Rhodes Chroma Polaris

I've heard these are not repairable. There's a Chroma available
locally for cheap but several of the membrane buttons are
non-functional and half of the ones which work have bad lights. Is it
possible to find replacements?

Incidentally, I contacted a friend of mine who works at Fender, and he
says all of the old pre-1985 stock was left behind when Fender was
sold that year. Somewhere somebody has these parts stashed away. 

Thanks, Bill

> From: Bill Stearns
> 
> I've heard these are not repairable. There's a Chroma 
> available locally for cheap but several of the membrane 
> buttons are non-functional and half of the ones which work 
> have bad lights. Is it possible to find replacements?

The LEDs are easy enough--any crappy old LED will work. Don't use ultra high
efficiency ones, though, or they'll be too bright.

No one's found a way to repair the membrane switch, unless it turns out the
only problem is at the very tip of the tail that plugs into the connector.
Even then it's iffy, since Fender of Japan chose some non-Mylar material
that degrades over the years. (The tails on the original Chroma are still
fine.) Some people have drilled the panel, and hand-wired mechanical
switches.

-- 

Ciao,               Paul D. DeRocco
Paul                mailto:pderocco@...

Considering how many Polarii there are, and the typical failure mode, 
I'm surprised that someone like ChipForBrains/Technology Transplant 
hasn't bothered to make a replacement overlay.  They made a small panel 
for the Prophet-600 and the Moog Source (if memory serves), and there 
are oodles of companies out there who could make the panel:

www.sytek-ent.com
http://www.spectrasymbol.com/
http://www.printecelectronics.com/products.html
http://www.douglascorp.com/mem.htm


I'm sure it wouldn't be that cheap for low volume - but I think if mine 
finally breaks for good, I might consider it.  A Polaris with a 
self-illuminated panel (http://www.lumitex.com/membrane_switches.html) 
would be pretty unique.

I have a Chroma Polaris that is not getting any use. It works,  
however the ribbon cable connecting the left side to the right side  
was severed for some reason (not sure why, it was like that when i  
got it) and therefore the membrane buttons on the left side do not  
work. Also the assignable slider is loose and doesn't work (probably  
needs replacing) I was considering replacing the ribbon and slider  
myself and selling it, however i thought i'd check here and see how  
much it could sell for in it's current state and how much it could  
sell for. Also if anybody has any ideas on where to get a replacement  
ribbon and slider.

Thanks,
.jt

Count me in.



--- Astraeus000@... wrote:

> Hmmmm....a bulk order from a bunch of us Polaris
> owners might just be the  
> incentive for someone to do produce them. I'd be in
> for that  ;)
> 
> 
> 
> ************************************** See what's
> free at http://www.aol.com.
> 



 
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> I have a Chroma Polaris that is not getting any use. It works,
> however the ribbon cable connecting the left side to the right side
> was severed for some reason ...i thought i'd check here and see how
> much it could sell for in it's current state and how much it could
> sell for.

As a lot of the Polaris' out there have panel problems, people tend to 
shy away from them.

You might have a hard time selling a 'sick' one, unless the price was 
right ($200, maybe?).

If you can, suggest that you'll be much better of to fix the problems, 
and to sell it as 100% functional.  THere you'd probably get $400-$500 
(or at least in that neighbourhood).