Spare parts
I am offering a spare parts service for rare and obsolete components for the EMS synthi A/AKS and VCS3 for those repairing/renovating these fantastic machines! I am not seeking to make any great profit from this service just that I am a big EMS fan and having had the difficulty of sourcing parts during my VCS3 renovation project a few years back, I thought I would try and put together a source of rare components for other EMS/Synthi users/techs out there. I hope to keep adding to my stock as and when I come across new sources. The only other source I know of is of course Robin at EMS. My service is not intended to compete with his (if it ever could!) but given the rarity of some synthi parts, I think it's no bad thing to have more than one source if possible.
Please note I no longer supply knobs, caps or the original Synthi meters .
Keyboard Leads for VCS3 and Synthi AKS
These are the keyboard leads that connect the DK1/2 keyboard to the
VCS3 or Synthi AKS and also used to connect the touch
keyboard/sequencer on the AKS to the main unit. These are high quality
leads with metal Jones connectors on each end. They contain 100k
resistors for the Input Channel lines as specified in the EMS
schematics. Right angle plug version also available for the AKS.
All tested working on my own VCS3.
New Accutronics reverb tanks that are the closest replacements to the original synthi reverb tanks that have long since disappeared. Reverb tanks often wear out on synthis in my experience. Whilst they can sometimes be repaired its a delicate task. Information on replacing original synthi tanks with new type from Accutronics can be found here.
Rare Semiconductors Transistors: NPN/PNP
BFY51 (psu)
UA309K (psu KS)
TIP3055 (psu)
2N4288
2N5172
BC169C
AC153K (power Ge)
AC176K (power Ge)
2N706,
BC258B.
Transistors : FET
2N5163
2N5461
The Achilles heel of the VCS3/Synthi AKS are the now obsolete and
ultra rare semiconductors that it uses. Luckiliy there are only a
few..unluckily they are uber-rare and often only available at high cost
(and hundreds of $$ minimum order) from obsolete/military IC vendors.
Mullard TAB101 (very rare germanium transistor array based modulator.) Back in Stock!
Reverb Driver Audio Amplifier IC
MFC6070 (Motorola 1 watt audio amplifier IC)..another uber-rarity.
These are NOS 1970's in original Motorola Packaging. Sorry for the higher price but
I had to pay very high wire/shipping costs and then a hefty UK Customs bill for good measure!
amplifiers and reverb driver circuit. NOS.
Semiconductors specifically for the SYNTHI AKS
7410
7404
7493
7430
7400
7474
74LS03
74LS13
DM74150N
MM5056H 10 lead, can. (ultra ultra rare old school PMOS shift registers )
MM5056N DIP version also available (same price).
Unfortunately there seems to be two versions of the KS produced, those using the can type 10-lead (MF7104) and later versions that used the plastic MM5056N DIP 10 pin type. You may have to verify which type of memory chip your KS uses by opening up the plastic lid of the KS and looking at the top left hand part of the pcb where the memory chips are located. Those using the MM5056 have 3 chips, those using the MF7104 can-style use 6. The MM5056H (can) and MM5056N (plastic DIP) can be used interchangably on the later KS versions. The tab on the can type marks location between pin1 and pin 10. The platic DIP version as the usual indent marking location of pin1. I am trying to source a supply of MF7104..but they are even harder than MM5056 to locate!
Voltage Regulator
UA309K (used as voltage regulator on the KS part of the Synthi AKS).
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