Modeless Factory ???

[drumdrumdrumdrum]

Has anyone on GS had any experience with Ko at 'Modeless Factory'?

I've had about 3 or 4 emails with him trying to buy a Synth.

The dude has fantastic prices on all the really cool synths, and I think he even restores them so they are probably in really good condition too???

The problem is, he has no payment method? He says that PayPal will only let him have a limit of $500 per month, which sound like a really dodgy lie. Only other way is International Money order, which IS really dodgy. A money order in Australia cost about $200 and it is $300 to fly to Japan! It seems a bit strange to have to fly to Japan just to buy a Synth. Then again it is more than $300 cheaper then what people are trying to sell them for on eBay. I could get to Japan and just find out this guy is a sham?

What do you think, GearSlutz?

[fooddude]

I just placed an order with Ko a week ago for CS-10. The few reviews n GS are all good. And, for vintage monos on ebay, they all come from japan anyways, one of the few biggest sellers on ebay is Ko/MF, and his ratings are pretty solid.

As far as paypal, it was 7% additional. I wired, not realizing there would still be a fee from my bank. All in all, the wire cost a tad more than the 7% it couldve been with paypal from my calc. I shouldve just paypaled and saved the time and gas for the trip to the bank.

Ko seems very friendly, helpful with tips and questions. I will let you know how my transaction goes once I receive it.

[pulse_divider]

I've dealt with Ko many times in the past and he is an amazing seller, completely above reproach.
He is highly recommended (not by just me, check the Analogue Heaven archives for more info stretching back 10+ years) and not at all shady.

BTW, what is his Ebay name? I always wondered if one of the Japanese synth sellers was him, just haven't run into him there.

[mono-poly]

No worry just pay Ko he is an excelent guy.
Ko will not have to pay the paypal fees and you will have it cheaper due a better conversion rate.

[roginator]

only good words about this guy!!!!

Ko is very friendly guy and working guy.. so just might be around with soldering iron!!! ..

I recommend him for BIZ!!!

[drumdrumdrumdrum]

Well that is a very quick and positive response from you guys.

I'd be happy to pay 7% paypal fee but he has not suggested that option to me yet. Maybe I'll suggest it to him?

[Rooftree]

His ebay name is modelessfactory.

I bought both of my CS synths from Ko (separate transactions). He's very honest and fair. I paid by bank transfer and I think it cost me $20 for each purchase.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a synth from him again. But I'd also caution that he can be incredibly slow at times. My CS-30 arrived with some damage, so he paid for return shipping to Japan. It's been in his shop for 4 months and he still hasn't finished the repairs.

[Don Solaris]

Perfect seller!!!

He sold me:

CS-15
MonoPoly
MS-20
SH-101
SH-2
SH-3a


And helped me with many many other things! Highly recommended.

[living sounds]

I bought my SH-2 there. It took ages until the synth arrived, and the packaging was insufficient. The synth survived it though. Recently I took a look inside, and found he had indeed (as advertised) recapped the synth, but some caps had the wrong values.

[mono-poly]

Originally Posted by living sounds

I bought my SH-2 there. It took ages until the synth arrived, and the packaging was insufficient. The synth survived it though. Recently I took a look inside, and found he had indeed (as advertised) recapped the synth, but some caps had the wrong values.

Taking ages can depend on German customs.
How do you mean wrong values?

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by mono-poly

Taking ages can depend on German customs.
How do you mean wrong values?

If I remember correctly it took ages for him to send it after the bank transfer. Like weeks. Wrong values: Like 2,2uf instead of 10uf. Also polarized caps where the schematics spec non-polarized (which isn't that big of a deal).

[Xero]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

Perfect seller. He sold me:

CS-15
MonoPoly
MS-20
SH-101
SH-2
SH-3a

woah, hah nice, he sold me my sh-2 and cs-10, though im sorta wanting a cs-30 now. I'm also working out a deal on an ms-20 with him, probably around the end of the year...

it took me a little while to get the money orders to him but once i did and he received them, i got the synths shortly after. He's usually pretty patient in terms of receiving payment, understandably given all this stuff can take some time to arrange.

[Heathfinnie]

I bought a Roland System 700 from him and had it in my hands the next day (Japan to US)

[fooddude]

He told me he is shipping my cs10 express mail (to US) this tuesday, since he was supposed to ship it last thursday-friday but couldn't... hope i get it by the end of next week

..i think there are 2-3 other japan based vintage synth sellers on ebay, but I'd go to MF instead, since he checks, overhauls, refurbs them to perfect working order before selling them. I am sure the others just sell you the vintage synth as-is, untouched with no prior service/repair, so you might get a synth with many problems with the other guys.

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by living sounds

Wrong values: Like 2,2uf instead of 10uf. Also polarized caps where the schematics spec non-polarized (which isn't that big of a deal).

How do you know the schematic is correct? What if there are different revisions to the board?

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

How do you know the schematic is correct? What if there are different revisions to the board?

In this case there is just one version (and polarization is also marked on the board). And it is the official service manual, it better be correct.

[Arcadia]

Originally Posted by Don Solaris

Perfect seller. He sold me:

CS-15
MonoPoly
MS-20
SH-101
SH-2
SH-3a

Hey Don, curious how you are dealing with the Japanese voltage... are you just using a transformer (if so which one?) or did you re-build the power supplies to work in the US?

[Xero]

Originally Posted by Arcadia

Hey Don, curious how you are dealing with the Japanese voltage... are you just using a transformer (if so which one?) or did you re-build the power supplies to work in the US?

Ko will convert them to run on 117v for you so no adapters are needed....just ask him to do so when you buy stuffs. He might charge extra for it sometimes...

[J Gabriel]

bought my cs-10 from him good stuff..>!

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by living sounds

In this case there is just one version.

Yeah but how do you know they didn't made a small change in the design once the service manual came out of print. Or how do you know there's no addendum on this service manual with the update that isn't scanned? etc...

Never be sure with service manuals made in 70's. Many of them come with correction notes usually written with a pencil, some with addendum sections (that someone forgot to scan), some with additional rev. schematics etc.

Originally Posted by living sounds

(and polarization is also marked on the board).

LOL.

Try recapping MKS-80 (if you ever buy one) by looking at "marked polarization" on the board.


(on the other hand, better don't do it if you love the machine)

[Rusty_OHara]

Edit: Not relevant.

[fooddude]

Got my CS-10 today from him. He shipped it mmonday and it got to me the next coming friday, fast!

But, it isn't as described...it isn't "good condition, above average" ..It friggin looks like it's BRAND NEW! ...I though my MPC60, Juno 60, Mirage was mint...nope, this CS-10 looks like it's less than a year old! ...makes my macbook pro look like it's the vintage one ..Awesomeness!

Now I gotta figure out how to coax some sounds out of her (I is a n00b at synthesis)... getting close... is it me, or does this CS-10 get deep like nails?? I'm making the walls of my parents house shake with a pair of cr@p 8" krk's?! Much more bass than my novation bass station (not really good at workin the NBS yet) or my juno 60. It's a friggin monster. I already know/read the old SH-2/09 are better at bass bombing ..what about the SH-101 vs. the CS-10? I can't imagine the SH-101 getting more bassy than the CS-10 (i'm a n00b and only know the SH-101 from the tut vids and hype and acid scream making)..can it?

..anyways... I am def happy with my purchase from MF and also the decision of the CS-10... time to shatter some windows :D

[burnn_out!]

Has anyone else heard about japan no longer doing air parcels to the U.S.? i purchased a synth from ko like two weeks ago and he said he got delayed. originally stating he would ship wensday/ thrusday, i recieved an email saying he could no longer send it air parcel as he had planned. that he's considering sending it to canada then from there to the US. last time i got something from canadian post, it looked like pitbull got a hold of it. i've emailed him a couple times since wensday and haven't heard back. not good. at this point, i'd just like my money back but i'm going to guess thats not happening. i hope i'm worrying for nothing and that everything gets sorted out. i'll update this as it progresses..

[fooddude]

he delayed my post like twice, holiday weekend there, but he DID follow through with his word...got a super MINT CS from him...I am sure he is legit. He has a lot of positive past customer history from the past ten+ years.

[Pale Pyramid]

Originally Posted by fooddude

Got my CS-10 today from him. He shipped it mmonday and it got to me the next coming friday, fast!

But, it isn't as described...it isn't "good condition, above average" ..It friggin looks like it's BRAND NEW! ...I though my MPC60, Juno 60, Mirage was mint...nope, this CS-10 looks like it's less than a year old! ...makes my macbook pro look like it's the vintage one ..Awesomeness!

Now I gotta figure out how to coax some sounds out of her (I is a n00b at synthesis)... getting close... is it me, or does this CS-10 get deep like nails?? I'm making the walls of my parents house shake with a pair of cr@p 8" krk's?! Much more bass than my novation bass station (not really good at workin the NBS yet) or my juno 60. It's a friggin monster. I already know/read the old SH-2/09 are better at bass bombing ..what about the SH-101 vs. the CS-10? I can't imagine the SH-101 getting more bassy than the CS-10 (i'm a n00b and only know the SH-101 from the tut vids and hype and acid scream making)..can it?

..anyways... I am def happy with my purchase from MF and also the decision of the CS-10... time to shatter some windows :D

Not really SH101's department , the deep deep bass . Coax a whole dif beast from the 101 that is well known at this point . It begins with a an A and ends with a D . 4 letter word .

[pulse_divider]

Originally Posted by burnn_out!

Has anyone else heard about japan no longer doing air parcels to the U.S.? i purchased a synth from ko like two weeks ago and he said he got delayed. originally stating he would ship wensday/ thrusday, i recieved an email saying he could no longer send it air parcel as he had planned. that he's considering sending it to canada then from there to the US. last time i got something from canadian post, it looked like pitbull got a hold of it. i've emailed him a couple times since wensday and haven't heard back. not good. at this point, i'd just like my money back but i'm going to guess thats not happening. i hope i'm worrying for nothing and that everything gets sorted out. i'll update this as it progresses..

I know he posted last week on the Analogue Heaven list about the problems with Japan Post but don't know anything beyond that.
As for the lack of response, I've always found him to be quick so perhaps he's not getting your emails?
It's a bummer you hit a snag but I wouldn't worry too much. Do you have alternate contact info for him?

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by burnn_out!

Has anyone else heard about japan no longer doing air parcels to the U.S.?

I believe this has to do with the "possible terrorist attacks" via packages. As recently happened with some printer toners that were actually "bombs". Perhaps it's a temporary ban. You should also check if this applies just for USPS or for FedEx and UPS - send them emails and ask for explanation.

[roginator]

here is a BAN also...

since 15.11.2010 ..
USA post office dont accept andy package heavier than 450g

[Rusty_OHara]

Originally Posted by roginator

here is a BAN also...

since 15.11.2010 ..
USA post office dont accept andy package heavier than 450g

What? International only, or domestic as well?

[roginator]

Originally Posted by Rusty_OHara

What? International only, or domestic as well?

As far as I know and I was 3 times last week in post office...

we can send anywhere in the world up to 30kg ... only usa is restricted to 450kg