CASIO DH 100 repair - Removing the squeak

[rock soderstrom]

I have recently repaired 3x Casio DH 100 and 200. These (toy) digital horns from the 80s are cult and can also be connected to other sound generators via the MIDI Out - mega fun.


I can't play the saxophone at all, but you get to grips with these instruments relatively quickly. They are real sound machines, I was really surprised by these plastic bomber!


As for repairs, they all have the same problem most of the time - they just start to uncontrolled squeak after a while.


The culprit is a small SMT capacitor that dries out and really stinks like hell when removed - a really disgusting fishy smell. I've never had it this bad, only my special acetone (nail polish remover with perfume in it) helps.



The capacitor C39 is a 33uf type with 63V, but less voltage is also possible. You don't need a SMT replacement, normal TTH cap also works, as there are plated-through holes next to the solder pads.



Easy fix but heads up, do not mess up the screw head of the countersunk screw at the lower end! Big PIA.

 

[jabe]

I've done this to a couple myself. Time to grab some more broken ones before word gets out...

 

[rock soderstrom]

I've done this to a couple myself. Time to grab some more broken ones before word gets out...

Sorry, you are right. Fast money...

 

[rock soderstrom]

Here two additional overview photos for future reference.

 

[k brown]

Interesting timing.

We just days ago hosted an international star of the Classical flute world on her 75th birthday; she'd been given a gag gift by a freind, of a 'musical box' with a cheap plastic recorder, harmonica, music book, etc.

While she was fiddling about with the recorder, I remembered my Casio DH-100 and slowly came upstairs while playing it. She immediately said "What's that?!, I gotta try that!"

Folks, she went bananas on the thing for a couple of hours. "Oh my God, this is amazing. I'm giving up the flute; I'm changing careers", and on it went - couldn't put the thing down. "I'll give you a hundred dollars for it".

So just yesterday, after she went home, I bought one on ebay, and will do the cap replacement even if it's working fine. My wife will take it with her when she visits said flutist in a couple of months as a belated birthday present.

 

[k brown]

I really 'over-modded' mine - replaced the driver with a high quality full range unit, cut off the phony bell, lined the interior with modelling clay to deaden the body, put polyfill in it, painted it black (the black models hadn't come out yet).

Unfortunate byproduct though is that it's now so heavy it's uncomfortable to play for very long.

 

[rock soderstrom]

Interesting timing.

We just days ago hosted an international star of the Classical flute world on her 75th birthday; she'd been given gag gift of a 'musical box' with a cheap plastic recorder, harmonica, music book, etc.

While she was fiddle about with the recorder, I remembered my Casio DH-100 and slowly came upstairs while playing it. She immediately said "What's that?!, I gotta try that!"

Folks, she went bananas on the thing for a couple of hours. "Oh my God, this is amazing. I'm giving up the flute; I'm changing careers", and on it went - couldn't put the thing down. "I'll give you a hundred dollars for it".

That's really interesting, I also learned to play the flute a long time ago and quickly got to grips with the Casio horn. It's really easy to play and really fun.

and will do the cap replacement even if it's working fine.

good idea, turn on your fan and open a window, the capacitors really do smell remarkably bad!

 

[rock soderstrom]

I really 'over-modded' mine - replaced the driver with a high quality full range unit, cut off the phony bell, lined the interior with modelling clay to deaden the body, put polyfill in it, painted it black (the black models hadn't come out yet).

Unfortunate byproduct though is that it's now so heavy it's uncomfortable to play for very long.

Wow!

 

[the groke]

The above fix and many more here (from 2003): http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.fox4/casiofixes.htm

best DT

 

[the groke]

The above fix and many more here (from Paul Fox's page a long time ago):

https://web.archive.org/web/20121021104828/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.fox4/casiofixes.htm

And I agree that these are amazing with the Midi out.

best DT

 

[rock soderstrom]

The above fix and many more here (from Paul Fox's page a long time ago):

https://web.archive.org/web/20121021104828/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.fox4/casiofixes.htm

And I agree that these are amazing with the Midi out.

best DT

Great resource! Thanks

 

[ccaudle]

Time to grab some more broken ones before word gets out...

It may be too late. I checked eBay for any sold as "for parts or repair" and they were more expensive than I thought justified for a 25 year old toy with indeterminate problems.

 

[k brown]

It may be too late. I checked eBay for any sold as "for parts or repair" and they were more expensive than I thought justified for a 25 year old toy with indeterminate problems.

It's no toy, despite it's appearance.

It may not quite be worth what they're selling for, but it's far from being a toy. I don't know of any other MIDI breath controllers that sell for much less, and most don't make any sound on their own.

 

[rock soderstrom]

It may be too late. I checked eBay for any sold as "for parts or repair" and they were more expensive than I thought justified for a 25 year old toy with indeterminate problems.

In Germany, they have practically disappeared completely from the second-hand market. Whether defective or functional. Not a single offer on kleinanzeigen for months.

I don't know of any other MIDI breath controllers that sell for much less, and most don't make any sound on their own.

I saw something similar in a review video on Youtube, it was very affordable, also with built-in sound engine and speakers. Let's see if I can find it again...