Removing the idler wheel from the Optigan is a challenge, but can be done if you are patient and mechanically inclined.

This is just a quick note to let y’all know that the OptiDocs service manual CD-Rom has now been updated to include the impossible-to-find Talentmaker service manual as well as Orchestron service docs, schematics, and brochures. 275mb of geeky goodness. Order your copy today!

This is just a quick note to let y’all know that the OptiDocs service manual CD-Rom has now been updated to include the impossible-to-find Talentmaker service manual as well as Orchestron service docs, schematics, and brochures. 275mb of geeky goodness. Order your copy today!

Robert sez:
I went to Michael’s Craft and Floral to see if they had stuff to replace the silver highlights on the Optigan metronome logo I got from you. After looking at all the silver leaf options, I asked a couple of store employees what would work best. We narrowed it down to “Rub-N-Buff” and a [...]

Robert Becker, the genius who worked out the software for generating new optigan disc images from digital audio files, has a couple of optigan restoration tips, so I thought I’d post them as blog entries.
If you have Optigan discs that are missing the little red piece of tape that goes over the downbeat metronome window, [...]

Pitch stability is one of the biggest problems for Optigans. The rubber on the idler wheel gets hard or worn over the years, which makes the wheel slip against the tapered motor shaft. Old wheels can have other problems including notches or flat spots, which cause a knocking or grinding sound when the discs are [...]

The bulb you want is a GE Lighting 48707 40T10/RVLCD1 Tubular Bulb. For those who want to know more about this bulb, here’s the tech specs.

The best way to replace those red tabs is to simply buy a red permanent Sharpie pen and color over the appropriate metronome window. It works fine, and shouldn’t rub off. If you desire maximum redness, try rubbing it on both sides of the disc.

Attached to each amplifier is a little trimpot for adjusting the chord/keyboard volumes. On most Optigans, these trimpots can be accessed by the little holes on the back of the unit. If you still can’t get much sound out of an amp, or the sound is particularly distorted, the the amp has gone bad and [...]

Basically, you’re going to have to face the fact that the Optigan is inherently a very buzzy, noisy machine. Unless you want to completely replace the grounding and amplification system, your only hope is to try to minimize the buzz and maybe notch it out with a multi-band EQ or some noise reduction DSP. The [...]