So, I really wanted this object right. I can honestly say this device made me the most excited for a product I have ever been. I do understand it is not for everyone and that each person wants what they want. On the other hand, I believe you here will understand my frustration, and possibly I will help someone from doing something incredibly stupid in the heat of the moment.
Three days ago, I finally received my field. As I have a very busy schedule, It was only yesterday night when I had time to finally spend some quality time with the device. I went ahead and grabbed the first “1 Euro Shop” 3.5mm cable I saw in the basket and stuck one end into my OP-1f and the other into my iLoud speaker. I then laid on the bed and remembered that first time I stuck headphones into the field it felt more secure. I pulled the cable out, and behold. THE TIP WAS MISSING. My IQ immediately degraded to bellow 50 levels and I had experience of combined anxiety, frustration and extreme panic. Then primal rage started setting in. I immediately went on Youtube to watch the first video I saw, disassembled a ball pen, poured a bit of super glue into the tube (also destroying my GFs favourite bedsheet with residue), and then stuck it into the socket. Yeah… it did not work and the glue permanently attached the tip to the inside of the socket. Obviously, I could not sleep, so I wrote a pleading support ticket to TE. This morning, I went to an exotic equipment repair shop to try to see what they say. The guy was familiar with the OP-1, but he hasn’t seen the new one. He said he would accept the challenge, but can’t promise me that he would be able to fix it and that it is risky as there are no teardown guides yet and the thing looks to be assembled tighter than an iPhone. Obviously, no parts are available and most likely they are super specialty parts. The device would most definitely at least come out with many scratches and other wounds, with zero guarantee that it can actually be fixed. He advised me to wait and see what TE say, how much it would cost, and what the wait times will be.
So, the lessons:
Never, ever, ever use cheap cables on expensive products.
Don’t be stupid.
Don’t be stupid.
I can still use the cable that is broken… it actually works, but this is obviously far from ideal… I’ll have to get the 3.5 female - 3.5mm female adapter to use headphones or connect to my interface, all through a shitty cable. I can not afford a new one, as this was already a stretch. What would you do, guys? I can only think of punishing myself to no end. In grief, during the night, I actually had an idea to sell every piece of gear I own and not let myself enjoy my hobby at all for at least a year, and it felt like a proper thing I deserve.
TL; DR: I got my OP-1 field 3 days ago and finally had time to use it. I plugged in a cheap 3.5m cable and the tip broke off inside. In frustration I used the “tip” from YouTube to use super glue on a ball pen tube to get it out, and now it is probably stuck in there for ever.
I’m not familiar at all with the OP-1, but can it really be that difficult to open it up and switch out a jack socket? This would be a relatively simple job on most gear.
I’m not sure if they’re using totally bespoke components now (I wouldn’t be surprised) but from the few times I’ve opened my original OP-1 the jacks are pretty standard SMD parts. I think the Norns shield uses the same jacks, for example. Just not red and white like on the OP-1.
I had a tip in a mixer once, also by a cheap cable.
That weekend I had a party at home with my friends
The question was: who can take out this tip, without damaging the mixer.
The answer came by a friend of mine.
He took a small screw, turned it into the hole of the tip, on the end of the input (being stuck).
Ten took a pliers and take out the screw, with the tip screwed in it.
Done.
This happened to me with a broken tip in a appliziert. I managed to pull it out with a really thin but strong tweezer (from my wifes cosmetic arsenal).
Similar to this one:
I had this with a Moogerfooger murf and an cable from thomanns house brand.
Never got it fixed , tried to put a new jackinput in it but the part was unknown to the world and amptec. Sold it after 10 years of misery to a guy who was looking for broken synths and fx
🥲
Nightmare. IT also sounds like exactly what I would do… try a panic fix and realise I’ve made it worse. I reckon you’ll get it out. You could try getting some acetone in there which can be a solvent for superglue.
Oh no! Greatest sympathies. Though I’m sure TE or your repair person will get you sorted out. Minijacks are fragile by nature, just because of the huge forces applied by the leverage of bumping the long end of an inserted plug. The way yours has become damaged is rather unique, but the damage itself is not, so should have been anticipated by the manufacturer and thus fixable.
One other lesson I’d add to your list, maybe at the top as it’s pretty generally applicable:
Never assume someone on YouTube knows more than you.
There’s always a guy on craigslist looking for broken synths. I bet he makes a lot of money making simple fixes and reselling the synth after he’s done.
I really do sympathize and empathize with you. I’d feel really sad and stupid if this happened to me (not to say you are stupid, not at all, I just know that’s how I’d feel at first having something similar happen once).
I really hope you get it sorted out. I’ve panicked about a few mishaps and posted here before, and without fail I’ve either gotten some good advice that fixed it, or I at least felt better having a place to vent and a really good online community of synth enthusiasts to help me feel better about my mistake!
It’s funny, I think I use pretty cheap cables for almost all my gear (hosa stuff mostly) and it never occurred to me this could happen. I have a field coming in a few days (and an iLoud!) and I really appreciate this post.
