Installing Replacement Parts

If you think your LinnStrument needs repair, please first glance over the FAQ page, "Problems" tab, as well as the relevant section of the Panel Settings page and other links on this page. Often the solution requires only a setting change or something simple. If you don't find a solution there, please contact me (Roger) at support@rogerlinndesign.com or +1 510 666-6930 (doesn't accept voice messages) with your serial number and a brief but clear description of the problem. A brief video demonstrating the problem is very helpful. Once I understand the problem, I'll be able to tell you quickly what is needed. If a repair is needed, I designed LinnStrument is that all repairs can be done by sending you a part that you can replace yourself by following a video. Please do not send your LinnStrument back unless I've asked you to.

If I do ask you to replace a part, click one of the topics below to expand instructions for replacing the specific part.

Thank you,
Roger

LinnStrument Disassembly & Reassembly Video

This video demonstrates how to disassemble and reassemble your LinnStrument or LinnStrument 128 in order to install replacement parts. Following the introduction, it consists of 7 chapters:

1) 00:58 Remove top panel and playing surface
2) 01:42 Remove the touch sensor sheet
3) 03:13 Replace one of the two circuit boards
4) 06:03 Install the touch sensor sheet
5) 07:15 Install the playing surface and top panel
6) 12:23 Test the panel screw tightness
7) 14:55 Calibrate the touch sensor

Performing specific part replacements or repairs

Depending on which part you're replacing, you'll need to watch some or all of the chapters in the video. Click on one of the specific part replacements listed below to learn which chapters to watch for the needed part replacement.

Replacing the top panel or white playing surface

To replace the top panel and/or while playing surface, watch the following chapters:

1) Remove top panel and playing surface
5) Install the playing surface and top panel
6) Test the panel screw tightness

Replacing the touch sensor sheet

To replace the touch sensor sheet, watch the following chapters:

1) Remove top panel and playing surface
2) Remove the touch sensor sheet
4) Install the touch sensor sheet
5) Install the playing surface and top panel
6) Test the panel screw tightness
7) Calibrate the touch sensor
Also, please change a hidden setting called Touch Sensor Prescale to 75 (for LinnStrument) or 90 (for LinnStrument 128). To learn how to access this setting, open the Panel Settings page, Global Settings tab, and search for "prescale".

Replacing either the Main (larger) or LED (smaller) circuit board

To replace the Main (larger) circuit board, watch all 7 chapters:

1) Remove top panel and playing surface
2) Remove the touch sensor sheet
3) Replace one of the two circuit boards (to change the Main board)
4) Install the touch sensor sheet
5) Install the playing surface and top panel
6) Test the panel screw tightness
7) Calibrate the touch sensor (for the the new Main circuit board)
Also, please change a hidden setting called Touch Sensor Prescale to 75 (for LinnStrument) or 90 (for LinnStrument 128). To learn how to access this setting, open the Panel Settings page, Global Settings tab, and search for "prescale".

Or to replace the LED (smaller) circuit board, watch all these chapters:

1) Remove top panel and playing surface
3) Replace one of the two circuit boards (to change the LED board)
5) Install the playing surface and top panel
6) Test the panel screw tightness

Replacing a broken USB jack

First click the FAQs link at left/top, then click the "Problems" and read this FAQ:

"My USB jack appears to be physically damaged. For example, if I look closely into the jack, I see some bent pins. Or it has come loose inside the chassis. What can I do?"

If you choose option #1 ("You can have a local electronics repair shop replace the USB jack") and have a LinnStrument 128, or a LinnStrument 200 with serial LNL00700 or higher, watch these video chapters to remove the Main (larger) circuit board, which contains the USB jack:

1) Remove top panel and playing surface
2) Remove the touch sensor sheet (it's safer to remove the delicate sensor sheet before unsolder the USB jack)
3) Replace one of the two circuit boards

With the Main (larger) circuit board removed, follow the instructions in the FAQ to unsolder the damaged USB jack and install the new jack. Then following these video chapters to reassemble your LinnStrument:

3) Replace one of the two circuit boards
4) Install the touch sensor sheet
5) Install the playing surface and top panel
6) Test the panel screw tightness

If a column doesn't produce Y-axis response

This usually means that one of the panel screws is too loose, perhaps because of insufficient tightening after replacing the top panel. This is because the screws also press the sensor’s contacts against the mating contacts on the circuit board. So if too loose, they may not make contact, so Y-axis won’t work on the nearby column.

To correctly tighten the panel screws, watch this video chapter:

6) Test the panel screw tightness