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Roland JX-3P Front Elevation

Roland JX-3P
The refurbishment project

This series of videos shows how I approached the refurbishment of a JX-3P Synthesiser that have been loaned to the channel.

Background:

I have been talking to a DRUM and BASS artist / producer / record label owner for several years following a video that I made relating to how to setup your Roland MX-1 (https://youtu.be/g0cHfT74K3w). The artist / producer / record label owner is known professionally as @TheDeathBeats or Gary Robinson publishing music through the DEATHRAY music label.

Late last year we got onto the subject of DRUM and BASS pioneers and the instruments that these pioneers acquired to produce their music. Instruments like the ROLAND TR-909, ROLAND W-30 and ROLAND JX-3P. These instruments were the back bone of acts that inspired Gary to create and publish.

The conversation turned to the fact that Gary had a number of these instruments that needs some Tender Loving Care (TLC) and were in storage with this parents in the UK while Gary is currently living and working in Mexico.

One of these instruments was the JX-3P which I agreed to take a look at and is featured in this series of videos. The main issue was that the JX-3P MEMORY was not holding tones or sequences following a power cycle. This video series follows the steps undertaken to diagnose and then fix the issues with Gary’s presious JX-3P. The key issues identified are: JX-3P memory, Scratchy pots and dead keys.

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Roland JX-3P - Part 1 - Investigation

Part 1
Roland JX-3P Repair
Investigation

The Roland JX-3P synth from 1983 has arrived in the goldfish bowl for investigation as to what might be wrong with this iconic synthesiser.

The JX-3P was the first in a line of 3 JX synths, adding more functions on each iteration. The synth was re-imagined by Roland in the form of the Boutique JX-03 in more recent years with the later two synths being released as the Boutique JX-08.

While the synth is an analogue synth it uses 2 digital oscillators to generate the tones, and following the swap to digital synthesis in the late 80's and early 90's the prices of these synths on the second hand market made them very appealing to many EDM and synth acts that started to form around this time.

This is part 1 of a series of videos that will hopefully restore one of Gary's workhorse tools back to rude health for use in future compositions.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 2 - Getting inside the instrument

Part 2
Roland JX-3P Repair
Getting Inside

Before any work can be undertaken on the JX-3P I need to workout how to get inside the synth. I often see people not correctly work out how to access a synth and then break a socket through it being forced.

This episode goes through which screws need to be removed to safely open the synth to start the restoration work.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 3 - The Battery

Part 3
Roland JX-3P Repair
New Battery

In this episode I desolder the current incumbent battery and replace it with a new battery that has been bought to give the JX-3P a New Battery.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 4 - The Volume Knob

Part 4
Roland JX-3P Repair
Volume Knob / Pot

During the investigation the volume knob was making some very suspicious noises. The question to be answered is can it be repaired or is this another part that needs to be replaced?

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 5 - Checkpoint

Part 5
Roland JX-3P Repair
Checkpoint

I used this opportunity to take stock of the work that has been performed on the JX-3P to this point against the original assessment. Has the work that has been performed addressed some of the issues? Is it worse or better?

We are testing the JX-3P memory and sequencer following installing a new battery. The noisy volume pot and sliders following treatment with contact cleaner. Also the gain following a similar treatment. Plus a general clean of all the 'dust bunnies' on these control circuit boards.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 6 - Key bed disassembly

Part 6
Roland JX-3P Repair
Key bed disassembly

In this episode I start the disassembly process for the keyboard / key bed. This is required to understand why the C key that has been identified as a dead key is not working.

I start by removing the key springs, before realising that the key bed uses a locking strip that requires me to removed the key frame from the synthesiser to get at and removed the locking strip. Locking strip removed the keys can be released and removed and I finally can see the state of the circuit board that sits underneath them to assess why the keys are dead keys or intermittent Keys.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 7 - Starting the keyboard rebuild

Part 7
Roland JX-3P Repair
Starting the Keyboard Rebuild

In this episode we start by removing the rubber contact strip, which is what the keys make contact with to generate the tone. The underlying key bed circuit board in then cleaned (using warm soapy water). A n inspection of the key bed circuit tracks is performed to see if this is the cause of the JX-3P Dead Key issue. The contact rubber strip and circuit board are then cleaned with IPA to removed any contaminates.

At the end of the episode the circuit board is ready to start reassembly.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 8 - Completing the keyboard rebuild

Part 8
Roland JX-3P Repair
Completing the keyboard rebuild

This episode concentrates on the work required to prepare the keyboard frame to accept the cleaned keys, re-attached the cleaned keys to the keyboard frame and re-spring the keys that have been re-attached.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 9 - Completing the keyboard build (2)

Part 9
Roland JX-3P Repair
Completing the Keyboard build (2)

The first task is to recap on the key cleaning process. Simple but time consuming. Testing the work performed and finally reattaching the keyboard frame back to the synth chassis.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

Roland JX-3P - Part 10 - Reassemble and restoration complete

Part 10
Roland JX-3P Repair
Reassembly and Restoration Complete

The work on the JX-3P has been complete. But I just check off the faults that I listed in part 1 of this restoration / repair series. Then put the case back together.

It's a wrap.

Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.

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