Help! Korg MS-10 240v to 110v conversion
Calling all Korg MS-10/20 owners and/or British expats/voltage conversion experts...
I just spoke to my dad back over in England and found out that he has my old Korg MS-10 in pieces in his garage. Wait - it gets better. He was actually stripping it down and cleaning the internal pots with contact spray, had already replaced the keyboard, and was getting ready to sell it on eBay.
Needless to say, I talked him out of eBay and into shipping it to me in California. Our only hurdle is the conversion from 240v to 110v. I can attempt to use a step-up transformer (Radio Shack or Fry's?) or actually replace the PSU with the U.S. equivalent. I am concerned though about supplying the correct and steady voltage to the internal components.
Has anyone attempted or gone through this conversion process from 240v to 110v with a Korg MS-10, MS-20, or similar? If so, what were any challenges and the end result? My dad paid about $80 for it back in the early 80's and it was my first synth in my early teens (go ahead - calculate my age and see if I care
). They now seem to go for upwards of $700. Can we say William Orbit or Chemical Brothers! It will be just what I need to phatten out my sound when I have the urge to write techno/dance stuff (which I do from time to time). For those not familiar with the sound of the MS-10, think Dr. Who on steroids - wicked lead and bass sounds and massive filter sweeps, laser sounds and wind effects with the noise generators. You can also run an analog signal (such as mic or guitar) into the MS-10 and through the VCF and VCA for some interesting real-time effects. For old time's sake, i've included a picture below (same model taken from the net, but not actually the one that I own).
Any advice help, or stories on 240v to 110v conversion are encouraged and appreciated. Wish me luck
