[sdiy] Keyboards good for scrap / repurposing?

[Eric Brombaugh]

I've wondered the same thing - our local Goodwill thrift stores always 
have a bunch of those Rock Band video game keytar controllers for super 
cheap (think under $5). These things:

https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Band-Wireless-Keyboard-Xbox-360/dp/B003RS19N4?th=1

They're 25 keys (2 octaves + 1) with additional buttons and controls on 
the grip and while I know that they're wireless I suspect they don't 
have a switch per key since that game doesn't require note accuracy. 
Nevertheless, I'm curious if they could be retrofitted with an actual 
key scanner.

I suspect that in the long run it's better to just get a cheap $50 MIDI 
controller than to mess with this, but it's still something to wonder 
about...

Eric


On 02/17/2018 08:28 AM, sleepy_dog at gmx.de wrote:
> Hey list,
> 
> as I saw that Doepfer does not sell the shorter ( < 49 keys ) fatar 
> keybeds anymore,
> and also, for some builds, I don't require a new keyboard, I was wondering:
> 
> Are there some known models of keyboards (MIDI or with sound engine, no 
> matter) which would make sense to look for in "broken" condition to get 
> them cheap, to use the keys for DIY synths? I.e., they should lend 
> themselves well to ripping out the keybed/keys without damaging the 
> needed parts. I guess you'd always have to build new switches PCBs, as 
> such keyboards would have everything (I dont' need) on one PCB, right?