NS2 Pitch Stick acting Funky

[baekgaard]

I just had a look at some datasheets. When properly dimensioned for the load, and when re-calibrating the zero-point as Nord does, many strain gauges lasts >>10.000.000 cycles, approaching sometimes 100.000.000 cycles. So the strain gauge itself (with the caveats above) look like it doesn't wear out easily. Of course, if the soldering joints are not done correctly, or if it is overloaded, it may die MUCH faster.

If we assume it will live, say, 60.000.000 cycles, and you play every note with a bend up and down and back to zero, then you can play non-stop quarter-notes Jan Hammer-style at 120 bpm 24 hours a day for approximately a year before it breaks. I assume most of us use it less than that, so it'll probably last many years And yes, this calculation is just for the fun of it to put things in perspective.

See https://www.hbm.com/en/8153/fatigue-lif ... in-gauges/ and https://www.hbm.com/fileadmin/mediapool ... S01265.pdf for details.

[baekgaard]

Well, it says between 1000 and 10.000.000 cycles depending on the type. There is a PDF in that page that shows the relation between the cycles and the amplitude of the strain (so stretching more leads to shorter lives). I guess that without knowing which types are used in the Nords and what is their specification, it is a bit optimistic to think they will last 10 million cycles... (I hope I am wrong!).
Plus, there are 2 strain gauges in the pitchstick ensemble, so probabilistically there is a chance of something going wrong with any of the two gauges, thus reducing the life expectancy further.

Pot pitchsticks might go bad earlier, but the cost of a potentiometer is about an order of magnitude cheaper than the cost of the pitch stick.

@maxpiano: I assume you did not find a replacement gauge?

[baekgaard]

Yes, as said: assuming it is dimensioned correctly and this working in the elastic zone and is not overloaded. And it says >> (much larger than) 10.000.000 for the more durable devices in the pdf They stop testing at 10.000.000.

Even so, if you say only 1.000.000 full cycles (smaller bends wear less) it is still quite a lot

Sent from my phone in brevity

[maxpiano]

Well, it says between 1000 and 10.000.000 cycles depending on the type. There is a PDF in that page that shows the relation between the cycles and the amplitude of the strain (so stretching more leads to shorter lives). I guess that without knowing which types are used in the Nords and what is their specification, it is a bit optimistic to think they will last 10 million cycles... (I hope I am wrong!).
Plus, there are 2 strain gauges in the pitchstick ensemble, so probabilistically there is a chance of something going wrong with any of the two gauges, thus reducing the life expectancy further.

Pot pitchsticks might go bad earlier, but the cost of a potentiometer is about an order of magnitude cheaper than the cost of the pitch stick.

@maxpiano: I assume you did not find a replacement gauge?

To be honest I don't remember if I didn't or I did but at the end of the day the cost (incl. shipping)+"expected trouble" to change just the gauge (and not being 100% sure it was the right one) made my opt for the full replacement solution (the part costs around 70€+shipping here)

[Alshamlan77]

I've had this problem with my Nord stage 3 compact. If your keyboard is still under warranty and a Nord dealer/agent is within your reach they should replace it free of charge. my nord was still under warranty but i've ordered it from Thomann and i live in Bahrain so there was no way i'm gonna send it to Germany to replace the pitch stick! so i just ordered one from Syntaur and a friend of mine who's experienced in synth repairs replaced it for me. here's the link for the part.

https://www.syntaur.com/Items.php?Item=4659

yes it's expensive but you have no other choice. i don't know about stage 2 but with the stage 3 they have introduced an error message in an OS update that disables the pitch stick when it goes out of tune, thus letting you use the keyboard normally but without the pitch stick. if you can live with that then fine. otherwise just replace it.
Don't bother contacting Nord, it's useless! they never reply. such a great keyboard but with a stupid pitch stick design unfortunately! still my favorite board though.

[Mr_-G-]

I do not think that the manufacturer is obliged to *replace* the keyboard if it can be put right by changing just the broken part.
That pitchstick seems extremely overpriced. It probably would be best to talk directly to the service in your country. There is a Bahrain distributor, did you try getting the part from them?
https://www.nordkeyboards.com/distributors

[tsss27]

That pitch stick price scares me. I imagine it would cost less to buy from the distributor directly (if they allow this, some companies do not even for parts.) $140 is a lot of money for a part which has widespread reports of needing replacement after a while.

[Alshamlan77]

I do not think that the manufacturer is obliged to *replace* the keyboard if it can be put right by changing just the broken part.
That pitchstick seems extremely overpriced. It probably would be best to talk directly to the service in your country. There is a Bahrain distributor, did you try getting the part from them?
https://www.nordkeyboards.com/distributors

Thanks for the link. I did see that before but it is in Dubai, not Bahrain. They are the distributors for all GCC countries. Which means I will still have to ship the keyboard to them. Let alone all the logistics and communications that will be involved in between. The problem with these things is that the keyboard itself must be sent to the agent/shop so that THEY establish that it needs repair. Otherwise they won't just send you the part because you told them you need it. Unfortunately ordering and replacing by myself was the easiest and safest option in my case

[LeftyBass68]

Yesterday was my fifth boot up of Stage3 Compact with no calibration error since;
tightening the four fasteners that retain it in position.Every eight months I get the error message.
And in three tries I have had positive results by tightening those back up a half turn or so.
After three pitchstick failures this one seems to get new life by adjusting the fasteners every time so far since 2022.
Securing ANY lateral movement (front to back) is usually the fix for the 'error' causing it.
Driver and socket and Loctite all that is required.The chrome retaining nuts work loose. This time a drop of Loctite per thread.
No update in eight months will mean this worked better than no Loctite.
Transfer of vibration from the pitchstick eventually loosens the Compact and this has never occured on an 88 in my experience
of over a decade of use on three of them.
The Compact is opened up for issues five to one over an 88.Not as robust a build period.