Korg Forums

Hi all,

I am looking for some advice on what steps need to be taken to get Korg to replace the keybed on my recently acquired second hand 73 note Kronos?

I do know that in the past Korg have been pretty good on replacing parts that are a factory acknowledged fault.

The first A below middle C is sticking, and the A an octave further down is double triggering and also does this annoying thing where it starts the note, but then chops it almost immediately...after a tap it comes good and it is random, but seems to happen after it has not been touched for while.

Or alternatively is there a way this can be repaired?

If you have any warranty on the keyboard,better to have it done via that route.

However,if not and you feel confident in opening electronic units up,with the usual precautions that need to implemented etc,do have a look inside.

First check prior to this,is to make sure the front black strip is not bent or buckled ensuring there is a gap between it and the keys.
The actual gap is about the thickness of a credit/bank card,all the way along the length and can be adjusted by undoing the larger headed screws underneath.
It's not a critical measurement though,just as long as there is sufficient clearance.

Next,undo and remove all the screws except the rubber feet,then remove the support board.
Check the key movement for proper function and decide whether to correct any misalignment,gently.

Look for any dust,particles or "foreign bodies" (that's a posh term for muck....) and clean it all off.
If it seems to be heavily contaminated,it may be worth taking things further by removing the contact board and the rubber contacts.
Care must be taken here,though and proper,but simple procedures need to be applied.

Sometimes dust or other stuff can find their way between these contacts and need to be cleaned.
Also,the contacts themselves are subject to wear......usually over along time.

Another possibility could be the dreaded keybed contact problem and they may need to be replaced.

Good Luck.

Thanks

One sorted - sticking key fixed it alos got rid of a couple of clicking keys too..cheers

Now for the other issue...

I just had a thought - I wonder if I am simply jumping on to the keys too soon when changing programs. and maybe the samples are still loading which is causing the note to cut off?

It's only milliseconds I know, but could this be a reason for a cut off note?

Although it does seem to be only that A note (two below mid c)

Pleased you've sorted the sticky key......
Can you say what you did,please"

Not sure if I understand the "glitch" you're having with program change etc.
There could be several reasons.....

What mode are you in,combi, prog,sequencer etc ?

Just a few ideas that come to mind,may be well off the mark,but possibly worth looking at.

Try the same voices in set list mode and change from one to the other......this should be glitch free.

Also try doing an octave shift and press the same key,which will indicate a physical hardware connection,or not.

Need more information from you,if possible.

Best Wishes.

Ahh sorry Pedro, yeah my bad I should have put that in....

Well the original owner had disposed of the cardboard inserts, so searching through the forum I found the card size is 130mm x 60mm x .9mm

I made some more but I made mine 150mm

Again the search revealed that one simply needs to loosen the 8 screws (the one with the big heads on them) underneath (NOT remove) just so they wiggle a bit, then insert the spacers between the front of the keys and the metal bar, re-tighten the screws and that's that.

On a keyboard stand and lying on the floor I found to be the easiest..

I did wonder why the Korg keyboard case that came with it was tilted up at the front inside (never seen it before)....now I know, it is to help keep the front edge up so the keyboard assembly does not creep forward when it is on the road through vibration and the like.

Now the chopped off note, that is an odd one. Quite random and only on the A key specified - well that I have noticed...it SEEMS to happen (when it does happen) at the same time as changing programs or to combis or back from sequencer mode.

It is a tough one to quantify really - I don't think it is dirt on the contact, as I have had experience of that before, particularly with early Roland 'boards....and this is different...

It really does seem like some sort of software glitch, but I may be wrong...

OS is 2.06 btw...

miden wrote:One sorted - sticking key fixed it alos got rid of a couple of clicking keys too..cheers

Now for the other issue...

I just had a thought - I wonder if I am simply jumping on to the keys too soon when changing programs. and maybe the samples are still loading which is causing the note to cut off?

It's only milliseconds I know, but could this be a reason for a cut off note?

Although it does seem to be only that A note (two below mid c)

I really think you need to have the contacts changed by an engineer. I had mine changed under warranty. It was like getting a new Keyboard.

Thanks RM

afaik it is out of warranty, and in any case the key strips are only about $2 odd each (each one does 12 semitones) and I have refurbished quite a few Korg boards (as well as Rolands) in the past and this one, from the photos I have seen, looks pretty straightforward.

Where I live is about 7 hours drive one way, from any sort of Korg warranty place, and in any case out here, as they (not only Korg but most companies ) only appoint 1 or at the most 2 authorised repair centres in each state.

Consequently (with the loads of other electronics work these people do) one can wait up to 12 weeks or more for a simple job.

So we tend to learn to do things ourselves..

But as it is only affecting (and even then randomly) one key, I might hold on the trigger of doing that.

I might combine that task when I upgrade to a better hdd , add the extra RAM and a quiet fan.

Thats cool.............when I had the double strike and other keybed problems, it only happened randomly, note wise. There was no consistency to the problem. I thought that it was a software issue, turned out to be the contacts as with other owners. So, for me at least, it is the first thing to address. If you an do it yourself, thats awesome.

All the best RM

Don't worry RM, your advice is noted - I will probably send off for the strips anyway...it is a pretty easy job and at least I know it will be done!

Thanks for the added info and am pleased you know what you're doing.

One advantage of doing things ourselves is that we will know "what and how" they're done........either good or bad

Best Wishes.

Update : found a few more keys giving me a cut off note...looks like a key contact replacement job is now to be sooner rather than later...

RM, if you can, I wonder if you could advise here:

I have sourced replacement contact strips, which are stated for use with LP350, M50, SV1, M388, SP250, and Kronos

I need to know if these standard Korg aftermarket strips are what was installed on yours, or were yours a "special" type exclusively for the Kronos?

Thanks

Dennis

miden wrote:RM, if you can, I wonder if you could advise here:

I have sourced replacement contact strips, which are stated for use with LP350, M50, SV1, M388, SP250, and Kronos

I need to know if these standard Korg aftermarket strips are what was installed on yours, or were yours a "special" type exclusively for the Kronos?

Thanks

Dennis

Sorry, I didn't ask, I just boxed it up took it in and picked it up a few days later in perfect working condition.
I'll have a quick look through the 'sticky' keybed problems thread. Somebody may have mentioned it.

My understanding is that the Kronos had pink contacts originally.
Then changed for blue ones,temporarily,to aid identification during re-fits.
Currently they are pink again and are the ones now fitted.

I believe the aftermarket ones are coloured grey and there have been reports that they are of a different hardness/softness,but seem to work.

Hope this helps,but perhaps further searches may reveal better results.

Do please note though,Korg UK have confirmed that my Kronos has the later pink ones fitted..........but,I'm having problems.

Best Wishes.