Installing a strap on the MicroStation...

177e · Post by **177e** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 3:09 am

Has anyone ever considered (or done already) installing a strap on their Micro Station? I am toying around with the idea of converting my MS to a Keytar like the Roland AX series. There is plenty of room on the inside to install the bolts for the strap nuts. What are your thoughts?

177e · Post by **177e** » Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:55 am

I did it! I installed a strap button to the center of both sides. It totally transforms the instrument. It is a lot of fun. I can't see myself using it like that often but it sure is fun and liberating. Sorry no pictures but it was not that hard. You do have to remove all the screws from the bottom including the ones attached to the key bed, but the entire board remains intact even after removing the bottom. I love this little board!

Synthesizerplayer · Post by **Synthesizerplayer** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:16 pm

yeah, that is a good idea.

you will have to do some improvisation for that.

or use velcro so that you can remove it when strap is not needed

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:10 pm

177e wrote:I did it! I installed a strap button to the center of both sides. It totally transforms the instrument. It is a lot of fun. I can't see myself using it like that often but it sure is fun and liberating. Sorry no pictures but it was not that hard. You do have to remove all the screws from the bottom including the ones attached to the key bed, but the entire board remains intact even after removing the bottom. I love this little board!

I want to try this, but I don't know where to start. Any tips would be appreciated. i.e. How do you attach them? Do you need to create any new holes? Does it matter what order you remove the screws in? Any suggestions for a particular type of strap button that would work particularly well/easily? In a quick search, I came up with these pages of possibilities...

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... r=248-9368

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/item/4982-SB

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_p ... ttons.html

http://www.allparts.com/strap-buttons

engineerjoel · Post by **engineerjoel** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 12:53 am

177e wrote:I did it! I installed a strap button to the center of both sides. It totally transforms the instrument. It is a lot of fun. I can't see myself using it like that often but it sure is fun and liberating. Sorry no pictures but it was not that hard. You do have to remove all the screws from the bottom including the ones attached to the key bed, but the entire board remains intact even after removing the bottom. I love this little board!

Hey 177e, upload some photos .

six_feet_under · Post by **six_feet_under** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 4:54 pm

I did it on my Kross61. Saved money and got a more versatile keytar than those currently on the market.

My DIY keytar has 5 octaves of full size keys, with multiple splits, battery powered, under 10lbs, and one of the coolest looking KROG's ever made. https://youtu.be/I7YHznSAEYY

IMHO, Keytars would be sooooooo much better without wasting the player's left hand on a stupid simulated guitar neck. Let us be keys players and stop trying to simulate a guitar!

Also, any manufacturer selling synths under 10 lbs SHOULD include guitar strap posts (either optional attachments, or hidden under a flap, or pop-ups). They could sell the same unit to two markets: workstations and keytars. Easy money for them!