Dead display on a Korg Z1 - ideas?

[Dave Peck]

Hi all,

I have a Korg Z1 that has a problem with the display. It is not completely 'dead', it is getting power and it does produce some image, but it's just a large dark rectangle filling the whole screen except for a small light border around the edges of the display.

I've placed an order for a new display component through Korg's service contractor, but it's waaay back ordered and they just gave me a new date with yet another delay. And of course I'm not even entirely ure that the problem is the display component itself, so I figured while I'm waiting I ought to ask -

Anyone have a similar symptom with their Korg Z1, and if so, how did you fix it?

[lunaticpark]

I had dead / barely readable display-problems with various Korg Synths (01WR, WS-AD...). For some models Korg didn't have replacement screens anymore or they were very expensive, so and I ordered from this guy:
backlight4you - EL-Replacements
This is only the backlight, so I don't know, if it is a backlight problem with your Z1, it sounds like it could be the case. But fading backlights are quite common in Korg devices.
Maybe it helps.

[cixelsyd]

Actually, I'm told the Z1 does not have a backlight. the screen is a special LED? or LCD?
My local tech guy gave me this information because I felt like my Z1's display was dim, however persons on other forums confirmed what the tech guy said.

[lunaticpark]

Originally Posted by cixelsyd

Actually, I'm told the Z1 does not have a backlight. the screen is a special LED? or LCD?
My local tech guy gave me this information because I felt like my Z1's display was dim, however persons on other forums confirmed what the tech guy said.

Sorry if my information was wrong. I'm not shure if the Z1 uses a Display with Backlight, I thought it uses the same displays/backlights as a lot of the other Korgs, my bad.
OP: Maybe the Korgforums would be a good place if you need more information (Korg Forums :: Index).

[cixelsyd]

Originally Posted by lunaticpark

Sorry if my information was wrong. I'm not shure if the Z1 uses a Display with Backlight, I thought it uses the same displays/backlights as a lot of the other Korgs, my bad.
OP: Maybe the Korgforums would be a good place if you need more information (Korg Forums :: Index).

Kein problem. Schones wochenende

[scottgibbons]

Any update on this? My Z1 screen is also dimming... I'm hoping it's a $20 backlight issue, and not a full screen assembly that's not available anywhere anymore...

[Dave Peck]

Latest update - after several contacts with Korg authorized service and many phone calls to follow up on the status of the 'back order' of this display, Korg has now said that this display assembly is simply no longer available. Of course, they didn't manufacture the display, these types of components are purchased from a third source that makes displays, and that company stopped making this display years ago and neither Korg nor their repair centers can locate any of them anywhere else. There also does not appear to be any direct replacement component from another source.

So unless some DIY guy gets lucky and finds another display that will work (and spreads the word and we all find out about it), we're out of luck. The Z1 becomes a doorstop when the display dies.

[acreil]

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

So unless some DIY guy gets lucky and finds another display that will work (and spreads the word and we all find out about it), we're out of luck. The Z1 becomes a doorstop when the display dies.

I don't have a Z1 or anything, but it looks like a standard 240x64 display. It shouldn't be a big deal to replace it with a different one; it's just a matter of getting it to fit mechanically, maybe modifying something to accommodate a different back light, etc.