Just Aquired a Vox Super Continental, restoration tips and schematics needed

[tpappano]

Took a 5 hour drive today and brought back the Vox and a Leslie 147! Are there any quirks or gotchas I should be aware of before restoring this little beast?
Thanks to All!

[Drawbar Dave]

Wow congrats!

[tpappano]

Thanks! I took a poke at it last night, nothing comes out of the output jack but the tone generator modules seem to be working, at least. I shall probe deeper tomorrow. Are the keys supposed to be ”clacky” on these things? They feel like there is no cushioning to their up or down movement.

[Drawbar Dave]

What version do you have Tom? Is it a UK or Italian, wooden key or plastic? I've never owned one personally but have read there are several different types. These guys are worth a visit too; https://groups.io/g/combo-organ I got some assistance there when I started with my Farfisa Compact Duo obsession.

[tpappano]

Thanks Dave, I joined that group and quickly found tips that helped!

[Drawbar Dave]

Oh great. I think they have a useful files section too.

[tpappano]

Hi Dave,
Seems to be an Italian V-303E, plastic keys

[tpappano]

It is coming to life! Replaced some oozing capacitors but the main reason it would not speak was when a 1/4” plug was inserted into the output jack, the tip of the plug made contact with a metal can capacitor in the power supply, shorting the signal! The drawbars were really dirty and some of the tone generators needed poking, but now everything seems to be working. The case is pretty ratty from being hauled around but I'm guessing one can replace the vinyl covering and maybe get it looking pretty spiffy (?)

[Drawbar Dave]

It is coming to life! Replaced some oozing capacitors but the main reason it would not speak was when a 1/4” plug was inserted into the output jack, the tip of the plug made contact with a metal can capacitor in the power supply, shorting the signal! The drawbars were really dirty and some of the tone generators needed poking, but now everything seems to be working. The case is pretty ratty from being hauled around but I'm guessing one can replace the vinyl covering and maybe get it looking pretty spiffy (?)

So the natural progression now would be to get a Farfisa Compact or Compact Duo followed by a Gibson G101 😀

[tpappano]

Oh no, that's just what I need, now 8)

[snacks]

Those germanium transistors are pretty temperature-sensitive. I hear just leaving one on for a while can fix problems. Mine has given me a lot of headaches, and I'm considering selling it to someone else. At the end of the day, it's not a super inspiring instrument to me, and it seems to always have problems.

[tpappano]

On the Vox at least, due to the simple biasing methods it looks like most of the germanium transistors can simply be replaced with silicon. I read that some have done this with good results. Also it appears one can simply tack in binary divider chips (4040/4024) and bypass the potentially troublesome transistor flip-flops entirely. Doing it on the underside of the modules preserves the vintage appearance on top.

This one seems fully awake now, and does indeed sound like the Vox on some Doors tunes. On the plus side it seems to have some very strong bass capability, on the negative side the upper ranges sound pretty wimpy and easily washed out by the lows. It certainly ain't no Hammond 8)

edit: Almost forgot, I just have to remember when the music's over, turn out the light...

[clem]

Also have an Italian one...agree on the strong bass. Highs are wimpy on the lower manual but can be pretty strong on the upper. Don't drive yourself crazy trying to get the drawbars to work smoothly and without glitches. They didn't do that when they were new. Very cool instrument, IMO. My first decent organ in the 60s garage band days was a Jaguar, then on to a Continental. I picked up my Super about 20 years ago. In a rock band setting if you run it through a tube preamp then to a Leslie it can get pretty dirty and Hammond-ish. We do a reunion thing every summer and if I could get even close to the Whiter Shade of Pale sound on it I'd leave my other stuff at home. I love playing it. Enjoy!

[tpappano]

Thanks! Its working pretty well but I think I have dirty contact issues on the lower manual. It looks like four screws that go into the sides of the case maybe allow the manuals to tilt up for service when removed. One them for the upper manual won't come out. It feel like whatever threaded hole it screws into could be stripped. It turns but doesn't back out...

[Drawbar Dave]

Sounds like a fun project!

[tpappano]

I'll try jamming a screwdriver blade under the screw's head while I try to unscrew it, maybe it will start to back out. Otherwise, maybe by slipping a hacksaw blade between the manual and case I can cut the screw. If *that* fails I do have a cutting torch 8)

[clem]

If you can get it out far enough to clamp a small pair of vise grips on it parallel to the screw you might be able to pull out and turn it at the same time.

[tpappano]

I got the balky stripped screw out with a little "persuasion" 8) Next on the agenda is acquire new rubber bushings for the keys which are hardened and causing the "clacky" action, some Tolex of the correct colors to recover the case and lid, new hinges and lid latches The fun part, I guess, will be extracting all the guts from the case without unsoldering (or breaking) anything. Also, the legs need to be re-chromed and the plastic cheek blocks have a few cracks and cigarette burns.

[Drawbar Dave]

I love projects like this :)

[tpappano]

All the parts and Tolex should arrive in a couple days. To get the guts out of the case I'm thinking remove the screws that hold everything in, then flip the whole thing upside down onto a table. I'm hoping I can then lift the case up and off leaving all the wiring intact. Putting everything back together might be much more interesting 8)