I just come back from buying my octatrack mk2 grey (I sold the mk1 8 years ago). Very nice price (750€) but with a drawback. It’s really dirty. So dirty I could catch covid only by looking at it. The panel, the buttons, the triggers have a real thickness of grime despite the dust cover (which is in a bad state aswel). And it stinks of a dead animal.
How do I clean this? I thought to rub the panel with a microfiber cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol, but is it safe with the writings? Do I need to remove the panel to lift it more easily and avoid damaging the inside?
you can buy new smooth button from elektron (no sticky coating) and clean the case with wet microfiber but no alcohol. use some home cleaning solution. Maybe you can open the case and clean with a q-tip.
I ordered new buttons for a Digitakt 1 directly from Elektron and they arrived in a few days. Shipping to the US was not cheap, but it was remarkably fast.
If it smells that bad you can put it in a box with dryer sheets, after you’ve wiped it down, and aren’t using it. Depending on how bad it could take weeks for it to eat up the stink but it’s worked on stinky used gear for me.
I’ve never had Elektron buttons go sticky on me but I’d assume that if they’re as dirty as you suggest then any attempt to get them clean will compromise the coating.
To help with the smell seal the unit in a container of some kind with an emptied packet of baking soda. Removing the faceplate first would probably help too.
You might find that simply cleaning it helps though, the dead animal might have just been rubbed on the outside.
I had a gigged AR MKI a while back that needed a fair bit of love, smelt like a stoners sock drawer when I bought it.
I’d remove the front panel and see how dirty it is inside too. Removed front panel can be easily cleaned with water and soap. Buttons need to be removed to and cleaned the same way. It will at least remove some dirt.
I’ve made an experiment with the number 15. Pic below.
This is my number 15.
I’ve sprayed some alcohol-based window cleaner into a mug and put the n°15 into it during 5 min.
Then I removed it, and
dried it with a microfiber cloth. The film of brown grime is very noticeable.
I scrape the surface with my fingernail, which removes the grime (it’s more difficult with a microfiber cloth).
After scraping the full surface, I dampen the microfiber cloth with the cleaner and rub the entire surface in a circular motion. I make it 2-3 times, then there is the result. Not perfect, but very good!
