Help needed with a MicroKorg

[gunnar]

Hi Guys,

I can fix about anything on my rhodes but I have no idea about synth (toys) like my MicroKorg.

One of the keys has lost its sensitivity and only gives a note when it's completely depressed (which is making me somewhat depressed too).

Has anybody got any experience with this and should I even atempt to fix it myself? I'm afraid to open it, only to find the contents spilling out and never being able to get it all back in!

Any tips would be greatly appreciated...

[Mark II]

So, no sound being produced when touching the key in a gentle way (ppp to mp) ?
Key does only sound with much force (fff) ?

sound like a dirty rubber contact to me.


Mark II

[gunnar]

That's the problem, now a dirty rubber sounds plausible, but getting in there to clean it is what worries me...have you opened one of these before?

Thanks.

[Mark II]

not a microkorg. did some rubber cleaning parties with fatar keybeds. But I think that Korg built the microkorg in a way, that you are able to remove the keybed pretty easily.
so, I would give it a try.

unscrew the housing, try to figure out how to unmount the keybed.
get it out.
on its backside, there is a PCB with the contacts. unmount the PCB and get the rubber strip off. use alcohol to clean your stomach ups :shock:, no, the contacts
isopropanyl (pharmacy) would be fine, contact WL or some guys use ballistol
use it with a Q-Tip on all contact (once you've got it opened), let it dry for a minute
and no it's vice versa
remember when unmounting everything that you will have to mantle it all back.

good luck

Mark II

[gunnar]

Thanks for taking the time to explain everything so thoroughly. I think I will need a swig of that cleaning stuff to give me some Dutch courage, but I will have a go and I will let you the result (don't worry, I'm not holding you responsible!).

Cheers!

[gunnar]

I fixed it! It was exactly what you said it might be Mark II. Thanks for giving me the courage to open this scary modern thing and take it apart. It really helped knowing what I was looking for.

Hurray!

[Mark II]

you are welcome, gunnar. have fun with the fixed Microkorg.

kind regards

Mark II