKI faceplate but if it’s worth it to you, you should send a support ticket and ask.
That is my approach as well. These things are so well made, and what they do is something I want to them to be capable of for as long as possible. I feel like every synth I have ever sold the person getting it, is mega lucky because I take care of them so well.
I mean for gigging, I would not bring my A4 with me. I would load everything up into the Octatrack, and just take it. That gives you plenty of room to wiggle. I do more pop stuff though, so I don’t need all this wrangling and mangling. Anyway, I hadn’t considered the gig thing, and I think (hope) that is what it is, and how it got all banged up too.
At least for the smell I recently made this unpleasant experience. Had a gig in a Berlin club and they’re the worst when it comes to smoking because in this case nobody cares about others. My rig was in the DJ booth for like 6 hours in total. I even made the mistake and left it in the case for 6 days. It smells like shit.
‘Mess up’ there’s the key word. It’s the word of a collector.
If you want stuff to stay immaculate, keep it in a box in the dark and don’t touch it ever.
The thing you bought second hand has been used, probably gigged, by a smoker. Open the unit up and air it, the cig stench will fade.
Deal with it.
I’ve owned my octatrack for almost 10 years, it’s a bit scratched here and there, lots of the writing is fading. Don’t care. I’ve gigged with it, it’s been round the world with me. It works fine.
My MS20 is in terrible condition cosmetically, it was salvaged from a skip. It’s an original and it works fine.
My digitone has suffered the elektron buttons melting to sticky goo fate. Which sucks, but fuck it, it’s just a synth and no one, literally no one is wandering what my synth looks like if they happen to be one of the rare few people that listens to my music.
Early versions of the A4 had issues with the paint chipping off the faceplate no matter how gently they were handled. I picked up a used unit with this problem so ordered a new faceplate from Elektron which has a more robust paint job. Problem solved.
Thanks for answering the question. I am not a collector, but I also know how to use devices without prematurely wearing them out. It really isn’t that hard, and I am using my A4 just as much as every one else.
I think the real lesson here is to buy new, and then think long and hard about ever selling it.
