Hohner Stringvox repair notes (part 1)
Posted under Musical Technology at . Last updated 2024-01-15 19:15.
The Stringvox (without a space) is Hohner’s rebadging of the ELEX K2 electronic piano/string machine. There were three versions sold by Hohner, the original ‘silvertop’ (K2r1 by my nomenclature) which seems to have begun production in 1975, the slightly changed rev.2, and the ‘blacktop’ (K2r3) from 1979. All are in effect built into their own flightcases with lift-off lids, but the r3 case shape is different. (For more information on the series see A Spotter’s Guide to HIPs and Strings.)
I have only been able to find out a little about these previously; in particular I have little information about the interior. [1] Recently an r3 came up for repair, so let’s have a look.
[...]This Stringvox (K2r3)
This was sold as in need of repair, with the main known problem being that the plug side of the appliance fuseholder is missing. [IN1] Other than that, it came with a stand but without its case-attachment bolts. [IN2] (This is one of those instruments which can rotate on its stand to get a better playing angle, though the stand doesn’t adjust vertically so that’s of limited use.) It could of course do with a clean up and maybe some repair of the vinyl. [IN3] There’s a bit of rust on the hinges. [IN4] As is quite common with these keyboards, the plastic edging on the ports hole on the rear is incomplete. (This is what you get when you put the ports on the outside of the flightcase.) [IN5] It hasn’t been used for some time, perhaps several years, so given its age we can expect some capacitor issues. [IN6] However, under the cover it’s in better condition than most I’ve seen. It would originally have come with sustain and volume pedals and a music stand but these have all gone. It has a socket for a bass pedal board but they were optional extras, and since I’ve never seen Hohner or ELEX bass pedals, they probably weren’t popular.
Condition
On arrival . . . it’s heavy! This is certainly the heaviest single-manual keyboard I’ve ever handled. Its lid is slightly misplaced as if something has bent but we’ll see. Some of the keys have slight dents and scratches but they all operate well and the bushes don’t seem to have hardened. This one originally had two bass-range marker tabs but one has gone. [IN7: Consider missing tab replacement.] There’s a vaguely mushroomy smell, but I understand this has been sitting doing nothing for about ten years so not surprising. The switches all operate without too much stickiness and only two of the faders are a little sticky. [IN8: Clean faders.] There’s a power cable under the lid (nice plug, 5A cable, 13A fuse . . . replaced with 5A for now), and what looks like part of the handle in the packaging. I reattached that before going any further. I can’t do much else without replacing the fuseholder, so time to get it open.
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