Jimmyrigged my Wavestation
2009-09-29 by brofjw
Hi all. I don't usually post here, I just watch. I've had a Korg Wavestation taken apart for the last for months, sitting in the corner of my studio awaiting repair. I got it in near-mint condition except for two keys that were failing and did fail within a few weeks of purchase. I took the thing apart and by this time the two keys C#2 and D#2 were slipped out of their seats and sticking fast when played. I ordered two new black keys for DX7, which also fits Wavestation. Stupid me, I managed to break the delicate tines which engage the metal ocntacts inside the keybed while I was wrestling the keys into place. There are springs that can be quite stubborn, especially if they are used, which was the case here...and the result was snapping the tines off during my effort. So now these two new keys had no tines to engage the contacts at all. It was either order new keys again or rig something myself. What I did was get a couple of clean shishkebab sticks and cut a length off for each key which was exactly to the millimeter the same length as the original plastic pieces. I then inserted these homemade dowels into the hollow keys and dumped a load of heavy duty glue inside. It solidified and then I reinserted the keys and bent the dowels so they sat exactly in the position as the molded plastic tines had sat when they were intact, poised to engage the metal contacts. The dowels now performed exactly the same function the plastic! My Wavestation now plays like new. I hope it stays that way, but I'll probably pick up some more DX7 keys and keep them around in case this homefried remedy doesn't work. It seems to be working fine and the glue is strong stuff, but I'm not sure I'd gig now with my beloved Wavestation. And that's that. Just thought I'd share. :-]