Pratt-Read keyboard hook broken on vintage Minimoog

[petereugenefoley]

Hi all.

I have a '74 Minimoog Model d with a broken Pratt-Read metal hook that the rubber bushing slides on. I have the hook, but it broke off. Is my only option to weld it back on? Or is there a different method others have used? Is it even possible to source the metal hook assembly anywhere?

[Markyboard]

I would give welding a shot. I've never seen the keyboard frame for sale-even from a scrapped unit. You're going to have to remove everything from the frame and you might consider going to a professional welder - maybe an auto shop. Fortunately I doubt they'd charge more then $30-$40 . Let us know what happens - good luck!

[petereugenefoley]

I would give welding a shot. I've never seen the keyboard frame for sale-even from a scrapped unit. You're going to have to remove everything from the frame and you might consider going to a professional welder - maybe an auto shop. Fortunately I doubt they'd charge more then $30-$40 . Let us know what happens - good luck!

Do you think soldering might be enough if the iron is super hot?

[Markyboard]

Do you think soldering might be enough if the iron is super hot?

Trust me soldering won't work- not even close. This is not going to be easy- I don't know of anyone that has had to do this before but I am far from an expert. Assuming you can get a good weld joint I'm not sure you'll be able to bend the hook to adjust the height as is normally done. BTW I believe the "hook" is not a separate part but rather part of the larger metal frame.

Unfortunately assuming you want to keep the keybed I can't think of another option. Maybe someone knows of a modern keybed replacement which would be ideal but I sure don't. You could always scrap the keybed altogether and use midi/ CV to control it - which is what I'm doing a lot of these days.

[petereugenefoley]

Just an update for everyone:

I fabricated a new hook from an old piece of aluminum I had laying around. I drilled a couple holes in the chassis of the keybed on either side of where the hook would go and fastened the hook on with with a couple 6-32 machine screws and a little 1" x .5" sheet of aluminum. Worked like a charm and you can't see it once the Moog is put back together! Super solid, too.

[Markyboard]

Wow - impressive! Any pics you could share?