Plasma Music Limited

24/06/2024

At stupid 0’ Clock this morning, I stripped all of the components from the top case of my SDX #1, ready to refinish. Everything has been logged and I’ve taken lots of pictures.

The top case is so much lighter than it looks.

I’m going to have a go at treating the pads and buttons but I’m also considering 3D printing, which if I can do it, will perhaps yield more robust components.

I have also finished preparing templates of the text on the rear metalwork. I just need to trace and vectorise the SDX logo.

A few weeks ago, I took two SDS7 cases to a local company to be sand blasted and powder coated. They said that they didn't think they'd be able to replicate the leatherette finish but when I collected them, they looked perfect and with with a leatherette finish. Go figure. Of course, I'll be using the same company to do the same for the SDX external metalwork.

21/06/2024

My twin Simmons SDX renovation project 2024 starts today. 😕

06/05/2024

Nebula-X prototype PCBs just delivered!

After developing Nebula balanced outputs for the MKS-70 in 2021, I received a lot of requests to do the same for the JX-10. With considerably more issues to overcome and also wanting to address the noise picked up BEFORE the jack-board in the JX-10, I wanted to do more than just offer balanced outputs.

Today my Nebula-X prototype PCBs turned up so it's going to be a busy few weeks as I build this, make sure everything fits, test and confirm that the theory I'm implementing to combat JX-10 noise, actually works.

05/05/2024

Cleaning up a battery leak on an early Simmons SDS7. Read more here: https://plasmamusic.com/simmons-sds7-battery-leak

01/05/2024

Earlier this year, I had this MKS-70 come in from the US for a full upgrade. It got the works and you can read all about it here: https://plasmamusic.com/roland-mks-70-full-upgrade

28/04/2024

Currently under development, something special for the Marshall JMP-1 that'll shortly be appearing in my on-line store. 😎

10/04/2024

Oracle JMP-1 is my latest addition to my range of products for the Marshall JMP-1. It removes the requirement for a battery to back up the JMP-1's memory (your pre-sets, MIDI mapping, etc). Yes, that's right... you pull the battery and chuck it!

With several other advantages over the factory CR2032, you can read all about Oracle JMP-1 here: https://plasmamusic.com/oracle-battery-eliminator-for-the-marshall-jmp-1

09/04/2024

I've had a few requests for a demo of my AT-JX-10 replacement aftertouch sensor for the Roland JX-10. Today I thought I’d knock one up.

I kept things really simple, like no fancy keyboard moves and I used two very well-known JX-10 pre-sets; Poly Synth and Reverb Strings.

I recorded MIDI as well as audio so that you can see what’s going on.

My personal favourite configuration is to have FAI set to ‘normal’ and the aftertouch slider at about 2/3 full-scale.

ore information available here: https://plasmamusic.com/replacement-aftertouch-sensor-for-the-roland-jx-10

26/03/2024

Fresh off the press, two P0004 power supplies for the Roland Super-JX, which I built yesterday.

These will be tested today and hopefully, shipped out tomorrow.

22/03/2024

My first batch of RE-JMP-1 replacement rack-ears for the Marshall JMP-1 is now in stock.

I have to say that they look amazing and fit perfectly.

04/03/2024

Something special arrived from Italy today, an almost pristine Simmons SDS V.

Thanks, Andy! 😎

12/02/2024

Guys, so many Marshall JMP-1 things going on at Plasma Music! Ahh!! Over the next few weeks, my Marshall JMP-1 arsenal of goodies is going to grow a bit so to make things easier for people, I’ve decided give the Marshall JMP-1 its own category in my on-line store.

https://plasmamusic.com/store/MARSHALL-JMP-1-STUFF-c163641757

11/02/2024

ON THE BENCH TODAY...

Wow! Two beautiful examples of one of my favourite synths, the Roland Juno-106. Aren't I a lucky tech'? ❤️

08/02/2024

With so many projects under development, sometimes the more humble ones get kinda forgotten about. Today however, I was excited to pick up my prototype RE-JMP-1 replacement rack-ears for the Marshall JMP-1. Two small bits of metal, yeah I know... how sad, LOL.

Got back to the lab and they fitted perfectly so Roy at Lenton Engineering is now pricing me up a job lot which will include finishing (spraying them black). Supplied with screws, these will be in my Marshall JMP-1 arsenal of parts very soon.

One of the pictures shows a prototype next to an original and the other, is a rear view of a prototype mounted to my test JMP-1.

I currently have three JMP-1s in for service and one of them doesn't have rack-ears. I think someone's going to be very happy when they get their pre-amp back. 😎

03/02/2024

ON THE BENCH TODAY

Well, not quite. I’m actually off home in a minute. Just thought I’d quickly get this rig ready for tomorrow as it weighs a ton.

You’ll know that I don’t normally touch hi-fi. I can’t deal with the “I can buy a new one for that” attitude that comes with a lot of it.

Anyway, there are exceptions and couple of months ago, I was contacted by a rather senior gentleman who didn’t have any idea of where else to go. He was also not too well. So earlier in the week, I took a trip over to Bedford (and I don't normally do house calls either) where his wife made me a lovely cuppa and offered me some gorgeous chocolate ginger biscuits, while I checked out the system.

Of course, this isn’t your average Bluetooth, HDMI, Smart, 7.1 channel, flavour-of-the-month receiver. This is proper VALVE hi-fi and well, I LOVE VALVES!

After having witnessed the problem at the client’s premises, I’ve got a pretty good idea of where to go on this but I’ll keep you posted. Let’s hope I get lucky.

03/02/2024

A whole day later and this beautiful Roland SH-101 is pumping out its little tunes again and sounding very solid. 🙂

This particular example is in stunning condition inside and out. With only a little aged fluid damage to clean up under the keys and the previously mentioned general service, it's like it's gone back in time to 1982.

The function switches are impossible to get hold of now but with a little magic, they can be disassembled and cleaned (thanks, Roland). That was a necessary thing I had to do on the switch. Coincidentally, the input jack was also dodgy and had to be fixed.

Hopefully this little cutie will have quite a few more years of life in her. ❤️

02/02/2024

After catching up with a little work on my website this morning and having a couple of customers over to collect and drop-off gear, I'm cracking on with a Roland SH-101 service.

This one's in GREAT condition but is playing up. The customer reckoned it was really sick but after testing, it seems like it just needs a good service. 😎 Removing the guts is a good place to start!

PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, KIDS!!!!!

24/01/2024

We've had a couple of storms over the past few days. Nothing by some countries' standards. Nevertheless, I thought I'd make a small contribution to the clean up, here where I live in Grovehill, Hemel Hempstead.

20/01/2024

A busy Elektron weekend!

New power supply for Elektron MachineDrum Mk1 and new displays for MachineDrum Mk1 and MonoMachine Mk1

20/01/2024

New screened audio cables for the Roland MKS-70 make a big difference!

I thought I’d make some screened cables to go from the MKS-70's module-boards to the jack-board. When I did some tests comparing the new cables with the original wires that Roland used, I was shocked at the results.

You can read all about it here:

After thirty-something years, my screened audio cables for Roland MKS-70 kit reduces noise picked considerably.

09/01/2024

I never take anything for granted.

The valves in this gorgeous Mesa Boogie Mark 2 C Plus combo looked fine. My valve tester however, revealed that one of them was under spec'.

This amp came in for a regular service but I always like to go through things thoroughly. On this occasion, attention to detail paid off! 😎

Read more here: https://plasmamusic.com/essential-test-equipment-the-valve-tester

22/12/2023

Getting keyed up for that Simmons thing!

21/12/2023

Recovering from COVID and this turned up yesterday; a stunning Simmons SDS7 which is my Christmas present to, err... me!

It's come all the way over from the The Simmons Guy in the US. Such a fantastic and lovely fellow, Ed I can't thank you enough for this. Apart from working, having MIDI (yes, a 1983 electronic drum system with MIDI) and lots of other stuff that you included, I just can't get over the condition of this forty-year-old kit. It's like new!

The Simmons SDS7 was my first electronic drum kit but like loads of stuff, I foolishly sold it towards the end of the eighties. Regretting that decision big time, it's taken me decades to find one as clean and as solid as this one which is #1722.

Thank you, Ed. Have a smashing Christmas, my friend and a Happy New Year.

17/12/2023

After staving off COVID for more than three and a half years, I finally succumbed. Mega annoyed as I had my fourth jab only six weeks ago.

11/12/2023

Designing the electronic part of ‘electronics’ is only a fraction of the job. Indeed, one of the most challenging aspects of making stuff, is mechanical. Here’s a precision active unbalanced to balanced converter from my 2023 project list. The electronics works brilliantly but as you can see, it’s still in development. My second attempt to get everything to line up, today I collected the panels from my friends at Lenton Engineering in Watford.

09/12/2023

It's already been a busy MKS Winter 2023 as for some crazy reason, I'm getting a lot of MKS-70s and MKS-80s in at the moment. Hey, my favourite synths but seriously?!?!?

09/12/2023

I don't normally do big, full-sized pianos anymore but some crazy reason, I took on this 33-year-old monster of a Roland HP-3700. Read more here: https://plasmamusic.com/roland-hp-3700-keyboard-service

22/11/2023

The courier’s just turned up to collect this morning’s shipments.

The big box has got an original Korg MS-20 that’s just been serviced and which is now on its way back to its owner in New York. One of the long boxes is an AT-JX-8P replacement aftertouch sensor for the Roland JX-8P that’s also going to the US. The other long box is an AT-D-50 replacement aftertouch sensor for the Roland D-50 which is on its way to Belgium.

Tomorrow, we go again! It’s got a bit busy here recently.

14/11/2023

Recently, this ol' girl came in with modulating pitch on two oscillators. There was another issue with VCF not working on one of the duff oscillators but that wasn't particularly obvious until the weird pitch modulation thing was fixed.

With all issues resolved, a full recalibration and upgraded with my Aurora modular switched-mode power supply for the Roland MKS-80, this instrument now sounds, feels and looks awesome! 😎

25/09/2023

A big THANK YOU to all my customers for their patience and understanding.

I took three weeks out to finish off my new premises. It’s been such a busy few months that I simply couldn’t find the time to make my new place into the office / lab / studio (and everything else) that it was meant to be and so I had no option other then to put my normal Plasma Music stuff on hold for a bit.

Well to be honest, I’m not quite finished yet but what’s left will now only take a few days. I need to hang the door behind me in the picture, I need to put up a screen bracket between those speakers and I need to finish whitening the grout in the downstairs cloakroom. My priority now however, is to begin the repairs and complete the orders that people have so kindly brought me and ordered.

Business is (almost) back to normal. 😎