[sdiy] DX7IIFD Keyboard and Alternatives

[Paul Cunningham]

On Jul 6, 2010, at 5:33 AM, ChristianH wrote:

> On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 13:00:13 -0400 Paul Cunningham  
> <paul at cometway.com> wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
> I'm pretty surprised to hear that. I always considered the DX7II
> keyboard as excellent (at least for my taste). Recently, I even got  
> me a
> second one as a donor for DIY projects.
>
> However, when I bought my first DX7II back in 1989 (new!), it made  
> some
> rattling noise when playing, but that came from the 32 preset button
> caps. I opened it up and inserted a thin transparency sheet (for
> overhead projectors) between the buttons and the switches. No rattling
> ever since.
>
> There may be keyboard assemblies slightly more silent, but e.g. those
> rubbery Rolands (D50, XP50 etc.) tend to have contact problems over  
> the
> years. My DX7II still has to have its first key problem :-)
> I don't even know what kind of contacts there are in the DX - there
> simply wasn't the need for maintenance in the last 21 years. From the
> mechanical sound, I always thought it could be gold plated metal
> contacts, just like in the old days.
>
> Christian


Thanks for the responses!

It's really just the audible clacking sound that's bugging me so much  
-- I don't have a problem with its responsiveness. I've thought about  
adding piano felt, and am still interested in doing this for my  
Waldorf XTk (red felt looks awesome with an orange case!).

Once I get in there, I suppose I'll look at the source of the rattling  
and go from there. -pc