Generally pissed off at my broken pitch bend wheel! (Korg X5D content)

OK, it's been 2 years that my pitch bend wheel broke. The spring that snaps it back to the center decided she didn't like me and she broke up with me! From that day, my playing is not the same. I have tried everything, making the spring on my own (haha, nice try ), going to mechanic workshop and making them do it instead (didn't work out well, the spring was too mellow and thermically unprocessed, which needed to be done to gain sturdiness), trying to find broken X5Ds around (no way, they're built like tanks!), contacting our Korg dealer here in Croatia (no help from them, and they lost dealership with Korg some time ago!)...

You can imagine my frustration now!

I have played three gigs with broken pitch bend. And I do have solos that utilize it. Count that as three major embarassments. Nobody wanted to borrow me their board as a controller (and all those boards had joysticks anyways, so the adjustment time for me was needed, which I didn't have), so I went on with only my X5D, the only thing I have at the moment.

I have sent RichF a PM several weeks ago, and while I understand he's a busy guy and can't answer right away, I see that he checks in fairly regularly here. He would make me very happy if he spared a couple of minutes to reply But, if he cannot (and I hold no grudge there), maybe somebody else here related to Korg could give a hand and help out? Here are the questions I asked RichF:

1. can that spring be ordered, since it's a discontinued model, and what would be the price per piece? 2. if it can't be ordered, what can be done to get me several of those springs (backups, just in case) ASAP? 3. which Korg synths are using the same mechanism=the same spring? 4. are you able to help me in any way with getting those springs? I am really, really desperate

I have another gig in about a month. I'd like to have this issue resolved, I wouldn't like to embarrass myself again. I'd pay good money (even up to 100$, which I know is unrealistic, BUT I WANT IT GET DONE!) to get several of those bastard springs, as well.

Thank you for hearing out, I really had to let it go out of me. I really cannot play the same way as before anymore.

Dragon out!

I feel your pain ED

I had a look at the usual synth spares places, but none seem to be breaking X5s.

The only other Korg synth which (I think) uses the same wheels is the N5. They certainly look similar.

Hope you get it sorted

Have you tried places that wreck keyboards/ part out keyboards like

http://www.synthparts.com/

They don't have a X5D listed currently but maybe something they are parting out uses the same spring.

There are others but I can't find them at the moment.

Have you contacted your Korg distributor?

ADRIATIC REGION DISTRIBUTION D.O.O.

MAKENZIJEVIA 67, 11000 BELGRADE, SERBIA

TEL : +381 11 3444 500, 3444 501

FAX : +381 11 3444 500, 3444 501

email: info@skymusic.co.yu

---------------------------------

This link provides contact info of Korg distributors in some neighboring countries. Best of luck.

http://www.korg.co.jp/English/Distributors/index.html

Sorry, but that's not our Korg distributor, there's some error on Korg's database I guess. And yes, I've contacted them distributors all the way before. No dice.

And there's no way in hell I'm going to Serbia! :poke:

Sent an email to Korg US Product Support. We'll see what happens.

Could be a good excuse for a new KB?

If I only had the money. :/

Nah, I'd like to keep X5D, it has some sounds that are irreplaceable with other synths! I'd probably consider swapping X5D with N364 for double the memory, aftertouch, and a dedicated prog-up pedal input. And the floppy

That being said, I do wish to have a PC3x and a Blokey along with it...

I mailed the Dutch Korg distributor two times a few months ago, but never got a reply....

Can't you ask in a musicstore if they can order one directly from Korg? I'd imagine that a store could contact Korg more easily than you could yourself..

Music stores here SUCK BALLS. They mostly don't contact their companies directly, but through a "higher" music store for example in Germany, or stuff like that.

So, no dice again. Even if that would be possible, I'm really afraid to ask what would be the price for several springs that I need, plus shipping from Japan, plus tax and customs (I guess? ) plus the wait I would go through till it gets here.

Once again, the gig is in about one month, and I'm getting really desperate.

You do need a new keyboard... maybe the band can pitch in? Maybe a job at a music store on Saturdays might help raise some funds? How about mowing lawns? These things probably won't get you a keyboard in 30 days but in the long term you could be saving up for something...

ED, I'd strongly advise posting your question: Here.

Your far more likely to get some joy there.

1. I'm actually quitting that band because I'm finishing my baccalaureus stage here in Osijek, then I plan on moving to our capital to continue my studies there. So this is gonna be my farewell gig, which means band doesn't want to chip in.

2. Yeah I do know I need a new synth, but I'd like to keep this one, really. Strange as it might sound, I really love that board!

3. Everybody does their own lawn here. No dice again...

Anyways, I know one day I'm gonna get a job, and then you'll see me in " new gear" threads finally

Just wanna get this thing working.

@FE - thanks mate, that was the last thing I'd ever think of! Let's see how much Korg loves me!

I FORGOT I'M ALREADY REGISTERED AT KORG FORUMS!!!

Do they have a return policy in your music stores? As in, you can bring it back if you don't like it?

Get any controller (the smaller the better), hook it up to your X5D via the MIDI In, find an easily accessible way to put it on top of your X5D (or underneath, or to the side, or on top of it if it's really small) and use it for the pitch bending control only. After the gig, return it. Just try and take good care of it for the next owner, please...

Then once you're in the capital, save for a permanent X5D fix, or to buy a working one, or to buy an N364, or 264 even...

Didn't buy X5D from a music store, I bought used and out of warranty. And I also have it for over 3 years so probably any return policy wouldn't apply

I'm thinking about borrowing my friend's N364, but that one has a slight joystick centering problem as well (rarely snaps correctly in the middle, usually gets 5-10 cents sharper )

It's otherwise in very good shape, I regularly dust it (even internals!) and stuff like that. Oh, the button '4' snapped so I superglued it back :/ Doesn't work as snappy as before... I guess I should change that thing too.

Anyways, I highly doubt anyone would swap me an N364 for my X5D even if I pay additionally, I must have helluva luck to do that transaction. Actually I was lucky when I found that X5D for only 50 euros... so that's about it.

I'm really loving the pads I get out of it

Didn't buy X5D from a music store, I bought used and out of warranty. And I also have it for over 3 years so probably any return policy wouldn't apply

ChristianRock wasn't talking about returning your X5D. He was saying you could buy a controller keyboard, MIDI it to your X5D, use the controller just for its pitch-bend wheel (so use your X5D for everything else), and return the controller after the gig.

Ah, that. Well, rare stores here do return policy thing. Bunch of thieves they are, that's what it is.

Didn't buy X5D from a music store, I bought used and out of warranty. And I also have it for over 3 years so probably any return policy wouldn't apply

You did not read my whole post.... thanks Citizen Klaus for clearing it up

Well, hopefully you'll get it resolved somehow. Borrowing any controller would work. Hopefully that can get worked out...

Oh sorry for not understanding your post well, I'm kinda all over the place now multitasking around... not easy for a human

Anyways, all suggestions are duly noted! Will let you know how everything passed, but I sure hope I could get a few spare springs for my baby!

1. Just received an email reply from Korg telling me to call Korg Customer Service number,

2. I called the number and the lady gave me the part number and told me to call their parts distributor,

3. I called them and they have ONE spring left [it's called "Wheel Spring"],

4. Gentleman told me I must make a purchase of at least 15 dollars [the part you need cost about 5 bucks I believe],

5. He directed me to their Website [www.korgparts.com] so that I can purchase anything from it as long as the total price will be 15 dollars or more,

6. If you really need the part, you must visit that website and tell me exactly what stuff you'd like to purchase [other than the spring] that would amount to at least 10 dollars [again, excluding the spring]

7. Send me the link [or links] to what the stuff in 6 above you'd like to buy [hint: it can be anything, but they do have Korg parts]

8. I will then place the order either online or on the phone,

9 is obvious.

Note: the spring part is not available on that website. He said I'll have to include it [i.e., the part number] when I place the order online.

They have an X5D service manual for $15 USD; that would do it, and it'd show how to install the spring.

^Excellent suggestion [although this specific fix should be easy] But I'd choose that over any other merchandise as it is X5D-related. But I'll wait for his decision. Maybe he'll find something in there that he needs. It's up to him.

Thanks for the heads up, Mediterranean!

I will not need the service manual, I think, I've opened the board several times and I know the internals well by now.

I would need a spring, and 1 button group for M1, since my '4' button cracked and is now hapzardly superglued back. I think that amounts to 15$.

Where are you located, Mediterranean? Your nick hints me somewhere here in Europe

EDIT: I don't see springs listed on their site... is that on purpose or what? :/

I am from North Africa. I reside in the US:)

You didn't include a link from that website, so please confirm this is the link for the M1 part you want to order [i don't want to order the wrong thing]:

http://www.marshallparts.com/products/1718/Korg-Button-Group-for-M1.htm

Read the note in my reply up there:)

I have no idea why it's not listed. He just said it's not available on the website and that I would need to include it in the order. But hey, that's to your advantage because if it were listed, you'd have a lot less chances to get it especially that they only have one left [maybe this part was meant to be purchased by you. Who knows]

I will proceed with the order tomorrow morning [10 September] as soon as I get a confirmation from you about that M1 part.