NM keyboard repair

sonifr · Joined: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: osaka, japan

the B and C' (rightmost 2) keys of my modular are broken. the tiny plastic pieces that hold the keys in rest position have been snapped off, leaving the keys elevated by their springs at a 30 degree angle to horizontal. (too much info?) i wonder if anyone can give me advice or resources for getting them repaired.

thanks,
sonifr

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:15 am Post subject:

Better get a new keyboard.
First check with Clavia if this is the right one:
http://www.fatar.com/Pages/TP_7BA.htm
in the 25 key dynamic configuration.

Wout

Keysandslots · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:42 am Post subject: NM keyboard repair

Mine arrived damaged (a G2X), same problem as yours but just one key. I sent an email to the U.S. Nord distributor (http://www.nordusa.com/) and they have replacement keyboards, surprisingly not too expensive. You can find them on the 'net.

I managed to repair mine, at least for now. You need to remove the top panel, remove the ribbon connectors, unscrew the keyboards (the screws are on the bottom), and make sure the plastic keystops are in one piece. Mine had broken loose from the entire set but it was still complete. Then I drilled a hole through the keystop and into the metal keyboard chassis, tapped the chassis for a 2-56 screw and screwed the keystop back on.

I wanted a mechanical connection because I was afraid glue would not stand up to the usual key pounding.

Here is what it looked like before:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/keysandslots/Music/Dscn2355.jpg

The missing keystop:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/keysandslots/Music/Dscn2353.jpg

The complete but broken keystop (on the right):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/keysandslots/Music/Dscn2354.jpg

The missing keystop now screwed to the chassis:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/keysandslots/Music/G2Xkeyb.jpg

and finally, I had to drill and tap the key because for some reason it did not sit level with the other keys:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/keysandslots/Music/G2XKeya.jpg

Randy

sonifr · Joined: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: osaka, japan

thanks y'all! sure is great to get some useful feedback so promptly. i'll look into replacing the keyboard when i have some money for it. don't think i'll be able to repair it because the pieces of the keystops broke off just where they hold the keys. i'm not even sure if i still have the broken bits- they're so tiny, but maybe i can put a little screw in myself untill i get a new keyboard. in the meantime, i can still use my microKorg as a midi remote.

cheers,
sonifr

polychoron · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 9:56 am Post subject:

The keyboard you need for a replacement is indeed the fatar tp/7ba mentioned above.

I just bought a NM keys secondhand, and I love it already.
But, the velocity response of the keyboard on the machine I got was very uneven and it was impossible to get velocities above 90(out of 128) from most keys. So I bought a new Fatar keyboard. Fatar does not sell them directly to consumers but http://www.doepfer.de does (in the Netherlands http://www.doepfer.nl). I just got it and installed it, it fits and it works.

And now some wild speculation. On the PCB of the NM keys the connector for the keyboard is located at the lower edge. Just to the left of it another connector of the same type is planned (there are holes and wires), but it is not installed. Now Fatar also sells other synthesizer keyboards, with 4/5 octaves, and two such connectors is exactly what you need to connect them up. See the description of the MIDI/keyboard interface that Doepfer sells: http://www.doepfer.de/MKE.htm.

So I guess the PCB is ready for larger keyboards, but it remains to be seen whether the installed electronics and/or the software is. I am not going to try myself, I like the 2 octaves, but it might be an interesting option for some people (is the PCB of the rack the same?).

BTW, does anyone know the make and model of the knobs on the front panel? A few of mine look squashed, and I'd like to replace them.

Cheers,

Rudi

gomidas · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 3:23 pm Post subject:

Wout Blommers · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:20 pm Post subject:

sonifr · Joined: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 23 Location: osaka, japan

polychoron,

glad you were able to replace yours successfully. unfortunately, i still have not been able to find a replacement for mine (all these years later). originally i emailed the distributor in the US after checking doepfer's website, but never got a reply. now i'm living in Japan, which presents another challenge in contacting the distributor here. but your success has inspired me to try again–thanks!

if anyone has any more information on ordering a replacement keyboard that can ship internationally, i'd be grateful to hear about it. has anyone else had luck with ordering replacements outside of Germany or Netherlands (or the EU)? i wish i could just pay with credit over the internet and have it shipped. Crying or Very sad