Hi
I got an sh101 should I mod it or not?
I’ve seen the kit that you can get that gives you midi capabilities and added sequencer functions
I’m still in two minds if I want to start cutting holes on sh101
So I would like to hear from sh101 owners the pros and cons
Does modding devalue the sh101?
Do I really need the mod/midi?
I read in the past that midi was not as good as running it through the cvs gates etc?
Any advice would be appreciated
Thanks
I just did mine. Replaced the CPU, added midi i/o.
Totally worth it. I personally dont care about the value. It was the extra sequencer memories and accent function I wanted.
Though having midi means I can now do weird stuff from my octatrack, so thats cool.
Ps, you dont need to cut hole in it. Just leave the midi sockets in the battery compartment.
Try Tubbutec 101 mod
It’s crazy!
Ok cool, yeah the idea of using the battery was something that did cross my mind…so yeah great idea, I will go down that route when the time comes
Thanks
Yeah that’s the kit I will eventually get, I think it’s the best one out there…right?
Oh I take it the tubetec mod is easy to install?
I have already modded my DX with the electro gate midi mod, which was really easy…apart from one of the pins bent when I was installing the chip to the main board
It took me half an hour or so to figure it out so I reinstalled and worked a dream after I fixed the issue
I also had to fix the keyboard on the sh101 when it arrived due to damaged from being in transit, but also because there was a lot of missing screws on the back of sh101…especially the two screws that held the keybed in place, all good now tho
Okay I’ll be the lone voice to say don’t cut any holes or rip out any parts of your (appreciating) classic!
Of course it’s your synth and it’s up to you what you do with it but in another 20 years time even a fairly mainstream synth like the SH 101 will be collectible, especially in original condition. Classic cars, bikes, instruments…pretty much most stuff is generally held as more desirable if it’s original.
The only time I’d consider doing any sort of upgrade mod would be if the original parts are unobtainable and/or unrepairable. Case in point I picked up a dog rough Korg PolySix a few years ago that had suffered the dreaded battery leak and eaten it’s own controller/CPU board to the point it was beyond repair. I went with the Kiwi Technics kit and as I was already modding it I upgraded the PSU board too. It also needs a new chassis, a straightened and painted front panel and new graphics. I basically saved it from landfill but that was an extreme example. As a rule I like to maintain originality wherever possible. But that’s just me!
Yeah I agree with you, I like to have my synths og if they are vintage, that’s why I don’t like the idea of cutting holes in the case
So if I went with the mod and had the midi inside the battery case, there is no need to cut the case which is great
So surely if I done the mod…just midi and extra sequencer modes, that I could just uninstall the mod if I wanted to and revert back to the original state and there is no ugly holes cut out…yeah?
Cool yeah I’ve been eyeing up a poly six for a few years now…just wanting for the right one to come and that’s not too expensive haha
I’ve done that mod. I don’t remember which kit it was but it was a long time ago. Be really careful if you do it. The mod is simple but the sh101 is very delicate inside, or at least the one I worked on was. Soft circuit board, like damp cardboard. Really easy to mess up the traces/ solder joints. Maybe I was just working with a bad/ damaged one? Not trying to dissuade you, just use a gentle touch when working on a budget synth that’s that old.
while I love vintage synths, I’m not really a synth purist. I have/had several synths with mods. I think if they’re useful and done right (especially if serviced by a pro when being installed), they generally don’t detract from the value and sometimes add to it. some are even more-desirable than the synth as stock. the Tubbutec mods are a great example of this, as they add a lot to the synths and make them more useful in general. for example, you can’t use the SH-101 keyboard while you have cables plugged into the cv/gate, but I’m pretty sure you can with Tubbutec midi mod. this sounds like a small deal, but it’s quite annoying to pull plugs in and out repeatedly just to go from playing the synth to sequencing it.
anyway… I’d say in general it depends upon what you want to do with the synth. if you want all the extra options that the Tubbutec mod adds, and you’ll use 'em, go for it. if you just want it for the midi, buy a midi-cv converter.
Yeah pulling the cables out all the time is a little tedious
Yeah maybe a midi box maybe the way to go
I am against modding vintage gear nowadays, it isn’t even necessary for most classic gear now as everything has been cloned, so for me I’d choose to keep original and mod a clone.
You could probably buy a SH-01a for less than a mod kit for your SH-101?
Yeah I totally understand and I’ll definitely keep that in mind
I’ve replaced my phone cables on my set of 1200s which involved a bit of soldering and repaired a couple of…erm hedge trimmers haha
So I’m not bad at soldering
Yeah I’ve owned a sh101a and a Manther but I wasn’t that impressed with the sound of the sh101a just wasn’t quite there and I hated the tiny usb and audio output
The build quality was very good and some of it’s added features were great
The Manther sounded much better imo, but that had to go cause I had my eye on something else 
I use the ALM Busy mmMidi and Pam’s to get most of tubbtec mod functionality. More expensive, I guess, but means i don’t need to open it up!
And lol at the micro-tonal edition - i guess you can call mine microtonal because i don’t get 12ET, it’s beautifully out of tune with no additional help 
Ok thanks another option for me, but I’m restraining myself from going down the mod route
Although I do have a brand new make noise skiff case just sitting there
Generally only if you do it badly.
Mods on cars devalue.
Mods on synths at worst, if not visually ugly or destabilizing do not add resale value.
Thanks
Yeah I can’t stand to see modded synths with a line of wonky or badly placed switches and knobs
The way I see it synths are there to be used, not looked at. If modding it makes it more useable, then it will always have value to people that want to use it.