SSL 4000G+ EQ/Comp Channel Switches: Cleaning or Replacement

[MetronomeBrendan]

Hello all,

Current Situation: I find myself after 8 years of managing a studio with an SL4048G+ faced with several otherwise pristine channels with dirty/non-functional switches for the EQ and compressor sections of each channel strip. Up until now we have been replacing these original Toko-Schadow switches that don't clean up easily with Alps SPUN19037A (Alps 825c on the switch itself) with great success (the clearance of the button is 1-2mm higher than the Toko but our engineers don't care). While we have a small stock of them we are starting to run out, and apparently Alps stopped manufacturing the replacement.

Short Term solution: I have been consulting Phil at Virtual Earth who offers a Switch Card cleaning service, and he has never disappointed us. It has been a cost effective solution for the immediate issue of dirty switches, and can revive the original Toko switches with a relatively high success rate. His site is http://www.virtualearthaudio.com/index.html and I'm sure many of you may know him.

Long Term solution: The Alps replacement is the most desirable and robust option , albeit more expensive. The ones we have swapped with alps perform admirably and appear to have better resistance to debris/oxidation. Unfortunately these are out of production at the moment and so far as I can find there are no other direct-fit replacements currently available.

So I start this thread hoping to start a dialogue regarding how we all handle this situation, with hopes that new solutions may be shared and brainstorm a bit. I would love to hear any and all relevant input.

Cheers!

-Brendan

[waltzingbear]

you will have to verify the spacing, but that looks like a standard schadow switch. available in many places. The Alps looked like a very nice replacement, but if its not available....

the standard part number for that switch is F6UEE, C&K switches, Digikey, Mouser, Arrow etc.
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/c-k/F6UEE/CKN9666-ND/2054944
https://www.arrow.com/en/products/search?q=f6uee

you can get the in a variety of contact materials, silver or gold, cost changes as expected.

again, check and make sure it is the spacing you desire.

Alan

[Clip6]

Recycled Audio also does routing swap. You send yours he sends a replacement.

Also a vibration tank will work wonders. Check local repair guys to use their tank.

[MetronomeBrendan]

Thank you both! @Waltzingbear I'm happy to find any switch at all, we may order a small quantity to verify that they are legit, but this is fantastic. Too bad about the alps though, what is strange is that they have completely removed any and all evidence of the Alps switches we have from the legacy section of the website.  Toko it is then! I'll let you know if we find these to be adequate.

@Clip6 I'm glad to hear about the Recycled Audio service but I actually emailed them over a week ago about switches and got no reply. Still getting about a dozen ultra-sonically cleaned by Virtual Earth, Phil he has a near 100% success rate even with the most awful switches (He also gets back to me in a timely manner). We tried ultrasonics but our tank is small and results were inconsistent. Phil's fee is very reasonable. Most of our 48 channels are fine at the moment are fine but we had about 10-12 problematic switches across 7 or 8 channels and we started getting concerned about how best to handle it.

[Clip6]

Yea Phil is cool....ex SSL like Bruce, George and Keith. I've emailed Keith and yea slow or no return. They may be of the camp if you don't call then......

Contact for Phil. Think he's in Seattle.

http://www.virtualearthaudio.com/page2/page2.html

[waltzingbear]

last I knew he was on Vashon Island, short ferry ride across the sound from Seattle, so, yea, he's near Seattle.

Alan

[MetronomeBrendan]

Phil does amazing work!

[Matt Sartori]

the following came from SSLMIXED facebook page:

http://www.ckswitches.com/media/1402/fpush.pdf

Justin Herlocker "Just search F6UEE. C &K makes them, order easily from digikey or mouser. In quantity they are under a buck a piece. I have replaced over 15000 alps with them in the past 3 years."

Matt Sartori

[MetronomeBrendan]

@Matt Sartori Look Up in the Thread ^^^ that FB link came from this very thread to begin with lol...

[Matt Sartori]

@Matt Sartori Look Up in the Thread ^^^ that FB link came from this very thread to begin with lol...

ahahah! sorry you are absolutely right!!! ;-)

[brewery]

are you sure the alps switches are no longer available? i always got them from AML, and they still seem to have stock.
not saying they're amazing, but i also had schadow switches that were crackly right out of the bag.

funnily enough the really old 'open' switches that ssl used until the early nineties are the most solid i find, unless the console is a complete wreck.

the other thing is that for some of the switches, you must use the schadow style ones because the top terminals are needed.

i usually replace everything with alps that doesn't need those terminals. also desoldering the switches that are put together with brackets (and getting the new ones aligned properly) is a bitch, but sometimes necessary.

[martthie_08]

sorry for reviving this old thread, but is there currently a reliable source for switches for the EQ and compressor sections?
There is a pair of RAD racked SSL 4000 channels in my rack that are longing for new switches.
thanks ever so much!

[Richealey]

Miller Stephenson - Contact Re-Nu & lube MS-738
It cleans up your funky switches.
An SSL tech turned me onto this stuff in the 80s.
Back then it was called Contact Restore & lube.
It works wonders, and safe on plastics.
Leaves a light lube. I actually use a drop of it to lube the fader rails.
It's expensive and you have to buy directly from Miller Stephenson as in call them.
I buy it by the case, but I think minimum order was like 4 cans.
There are other versions that go under the Contact Re-Nu & lube name.
Make sure it's the MS-738
I believe the MS-738M is just an 8oz can.
The MS-739 states it is not safe for plastics, and I've never tried it.
martthie_08 I see you're in Germany so this info might not be much good to you.
Miller Stephenson has offices in the US and Canada. I don't know if anybody carries it in Europe.