Kawai Synthesizers

I just purchased a used K4 and something's wrong with the LCD. I turn 
on the synth, and 16 solid black squares are displayed in the top row, 
nothing in the bottom row. However, the buttons and sounds work fine. 
I downloaded the manual from the Kawai website, but couldn't find 
anything. Has anyone had a similar problem, or does anyone know how to 
fix this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

David S.

Hi David,

I could be totally wrong on this...  but it may be worth a try:

Replace the internal lithium memory backup battery.  

K4s were manufactured in the early 90's and the chances that the 
internal battery is nearly dead (now, nearly 15 years later!) are 
pretty good.  The battery will likely be some "coin cell" (like a watch 
battery) that you can readily find a replacement for at Radio Shack, 
etc..

As I said, I have *no idea* if this suggestion will help you, but low 
power and scrambled memory can make computers do weird things.  So, a 
battery change might be something and cheap and easy to try, and will 
cause no harm -- your K4 will simply be ready for another 10 years of 
service! :-)

If a fresh battery doesn't help, and you're good with electronics, next 
I would suggest seeing if you can spot any bad connections or other 
problems on or near the LCD circuit board.  Perhaps it's just a loose 
cable or cracked solder joint that can be repaired.

Failing that, you might try looking for someone selling a broken K4 (or 
even K4r) simply so you can canibalize it's LCD display board for 
yours!  I don't know if this is the case with the K4, but many of these 
types of devices have detachable cables running between boards, and it 
might be a completely non-solder job to swap out.

If the problem turns out to be deeper than battery, connections, and 
simple replacements, then I'm out of suggestions.

But, good luck!

- Matt

DISCLAIMER:  I make no representation that any of what I've advised is 
risk-free.  You may be well capable, but if you are unsure, I'd hate to 
see you damage your rare K4...  find a friend of someone knowledgeable 
to help if needed.


--- In kawaisynths@yahoogroups.com, "David Sagan" <polishplayer246@...> 
wrote:
>
> I just purchased a used K4 and something's wrong with the LCD. I turn 
> on the synth, and 16 solid black squares are displayed in the top 
row, 
> nothing in the bottom row. However, the buttons and sounds work fine. 
> I downloaded the manual from the Kawai website, but couldn't find 
> anything. Has anyone had a similar problem, or does anyone know how 
to 

> fix this?
> 
> Any help would be greatly appreciated!
> 
> David S.
>

Hi David,

Does it look like the display area has been hit or damaged? LCD 
displays have 2 rubber strips that run between the driver board and the 
glass. These strips make the connections from the LCD to the board. If 
the display takes a hard enough hit the strips can get misplaced 
causing bad connections. Usually not this bad though. Another problem 
could be the connector is plugged in wrong ie. a pin off or backwards. 
Then there's always the possibility that a component has failed. The 
display needs 8 bits and several enable lines plus power to operate. 

Have you opened the synth up and checked for the obvious yet? Let me 
know what you find I can compare it to my K4r which I have here before 
me. I just picked up 2 K4 Sound Source cards that I'm checking out. The 
D-50 and M1 Impressions cards. They sound really good so far. 

HTH, Fran

--- In kawaisynths@yahoogroups.com, "David Sagan" <polishplayer246@...> 
wrote:
>
> I just purchased a used K4 and something's wrong with the LCD. I turn 
> on the synth, and 16 solid black squares are displayed in the top 
row, 
> nothing in the bottom row. However, the buttons and sounds work fine. 
> I downloaded the manual from the Kawai website, but couldn't find 
> anything. Has anyone had a similar problem, or does anyone know how 
to 

> fix this?
> 
> Any help would be greatly appreciated!
> 
> David S.
>

David here! So at first I was thinking replace the internal battery 
like Matt suggested, so I opened up the synth to check everything. 
Turns out the connector was loose, probably because it came loose 
during shipping. My K4 works great now, thanks a lot guys!

--- In kawaisynths@yahoogroups.com, "David Sagan" 
<polishplayer246@...> wrote:
>
> I just purchased a used K4 and something's wrong with the LCD. I 
turn 
> on the synth, and 16 solid black squares are displayed in the top 
row, 
> nothing in the bottom row. However, the buttons and sounds work 
fine. 
> I downloaded the manual from the Kawai website, but couldn't find 
> anything. Has anyone had a similar problem, or does anyone know 
how to 

> fix this?
> 
> Any help would be greatly appreciated!
> 
> David S.
>

David, 

Just for fun, try navigating your way through the setup menu blind, and attempt to adjust 
the contrast?


hey, you never know?






--- In kawaisynths@yahoogroups.com, "David Sagan" <polishplayer246@...> wrote:

>
> I just purchased a used K4 and something's wrong with the LCD. I turn 
> on the synth, and 16 solid black squares are displayed in the top row, 
> nothing in the bottom row. However, the buttons and sounds work fine. 
> I downloaded the manual from the Kawai website, but couldn't find 
> anything. Has anyone had a similar problem, or does anyone know how to 
> fix this?
> 
> Any help would be greatly appreciated!
> 
> David S.
>