OldSynths

My local analogue tech, who owns a CS80 himself, says that the
aftertouch sensors on the CS80 will deteriorate over time and need
replacement. He thinks that Yamaha threw away all the old parts stock
for older keyboards, such as these CS80 sensors. I think he mentioned
they were a pyramid shaped rubber sensor underneath the keys.

Has anyone heard of, or experienced, this degradation in the CS80
aftertouch sensors?

Does anyone know of a source for original or replacement CS80
aftertouch sensors?

Is there anything that could be used as a replacement, or could
replacements be made somehow?

Does anyone have information on how these sensors are
constructed...materials used, shape, assembly, etc.?


Thanks,
Simon
Canberra
AUSTRALIA

Aren't the sensors just conductive rubber?

Or, are they piezo?

What does your tech say they are.

Rubber 'does" deterioate.(maybe just needs cleaning)
Piezo does not.(can crack, though)

PAIA made a "VelociTouch" kit way back.
it used one piezo to allow pitch bend and vibrato using keyboard
pressure. The piezo mounted under the frame of the keyboard.
it generated a voltage from piezo pressure,to modulate a vco/vcf whatever.
it was not a synth module, but rather a stand-alone, wood sided
ac, self-powered stand alone unit---whew!! long description!!

put the piezo on a chair; when you rock your butt, U can modulate
a vco or vcf. Would this be "playing by the seat of your pants"?
heh heh

i have data if anyone's interested.

tb22

--- In oldsynths@yahoogroups.com, Simon <simon@a...> wrote:
> My local analogue tech, who owns a CS80 himself, says that the
> aftertouch sensors on the CS80 will deteriorate over time and need
> replacement. He thinks that Yamaha threw away all the old parts stock
> for older keyboards, such as these CS80 sensors. I think he mentioned
> they were a pyramid shaped rubber sensor underneath the keys.
>
> Has anyone heard of, or experienced, this degradation in the CS80
> aftertouch sensors?
>
> Does anyone know of a source for original or replacement CS80
> aftertouch sensors?
>
> Is there anything that could be used as a replacement, or could
> replacements be made somehow?
>
> Does anyone have information on how these sensors are
> constructed...materials used, shape, assembly, etc.?
>
>
> Thanks,
> Simon
> Canberra
> AUSTRALIA

I think from memory that he might have said they were conductive
rubber, and that his were deteriorating, that is why he was concerned
that Yamaha did not stock any as spare parts.

If it is conductive rubber, is this stuff a standard thing, are there
different types, etc.?

Should it be possible to make your own, maybe cutting to size/shape
from larger pieces?

I wonder how accurate you could be cutting them yourself, and if the
accuracy matters in the CS80 as aftertouch sensors.

Thanks,
Simon
Canberra
AUSTRALIA

>Aren't the sensors just conductive rubber?
>Or, are they piezo?
>What does your tech say they are.
>
>Rubber 'does" deterioate.(maybe just needs cleaning)
>Piezo does not.(can crack, though)
>
>PAIA made a "VelociTouch" kit way back.
>it used one piezo to allow pitch bend and vibrato using keyboard
>pressure. The piezo mounted under the frame of the keyboard.
>it generated a voltage from piezo pressure,to modulate a vco/vcf whatever.
>it was not a synth module, but rather a stand-alone, wood sided
>ac, self-powered stand alone unit---whew!! long description!!
>
>put the piezo on a chair; when you rock your butt, U can modulate
>a vco or vcf. Would this be "playing by the seat of your pants"?
>heh heh
>
>i have data if anyone's interested.
>tb22

>--- In oldsynths@yahoogroups.com, Simon <simon@a...> wrote:
>> My local analogue tech, who owns a CS80 himself, says that the
>> aftertouch sensors on the CS80 will deteriorate over time and need
>> replacement. He thinks that Yamaha threw away all the old parts stock
>> for older keyboards, such as these CS80 sensors. I think he mentioned
>> they were a pyramid shaped rubber sensor underneath the keys.
>>
>> Has anyone heard of, or experienced, this degradation in the CS80
>> aftertouch sensors?
>>
>> Does anyone know of a source for original or replacement CS80
>> aftertouch sensors?
>>
>> Is there anything that could be used as a replacement, or could
>> replacements be made somehow?
>>
>> Does anyone have information on how these sensors are
> > constructed...materials used, shape, assembly, etc.?

Did U use Google to search "conductive rubber"?

there's conductive plastic, also.
there are conductive(antistatic) bags also.
LMK what U find.
i'll do a search also.

tb22

--- In oldsynths@yahoogroups.com, Simon <simon@a...> wrote:
> I think from memory that he might have said they were conductive
> rubber, and that his were deteriorating, that is why he was concerned
> that Yamaha did not stock any as spare parts.
>
> If it is conductive rubber, is this stuff a standard thing, are there
> different types, etc.?
>
> Should it be possible to make your own, maybe cutting to size/shape
> from larger pieces?
>
> I wonder how accurate you could be cutting them yourself, and if the
> accuracy matters in the CS80 as aftertouch sensors.
>
> Thanks,
> Simon
> Canberra
> AUSTRALIA
>
>
> >Aren't the sensors just conductive rubber?
> >Or, are they piezo?
> >What does your tech say they are.
> >
> >Rubber 'does" deterioate.(maybe just needs cleaning)
> >Piezo does not.(can crack, though)
> >
> >PAIA made a "VelociTouch" kit way back.
> >it used one piezo to allow pitch bend and vibrato using keyboard
> >pressure. The piezo mounted under the frame of the keyboard.
> >it generated a voltage from piezo pressure,to modulate a vco/vcf
whatever.
> >it was not a synth module, but rather a stand-alone, wood sided
> >ac, self-powered stand alone unit---whew!! long description!!
> >
> >put the piezo on a chair; when you rock your butt, U can modulate
> >a vco or vcf. Would this be "playing by the seat of your pants"?
> >heh heh
> >
> >i have data if anyone's interested.
> >tb22
>

They're called force-sensing resistors. There are several modern
equivalents that can be fitted for use in the CS80. I think Spectrol and
Bourns/Vishay make a few types.

Crow
/**/