Lately I’ve been running into an issue with my Minimoog where some keys feel sticky and a few just don’t respond properly. It’s starting to get in the way when I play, and I’m not sure if it’s from dust build-up, humidity, or something else.
Has anyone here dealt with this before? I’d really appreciate any advice on how to fix it without risking more damage.
What Minimoog version? Vintage Minimoog, Minimoog Voyager or one of the Reissue Minimoogs?
Thank you, On Vintage Minimoog
If the mechanical feeling is wrong, the old bushings need to be swapped for new ones. I did this on my 1979 Minimoog about 20 years ago.
If there are contact problems, use pure technical alcohol to clean the contact springs with a Q-Tip gently (don’t brake the springs!) and the two bus boards. If there are stimm contact problems, try to turn the bus bar a tiny bit. So you will get a fresh unused contact surface at least on the bus side.
About new bushings: they can run a little wide, which makes them stick to the key channel. You can widen the channel a little, but it might still bind at the bottom of the key travel. I’ve taken a little off each bushing with a belt sander to make them fit.
The original bushings were coated with a slick surface, then lubed with silicon grease. It helps immensely to coat each side of the new bushings with a thin layer of super glue, let dry, then apply a fast-action silicon grease. I like the Yamaha grease but it’s expensive.