Broken 'Rotary Control' jack

[dlargent]

The plastic barrel inside the Rotary Control jack on the back of my C2 organ is broken, and now rotary control doesn't work. It probably got broken when I left the half-moon switch plugged in, and then somehow bumped the back of the C2- I'm not sure.

It's a drag, because I love using the half-moon switch to control my Leslie 3300.

We have a great keyboard repair shop around here. However, in order to fix the C2, he said I would have to leave the keyboard at the shop for at least 2 weeks, because his parts supplier takes 2 weeks to send that particular part, and there is no generic substitute for it. I asked him if he could order the part and then I could bring the keyboard by in a couple of weeks and just leave it overnight, but he said no to that option.

I gig with this keyboard 5-6 times a week, and practice for at least 3 hours a day in addition. I could borrow a Roland VK7 for a while from a friend, but the thought of using that for at least 2 weeks makes me want to cry.

Anyone know how I could order that part on my own, then take the keyboard and the replacement part to the repair guy? Or are there any other options? Maybe playing the Roland clonewheel would be fun after all- anybody played one before?

[pablomastodon]

Hi DLargent,

Drag...that's why they use a right angle jack connection for those half moon switches, but I guess they're still somewhat vulnerable.

Those parts are really quite industry standard. Made by Switchcraft (Elston Ave in Chicago), they are readily available globally. You're looking for Switchcraft's part number RN114BPC. A quick google search shows them available singly for as little as US$2.21.

Your "great" keyboard shop doesn't sound so great if they can't work with you, but that is such a hellacious business these days (and a dying art, too), that I hesitate to criticize too loudly. Still...one would think they'd be happier to collect the same money for doing the same job WITHOUT having it take up space on their shelf for two weeks.

[dlargent]

Thanks Pablomastodon! I will order that part and bring it with me when I bring my C2 into the shop.

One more question: Do you know the part number for the switch mechanism inside the half-moon rotary control switch?

Thanks again for the info!
Doug

[flmc59]

That maybe a fender strata type 3 position switch.

[dlargent]

Hey, I just wanted to give an update. Thanks to Pablomastodon, I figured out what part I had to order to fix the 'rotary control' jack on the back of the C2. I have a friend who fixes electronics as a hobby, and he took care of installing the part.

Friends, be aware!! The reason that the jack broke is because I left the nord Half-Moon controller always plugged in. I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow the plug got bumped. The original input jack was basically shattered- it is a thin, fragile plastic housing which is soldered directly to the mother board. This happened even though I try to be pretty cautious with my C2...

My advice to everyone is to always unplug the Half-Moon switch after you have finished playing. The repair was pretty tedious and difficult according to my friend, and the shop was telling me that I would have to leave my C2 for at least 2 weeks. (Having to play a Rxxxxx Xx-7 for two days was awful enough, I'd hate to imagine being stuck with it for over two weeks [although I'm thankful I had it!!])

Have a good one.