Just In Case Anyone Else Has To Go Through This

I just replaced the LCD on my MC-505, and it turns out that the part has been discontinued. Roland will send you a *different* LCD that is bigger and doesn't fit. It took a month of returns and miscommunication before they finally let me know that you have to make some internal modifications to the chassis of your MC505 to MAKE it fit. This involves actually cutting out parts of the internal metal frame so that the LCD will fit, and then using an additional bracket that helps to hold the new LCD in place. They reluctantly sent me the tech notes on how to do the modification, and though it took a couple of hours in total, the operation was a success. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the notes on exactly where to cut the sheet metal to make this thing fit.

So then. For anyone else going through this ordeal, let me know and I'll be glad to send you the tech notes on how to do the mod. It'll save you a lot of time and trouble.

Also, the notes tell you to use a sheet metal nibbling tool to cut the metal. I went all over town trying to find one, without any luck. I ended up using a dremel with a metal-grinding disc attached, and that worked fine.

Be warned, to replace the LCD you have to take the WHOLE unit apart. It's not as bad as some keyboards, but still quite a few screws, ribbon cables, knobs and slider caps, etc., and four circuit boards in all. So take careful note of where everything goes before taking it apart. Taking a digital snapshot of the guts of the 505 before detaching anything is a good idea.

Roland makes very good products but they have consistenly bad LCD screens since the S770 Samplers. They also abandon product support (and parts replacement) soon after they stop making them- bummer. Dealing with them can be rough- they are pretty arrogant.