[sdiy] where to get a Pratt and Reed keyboard

[Oren Leavitt]

Graham Atkins wrote:
> Hi David,
> 
> Pratt Read stopped making their keyboards years ago, they still exist as a
> company.....making screwdrivers !. I don't know where Korg/Roland/Yamaha
> source their keyboards but I guess the far east. The only keyboards you can
> buy are from the Italian manufacturer Fatar. They don't deal directly 
> with the
> public (I think someone on the list tried a while back) but Doepfer do 
> sell them
> on their website. Other than that you have a choice of getting an old 
> Pratt Read
> (Note : "Read" not "Reed") keyboard which will probably mean a full 
> rebuild, new
> bushes etc OR buy a cheap porta keyboard and scrap it to use the mechanism.
> 
> Graham
> 
> On 5 Jun 2010, at 23:53, David Ingebretsen wrote:
> 
>> For my Synthasystem resurrection, I'd like to build a Steiner 
>> keyboard, too.
>> I've tried ebay and an internet search, but ma turning up nada with 
>> regard
>> to a Pratt and Reed type keyboard. I'd love 5 octaves. I just need a 
>> single
>> buss type action where I can solder resistors between the keys.
>>
>> Any suggestions? Can I buy an old cheap synth with one in it? If so, 
>> what do
>> I want? Are they hard to re-build? Does anyone make a new one?
>>
>> David
>>

Every used Pratt Read keyboard I've come across has needed some form of 
service and major cleaning.
This person's Schober Organ site has a helpful guide to cleaning these 
Pratt Read boards.

http://recital.mugwo.com/contacts.html

I think the last time I bought a *new* Pratt Read keyboard assembly was 
was sometime early 1980s.

Here's a handy order form - fill er out send it off!
http://sonic.net/mjones/archive/docs/Pdocs/prattread.pdf

Happy hunting!

- Oren