broken alex

carousel · 29th September 2005

Hi all. I'm putting this in low end because there might be more of a chance that someone who owns a lexicon alex will see it here than down at the techie forum. If that's not ok, sorry, let me know.

I just bought a lexicon Alex for 60 something bucks off ebay on the good reviews i've read, and also because it's my first reverb unit and i wanted something stupidly simple and cheap. It came to my door yesterday and I'm all happy until I plug it in and discover a clicking or crackling type of sound coming out with the wet signal. I can't really describe it, except that it seems to "follow" the reverb or delay or whatever patch is on. I looked on harmony central and it seems to be a common problem with the unit.

Should I bother pressing a refund out of the guy I bought it from, or should I hold onto it and hopefully fix it somehow? It obviously not something simple like a crappy pot, there's obviously something wrong with the electronics or circuitry or what have you. The problem is, I talked to the guy on the phone, and he seems to think he's gonna get away with a partial refund, like (and these are his words) wrapping a "twenty in an envelope and mailing it" to me. I'm just not looking forward to getting into a dispute with this guy for a real, reasonable refund. I mean, between the cost of two shippings and the unit itself, it'll cost me over 70 bucks, leaving me 50 dollars in the hole for nothing.

Think I'll have any luck contacting lexicon about the bum unit? (My gut feeling tells me no) Has anyone else encountered a similar problem? Is there anything I can do??

Many many many thanks to anyone who can help me out.

7 Hz · 29th September 2005

You have to decide what you want now. $60 isn't much, but for a potentialy knackered unit, it's $60 too much. if the problem is a common one, the solution should be common as well. Phone Lexicon and ask them, be persistant, try to get thru to a boffin, try to freak out any helpdesk or seles people with jargon "oh well I am getting a bad jitter error on the output bus when I run a 50Hz tone... " blah blah, get the techie on the phone!

Most common problems will be a simple change of component, or even just a soldering job for joints that have gone bad. However, it could also be a knackered chip that isn't made anymore, making the unit unrepairable. it is vital you find this out BEFORE any more negotiations with the seller. If you can solder and repair stuff yourself, this job will be a LOT cheaper!

Depending on what you find out, either keep the unit and get the $20 and fix it, or send it back and demand a full refund from the seller, INCLUDING the postage costs. If he gets stroppy, file a complaint with eBay. Sometimes you may have to get heavy with eBay and threaten to take them to court for "profiting from the sale of unfit goods"... they jumped when I thretened them with this :-)

Good luck, may the gearslut god be smiling on ya!

Mike Chafee · 29th September 2005

Harman Music Group is responsible for Lexicon, now, but does not fix Alex anymore
=no parts availability. The people they used to reccomend do not fix it anymore.
PUNT!

mike chafee

carousel · 1st October 2005

That's what I was afraid of mike. All the same, I'm following 7 hz's advice since it seems the most logical thing to do.

Thanks for taking the time to offer some good advice, guys, I appreciate it very very very much.

29th September 2005	#1
carousel Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Thread Starter	broken alex Hi all. I'm putting this in low end because there might be more of a chance that someone who owns a lexicon alex will see it here than down at the techie forum. If that's not ok, sorry, let me know. I just bought a lexicon Alex for 60 something bucks off ebay on the good reviews i've read, and also because it's my first reverb unit and i wanted something stupidly simple and cheap. It came to my door yesterday and I'm all happy until I plug it in and discover a clicking or crackling type of sound coming out with the wet signal. I can't really describe it, except that it seems to "follow" the reverb or delay or whatever patch is on. I looked on harmony central and it seems to be a common problem with the unit. Should I bother pressing a refund out of the guy I bought it from, or should I hold onto it and hopefully fix it somehow? It obviously not something simple like a crappy pot, there's obviously something wrong with the electronics or circuitry or what have you. The problem is, I talked to the guy on the phone, and he seems to think he's gonna get away with a partial refund, like (and these are his words) wrapping a "twenty in an envelope and mailing it" to me. I'm just not looking forward to getting into a dispute with this guy for a real, reasonable refund. I mean, between the cost of two shippings and the unit itself, it'll cost me over 70 bucks, leaving me 50 dollars in the hole for nothing. Think I'll have any luck contacting lexicon about the bum unit? (My gut feeling tells me no) Has anyone else encountered a similar problem? Is there anything I can do?? Many many many thanks to anyone who can help me out.

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29th September 2005	#2
7 Hz Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,013	You have to decide what you want now. $60 isn't much, but for a potentialy knackered unit, it's $60 too much. if the problem is a common one, the solution should be common as well. Phone Lexicon and ask them, be persistant, try to get thru to a boffin, try to freak out any helpdesk or seles people with jargon "oh well I am getting a bad jitter error on the output bus when I run a 50Hz tone... " blah blah, get the techie on the phone! Most common problems will be a simple change of component, or even just a soldering job for joints that have gone bad. However, it could also be a knackered chip that isn't made anymore, making the unit unrepairable. it is vital you find this out BEFORE any more negotiations with the seller. If you can solder and repair stuff yourself, this job will be a LOT cheaper! Depending on what you find out, either keep the unit and get the $20 and fix it, or send it back and demand a full refund from the seller, INCLUDING the postage costs. If he gets stroppy, file a complaint with eBay. Sometimes you may have to get heavy with eBay and threaten to take them to court for "profiting from the sale of unfit goods"... they jumped when I thretened them with this :-) Good luck, may the gearslut god be smiling on ya!

29th September 2005	#3
Mike Chafee Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sarasota,fla Posts: 52	Harman Music Group is responsible for Lexicon, now, but does not fix Alex anymore =no parts availability. The people they used to reccomend do not fix it anymore. PUNT! mike chafee

1st October 2005	#4
carousel Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 30 Thread Starter	That's what I was afraid of mike. All the same, I'm following 7 hz's advice since it seems the most logical thing to do. Thanks for taking the time to offer some good advice, guys, I appreciate it very very very much.