Andromeda A6

[Skallawa]

Would you guys buy a used Andromeda from Ebay without being able to test it? I heard that some of them have tuning issues. I am going to buy an A6, but wondering if I should get a new one that has a warranty or if a used one would also be a good bet?

[SonOfSteven]

Its a risk,

I bought mine second hand and it was working fine for a few months then got tuning isues, sometimes works perfectly other times not.

[Mike6581]

I read somewhere it's back in production? I notice it's in stock on lots of UK sites again all of a sudden, although it now costs £2500. Possibly production costs have increased, though it's probably more to do with the pound being worth next to nowt.

[Skallawa]

Yes it is back in production according to Nova. However the quality control is sketchy. I know Nova now test all new Andys before shipping, due to high return rates. Seems like all these new polys have problems. DSI prophet has serious encoder jumping problems.

[Popbott]

I bought mine used in minty fresh condition, arrived in the original box. My cut-off and reso knobs feel a little easier to move than others, but they work fine. I have heard about the tuning issues but have not had any problems.

I don't recall any analog poly back in it's day NOT having some kind of problem every now and then. I believe that is part of why everything is so digital these days. Digital synths are just more reliable period. Consider any problems you might encounter a risk when buying any analog synth.

I will say it's safer to buy with a warranty if you have concerns. That was part of the reason I bought mine from Guitar Center used, I could locally return it if it had problems that I considered detremental to my purchase. Luckily, I am enjoying the Andy way more than I expected.

[jaykay]

Bought mine 2nd hand on eBay years ago when I was living in Australia from a guy in the States and it was fine. Now living in Germany and it still rocks.

I think it's better to get one of the earlier ones from what I've heard........

[CapnMarvel]

Bought mine off Ebay for about $1700 a year and a half ago. Completely worth it in every way.

I buy everything sight unseen, generally. I get it for a steal and laugh when people say they'd rather pay full retail for something. The few times I've gotten the short end of the stick are far outweighed by the money I've saved accepting the added risk.

Nowadays, Ebay and Paypal are so buyer-friendly, you could score a full refund even if you decide you just don't want the synth.

[Johnny Wrong]

Originally Posted by CapnMarvel

Nowadays, Ebay and Paypal are so buyer-friendly, you could score a full refund even if you decide you just don't want the synth.

Yeah, and the flip side to that is that its a nightmare to sell because too many people think that way

[CapnMarvel]

Originally Posted by Johnny Wrong

Yeah, and the flip side to that is that its a nightmare to sell because too many people think that way

Yup. I've got stories, man, stories. Selling on Ebay is a complete bummer now.

[Derp]

Just bought an Andy off of eBay a couple weeks ago. $1600. When it arrived, it had a crack on one of the end panels and a few of the knobs are doing the whole randomly firing off values at the most inconvenient time thing. Unfortunately, Vegas has no repair shops in town. I contacted Alesis, and they referred me to a repair shop in Hollywood, so between the cost of shipping and the actual cost of the repair, it's going to get pretty pricey. So yeah, buying one of these blind off of eBay can be a little risky.

Originally Posted by Johnny Wrong

Yeah, and the flip side to that is that its a nightmare to sell because too many people think that way

Agree completely. I just sold to a piece of gear to a guy in Canada that decided he didn't want to pay the customs fees when it arrived. So now not only do I have to refund him his money when it gets back here, but I'm going to have to pay for the customs fees when it arrives.

[Skallawa]

Originally Posted by Derp

Just bought an Andy off of eBay a couple weeks ago. $1600. When it arrived, it had a crack on one of the end panels and a few of the knobs are doing the whole randomly firing off values at the most inconvenient time thing. Unfortunately, Vegas has no repair shops in town. I contacted Alesis, and they referred me to a repair shop in Hollywood, so between the cost of shipping and the actual cost of the repair, it's going to get pretty pricey. So yeah, buying one of these blind off of eBay can be a little risky.

Ouch!!

Originally Posted by Derp

Agree completely. I just sold to a piece of gear to a guy in Canada that decided he didn't want to pay the customs fees when it arrived. So now not only do I have to refund him his money when it gets back here, but I'm going to have to pay for the customs fees when it arrives.

Double Ouch!

[backindauk]

Get the guy to call you and play it to you over the phone.

That at least means that it's not completely dead

[Skallawa]

Originally Posted by backindauk

Get the guy to call you and play it to you over the phone.

That at least means that it's not completely dead

Iasked the guy if i could pick it up after auction, he said no cause it is already packed up. lol.

[crufty]

retail - used = risk

How much does the risk cost?

[Johnny Wrong]

Originally Posted by Skallawa

Iasked the guy if i could pick it up after auction, he said no cause it is already packed up. lol.

I would not get involved in a transaction with someone unwilling to let me pick up in person/check the item out.

Seems odd to me, like they're hiding something?

[noizek@t]

revstate and I just ordered one from Nova Musik today. I'm excited, but now just slightly worried (didn't know there were any QC issues with the new batch)... I hope it arrives all nice and new and happy and fully functioning!

[plaid_emu]

Originally Posted by Derp

Agree completely. I just sold to a piece of gear to a guy in Canada that decided he didn't want to pay the customs fees when it arrived. So now not only do I have to refund him his money when it gets back here, but I'm going to have to pay for the customs fees when it arrives.

This kind of situation is exactly why I only sell ebay items to people in the US. Several months back I was chided by a few folks on the Harmony Central forum because I didn't want to sell a Tascam recorder to a Canadian. It's bad enough there's a ****ton of scammers and deadbeat bidders and you can't leave negative feedback as a seller. I don't even want to think about the potential problems with customs and refunds.

[Skallawa]

Got American Musical to price match! Ordered today. Should be here Monday! I can wait.

[Skallawa]

Originally Posted by noizek@t

revstate and I just ordered one from Nova Musik today. I'm excited, but now just slightly worried (didn't know there were any QC issues with the new batch)... I hope it arrives all nice and new and happy and fully functioning!

Nova doesn't have them in stock. You may have to wait up to a month for them to be back in stock. You should give them a call.

[LamerDeluxe]

Originally Posted by Derp

a few of the knobs are doing the whole randomly firing off values at the most inconvenient time thing.

Have you tried turning those pots left and right about fifty times? Mine does this sometimes with pots I don't use much, they just get a bit dusty inside.

I think there are parts shops selling those side panels.

I bought my Andromeda second hand, tried it thoroughly still turned out to have a few problems; it only starts up when you switch it on and off two times in a row and one of the voices eventually hangs in the effects section.
The startup problem apparently is an sram chip that needs to be replaced with an improved type.

For the rest the Andromeda is an awesome machine, very flexible synthesis and nicely organic sounding. I can't stop building sounds on it.

EDIT: End caps here: Alesis A6 Andromeda Spare Parts

[Skallawa]

Originally Posted by LamerDeluxe

Have you tried turning those pots left and right about fifty times? Mine does this sometimes with pots I don't use much, they just get a bit dusty inside.

I think there are parts shops selling those side panels.

I bought my Andromeda second hand, tried it thoroughly still turned out to have a few problems; it only starts up when you switch it on and off two times in a row and one of the voices eventually hangs in the effects section.
The startup problem apparently is an sram chip that needs to be replaced with an improved type.

For the rest the Andromeda is an awesome machine, very flexible synthesis and nicely organic sounding. I can't stop building sounds on it.

I haven't been this excited about a synth ever!

[LamerDeluxe]

Originally Posted by Skallawa

I haven't been this excited about a synth ever!

I can imagine, it's a really great synth.

Best things IMO are being able to use multiple waveforms at the same time on a single oscillator, using hi/low/bandpass at the same time, filter feedback is great for thickening up a sound, very flexible loopable envelopes with variable slopes (don't forget setting the sound engine to the type of sound you are making), post-filter sine and ringmod etc. I've made over 200 sounds in one year on it.

Be sure to read the tips and tricks document, it has lots of useful information.

[noizek@t]

Originally Posted by Skallawa

Nova doesn't have them in stock. You may have to wait up to a month for them to be back in stock. You should give them a call.

Eeeeeh? It said "ships in 2-5 business days". I will call. Thanks for the heads up!

[Brian!]

Originally Posted by LamerDeluxe

EDIT: End caps here: Alesis A6 Andromeda Spare Parts

Thanks for this link!

[OurDarkness]

Originally Posted by LamerDeluxe

End caps here: Alesis A6 Andromeda Spare Parts

Million thanks for the link! Much appreciated.

[Derp]

Originally Posted by LamerDeluxe

Have you tried turning those pots left and right about fifty times? Mine does this sometimes with pots I don't use much, they just get a bit dusty inside.

It was the first thing I tried as my old JD-800 used to do the same thing. All the knobs giving me issues are in a block: all of the mixer controls, the soft knobs, and the filter controls. No issues with any of the other knobs.

[Derp]

Thanks for that link because you did just help me diagnose the problem. It's all the knobs on this board here:



Any of the more technically minded want to chime in on this? Is there a really good chance that it's just this one board that's the problem, or is it more likely that there's something else going on here? Either way, I'm gonna open it up on my days off and have a poke around to see if I get lucky.

[Skallawa]

Originally Posted by Derp

Thanks for that link because you did just help me diagnose the problem. It's all the knobs on this board here:



Any of the more technically minded want to chime in on this? Is there a really good chance that it's just this one board that's the problem, or is it more likely that there's something else going on here? Either way, I'm gonna open it up on my days off and have a poke around to see if I get lucky.

Poking around is an excellent idea. One of my JX10 keys wasn't working so i opened it and bam the key started working again. Don't ask me what i did.

My A6 gets here Monday. Just thought that I would let everyone know.

[rokuez]

Originally Posted by Derp

Thanks for that link because you did just help me diagnose the problem. It's all the knobs on this board here:

Any of the more technically minded want to chime in on this? Is there a really good chance that it's just this one board that's the problem, or is it more likely that there's something else going on here? Either way, I'm gonna open it up on my days off and have a poke around to see if I get lucky.

maybe ask over at the A6 Forum

electro-music.com :: View Forum - Alesis Andromeda

[OurDarkness]

Mine started acting weird (i.e. jumping values) about 2 years ago (I have it since Feb. 2004). I called up a technician and he said to me that it's very possible that the problem is dust.

I was wondering whether there are any cheap components inside that could be replaced with better ones once I take the A6 for service.

(Edit: the problematic knobs are not all in the LCD-part like in Derp's A6. First it was one knob in the LCD part, then another in the post mixer, then another in the LCD-part. So dust seems very likely to me).