Completed the magic triangle

[Jokeyman123]

after wrestling with 2 Fusion restores, a similar Micron and a Miniak, I have completed the magic triangle-a somewhat broken Ion. I overpaid for it on reverb, ($350, i got the deal down from $399) but cosmetically it looks pretty sound, but will need the output FET fix, a look at the mod and pitch wheels (probably fine) and a few replacement pots-or hopefully just a cleaning.

One would think I would have learned my lesson by now...some people just don't know when to cry "uncle"! I recently fired up the Miniak, the Poly D with a few saved sequences, the Fusion and-my trusty XW-P1 for some real musical mayhem, like being in a clock factory at 12 noon. I left out the RM1X and SY77. I really need to cut down-no I guess I won't.

Looking inside, this one is almost frighteningly simple compared to a Fusion, but then I haven't broken out my toolbox and soldering station yet. I was intrigued by the hands-on controls-also the possibility of getting better at understanding modulations routes with this one, might be a bit easier to understand-or maybe not. Then I can apply what I learn to the Fusion. I also like the 49-key span which makes a difference to my playing style compared to the Miniak/Micron 37 key. I understand some players have replaced this key assembly with a TP-9 Fatar for a better action. Of course, how hard is it to midi these to my Fusion and use a full 88 key-let's face it, I am like so many others a unrecovering gear/tech junky, sigh.

[Jokeyman123]

Follolw-up, the reverb seller was excellent dealing with me. I got lucky on this one, with one maddening exception.

1) FET's on the output stages seem fine-I hear no loss of output with the L and R line outputs, headphone jack is fine too.If these have to go, very easy to get to.

2) encoders-2 seemed a little jumpy- De-Oxit fixed both-one was a filter encoder, another is used to adjust the waveform shape.

3) the tempo encoder seemed dead, felt fine but no response. Again-De-Oxit was my friend, these pots feel very smooth, now all are firing perfectly.

Here is the crappy part-and like one of my Fusions, it is a mechanical foobar.

Once I re-assembled the top frame to the bottom, I discovered-there are 3 brass rods that act as anchor posts inside-the same kind used in the Fusions. These are supposed to match up with 3 screwholes in the base. They didn't. I tried bending these posts to fit-but was afraid I'd break the weld that mounts these posts to the frame inside, and it would take considerable force to move these in position since these are made of very rigid brass can not be bent in place. Apparently when the Ion was originally assembled, these must have fit but for reasons beyond me, not a match anymore. All the other case mounting screws were fine, and I could see no distortion in any of the parts of the case or internal structural components, so this was not a fun defect to fool with. The only solution I can see-I will have to drill out these 3 metal through-holes in the bottom of the case slightly oversize to what these are now, in order to fit the last 3 screws. Since these are right in the middle of the Ion's bottom metal case, I am sure it is not a good idea to leave these screws out.

So overall, a success and although most of the built-in sounds (actually I think all) are exactly what is on the Micron/Miniak, it is pretty useful being able to edit just about anything in real time with an encoder-and this has some wicked filters I don't see in the Fusion, plus an LFO that can go to almost infinity!