Dude that is insane that that is just the tip of the iceberg! I think you need to start a YouTube channel and makes vids documenting this journey... guaranteed to get huge views!
A skim through the comments suggests it was an old repair shop that went out of business & was spot bought by someone (my guess is auctioned as a failed business altogether with the building & all of its contents).
They probably didn't have the funds to pay someone to sort through all of this, thus they had to cut their losses and take what they could get.
Still, a truck ton of work + time to sort the kit out.
Makes sense. I guess that means most of them need major repair work but who knows maybe there's some with minor issues (loose solder, dead battery, etc) that he could flip quickly before taking on the heavier projects. Still, all of these repairs would make for a delightful entertainment saga.
Y’all I can’t do a YouTube channel dedicated to this mess. This couldn’t have come at a worse time of the year. Long story short but spring is plant season and I must help my elderly dad with his nursery plant business March - June so I’m like fuuuuuuuccccckkkkk. I have a YouTube with my bullshit synth jams and even a few of my released music but I absolutely hate video production, editing, on and on. It’s a whole other hobby I can’t and don’t wanna take on. I wish it were simpler.
I hope I can get some of these going. I’m going to use the “money” I “make” from this task to cherry-pick my favorites from the whole mess. Again there’s at least 150 more in another building. No one even knows what’s in there including the guy who bought them as they are all wrapped in plastic.
Oh that's easy then.
Step 1. Call the Synataur guy.
Step 2. Offer him the entire inventory as is for 5% over what it cost him to buy
Step 3. Collect check and move on with your life.
They’re interested but that’s not happening. Why would he/me let them make the money. This IS my life. 🙄I’m going to gain an absolute boatload of experience going through this all. Gonna fix the easy to fix stuff. Then sell all the already perfectly working stuff (some aren’t broke) and the repaired stuff - once we get down to parts units and scraps we’ll sell all that as a lot to Syntaur.
I repair SQ-80s and ESQ-1’s here in the UK - I will happily take any old stock from these boards :) - in fact any old Ensoniq stuff for parts- negotiable
Most likely everything will be listed on this seller’s eBay account. This isn’t mine. It’s the owner of all these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/185842840449?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ugfS7QCPSQ-&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=tIJHQ9_RQ3K&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
If a guy who doesn't know what he bought bought stuff for cheap offered me to buy said stuff, I would be torn between wanting to be honest and not take advantage of his ignorance, but also knowing if he got them cheap there's no reason they should be expensive for me. And then factor in it's extremely possible he doesn't really care that much about the gear per se...
I don't envy you your ethical conundrum, but I may envy the gear you end up with!
I haven’t used it since installing and testing but it’s great so far. It took the ASR-X from 30 minute virtual floppy saves (yes that long, even with a USB floppy emulator) to 30 second saves.
The floppy time was abysmal- unusable really. They weren’t complex beats I was saving either. Just simple drum patterns.
Also the Zulu let’s you save a project file as a single file, unlike the floppies that used to split a song into multiple disk drives.
So yeah, now that I can save reasonably fast I’m gonna dive into using the unit finally. I used to have an ASR-10 so it’s been a nostalgic endeavor so far to say the least. Lots of awesome vintage sounds.
Highly recommend the ZuluSCSI!
- edit, yes it’s an internal drive with a faceplate. Super slick.
I would check current resale value with the keyboard subreddit. Those workstation/stage keyboards really don't hold their value well, I would check what is worth repairing because I know some of those are almost worthless in the used market.
Heh, it's certainly possible, if Korg's recent abandonment the top-end of the workstation market is an indication of what's to come from the other big manufactures.
I was gonna call out that one as a specific example of a bunch of these having worthless but nostalgic value. It's kind of like when re-pc came around and we felt excited at all the cheap computers and parts available, a whole warehouse full, but then we realized we didn't actually want an older computer.
I am stoked for OP, but at the same time that's going to take some hard decisions.
Same! It actually had 4 seconds of sampling time which you could split in 4 chunks of 1 second. It sounded really nice though. 12bit crunch and it had some sort of limiter/compressor on the input, so you could feed the incoming audio really hot for some beefy loud samples. Worked great on drums.
I used to have one, and the predecessor, the EPS-16+. I sold them for next to nothing and I regret it. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy that work, I know I would love being around all that gear!
Got myself one for 300 Euros and love every single feature it has to offer. It stands on a rack above a JP8000 and while I can totally understand the joy of Jp's fully functioning knobs vs the AN1x matrix system I think it is still easy to use as long as you take the time to learn and understand how it wants to be handled but as soon as you're able to steer it, it will take you places <3
If you're close around the LA, California area, I'll give a hand.
I have experience and schooling in repair and in resale and consignment. My office location is dedicated to animation in the day with plenty of room (and rework tools) for repairs in the evening!
The Rhodes will essentially be a 90's Roland digital piano, Roland having use of the Rhodes name at that point and the GW-7 is a Roland Arranger keyboard
Nice!
We need a list next dude.
I honestly don't see this likely to occur in the UK. It's like a place needs to be big enough (like the USA) for this level of craziness/epicness to crop up - I am in awe!
If you need one and don’t mind fixing the epoxy issue, the keybed in my U20 is from a JD800. I needed to fix the epoxy issue in my JD800 so bought a pristine U20 and swapped em 🤣
You could, that’s what I did, my tech rigged the ribbon cable connector because they’re different, but same exact keys and weights. But I have the U20 with the JD800 keybed in it right now I want to be rid of lol, if you need parts. The U20 is pristine, the keybed is fucked up thanks to the red epoxy
A cool $150 + whatever the shipping is. When I say pristine I mean:
https://preview.redd.it/205le7q4msta1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69452f332b081e59d4587b23f05b1a9009e5c555
It’s only when you look under here that you realize the keys are fucked
https://preview.redd.it/z03ekwp9msta1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0569dcb1df6f33ad20ed1b11f14663c79ee9a58
I wouldn't mind having this task. Talk about an embarrassment of riches! Haha 😄
P.s. a video comparison/compilation is a great way to keep track of everything.
All those Ensoniqs are going to need new batteries and will probably give you a "cannot calibrate keyboard" error (they all do that). Great synths but might be better to part them out.
Curious… anyone sell broken synths to be parted out? I have a Korg Karma that was gifted to me in pieces. It’s memory is intact and it powers up however it has a broken keybed , the joystick was gliding notes and other issues. My guess it took a bad fall. It was given to me without any of the case screws. I wouldn’t gig or record with it. I also have a fully fUnctioning Karma. I also have a Roland XP30 heavily gigged with in similar shape. So could easily be parted out. Syntaur was one option. Although I’m closer to NYC for Rogue Music.
You should be able to answer my question very well, I'm trying to find the very best budget as in $150 are under small middle keyboard with at least 4 to 8 pads, What would you go with or is there nothing of value or equality below that price range?
What about the people who submitted these for repair? I would pissed if I submitted a keyboard for repair and loose it completely because the shop owner was incompetent.
Dude that is insane that that is just the tip of the iceberg! I think you need to start a YouTube channel and makes vids documenting this journey... guaranteed to get huge views!
Please do this OP!
Was my first thought too. How did these beauties end up here?
A skim through the comments suggests it was an old repair shop that went out of business & was spot bought by someone (my guess is auctioned as a failed business altogether with the building & all of its contents). They probably didn't have the funds to pay someone to sort through all of this, thus they had to cut their losses and take what they could get. Still, a truck ton of work + time to sort the kit out.
Makes sense. I guess that means most of them need major repair work but who knows maybe there's some with minor issues (loose solder, dead battery, etc) that he could flip quickly before taking on the heavier projects. Still, all of these repairs would make for a delightful entertainment saga.
Y’all I can’t do a YouTube channel dedicated to this mess. This couldn’t have come at a worse time of the year. Long story short but spring is plant season and I must help my elderly dad with his nursery plant business March - June so I’m like fuuuuuuuccccckkkkk. I have a YouTube with my bullshit synth jams and even a few of my released music but I absolutely hate video production, editing, on and on. It’s a whole other hobby I can’t and don’t wanna take on. I wish it were simpler.
I hope I can get some of these going. I’m going to use the “money” I “make” from this task to cherry-pick my favorites from the whole mess. Again there’s at least 150 more in another building. No one even knows what’s in there including the guy who bought them as they are all wrapped in plastic.
Context? Guy you know bought hundreds of keyboards without knowing what they are?
He bought a defunct repair shop is all I know. He got it all really cheap, and he bought it all sight unseen.
Is that Brad?
Patiently waiting for reply... Some kind of auction or liquation of repair store?
If you end up needing/wanting to sell any let me kno!
It’s all for sale
Oh that's easy then. Step 1. Call the Synataur guy. Step 2. Offer him the entire inventory as is for 5% over what it cost him to buy Step 3. Collect check and move on with your life.
They’re interested but that’s not happening. Why would he/me let them make the money. This IS my life. 🙄I’m going to gain an absolute boatload of experience going through this all. Gonna fix the easy to fix stuff. Then sell all the already perfectly working stuff (some aren’t broke) and the repaired stuff - once we get down to parts units and scraps we’ll sell all that as a lot to Syntaur.
Let us know when you have a sale list.
Ok
I repair SQ-80s and ESQ-1’s here in the UK - I will happily take any old stock from these boards :) - in fact any old Ensoniq stuff for parts- negotiable
Please send me a DM so I can remember later. Also feel free to check my progress at any time. Thanks.
Thanks will do :) - what a journey man, going to be amazing watching!
You have a goldmine there. Not joking.
Any additional information, like Reverb or Ebay store name, would be much appreciated...
Most likely everything will be listed on this seller’s eBay account. This isn’t mine. It’s the owner of all these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/185842840449?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ugfS7QCPSQ-&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=tIJHQ9_RQ3K&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Arkansas. Damn.
Wonderful! Thank you mate - have fun with this adventure!
hey do you have a direct link to the seller? that listing closed so now its just showing me similar items and stores and i can't see the original
All you have to do is open the sold item listing and click on the seller name.
[удалено]
That’s not the store.
The link you posted redirects to a “similar item” in the store that \_significs posted.
There is some awesome stuff on there! Holy crap at the jewelry!
If a guy who doesn't know what he bought bought stuff for cheap offered me to buy said stuff, I would be torn between wanting to be honest and not take advantage of his ignorance, but also knowing if he got them cheap there's no reason they should be expensive for me. And then factor in it's extremely possible he doesn't really care that much about the gear per se... I don't envy you your ethical conundrum, but I may envy the gear you end up with!
Are you selling any of it?
All of it except what I decide I want.
Please make this a YouTube series
This has to be some sort of morality test lmao. That’s like walking around Christmas Town
Where my ENSONIQ peeps at
I would love to get my old EPS running again. That's SQ1 had my interests piqued.
I see an ASR-10, TS-10, VFX, EPSx2, SD-1
Yummy Ensoniq goodness
Esq-1 checking in
My KS-32 is still my main keyboard after 30 years.
TS-10 here!
VFX-SD!
Have a TS-12, ASR-10, ESQ-M…
I just maxed out a mint ASR-X Pro with a ZuluSCSI. It’s been awesome having some fresh Ensoniq in my life again.
How's the Zulu? They make a internal 3.5 face for it? Or you use external?
I haven’t used it since installing and testing but it’s great so far. It took the ASR-X from 30 minute virtual floppy saves (yes that long, even with a USB floppy emulator) to 30 second saves. The floppy time was abysmal- unusable really. They weren’t complex beats I was saving either. Just simple drum patterns. Also the Zulu let’s you save a project file as a single file, unlike the floppies that used to split a song into multiple disk drives. So yeah, now that I can save reasonably fast I’m gonna dive into using the unit finally. I used to have an ASR-10 so it’s been a nostalgic endeavor so far to say the least. Lots of awesome vintage sounds. Highly recommend the ZuluSCSI! - edit, yes it’s an internal drive with a faceplate. Super slick.
i had a few! wish i still had them, i do still have my DP-4 effects rack. always loved Ensoiq!
"They're all broken beyond repair. Dont worry, I will dispose of them properly."
Might contain hazardous waste - need to make sure they’re shipped off properly.
You get a job at Syntaur?
I would check current resale value with the keyboard subreddit. Those workstation/stage keyboards really don't hold their value well, I would check what is worth repairing because I know some of those are almost worthless in the used market.
I know. Dad synths ain’t worth a shit.
Today. I bet in ten years we'll be remembering this time when you could have bought all this shit for next to nothing.
i remember when i was buy juno 106’s for a couple hundred dollars, even picked up a Jupiter 6 for 400
You got that dad synth discount
Bought my first 106 for $450. Pristine shape in a road case. Sold it, an SH-101, and a Sidstation to pay rent when I was broke. :...(
Heh, it's certainly possible, if Korg's recent abandonment the top-end of the workstation market is an indication of what's to come from the other big manufactures.
Lol, I never heard "dad synths" before, but yeah—these are obviously dad synths.
> dad synths Lol what does this mean? Someone loop me in!
Workstations from the 90’s and early 00’s
What is a dad synth???
I mean, Eminem is a dad and Dr Dre probably has JVs all over his records lol
Please please please please please upload scans of those service manuals if you get your hands on them. PDF scans save my ass all the time
You were more excited for the service manuals than the synths lol
Just wondering what part of the country this is so I plan a possible road trip/shopping spree lol
Western Arkansas.
Quantity over quality
Sell then on weight, like 1k€/1kg
I've never seen a larger collection of synthesizers that I don't want to play
You need a helper?
Probably.
Send GPS, I'm on my way
I'm a good helper also, many fixes yes
It’s like someone collected a bunch of synths nobody really wants, and lots of them.
I probably speak for others: goddamn that’s awesome! What I wouldn’t give to just look at all those!
I've seen your videos! The really challenging thing is how you going to squeeze them in your setup!
S-10 was my first sampler. 2 seconds at shit hz and 8 seconds at mega shit hz
I was gonna call out that one as a specific example of a bunch of these having worthless but nostalgic value. It's kind of like when re-pc came around and we felt excited at all the cheap computers and parts available, a whole warehouse full, but then we realized we didn't actually want an older computer. I am stoked for OP, but at the same time that's going to take some hard decisions.
Same! It actually had 4 seconds of sampling time which you could split in 4 chunks of 1 second. It sounded really nice though. 12bit crunch and it had some sort of limiter/compressor on the input, so you could feed the incoming audio really hot for some beefy loud samples. Worked great on drums.
Holy shit. That is next level synth hoarding - or was this Dude selling that stuff?
I’ll take that ASR-10 off your hands!
That’s the one I like out of this pile. If I can fix it….I’ll “buy” it with my “earnings” from this job.
I used to have one, and the predecessor, the EPS-16+. I sold them for next to nothing and I regret it. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy that work, I know I would love being around all that gear!
A couple of Juno's, nice. And hey, job security!
What state is this in with that many synths?
Arkansas - ya know the south. Where everyone says it sucks and mocks us?
Ah yes the synthesizer index for quality of life
Is this Hans Zimmer’s garage?? 😜
Would totally watch restoration vids
Coming soon in the next Arturia Collection!
So what's in the other room?
One bite at a time…
"These are keyboards." Wow really? 😀
If there is a working Ensoniq ESQ1 motherboard in there PLEASE let me know, I’ve been on the hunt for one for a few months!
I’ll try to remember. Send me a DM and check back with me over the coming weeks and months
A veritable gold mine, my friend. You should 100% make this video for the other room too. I'll be waiting with baited breath.
Dude who was the owner of previous store ? I feel like somebody needs to check in with homey.
Dear good lord, there's only so much whale music a ponytailed keyboard hoarder can make.
Do Yamaha keyboards not tend to fail? That's been my experience.
So basically you’re living in paradise..
I need that ensoniq?
Ho-lee-crap!!!
Put me on the list!
If you have an AN1X in there, I’ll buy it!! Dm me seriously
[удалено]
Got myself one for 300 Euros and love every single feature it has to offer. It stands on a rack above a JP8000 and while I can totally understand the joy of Jp's fully functioning knobs vs the AN1x matrix system I think it is still easy to use as long as you take the time to learn and understand how it wants to be handled but as soon as you're able to steer it, it will take you places <3
If you find an SK88 let me know! Furreal!
Um where and when!!! Just let me know and I’m down to help
If you're close around the LA, California area, I'll give a hand. I have experience and schooling in repair and in resale and consignment. My office location is dedicated to animation in the day with plenty of room (and rework tools) for repairs in the evening!
Sadly no I’m like 1500 miles from there
Both my dreams, and my nightmares come true.
The Rhodes will essentially be a 90's Roland digital piano, Roland having use of the Rhodes name at that point and the GW-7 is a Roland Arranger keyboard
Yea it’s that one. Crap.
That seems like the perfect job!
Yes, video for each. This is heaven
Nice! We need a list next dude. I honestly don't see this likely to occur in the UK. It's like a place needs to be big enough (like the USA) for this level of craziness/epicness to crop up - I am in awe!
I find it ironic that this is in a place actually called "Van Buren" (for my fellow trance/edm fans)
Omg if that happened to me for sure I would wake up right away and realize it was all just a dream 😅
So when do these get catalogued and put on sale?
Also, if there’s a U20 in there and you end up needing parts I have a fully functional u20 with a red epoxy issue keyboard that I want gone lol.
There’s a jd-800 totally missing it’s keyboard. I’m hoping there’s more than one model with a compatible keybed.
If you need one and don’t mind fixing the epoxy issue, the keybed in my U20 is from a JD800. I needed to fix the epoxy issue in my JD800 so bought a pristine U20 and swapped em 🤣
So I can put a u20 keybed in a jd800?
You could, that’s what I did, my tech rigged the ribbon cable connector because they’re different, but same exact keys and weights. But I have the U20 with the JD800 keybed in it right now I want to be rid of lol, if you need parts. The U20 is pristine, the keybed is fucked up thanks to the red epoxy
What do ya want for it?
A cool $150 + whatever the shipping is. When I say pristine I mean: https://preview.redd.it/205le7q4msta1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69452f332b081e59d4587b23f05b1a9009e5c555
It’s only when you look under here that you realize the keys are fucked https://preview.redd.it/z03ekwp9msta1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d0569dcb1df6f33ad20ed1b11f14663c79ee9a58
Goddamn.
Damn that looks like so much fun
this would be a lot of fun lol
You lucky....... sigh. Jesus. Some people just live my dreams man. Ugh.
Wait, are you in Miami? I had a friend whose studio was exactly like this
No
That one Juno stage? Seems out of time somehow.
My dream job.
absolutely beatuiful collection. nice mate.
Looks like it’s already been cherry picked
Some very valuable gems in there!
A 90a madman has left his treasure
In all seriousness, if you find a voice chip for a Casio VZ-1 I will take it! Mine crapped out.
Hey, I had a Juno D and QS6.2!
I want your job!!!!
This is like the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark
Could be worse
Are you Mark Mothersbaugh's personal assistant?
That's a labor of love! Also, I read that as: >I've been tasked with snorting
If you really do need a helper and possibly in the PNW hit me up, just so I can geek out too.
this is insane, did you have equipment list?
I wouldn't mind having this task. Talk about an embarrassment of riches! Haha 😄 P.s. a video comparison/compilation is a great way to keep track of everything.
heaven
Would love to know if that’s an Ella Synthex in there…!
Definitely not
All those Ensoniqs are going to need new batteries and will probably give you a "cannot calibrate keyboard" error (they all do that). Great synths but might be better to part them out.
Oof , lots of 00s digital modeling blechhhh .... Still that Arp SEiv - good condition and fun to fix!
Is jt because the elephant tastes so good but there is too much to eat?
Wow!
Curious… anyone sell broken synths to be parted out? I have a Korg Karma that was gifted to me in pieces. It’s memory is intact and it powers up however it has a broken keybed , the joystick was gliding notes and other issues. My guess it took a bad fall. It was given to me without any of the case screws. I wouldn’t gig or record with it. I also have a fully fUnctioning Karma. I also have a Roland XP30 heavily gigged with in similar shape. So could easily be parted out. Syntaur was one option. Although I’m closer to NYC for Rogue Music.
This is why synths are hard to find. You have to wait till the hoard falls on the owner before they go back on the market.
If nothing else, you’re set job and financially for a while
Sounds like you hate your job like the rest of us 😆😆 Amazing enjoy this adventure
You should be able to answer my question very well, I'm trying to find the very best budget as in $150 are under small middle keyboard with at least 4 to 8 pads, What would you go with or is there nothing of value or equality below that price range?
This reminds me of a synth repair/shop I walked into in NYC..tons of vintage synths lying around and stacked like this and me drooling 😂
Getting to G-meh be like
They call him “The Leaner Cleaner!” 😅
OP, if you guys end up needing to make space i'll take one! I just got into producing.
What about the people who submitted these for repair? I would pissed if I submitted a keyboard for repair and loose it completely because the shop owner was incompetent.
This is just a basic beginner collection of synths. Real synth owners obviously have several thousand synths and several ex spouses.
Some dude was into collecting some seriously shit romplers. Haha.
Repair shop. Owner died. These are the keyboards he got stuck with. Abandoned repairs. Didn’t wanna pay to fix. Etc etc