exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

@derkom wouldn't that be ironic

And so off PhilC went on his 44 mile trek to collect the misdelivered C64.

This thing needs a good hour in the dishwasher before it's safe to touch. So it's been disassembled and the motherboard is on test now playing my fave SID tune, Sanxion loader music. Everything seems ok so far with the motherboard and amusingly, this 8580R5 SID chip sounds different to the same chip in my other C64C. I thought it was only the earlier SIDs that no two chips sounded the same. I guess it's all of them. This one sounds more like my 6581R3.

Photos to follow.

All SIDs sound different as they are all analogue devices, or at least the audio parts are.

Since I was totally expecting to go and collect it from the street behind me for you, I may as well pipe in:

I once had the idea of creating a multi-timbral SID system; 8 C64s all MIDI linked and 7 running slave under one custom MIDI controller software.

The problem being, as just mentioned, even if you go as far as getting the right SID version AND revision, they have analog sections internally which have the build tolerance of a 70s Russian car engine; basically it's like getting someone to write a sentence on paper 10 times...none are exactly the same. :(

Choose the one you like the sound of and be done with it. :lol:

mrbombermillzy wrote: 09 Nov 2021 12:52 Since I was totally expecting to go and collect it from the street behind me for you, I may as well pipe in:
Choose the one you like the sound of and be done with it. :lol:

Thanks for being prepared to collect it, I'm sure if my luck carries on I'll be needing your services soon :D

I think I still like my 6581R3 in the C64C motherboard that I've tweaked the filters a little. Much better bass response.

stephen_usher wrote: 09 Nov 2021 12:23 All SIDs sound different as they are all analogue devices, or at least the audio parts are.

Very true and it is indeed surprising how much they vary. 8580s are meant to be more consistent. I guess apart from this one.

Glad to hear you've finally got it, all we need now are pics :)

And here's the pics so far, minus its actual keyboard as that's far too disgusting looking to share photos of.


I'm impressed it worked as it was full of mud and even has a burn/melt mark on the front.

I think the keys from the keyboard are going to be left soaking in the sink for an hour before I dare touch them.

Actually here they are.


They look cleaner in the photo than they are in reality.

This is the C64C all back together after it's clean.


It needs a good dose of retrobrite, especially the two tone yellow keys. Then the rear case clips will need fixing as all of them are broken.

I actually have no idea what I plan to do with this C64 as I bought it on a bit of a whim and already have two others.

PhilC wrote: 10 Nov 2021 09:50 I actually have no idea what I plan to do with this C64 as I bought it on a bit of a whim and already have two others.

Do you make music? Perhaps MIDI them up for a 9 channel SID sound?

Games..? Play ACE 2 linked up?

mrbombermillzy wrote: 10 Nov 2021 10:17

PhilC wrote: 10 Nov 2021 09:50 I actually have no idea what I plan to do with this C64 as I bought it on a bit of a whim and already have two others.

Do you make music? Perhaps MIDI them up for a 9 channel SID sound?

Games..? Play ACE 2 linked up?

I have planned to start making music again and also when I have time to start catching up on all those C64 games I used to play with my mates.