Advice: Whether to buy a damaged ARP 2600

MC · Post by MC » Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:42 pm

Phil Cirocco can be found here http://www.discretesynthesizers.com/

bbbodie · Post by **bbbodie** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:05 pm

Not sure what you meant (i.e. I knew that and have already sent in $3500 worth of equipment)....I can't get a reply from his email (*i.e. have sent numerous emails and no response) and his phone is disconnected...

So short of taking a plane (to where in Georgia?) I have no idea how to get my Arp back or even if it's in working condition yet.

I sent my Arps in on good faith and know he's a great tech...just want my equipment delivered when it's ready (and based on the quote...it should have been ready in August)...

No clue here, so all I have is speculation...until I get contact back I can only wonder where it is, or even if he's alright and still kicking.

Reid

Electrong · Post by **Electrong** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 11:31 pm

I simply cannot believe that no one suggested this guy BUY THAT 2600! $1350 USD?!?! WITH A SEQUENCER!?!? "Not working" even so. A money pit? That would be a golden opportunity indeed. If the synth was complete and you had to, you could sell the sequencer and pay for all the repairs! But you wouldn't want to do that. That topic seems fishy to me.

bbbodie · Post by **bbbodie** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:12 am

Electrong wrote:I simply cannot believe that no one suggested this guy BUY THAT 2600! $1350 USD?!?! WITH A SEQUENCER!?!? "Not working" even so. A money pit? That would be a golden opportunity indeed. If the synth was complete and you had to, you could sell the sequencer and pay for all the repairs! But you wouldn't want to do that. That topic seems fishy to me.

You're right, I was more at odds with getting my system back. I bought 2 others in semi-parts of the years (for a total of 3) and those two were the one's that Phil repaired and did a stellar job on. I got my systems back 5 months after sending them in...worth the time, but Phil is slow to communicate and doesnt return phone calls ;-(

I bought one from a university in Chicago in parts, the other just scraps (was able to use a couple boards and some of the sliders and the housing)...they made a great system all together.

rico1980 · Post by **rico1980** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:47 pm

I concur with pretty much all that's been said. Although I haven't played a Macbeth M5, in both its appearance and based on the videos and sound clips I've heard it is an ARP2600 clone (and a good one reportedly) with extra features the 2600 didn't have.

Regarding the money pit question, I think it all comes down to getting a good tech to repair it. I bought a refurbished 2600 from Don Kessler at Analog US (he has an ebay store) over three years ago and it's been solid ever since. Haven't had to put another dime into it. Fortunately, I live in Chicago and there's a good ARP tech here for when I do need work on it. But mine has been very reliable since it was fixed up.

Rick

Christopher Winkels · Post by **Christopher Winkels** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 6:25 am

MC wrote:Phil Cirocco can be found here http://www.discretesynthesizers.com/

I tried two emails and three or four phone calls over the span of around six weeks to Phil and never got a reply. Everything I've heard is that while his work is top notch (it is - I own one of his modified machines) one must spend vast amounts of time trying to contact him and hope he picks up the phone that day. It's more than a little frustrating.

To the original poster: buy it. Even if you have to spend another $2000 to fix it, you still have a great synth at a better than average price. Someone mentioned potted modules; I believe those had been discontinued by the time the Halloween-face 2600s hit the market.

rodion · Post by **rodion** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 1:32 pm

ahhhrgggg!!!! give me a 2600 + sequencer for less than 1500$!!! arturia??? way out ware??? nothing sounds like a 2600 !!!

bbbodie · Post by **bbbodie** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:41 am

OysterRock wrote:I smell a money pit. I have a rule that I never buy damaged gear (especially synths) unless I know the problem and I know I can fix it.

Unless you have a couple more thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket, I say no way. Those thing are so big and complex, who knows what could be wrong with it. A tech would charge a lot just to go troubleshoot the problem, then even more to fix it.

Of course, its possible it could be something very simple wrong with it, but personally I wouldn't risk it unless you have the money to dump into it.

If you really want a 2600, save up more and buy one that you know works. You could be buying a big, pretty, $1300+ orange foot rest.

I know this is an older post, but I did as

bbbodie wrote:
Scott Bryan wrote:Phil Cirocco is 'The Go To Source' for any repair/mod for all vintage ARP instruments. I have a 1973 vintage ARP 2600 ('Grey Meanie') that was inoperative for quite a number of years until I sent it to Phil for the repairs and modifications. ...
PS on the CMS site is a cool photo of the late great Dr. Moog with Phil perusing a large Moog modular that was restored by CMS. Also another nice photo of the 2600 owned by Allan R Pearlman (also repaired/restored by Phil)
so an update that I owe the thread, the original job of 3 months, took close to 8 as Phil moved from his old location down down to Georgia. I got it back, it's worth the money, but the time waiting was horrific. I'd recommend him for any project where time is not an issue, but also bear in mind, he's got to be hitting 60's so his focus may not be on repairs and business as much.

Bodie

I wish I could get hold of Phil. I sent him a full system and a parts of another for repair back in June and have had little contact or response wit him. I only just now found he moved to Georgia. I'd love to get my Arp back as he said it'd take about 2 months and we're now past 3...obviously with the move and such, he's been busy...but I would love a response to email...let alone a new phone number as the old one is gone.

Bodie

latigid on · Post by **latigid on** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 2:54 pm

Hi, wow, Zombie Thread

Fwiw, I don't think the sequencer was included at that price. There aren't really enough qualified techs here, and it was an orange face model.

Poor Pauly Fuemana (OMC/"How Bizarre" fame) died at the beginning of this year. It really was something special to rub shoulders with somebody who had "made it". He was a very friendly, genuine man with an obvious love of music and gear

. I hope his family are okay (lots of little tikes running around when I visited).

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