Well, for me, another sad history with UPS shipping. To cut a long story short I bought this pristine condition Source in november. The synth was shipped to my fathers house. As you can see the package is in perfect condition. So my father stored the synth. 2 months later I got to the States, New York on my holidays and took the package. My plan was to bring the synth to my country, Argentina. When I opened the box I found this. What do you think? UPS drop it from the roof of the truck? Broke it and then changed the package for a new one with a “Fragile” sticker on it and filled the synth surroundings with huge amounts of wrappable material. I leave it to your conclusions. Here are the pictures I took at the hotel, after unboxing the monster.
What do you think? Better think twice before calling UPS???
Looks more like its been crushed somehow? - does it work in its present state? I’d reworked a damaged Source which had been neglected in a basement for years, looked pretty good when I’d finished it (walnut veneered covering with alloy inserts) so yours could be resurrected! Just takes time and patience have a look at one of my reworks - http://www.myspace.com/596234900/music
Sad story. But not surprising. UPS is notorious for damaging goods. But to go as far as repackaging a damaged item to hide the damages ? That’s a new one on me !
But you’ve also made one little mistake: you should have asked your father to open the box right away when he received it, to see the contents inside it. You could have contacted the seller about it, and he could have claimed the shipping insurance from UPS.
Unless, of course, the synth he was actually selling was in that shape when he put it in the box ? (not likely, but it’s a remote possibility. I’ve seen my share of dishonest sellers on eBay, too!)
Now, some months later, there’s little to do but to try to fix it. If it’s only cosmetic damage, and the synth seems fine electrically and electronically, it can be fixed.
Replacement plastic keys can be found, and a new wood casing can be made.
If, however, there is internal damage like cracked circuit boards, on top of the external cosmetic damage, then the synth would be pretty much waisted and only good for parts…
Good luck with it, and better luck with your next online purchase.
Fortunately, after taking apart the stuck and damaged keys, the keyboard reacted. Tested all the functions and seems to be working just fine. Inner boards are fine.
I know not opening the box was a big mistake but seeing the condition of the package, you can trust on the shipping.
I’ll restore it to former condition. If anyone can help I need C, D, E and 1 black key to replace the damaged ones. If anyone has original wood sides just let me know. I remember seeing them one at the bay.
I believe the Ebay seller has nothing to do with this, in fact wrappable bag was stuck inside one of the corners which I suspect is the one that made contact when the synth fall of or whatever happened to it.
Well Jvpiter,your Source is a mark 2 version with screw fixings holding the sides together, I’ve the original model which is glued together (no problems in the past few decades of its life!) so replacement is easy,take them to a wood shop and get them copied, or a local craftsman/woman.
Originals are walnut, stained and laquered, but maple would be cool (and different) metal panel should straighten using a mini vice jig (you may have to remove the circuit boards (remove the keyboard first to access the lower digital/analogue board screws) probably the laquer covering the metal will have cracked,can be restored - again time and thought prevails! Oh… the Spectrasynth is a repackaged English E&MM Spectrum synth made in the vein of the Minimoog. Just dressed it up Armani style with the best of kit!
