Lexicon Prime Time

[triez]

I have a Prime Time sitting under the bench in the shop, it's been there for years, ( along with an Omni 14 bit digital delay). Does anyone have any thoughts on whether I should bother trying to repair them, or is it not worth the effort as I don't have schematics for them? I don't remember if they sounded useable of not, it's been so long, but I guess they probably have a good lo-fi sound.

[triez]

Thanks Adam, I would be happy to send you some diagrams in trade if you need anything I have, or perhaps spare parts?

[bjornson]

I have the schematics and manual as well.
bjornson@usaor.net

[bjornson]

oops, mines the super prime time... sorry

[auddoc]

I have a Prime time 93 in "almost" working order that I need to service, and a dead one as a parts horse. I used to be warranty service for Lexicon for twenty+ yrs, but have been out of that business for many years.
I need the 93 service manual- anybody got a scanned or otherwise copy? It's been too long, I have forgotten the design details and the service tricks- I used to be able to fix these things in my sleep. Geezerdom awaits. I have many spare parts, all of them in fact, including the RAM , AD, DA, pots, faders, display, etc. And a "new" face plate.
For the people asking about them who aren't familiar- great sounding delay, VCO, relatively low bandwidth (12kHz max) makes it sound very warm, mono input with two outputs with a mixer- very versatile. It really defines "that" Pat Metheny stereo bubbly guitar sound- he has used two, driving seperate amps, the many past times, Ive seen him. Definitely worth having IMHO. They are a little delicate mechanically- don't think I'd tour with one these days.

[sleek1]

Send it to Sprague Magnetics. John over there repairs such units.818-523-7487

[triez]

Well, another 93 came into the shop last week, so I decided that if I was going to do one I might as well fix both. Multiple problems in both, but with a service manual they are easy machines to repair. Having all of the IC's socketed is a 2 edged sword, makes them quick to service, but the sockets can cause problems that you wouldn't have in an all soldered machine.

They sound fantastic, I had forgotten how nice the Prime Time was, old digital gear can often sound really good for whatever reason, so now it is in a sleeve with an AMS reverb and an AMS delay and a Deltalab Accousticomputer, it's my FX party pack. Now if I can only fix this Sony DRE-2000....

[martinnez]

i used one for years in a studio i worked in mexico city it sounded great, used a lot to enhance backup vocals, BUT... problem was every month had to take apart and clean all conectors, move ics up and down in their sockets, that was as prevention , because befor doing that we had a lot of scratch and crackling noises, somebody at lexicon in chicago told us it was a problem resulting of the air contamination, causing corrosion, that was the same for a lexicon 224. they soggested replacing gold plated connectors but were kind enough to tell it was not enough and we kept going with the cleaning!!!

[foreignnational]

anyone, have either a service manual or a repair contact in europe?
thanks,
matt

[C7b9]

Does anyone know what the original sale price was for the Lexicon Prime Time (model 95) back in the early 1980's?

[grp5675]

Originally Posted by C7b9

Does anyone know what the original sale price was for the Lexicon Prime Time (model 95) back in the early 1980's?

Hey C7b9,

I bought one of the very first Prime Times in late 1979 or early 1980. I remember paying approx $ 1500.00. I still have it and only have had to have it repaired twice. The last time they put in some gold connectors of some sort and it has run fine ever since. I don't use it much, but I wouldn't want to part with it.

Yours,

grp5675

[iLCacciLLo]

Hi,

my Lexicon Super Prime Time delay stoped working.

I need to fix it, but I can't find the schematic or service notes anywhere.

Does anyone have them?

It would be a huge help,

Thanks

[1073]

Help... I just bought a prime time 93. The output seems low. I ran a -20db tone from pro tools into main input and then fed delay A and B direct outputs back into pro tools. Input and outputs are set at 90% of max to avoid distortion. There is a 10db loss of gain. Is this normal for this box?

[TRJanuary]

Lexicon Prime Time Service Manual, Owners Manual, etc. - eBay (item 330476892627 end time Oct-24-10 20:21:06 PDT)

[1073]

thanks. I already have the service manual. It is pretty complicated to say the least. I was just wondering if a 10db loss is normal? thanks

[TRJanuary]

The link to the service manual was for the earlier poster who said he needed it.

Also, since you have it, if you were to read the first few chapters, you will learn that the delay a and b out are unbalanced.

In my copy, the first chapter or so is the same as the operator's manual, and has the relevant information for installing the unit.

[1073]

It says the 1/4" outputs are TRS and will go to +18 db. The manual reads like they are balanced

[TRJanuary]

If you own a Prime Time model 93, only the MAIN IN, MAIN OUT and AUX IN are balanced. Anything else is unbalanced.

On page 7 of service manual, under Supplimental Outputs, it says "single- ended 1/4" phone jack connectors" aka, unbalanced. Although, they should be fairly hot unbalanced, adjustable to +18dBm with a 100 ohm load.

Under paragraph 1.6 of the Owners Manual, it says the master out is balanced, all other outs are 1/4" standard phone jack, aka unbalanced.

I can tell you from many years of integratring this unit into patchbays, star-grounded racks, etc, that those ouputs are unbalanced.

[Voiceman615]

I have a Lexicon Prime Time (Model 93) which has developed a VCO leakage in the delay channels. I remember seeing someone report that they had experienced the same issue.. and they ended up replacing two memory chips as the definitive repair.

Anyone know which "memory chips" it may have been to get rid of the periodic glitch?

All the boards have been completely re-soldered.. and I thought it may have been one or more of the tantalum caps (known to become problematic).. but I'm still wanting to replace the mem chips if that'll do the deal!

Thanks much for the assist!

Edward