[sdiy] DX7IIFD Keyboard and Alternatives

[Paul Cunningham]

Hello!

I just picked up this Yamaha DX7FDII on Friday for $100 from a blind musician. Aside from a couple of button contacts that need to be cleaned, it's in fully functioning condition -- including the floppy drive. I haven't opened it up yet, but I have been able to get it fairly cleaned up on the outside. This guy was a smoker, so it's got this yellow tinge to it that's coming off with alcohol just fine. Having just removed the braille labels from under the button, I'm taking a break because I realized something about it that I don't like.

I don't like the keyboard. It's very clacky like a DW-8000, and I'm even wondering if they didn't share the same keybed. The Korg M1 shares keyboards with a few Yamahas and I'm wondering, particularly because the DX7II series was released close to the SY77 and just before the M1, if they weren't compatible. I love the keyboard on the M1, and I think it would make this DX7 into a nice instrument were it to have the same keyboard. I'm betting that they keyboards are not compatible, but thought I'd see if anyone here knows.

Thanks!- pc