I'm looking for a Vector Joystick Knob Replacement

DJ Kronos · Post by **DJ Kronos** » Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:21 am

I recently bought an X88 from GC which is missing the vector joystick knob. As I have read in some threads, Korg has discontinued selling the knob to the public, just as they apparently do with most of their knobs and small replacement items, even when still in production. (Shame on them.)

Parts is Parts (Jim?) is going to check to see if there are new part numbers for the K2 (since nothing really changed) but he is very skeptical and since no one else I've called or checked has any info on acquiring this part it is unlikely that anyone is going to be able to get this silly knob now or in the future.

I tried several Google searches and it's difficult to determine if any odd knob I find that is similarly shaped would be able to substitute, especially since they almost never show the bottom "hole" or offer enough detail about the knob.

So, I was wondering if anyone else out there who was/is missing this knob found another replacement or solution to this issue?

OR, is there anyone out there with an extra knob that would be willing to part with it? (Please PM me.)

Aside from a few minor scratches my new board is in excellent shape -- especially after serving as a demo for about 18 months, as far as I can determine. I upgraded the firmware to 6.04 and the software to 3.0.2. I've been having a blast learning how to use it and diving into the screens to change and build sounds. (I'm saving Karma for last because it's so complicated.) I'll tweak a sound, get inspired and start playing, and before I know it two hours have disappeared!

I've already saved new programs and combi's - including some built from scratch, customized my set list and sampled and recorded live sounds, (still have some learning to do there) and all in less than two weeks. And of course, I haven't even scratched the surface yet; there's so much to learn!

Anyway, I'd really like to have a proper knob to use as the stub that's left is difficult to manage while playing. There is nothing wrong with the joystick itself and all positions read correctly on the live display tab.

I'd appreciate any help in either finding a workable substitute or possibly buying a spare/used/old stock replacement.

Thanks in advance, guys.

DJ Kronos · Post by **DJ Kronos** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:28 am

Oh well. I guess I'm SOL.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:56 am

DJ Kronos wrote:Oh well. I guess I'm SOL.

I think u are going to need to be patient. It looks to be a custom part just for the kronos.

I think it's a sort breakable part where the service centers have access to the part # if they need to order it

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 2:37 am

If it's on a currently made keyboard, it's more than likely available. Just need the right part number to order it.

DJ Kronos · Post by **DJ Kronos** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 3:17 am

I wish you were both right, but Parts is Parts told me that Korg is notorious for pulling parts off the market for current synths and that he doesn't expect it to become available again -- with or without a new part number.

He noted in our conversation that Korg seems to keep its flagship performers in parts while leaving the rest of us hanging.

It may make no sense (to me, at least) not to make easily lost or broken knobs for its current line of products available to the public, but that's the way Korg plays it. (pun intended)

So unless someone has an extra or an alternative, I'm SOL.

My only other thought was that if someone can give me accurate specs, especially on how it connects to the joystick post (diameter of hole, threads/no threads, etc.) then maybe I can pay a metal shop to turn one for me on a lathe.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 4:36 am

DJ Kronos wrote:I wish you were both right, but Parts is Parts told me that Korg is notorious for pulling parts off the market for current synths and that he doesn't expect it to become available again -- with or without a new part number.

He noted in our conversation that Korg seems to keep its flagship performers in parts while leaving the rest of us hanging.

It may make no sense (to me, at least) not to make easily lost or broken knobs for its current line of products available to the public, but that's the way Korg plays it. (pun intended)

So unless someone has an extra or an alternative, I'm SOL.

My only other thought was that if someone can give me accurate specs, especially on how it connects to the joystick post (diameter of hole, threads/no threads, etc.) then maybe I can pay a metal shop to turn one for me on a lathe.

So I take it u don't want to go to a Korg service center for the fix ?

Too expensive ?

Bertotti · Post by **Bertotti** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 5:03 am

Make your own.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 5:27 am

Can you take a picture of what you see? The original part number for the knob is 500642000030. I don't have a Kronos 2 service manual so I can't tell you what the new part number is but ANY authorized Korg Service Center has access to the service manual and can get you the current part number. Tell them you need it for the Kronos 2 as it's the same part. They can probably order it for you too.

-Mc

DJ Kronos · Post by **DJ Kronos** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 9:14 pm

GregC wrote:
So I take it u don't want to go to a Korg service center for the fix ?

Too expensive ?

Well, Parts is Parts told me that they have the same parts manual/ordering info that any service center has access to.
Perhaps he was exaggerating and it might be worth checking out.

McHale wrote:...
The original part number for the knob is 500642000030. I don't have a Kronos 2 service manual so I can't tell you what the new part number is but ANY authorized Korg Service Center has access to the service manual and can get you the current part number. Tell them you need it for the Kronos 2 as it's the same part. They can probably order it for you too.

-Mc

I do have that part number from Parts is Parts (same as above). I'll take your and GregC's suggestions and contact a service center to see what they say. It won't be covered under the warranty because it would be viewed as "user" damage, even though it was caused prior to sale. Even so, it can't hurt to try.

McHale wrote:Can you take a picture of what you see?
...

Oooo, I just knew that the picture thing was going to come up. lol. It's a long story but I'm an involuntary ex-amateur photographer who currently has no way to take a picture. (Virtually every camera and lens I have/had was/is either stolen or broken.)

What I have on the Kronos is a vertical cylindrical stub with no threads on it. It is 0.0773 inches in diameter. Closest fraction would be 5/64". It protrudes 1/4" from the moveable black mask.

It would probably help to know whether mine was broken or just removed. If the protruding stick is broken I'd either have to go with a part machined to order or have the service center completely change out the vector joystick (which otherwise works perfectly.)

DJ Kronos · Post by **DJ Kronos** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 9:18 pm

Bertotti wrote:Make your own.

I agree. ...
I'm going to try the service center approach first, though.

DJ Kronos wrote: ...My only other thought was that if someone can give me accurate specs, especially on how it connects to the joystick post (diameter of hole, threads/no threads, etc.) then maybe I can pay a metal shop to turn one for me on a lathe.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 9:54 pm

My bet is that it's not broken. The rod isn't threaded, it can get loose. I know some folks have glued it on.

Parts is parts has had screw ups in the past from using old lists from Korg. Don't know if that means they didn't get new ones or looked in the wrong place but there have been two cases just here on the forum in the last six months (?) where Parts is Parts claimed something was unavailable and Dan and Rich from Korg had to personally get on it to sort them out. In both cases the necessary parts were in fact available.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:22 pm

SanderXpander wrote:My bet is that it's not broken. The rod isn't threaded, it can get loose. I know some folks have glued it on.

Parts is parts has had screw ups in the past from using old lists from Korg. Don't know if that means they didn't get new ones or looked in the wrong place but there have been two cases just here on the forum in the last six months (?) where Parts is Parts claimed something was unavailable and Dan and Rich from Korg had to personally get on it to sort them out. In both cases the necessary parts were in fact available.

I recall that,too. Parts parts gave out bad info to the kronos owner,,. Or the Parts person misunderstood something and conveyed the inaccuracy.
Anyway, I would not rely on that source as the final word.

I would much prefer no information over bad information if those were the 2 choices

DJ Kronos · Post by **DJ Kronos** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 5:05 am

Thanks, guys! That makes me feel much more optimistic, both that the part might actually be available and that my joystick rod is probably okay.

I'll give the service center a call tomorrow.

I've been watching Qui's videos and practicing some Karma and patch programming. The VJ is a great resource in preset and new programs but it's tough to get good control when playing live because my stub is so short.

Extreme corner to corner changes are okay.

StephenKay · Post by **StephenKay** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 10:43 pm

Here's what the part and the shaft itself look like, if not broken - for your reference.

(My knob will come off if I tug on it, like any knob, but not during normal operation.)

DJ Kronos · Post by **DJ Kronos** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 11:50 pm

StephenKay wrote:Here's what the part and the shaft itself look like, if not broken - for your reference.

(My knob will come off if I tug on it, like any knob, but not during normal operation.)

PERFECT! Thank you Stephen. That's exactly what my shaft looks like.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RANT ALERT.

I called the service center and they confirmed that there are no parts (no new part numbers) available for the K2 yet so the knob might be available in a few months.

The bad news is that I also confirmed that I have no warranty service whatsoever for my new Kronos because Korg has discontinued support for the Kronos X entirely. No parts, No nothing. If it's a warranty issue, the service center is required to give the model and SN so getting a K2 part to fix the KX can't be done because Korg won't supply it. (Unless, of course, I'm paying for the repairs, in which case he can order and pay for whatever is available for the K2 that fits the KX.)

Ironically, I experienced a glitch/crash last night between my last post and today's call to the service center, hence the above new knowledge. It crashed twice while I was playing back a recorded a stock HD1 combi sequence (no disk save, and a fresh start and new sequence each time) and is infinitely repeatable if I load the affected song file (.sng only) that I did save and play it. There is only one other thread on here with the same crash notice and he had a different problem.

For those who are interested, the Kronos put out a solid digital "tone" for 2 seconds and then crashed - always when pressing "Start" (never as "Stop.") The screen message reads:

"A problem has been detected.
Please turn the Kronos off, wait for 10 seconds and then turn it back on."

The service center first told me that sequence glitches aren't uncommon. He also thinks that it's either an aberration or the SDD is going bad. He can't get an SSD for my KX under warranty so if it turns out to be bad I'll just have to buy my own drive and replace it myself, and I just bought the keyboard 3 weeks ago.

I'm also thinking that it could be the RAM, because I don't think that MIDI sequences for internal programs without audio stream to the SSD.

Quite frankly, I'm not very happy with the way this company treats is customers.

END OF RANT
--------------
Again, I thank everyone for their help.