Synths When

Synths When Specializing in vintage synthesizers and vintage musical electronic equipment repair. By appointment only.
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Happy 808 Day! ⬛🟥🟧🟨⬜Every TR-808 that comes through our shop owes its second life to more than just us — there’s a whole...
08/08/2026

Happy 808 Day!
⬛🟥🟧🟨⬜

Every TR-808 that comes through our shop owes its second life to more than just us — there’s a whole community of builders, engineers, and enthusiasts who keep making the parts (and even the brains) that let these machines outlive their original components. Today we’re shining a light on these great suppliers, all of whom we’ve worked with over the years to repair the many 808s we see through the shop:

🧠 Paul Barker (RE-303) — the Pixie RE-CPU, keeping 808 brains alive long after the original chips give out
🧢 Kumptronics — reproduction button caps for when the originals have finally given up
🔉 Raf Wlodarczyk — main volume pot + bracket, exactly where the stock unit likes to fail
⏯️ System J Synthesizers— start/stop & tap switch replacements that are dead-on to spec
🔧 Sound To Parts — switches, k***s, battery holders, tact switches, the whole grab bag

None of these machines would still be thumping without people obsessed enough to keep making tiny plastic caps, pots, and even full-on replacement CPUs for a 45-year-old drum machine. As people obsessed enough to spend thousands of hours repairing vintage instruments, we get it. Respect and love to you all! 🙌

Last week we said “bon voyage” to our awesome repair tech of 4 years, Sam Laramee! He’s landed a kick-ass touring gig wi...
07/13/2026

Last week we said “bon voyage” to our awesome repair tech of 4 years, Sam Laramee! He’s landed a kick-ass touring gig with a major Canadian artist and we couldn’t be prouder 🥹

Over the years, Sam has been our electric piano guy, our “I’m going to quietly help over here” guy, our social media guy, our general good vibes guy. If we are a little slower the next while, please have some patience!

We will miss you Sam!

We get a fair number of GR-700s in through the shop (a guitar synth, for the uninitiated), and our most recent repair re...
06/12/2026

We get a fair number of GR-700s in through the shop (a guitar synth, for the uninitiated), and our most recent repair required a little extra TLC. The memory cartridge slot assembly had broken apart in a way that left the socket's PCB floating without support. Ergo, trying to load a cartridge would just push the PCB loose, further into the unit.

Enter: our beautiful 3D printer we got for just such occasions. It only took one rev to get a handy piece of plastic ready to pull the whole thing together.

We're lucky to have our talented head tech, Jay, who knows not just how to repair all kinds of synths, but also how to design custom components that help repair synths.

In an ideal world, every repair would follow this simple path:1. We triage all issues in the instrument2. We update the ...
06/05/2026

In an ideal world, every repair would follow this simple path:
1. We triage all issues in the instrument
2. We update the customer with our estimate for repairing said issues
3. We have access to all parts required and complete all accepted repair work
4. Everybody wins!

However, this road to recovery is very often plagued with bumps.
→ Solving one issue may allow another to rear its head.
→ The schematics don't match what we see IRL.
→ And sometimes, a repair goes smoothly, we complete reassembly, and then notice that the display is now missing a column of pixels...

The truth is, we can't always see what problems lurk under a stone before we turn it.

So, we shrug it off, mutter "That's repairs", and keep working ⚙️

(If you've got a crystal ball, we'd be very interested in renting it! 🔮 )

When instruments come in with missing hardware, replacement parts are usually either tricky to find or cost-prohibitive....
05/29/2026

When instruments come in with missing hardware, replacement parts are usually either tricky to find or cost-prohibitive.

Luckily, we work right next door to the metalworking geniuses at !

Recently, we needed some replace TR-808 battery covers. Turns out, when that cover goes, there truly is no replacement. Thankfully, we can call on our neighbours to give us a hand. They created these elegant, brass replacement covers, so we're never up the 808 creek without a cover.

Lisa and Kelvin have helped us out of countless binds over the years, and we can't thank them enough for their generosity and good humor!
Check out their page for some of their amazing pieces.

Keeping things original matters where it counts, but not where it doesn't.If your vintage Sequential Circuits Pro One is...
05/21/2026

Keeping things original matters where it counts, but not where it doesn't.

If your vintage Sequential Circuits Pro One is clacking like crazy, let us know!

This replacement keybed kit from utilizes a modern Fatar TP/95 semi-weighted keybed that is buttery smooth, and super quick to install.

Even when original keybeds are fully re-bushed and contacts are cleaned, they are less reliable in the long run and aren't quite as silent!

Canada is blessed with passionate synth repair folks, and the city of Vancouver is lucky to have at their beck and call...
05/08/2026

Canada is blessed with passionate synth repair folks, and the city of Vancouver is lucky to have at their beck and call. We finally met Dan, who we've known from afar for a while, and traded parts with. If you're ever in Toronto, Dan, come drop by the shop!

Whenever we travel we make a point of visiting other synth repair co-conspirators, and Vancouver was no different! It wa...
05/01/2026

Whenever we travel we make a point of visiting other synth repair co-conspirators, and Vancouver was no different! It was super fun to finally meet Dave and the team at who we've worked with over the years. Great to make connections across the Canadian synth scene. Nice to meet you, Dave!

What's one thing a good dog and a good Rhodes have in common?They both have a good bark!
04/15/2026

What's one thing a good dog and a good Rhodes have in common?
They both have a good bark!

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74 Wade Avenue
Toronto, ON
M6H1P6

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