Reverse Color Keybed

[buschmann]

Some like the daughter, some like the mother. The best would of course be that Korg gave me the option to buy a reversed keybed. I have drooled for a reversed keybed since i had my first harpsichord lesson and damn it, i will get it done some day!

[jorgemncardoso]

First: the keys them self's (plastic part) have nothing to do with the weighted action it self (weights and hammers). The plastic key itself doesn't even contribute in any way to the weighted feel of the keyboard (the keys have no weights glued to them), only the the weighted hammers do. So it's exactly the same task as to replacing a broken key on the Kronos by a new key. In this case you would be replacing all 88 keys by another similar 88 keys (only reverse in colour), so by this line of thought calibration isn't even an issue here, since you won't be touching the weighted part of the assembly...Oh and regarding: "but the keys are not just a top cover for the key assembly, but are an integral part of the mechanism"
Yes the plastic part of the key IS just a top cover for the key assembly. The weighted part of the assembly is not attached to the key, it that was so it would be a nightmare to replace just a key when needed. All you need is the service manual to see how to remove and put back a key

I've taken an RH3 keybed apart, and if you swap keys, you will be touching and disassembling the weighted parts of the assembly, but it's no big deal...yes, the plastic key itself has no weight in it, the weighted hammer is a separate part; but the pivot for the key and the area that pushes on the hammer are part of the plastic key...that's why I said that the key is part of the mechanism, and could affect calibration (if calibration is even necessary - again, we don't have any real data about this, only opinions, and we all know what opinions are like)...

It's hardly a "nightmare" to replace a key, but there are so many of them...at this point, let's leave it up to buschmann if he wants to go on with this...

I have not had any experience with this particular Korg keyboard (RH3) but i've disassembled and swapped keys on dozens of different keyboards, and keybed mechanisms, from different manufacturers, weighted and unweighted, and on the weighted ones i've yet to found a keybed in that you have to remove or disassemble any part os the hammers to remove a key... But, if you have experience with this keybed, i'll trust your better judgement of course. But if you actually need to disassemble hammers on the RH3, and further more need dome kind of recalibration after doing so, it's a pretty stupid mechanism IMHO.

On my latest weighted action keyboard, the Motif, changing a key is the easyest thing in the world, just pop the key out, and pop a new one in, you don't even touch the hammers or any part of the mechanism.
I just don't get the calibration part here, the hammer weights are already calibrated, it's a simple spring-less weight/counter-weight system, but again here is just a personal opinion, i could be wrong...

[jorgemncardoso]

Some like the daughter, some like the mother. The best would of course be that Korg gave me the option to buy a reversed keybed. I have drooled for a reversed keybed since i had my first harpsichord lesson and damn it, i will get it done some day!

Again in my opinion if you really want to do it, and don't mind the cost and some hour of tedious work, i think it is very possible and the only difficulty would actually getting (buying the reverse keys) without having to buy an SV.
I don't know Korg's policy on selling parts directly to users without being requested by a service center. From personal experience Yamaha sells any parts to any user that requests them (as it should be...), i really don't know about Korg. But ultimately there is always the option to buy the SV just for the keys

[dfahrner]

You don't have to remove the weighted hammers when replacing a key on the RH3 keybed, but the key is an integral part of the mechanism - there's no metal piece under the key that pivots and actually pushes on the hammer, and that the plastic key simply attaches to...so you need to be a little careful when reassembling, making sure everything is contacting the other parts correctly, all contact points are lubricated, etc....but again it's no big deal (except that there are 88 of them), and you have to be careful anytime you disassemble something like this...

I agree with jorgemncardoso: I don't see why calibration would be required, hammer weights are already calibrated, it's a simple weight / counter weight system...and I've swapped key contacts without affecting keyboard response, and I would've expected that variations in the rubber contact strips would be far more critical...but again we don't have any real information on this...

But again it's a big, expensive projects however you do it...good luck, buschmann...

df

[slowtrain]

You can get Korg parts and some service manuals (not Kronos) here: http://www.guitar-parts.com/catalog/korg
There's another parts outlet I found a while ago from a link on Korg's website (this is one of two links from their site), but I can't find where it was on their site. If you search the site you might find it, or email Korg and ask.

[dfahrner]

You can get Korg parts and some service manuals (not Kronos) here: http://www.guitar-parts.com/catalog/korg..

...and as was noted earlier in this thread, RH3 keys are $8 each from this supplier, so that's $704 for 88 of 'em...

[slowtrain]

It's a different supplier, and I was just trying to help.