Is this vintage synth worth fixing?

kingnimrod · Joined: Mar 28, 2012 Posts: 5 Location: Joja

The other day I picked up a very rare 70s Japanese synth. The owner told me it was working then stopped. I figured it might be an easy fix, but after popping the lid I realized it's not a case of replacing capacitors or something that easy.

The synth is a Hillwood Blue Comets 73. I don't have any clue of the value, nor do any of the places I've called. There aren't any recent sales on eBay.

I'm trying to figure out if it's worth taking to someone else to fix. The schematic and block diagram are available for $30, but won't be much help to me.

Is anyone familiar with this synth and its value? I don't want to spend more than it's worth.

Here's a couple of youtube vids of working models:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81QZOhiWlSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81QZOhiWlSg

elektro80 · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 2:42 pm Post subject:

My guess is it isn't worth very much at the moment, even though it is very rare. The build quality was .. well.. kinda missing.. so few have survived. Collectors will of course find it interesting, but then it should be in fairly decent condition. Any chance you could say manage to get Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson or any famous dude write their name across the top panel or something? Or Obama.. Dame Edna.. well.. like.. what have you..? Very Happy