16 replies to this topic

[dec0n]

Hey there knowledgeable punks.
So, let me begin this thread by making it quite clear that I am a n00b at synths and anything related.

Ok then, so I saw a Juno 106 in a recycle store today, it looked like it was in quite good condition and was about $75.
I remember reading on a few websites that the 106 (or maybe the 6 or 60?) was a pretty good beginner synth? Maybe I also remember people saying that the 6 & 60 were better sounding or something similar.

Just wanted to get other punks opinions on this one cause I'm sure a few of you here are quite familiar with these babies.
I'd just really something easy for my n00bish self to make cool sounds on, and also get an intro into (hardware) synths.
So, any discussion would be welcome and appreciated!   
Oh yeah, and is that a decent price?

[ehsan]

Oh my god. Get it now. Even if it's rooted it's a bargain - a working unit would be $600+ easy. OMG! Bargus maximus!

Plus, it's a sick synth and it's perfect as a firstie.

[Eddie]

If the 6th voice is fucked, you can still hold down 5 keys at once.

and even if half the voices are fucked, it's still great for basses.

[ehsan]

This is one of the main charms of old gear I spose, even if something's fucked chances are part of it will still fwonk good.

[Rusty_OHara]

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I remember reading on a few websites that the 106 (or maybe the 6 or 60?) was a pretty good beginner synth?

Yep, good beginner synths, everything you need (more or less) is just there on the panel.

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Maybe I also remember people saying that the 6 & 60 were better sounding or something similar.

The 6, 60, HS-60 and 106 all have slightly different feature sets / specifications despite being from the same family.

So opinions vary, eg: the 60 has an arp, but no midi and the raw sound is arguably better; where as the 106 has no arp, but does have midi and chorus, so pluses and minuses for each model.

The Alpha 1 and 2 are more closely related to each other, but are different to the rest of the Juno line.

The newer model names, Juno-D and Juno-G are not from the same heritage.

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Oh yeah, and is that a decent price?

Buy it now.

Probably sell for $600 - $800 depending on condition. Worst case scenario, it has dead voice chips. You can buy clones for about US$100 a pop.

First thing to do when you get it home:

Power it up whilst holding down the Poly I and Poly II buttons at the same time, this will put the Juno into individual voice diagnostic mode. The display will now show the current voice chip being utilised.

Play keys one by one and see how each of the voice chips sound... the number on the display indicate the vhoice chip being used.

If any of the voices sounds seriously crackled, distorted, does not stop when you release the key etc, it's probably a dead voice chip.

[Spectrum]

Get it!
Get it!
Get it!
Get it!
Get it!

I learnt my way around analogue synthesis on a Roland HS-60 (purchased from Cash Converters, Ashfield Sydney mid-90s for around $300), which is identical to Juno-106, but includes on-board loudspeakers and a more conservative colour scheme. Fun with basses, leads, and pads, and was especially a great way for me to get to know how filter envelopes work. Sounded great overdriving the on-board speakers (and headphones I had), but perhaps a little tame when hooked up to a decent amp/speakers, so expect to want to grind the sounds up a little after the fact, I reckon. Also, while it has MIDI, so you can record/playback sequences with a DAW, the keyboard is fixed @ a velocity of 64 meaning that it makes a next-to-useless MIDI controller for other gear (unless the other gear is equally velocity-less).

I ended up selling it (for around $400-450 I think) after I got tired of pulling it apart to clean the keyboard contacts (dead notes), but not something that couldn't be sorted out.

So anyway, did you...

Get it?
Get it?
Get it?
Get it?
Get it?

[SilverStreak]

wiked first synth. You'll keep it too.

[dec0n]

woah, long time no punk.

Well, it turned out to be one of those ones that got away, real life took over, and I went back a couple days after the original post and alas someone had snapped it up.  o_O
But man, someone must have emptied out a whole studio, all at once this gear turned up at the one store. Keyboards, sequencers, groove boxes, guitars, the works.
I was only into the Juno, so didn't really check out the rest of the stuff too much.

But I think this thread represents how good SP is, so much info and good advice!
Many other boards would've given me some smart arse stfu n00b responses, this place is great.
Thanks alot guys, specially Rusty, knowledge dropped! Couldn't have asked for more 

[rhythmboy]

^ bad luck mate 

If another ever comes up at least you know not to hesitate

[Rusty_OHara]

c'est la vie, no?

[niktu]

A lot of you guys probably know this and it was touched on in other replies but if you do come accross a 106 and are thinking about buying it, look out for dropped voices. You'll only get 5 or 4 voice polyphony (depending on how many voice chips are cactus). They'll cost between $150 to $250 to repair/replace. The 106's are getting on now and they are notorious for dropping voices. Just FYI.

[Rusty_OHara]

^^

Quote

Power it up whilst holding down the Poly I and Poly II buttons at the same time, this will put the Juno into individual voice diagnostic mode. The display will now show the current voice chip being utilised.

Play keys one by one and see how each of the voice chips sound... the number on the display indicate the vhoice chip being used.

If any of the voices sounds seriously crackled, distorted, does not stop when you release the key etc, it's probably a dead voice chip.

Clone voice chips can be got form Analogue Renaissance for 40 Euro. http://www.analoguer...nce.com/D80017/

[niktu]

Good pick up, Rusty. If you can do it yourself, you'll save a decent quid. After converting 40 Euros to OZ dollars it'll only be $73 (at the moment) plus shipping. Perhaps you could do it yourself for approx $80-$90 Australian all-up.

[SilverStreak]

You can get tydier ones from the UK for 30 pounds a pop. These have only been for sale recently and they seem to have a few.

http://www.synthrest...cts.htm#sr4217a

[ehsan]

Oh My God. Thanks for that - as a consequential tangent that site just made me purchase a full new slider set with brand new slider caps for my Odyssey. Fuck yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BOB-SNARE]

Haven't tried this, what do you have to lose?
Try soaking the 80017a in acetone to remove the black epoxy coating.

http://matrixsynth.b...for-80017a.html
Cheers

[SilverStreak]

^^^
Dude that is so fukn cool. What if the chips arent actually fukd and it is the resin coating? Thats the coolest thing Ive seen in ages.......if its true