That's because it's basically the same architecture. The SX was an OBX
without the programmability. It was designed mainly for road cats who didn't
want their settings getting lost. Oberheim used to custom burn chips for it
for customers so they could have their preferred sounds in it. It fits an
interesting niche in the Oberheim world.

-----Original Message-----
From: oberheim@yahoogroups.com [mailto: oberheim@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf
Of lawjcrg
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 5:50 PM
To: oberheim@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [oberheim] Re: need help OB-SX from ebay arrived in damaged
condition, can it be fixed

--- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com <mailto:oberheim%40yahoogroups.com> ,
"qtoobi" <oobi@...> wrote:

>
> I've owned cases long enough to see the foam go bad. The others are

right, it's pretty

> harmless, and once you've cleaned and cleared it away, the keyboard

will be fine.

>
>
> --- In oberheim@yahoogroups.com <mailto:oberheim%40yahoogroups.com> ,

"lawjcrg" <lawjcrg@> wrote:

> >
> > Hello. I just joined this forum. I own an Oberheim ob-8 and dsx
> > sequencer and a matrix 6. I just bought what was represented to

be a

> > fully functional ob-sx from ebay. It came with an anvil case.

When it

> > arrived I was shocked to see that black foam in the interior of

the

> > case was rotted and moist and had formed a black dust/paste that
> > covered the synth controlls, was in and between the keys and has
> > completed clogged all of the inputs on the back. Just picture

someone

> > throwing the keyboard in a puddle of mud, and that's what it looks
> > like. I really wanted this synth, it was the 56 present version

with

> > the blue stripes. I have a keyboard shop that works on my other
> > synths. I was going to take it to them just to clean it before
> > powering it up (I'd be afraid to do it now for fear of it having

an

> > electrical short).
> > I'm concerned that even after cleaning up, this thing may be
> > destroyed. I really don't know who caused this, the shipping

company

> > or the seller. In any event, this synth has all of its sounds in

ROM.

> > If the electronics are damaged and boards or chips have to be
> > replaced, is it even possible on this synth Can original presets
> > somehow be restored if so how
> >
> > I'd really like to keep it, even if I have to invest a little

$$$ to

> > get it up and running but I want to know if it's even possible. If
> > not, I'll just fight with the seller to give me a complete refund.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any help!!
> >
>

To everyone who responded, thanks! My technician, Peter at CAE sounds in San
Mateo, CA, was able to clean it all up. After cleaning out the foam crud,
the synth just needed a tune up and detailed cleaning on the inside and
--voila!!-- it sounds great! I can't believe how good this littlye synth
sounds. If it had 61 keys I'd just forgot about wanting an ob-xa. It sounds
just like one in my opinion.