i’m in berlin ron
That’s not very reassuring for me as A4 owner. The Monomachine is not even legacy hardware but it is still sold by elektron and still they can’t even fix up encoders? These encoders are kind of flimsy and bound to go south in the near future. Built to last they are not. Maybe i should already hand in an order for ten of them just in case. If Elektron ships spare parts at all.
the OP is talking about an SFX-6 which is, well, oldish (can’t find a better word not to offend it 
) so it could be that for that specific model they used different encoders but it’s kinda weird because encoders shouldn’t usually be an issue so i would rest reassured about your A4, it’s a rather a younger product compared to the SFX-6 
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It’s true:
Unfortunately yes.
We have no choice but to stop servicing the MKI units as we do not have any of the spare parts needed for repair left.
Absolute bullshit, given many parts are exactly the same.
Oh, but they will sell you the spare parts (that they dont have) if you need them:
encoders and buttons are the same types of mechanisms.
We can sell those as spare parts, but we cannot take the unit in for service.
I appreciate that some parts may not be in stock, but when you make a machine that has buttons and encoders that are prone to failure, which you have stock of, the move to stop this specific fix is frankly ridiculous and indicative of what this company has become.
While some mechanical parts are the same, all other internals are different.
This means that if something else is broken or needs to be serviced when we receive the unit (which has been the problem historically) we cannot do anything about it. Hence, we have decided to stop taking in MKI units.
We will also always try our best to help out when a unit needs to be serviced by providing advice, service information (not schematics) and so on.
Should a unit be unserviceable, in example a broken DSP card, please contact support and we will try to find a solution.
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But you are well aware of the need for the encoders to be regularly changed on these and that the buttons are prone to faliure, so why remove that service when you still have those parts?
You are talking about the MK2 units. This regards the MK1 units.
There have not been any DSP, UI, CPU or I/O boards left for those for years and since about one year back there are no parts left even in the pile of terminated units. Even the actual components are obsolete. We are out. Completely out.
Mechanics(encoders, buttons) are still available but there is a risk PCBs break when you take them apart and starts soldering, and in those cases you get in to a situation where you break something and can not repair it. We would love to be able to repair the MK1. It’s just not possible! Finding parts for a MK1 would be to buy a MK1.
The MK2 is a completely different story. Lots of parts for the future, and designed with the future in mind.
SIDstations can in some cases still be fixed but it sometimes takes months to source parts.
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Keep talking, my SFX6 is going down in value with every post you make- basically you wont change the encoders and buttons you fitted in the first place, which you know are prone to faliure, because you are worried about breaking the PCB. Fantastic way to support your early adopters and a wonderful show of confidence in your servicing staff’s ability. To be expected given the way the company has gone.
I understand that you’re upset and concerned for the continued working of your SFX-6, but there is another way of thinking about it: anyone with a Mk1 Monomachine now owns a goldmine of rare and desirable spare parts! Of course, I’m sure that all owners would rather be able to have their instruments repaired if they were to breakdown.
You are welcome to buy mine as a spare- Im done with this lot.
I can feel you tIB …
also good thought process peter hanes…
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to Elektron: thanks for jumping into the conversation and be clear and open about it!
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This kinda sucks. I worry about my SFX-6 getting old, flaking out and having to go in for repair. Now I’m really worried.
The difference here being that they have the parts to fix this guy’s SFX6 (the encoders) but apparently don’t trust their techs to do the work without breaking the PCB.
That’s a frighteningly short lifetime for a relatively recent product.
My second SFX-6 was the last mk1 MD/MNM unit Elektron sold. That’s not even 8 years ago.
Sorry to hear about your situation, OP, but I’m sure if you’re able to get the spare parts, someone will be able to help you solder them.
As a synth-DIY guy, I’m curious: Has anyone taken apart their SFX-6 and taken pictures?
EDIT: found one
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5257/5415646291_b4b70813e0_o.jpg
The encoders don’t look very exotic.
The PSU is clearly marked, but I’m not sure how to procure one.
The through-hole chip in the middle with the sticker: is that an MCU or just some ROM?
I’m just “talking out loud” here because I, too, have an SFX-6 and might have to repair it myself, eventually (not without contacting support for guidance, of course!)
There was a guy doing the repairs in the US, but that was a while ago…
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it seems weird to both refuse to support the product or provide repairs, and also to not provide schematics to those hardy souls who should choose to perform said repairs. if the internals are totally different from the MK2 production models, then we are just talking about a legacy product that nobody is making money off of. why hide the details?
Ha, that pic posted was when I fixed mine a few years back, I replaced the LCD and some encoders, it was quite difficult to remove the old encoders, after some trial and error I found the best way was to use a heated solder sucker - it might have been Duncan who suggested this to me on the old forum.
AFAIK the encoders and switches from the mkII are the same/compatible, So if you can buy them from Elektron then any decent tech should be able to fix it - strange that Elektron refuse to do it though IMHO, the point raised by Simon could be mitigated by stating to the owner that the repair carries some risk and might not solve the problem if other parts that are obsolete are required, then at least the customer can make a choice, we all understand that products go obsolete, but often products that come with premium prices are supported by the manufacturer for as long as possible, so if encoders are available then why not?
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here is a suggestioin: Elektron offer exchange MK1 for MK2 for a reasonable discount…
this way you clear the streets of faulty MK1’s, you collect spare parts for repairs, and rid your stock of non analog gear 
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also decrease demand on support, and make early adopters happy with the newer models.
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.just my 2ct
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good idea, at least if you care more about customer satisfaction than current cash flows. they seem to be changing their strategy. 1 cent (or minute) invested in early adopters means 1 cent less available for entering a new, probably very profitable market.
people disagree on this point. my experience, based on bad experience 
is that you should be very careful with those knobs, like with any knob that is not screwed on the top plate.