Electionic musical keyboards -repair and use

[malada]

I've got a bunch of electronic keyboards that I've collected over the past few years.  The oldest is a Casio CZ-101 which is a classic synth from back in the day.  I don't use it much because it's a bit beat up and hard to program.  It's small with 37 tiny keys so it's not easy to play.  It's got a unique sound that makes it a classic and it has MIDI ports (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).  I can connect these to a computer with a cheap adapter and have it play from a music program.  I'm reluctant to give it up because it is a classic and there are lots of patches available for it.

The rest are 'learning' or 'beginner' keyboards either from the thrift store or from the garbage.  I only snag things from the thrift store if they have MIDI ports .  So I have a "Miracle Piano" that dates from the late 1990s that was designed to worth with special Windows or DOS software.  It has only 37 keys.  It works, the sounds aren't very exciting, I have the software but I can't find the special cable, which I did have at one time.  There's 128 patches but they're hard to access externally.  I've been using the stock piano sounds for ear training and I think it's helping me train my brain to more accurate hear better.  

I just recently found a Yamaha keyboard at a thrift - but it's going on the bench because a single intermittent key.  I suspect the contacts are dirty.  Otherwise, it all works: 61 keys, lots of patches, drums, rhythms, variable tuning - it's 'semi pro' level.    I think it will be fun.  

From the garbage came a "First Act" 37 key P.O.S.   Half the keys don't work but all the tones, rhythms and other presets work.  I tore it apart to see if cleaning the contacts will fix it.  It wasn't hard to take apart - just a lot of screws - and the layout, design and parts are similar to other made in China keyboards.  (You Tube is great.)  There was something comforting about working with my hands: unscrewing things, cleaning things and reassembling things.  The cleaning didn't fix any of the keys so I think the contact circuit board is cracked and one or more circuit traces are broken.  At the moment it's not worth the effort to fix right now.  The sounds are kind of meh anyways but might be fun to mess with.   However, because I tore this cheap keyboard apart I feel comfortable taking apart and cleaning the Yamaha.

The second garbage find was a Casio CTK-1100.   With 61 keys it's closer to a full sized keyboard.  After getting the correct power adapter and giving it a good cleaning outside it all works.  I suspect that the original power supply died so it was tossed.  It sounds okay, 100 patches, lots of rhythms, drum sounds and demo songs.  Something is rattling inside but since everything still works I'm not going to mess with it yet.  

I'm running through scales and chords, honing my brain and eara so I can correctly hear things in tune.   Since losing my hearing a decade ago listening to music became hard because it sounded out of tune or just like mush.   With my guitar, bass and keyboard practice - sometimes for just 20 minutes a day, I think it's helping.  And if feeds something in my soul. 

Comments

[malada]

There is documentation on the we4b but there's so many models of electronic keyboards that are assembled in so many ways that exact information for the particular model is missing. You can get a general idea but detailed schematics and board details are often absent.

Owners and operating manuals are plentiful but schematics and printed circuit board layouts are scarce. Still, some information is better than none.