![[WTS] Suzuki Omnichord OM-84 RESTORED -- No Reserve Auction -- $9.99 [L] GNV Florida](https://preview.redd.it/2f4ukwkiyljh1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=01ebbf3cf3f9fe0c9b6c75ed1db409408ec12f5e)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/198573710991
Auction starts tomorrow, Sunday August 16, 2026 at 6pm EST.
Glad to answer any questions! I work on these regularly, check my post history for more info. Happy bidding!
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7389111
Currently setup for 0.8mm spring wire, SCAD file allows customization to your wire gauge. Print on its side at 100% infill with supports for maximum strength.
Put it in your drill, insert wire, bend 90 degrees, run the drill in reverse and wind slowly. Adjust the "pressure" you apply to the free end -- you don't want too much or the spring will be hard to remove. You may need to try a few times to get the hang of it.
Works great for old C-batteries, especially!
Forgive me for shilling my wares, but you guys are about as niche as a community gets, so I want to make sure you get a link if these might help!
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Sonic-Strings Dual-Concentric Potentiometer solution for OM-84
Sonic-Strings Dual-Concentric Potentiometer solution for OM-8
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Hi! I've got a few of these beauties ready for sale and I wanted to post here in case anyone is interested!
Recapped, refreshed, and has a polarity protection circuit so you won't ever fry it with the wrong power adapter, I hope this guy will hold value for a long time.
I hate where the market prices are for these things, but at least this one won't quit on you, and if it does, it has a technician standing behind it (me!)
Different color options?
Tactile, raised "strings" or "bumps"?
Markers for every note?
A different note layout, perhaps?
More precise note presses?
Would you make it look more subtle by hiding the strum-strip? or make it super wide?
What's your experience? What do you wish the thing could do?
This is a last-ditch effort to save a Peavey DPM 488 keyboard damaged by battery corrosion. I don't have tons of experience with anything more than a 2-layer board, so the lack of ground planes makes me think this is a 4-layer board, at least? And if that's the case, am I staring at holes eaten away in one of the planes?
I need to sleep, but I'm too excited not to share this. Is this the first Omnichord Strumpad replacement? Just another step towards the OpenChord -- this is cheap and easily reproducible and works on original hardware.
Thank you for your interest, you can find more info here, and if you want a reproduction for your model, get in touch!
I'm working on a project that involves replacing the brains of an OM-27 with a modern RP2350. Dubbed "The OpenChord Project" for now, it's only firmware that is meant to provide a core library for replacing other unobtainable/expensive chord logic chips and top-octave generators (TOG). There's another repo there that shows that the RP2350 can replace just the M083 as a TOG, really cool!
But what I really want to see is an Open Omnichord.The minichord is the best alternative I've seen otherwise, and Benjamin has done a lovely job providing support -- I honestly can't say enough good things about that project. I don't aim to outdo what he has done, I just want a version that is as analog as possible, and built with easily obtainable components, and easily printable/solderable for the average user.
I think the OpenChord firmware would likely be a good starting point for such a project. It would need some 3DP design ideas for the case, of course, and circuit boards designed around such a case (paging /u/JKTurtleSwag and /u/adamjsp). Power considerations, USB-C, etc. It's a solid project!
I've never really organized an open-source project, but they say if you love something, let it go. I'll probably mess about with some PCB designs over the coming months, we'll see what comes of it. Let me know what you think!
Inspired by Nicolas Bras and made from 2x4s, guitar tuners, some 3D printed bits, and an excess of Peterson pipe tobacco tins. Doesn't stay in tune for more than a day, but it's a lot of fun :D
First of all, big thanks to u/adamjsp for sharing his scans of his broken strumplate. The man has just completed the only known repair of missing note traces on an OM-84 strumplate I have ever seen. I won't steal his thunder, but my jaw is agape at the results -- the stuff of legends. The silver paint is a lie, my whole life is a lie, they said it couldn't be done!
Anyway -- I think it's about time we have the option for a new strumplate for these older models. I've started an effort on GitHub and I'm interested in feedback and input from the community, especially if you have a broken plate you can scan for other models. I've got some untested Gerbers up, I think I'm ready to order, but this is my first flex PCB and I don't want to miss something silly. Might be interested in perhaps a CAD model that feels like the strumplate strings, maybe using conductive filament? The flex PCB itself is looking very promising and affordable, I'm very excited to test it!
ALSO -- We made an interesting discovery. There is an unused "reset" pad, fully wired up, but that is covered up by the topmost layer -- you can actually kind of feel that it's there above the original. The trace leads to an immediate dead end on the circuit board -- does anyone have any idea what this may have been intended as? This is probably still a usable trigger...
If an eBay seller is asking $500+ for a "TESTED, WORKS!" Omnichord, what is the market for an actual recapped, refreshed Omnichord?
The vintage synth market knows about the problems inherent to synths from the 60's and 70's because these synths are old enough to have manifested most age-related problems. I want to see the Omnichord market begin preparing for these problems, too. Fresh capacitors and fresh socketed CMOS and TTL chips go a long way in future-proofing.
Basically -- if we're going to see asking prices like we're seeing, I think we should start having some expectation that the units have been serviced to some extent. Because they WILL eventually need service, basic as it may be.
I appreciate that these things are holding value, I suppose I just want to start spreading the notion that these older units should be treated with the same regard as vintage synthesizers. I'm working on a number of adaptations for discontinued chips and parts, I want to see a healthy future for these old fellas :D
P.S. -- Including an original Suzuki power supply should not be seen as a serious selling point. They are old and likely very out of spec and potentially hazardous the the health of the Omnichord. Use a fresh 12V 500mA adapter instead (CENTER NEGATIVE!!).
I'm speechless, this is probably the most fun I've had with an instrument since I was a kid, even more so than my bent 27. Affectionately dubbed "Yellow Boy" and obviously inspired by Folktek, here's a short demo. I'll whip out something more performance oriented soon, this just shows you an iota of the capabilities.
These just came in today, I'm stoked!!
I had a handful of these PCBs made up in order to establish a means of protection against center-positive polarity adapters. It follows a well-known schematic utilized often by guitar pedal builders who have similar problems frying things with the wrong power supply.
This PCB basically steps in the way of the power circuit and asks if the polarity is correct. If it isn't, it simply doesn't pass current or present voltage. Simple AF, works beautifully.
Imagine the sweat as I tested out a center-positive supply for the first time 😅
Just finished wiring up a prototype bent Omnichord OM-27 inspired by Folktek, this thing is incredible!
Anyone ever get into this before?
Any specific bends you really like?
I have chromatic access from the M083, but I think it's causing hiss. Any advice on handling excess whine/noise?
Any tips on accessing the drums for finger drumming?
Hi everyone, I'm Greg! I wanted to share some of the tools and models I've been developing for piano restoration and regulation. You'll find SCAD and STL files available, they're easily customizable to suit your needs.
I'm particularly proud of the bushing cauls -- if you've ever done a rebushing you'll know why! Customize for dry mortise size and bushing cloth thickness, there's even an option for Spurlock-style single-shoulder cauls. Some of the tools are no substitute for the real thing, but they're great to keep next to your action model to demonstrate for students, and they print fast.
I'm all ears for feedback (and requests?), I hope you find something useful!
Hi, everyone! Here's a 3DP case I put together for the minichord, SCAD and STL are included. If anyone wants to improve upon it, please share it back! :D
Haven't dealt with these much, this one shows proper secondary voltages while NOT under load, but then all drop to 2-3VAC when plugged into a power supply board. I assume a break in the primary winding, maybe? The secondaries don't seem to come back to normal until after a "cooldown": even after unplugged from the board, they remain low.
Any advice on a possible repair? And if I were to replace, am I to believe that there are 3 independent 18VAC windings as the output connector suggests? What would need to be specified in a custom order?
Many thanks!
This info is specific to the OM-27 and OM-84 and presumably the OM-36 at least:
Hey everyone, I'm Greg! Just wanted to give back to the community a little bit -- I've been fixing a lot of 27s and 84s lately, so I spent a little time getting a few parts modeled:, buttons, volume knob, battery door, etc. Here's a collection on Thingiverse -- I'm hoping these will help some of you out there!
I'm all ears for feedback if something doesn't quite fit, but I've been able to double-check fit for all of these parts with at least 27s and 84s. There are SCAD files as well as STLs.
And if you're near the Gainesville, FL area and you ever need service for your Omnichord, please get in touch! keyandcable.com
