Our Synth Repair Process

Ever wondered what happens when your instrument is in for repair? 

While every repair shop has its own unique process and terminology for completing the work, each repair is likely going through these same phases in some shape or form. 

Because we perform over 300 repairs every year, we’ve streamlined our process down to these main statuses, which we track across every repair in our project management system. They help us know when to contact customers, when parts are in and the repair can be completed, among many other key statuses in the lifecycle of a repair.

While every case may present unique qualities and challenges, every repair runs through some variation of these distinct stages. 

Diagram showing the common repair workflow from triage through repair and QC

Triage: 

If repair is the act of solving problems, the first step is knowing what the problems are.

Regardless of how minor a problem might seem, we run every instrument through a triage process to get the baseline of its health. This helps us scope out the extent of initial repair and set the right expectations with the customer as early as possible in the repair. 

Mods or kit installs

Triage is particularly helpful during mods or kit installs where we are building on top of the existing technical foundation. We always verify that the instrument is functioning properly prior to a mod or kit install so that both the customer and our techs have peace of mind that the instrument is in good shape before altering it. 

In rare cases where an installation hasn’t gone to plan, a successful triage gives the knowledge that the underlying tech is working okay, so we can move onto the next most likely culprits – double checking components, installation instructions, and even reaching out to the mod manufacturer if needed.

Complex repairs

With some repairs, the initial triage won’t uncover everything. For better or worse, there is no single, overarching triage that can be performed for vintage synths that will uncover each and every problem in it. Troubleshooting and investigations happen at almost every stage of the repair, and constantly throughout the repair process. Our triage aims to identify the most important issues and failures, and prioritize the initial steps to repair them. 

Repair: 

Once all of the issues have been located, solving them can follow any number of paths. Some problems require research, trial and error, or just hours of manual labor. Some problems require replacing electronic components or hardware, while others can be fixed without. Every repair is unique, so the contents and length of this phase can vary greatly depending on the issues present. 

The difference between vintage synth repair work and other, more modern styles of repair, is that vintage instruments were built to be repaired on a component basis, not as a pure circuit board swap, which is more common in instruments built today. This has the benefit of making vintage synths repairable even 60 years after they were built (assuming parts are available), and therefore more environmentally friendly and longer-lasting than other instruments built post-1995. However, it also means every single component in the instrument, including traces between them, could be a point of failure. 

As part of our repair process, we exercise a lot of judgment and types of testing to verify whether a component on a circuit board is working, weak, or completely failed. We use our experience, schematics and manuals, and specialized tools to help us narrow down an area where we suspect the problem to most likely be. 

Set Aside: 

More often than not, an instrument will need to be set aside at some point during its repair. This will either occur because it’s waiting for a newly ordered part to arrive, or we have an update for the customer. 

As they’re dependent on external factors, the length of most Set Aside periods are beyond our control and are the most likely reason for any prolonged repairs. Once the part has arrived or the estimate has been approved, we can get back into another round of the repair stage.

Escalation: 

Some repairs are anything but straightforward. If an issue is more complex and cannot be resolved through more common procedures, the repair escalates to our head tech’s bench for a deeper investigation. 

This allows us to formulate a plan for repair and provide a more accurate estimate. Once this estimate is approved, the instrument moves on to a new phase of repair.

Quality Control: 

After an instrument has been repaired and reassembled by its original tech, a different tech is assigned to give it a quality control check. This includes verifying that the customer’s original issue has been remedied, testing keys for ideal playability, checking tuning, I/O, controls, and doing the ever-necessary shake test.

We’ve found that getting a second set of eyes and ears on a finished job helps catch any potential oversights, ensuring that every instrument leaves our shop having received the highest level of care and attention. 

Most small gripes noted from QC will be rectified on the spot, but if a problem seems large enough, we’ll set the instrument aside and contact the customer about potentially continuing the work.

Complete: 

Once an instrument has passed QC, the repair is officially marked “complete,” and we’ll email the customer to arrange a pickup!


Whether it’s a straightforward repair or a more lengthy, complex one, standardizing our repair process has helped us make sure we keep instruments moving and customers updated. Any other questions? Check out our FAQ or drop us an email, we’re happy to help.

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