If you're considering buying a used LinnStrument, here's some helpful information to know.
The older a unit is, the more use it has had, so newer units are generally better. Here are the starting serial numbers for each year of production. Serial numbers are sequential, so for example serial number LNL01500 is the 1500th LinnStrument made.
For LinnStrument:2014: LNL00001
2015: LNL00050
2016: LNL00531
2017: LNL00845
2018: LNL01076
2019: LNL01327
2020: LNL01566
2021: LNL01848
2022: LNL02337
2023: LNL02726
2024: LNL03040
For LinnStrument 128:
2016: LNM00001
2017: LNM00081
2018: LNM00289
2019: LNM00445
2020: LNM00613
2021: LNM00800
2022: LNM01109
2023: LNM01350
2024: LNM01515
There have been various changes and improvements over the years. Here is a list of those changes, along with the starting serial numbers that each change was implemented. Note that a used unit may have some of the more recent improvements because the owner may have installed a new top panel or playing surface, etc.
For LinnStrument:
LNL00035: Changed to better silicone material and added silicone non-stick coating to playing surface. Earlier playing surfaces could leak some silicone oil in hotter temperatures.
LNL00050: Changed panel printing to white characters for easier reading. Earlier panel text was grey and harder to read in low light.
LNL00201: Changed method of electrically connecting touch sensor to circuit board from conductive copper tapes to small connectors, permitting independent replacement of sensor and board, and improving reliability of touch sensor connection in hot weather.
LNL00700: Changed USB jack from surface mount to through-hole mount, reducing damage to USB jack from hard cable pulls.
LNL00801: Added printed settings for Step Sequencer to top panel. Added to playing surface: a) braille-size tactile bumps to all "C" note pads in the default tuning, and b) 8 venting holes to the playing surface, reducing the liklihood of an air bubble under the playing surface resulting from air expansion in hot climates. Slightly increased touch sensor's sensitivity to light touches by using a thinner and therefore more pliable upper sheet for the touch sensor.
LNL01171: Changed non-stick coating of playing surface from silicone to polyurethane, because the silicone coating would eventually wear off after many pitch slides, exposing the higher friction of the raw silicone beneath.
LNL01751: Changed non-stick coating of playing surface to a better matte-finish polyurethane, which had slightly more friction than the previous polyurethane coating, making it easier to land on the correct note pad at the end of a pitch slide. Refined the touch sensor for slightly improved sensitivity to light touches and cell-to-cell consistency by using an improved force sensing resistor material.
LNL01977: Added "& Geert Bevin" to top panel printing above "Roger Linn Design" Logo, as an acknowledgement of Geert's significant contribution to LinnStrument.
LNL03111: The playing surfaces are pre-shrunk during fabrication, which helps to resist looseness due to heat-related expansion of the silicone material in hot temperatures.
For LinnStrument 128:
LinnStrument 128 first shipped in 2016, including all LinnStrument improvements shown above up to and including those shown starting at serial number LNL00801.
LNM00466: Changed non-stick coating of playing surface from silicone to polyurethane, because the silicone coating would eventually wear off after many pitch slides, exposing the higher friction of the raw silicone beneath.
LNM00716: Changed non-stick coating of playing surface to a better matte-finish polyurethane, which had slightly more friction than the previous polyurethane coating, making it easier to land on the correct note pad at the end of a pitch slide.
LNM00806: Refined the touch sensor for slightly improved sensitivity to light touches and cell-to-cell consistency by using an improved force sensing resistor material. Also, added "& Geert Bevin" to top panel printing above "Roger Linn Design" Logo, as an acknowledgement of Geert's significant contribution to LinnStrument.
LNM01634: The playing surfaces are pre-shrunk during fabrication, which helps to resist looseness due to heat-related expansion of the silicone material in hot temperatures.
It's best to reset all settings to the same status as a new unit. To do this, perform a Reset: In Global Settings, Actions column (16), press Notes Off and Update OS at the same time.
New LinnStruments don't include a printed manual but rather only a brief letter of introduction that directs you to visit the LinnStrument Support page and click the link for "Getting Started".
If the used unit has an older top panel, playing surface, touch sensor sheet, or if the wood sides are scratched or worn, all of these items are available for purchase on the online shop (under the Where To Buy menu), and you can replace them yourself by following a video, using only a screwdriver.
Note that new touch sensors for the large LinnStrument model cannot be installed on units with serial numbers of LNL00200 or lower because these early units used a different sensor design that attached to the circuit board with conductive adhesive tapes instead of connectors. If you have such an early LinnStrument, contact Roger at support[at]rogerlinndesign.com.
If the used unit is running an older version of the software, all units can be updated to the latest software. From the LinnStrument Support page, click Updating Software.
Click here for a list of stolen LinnStrument and LinnStrument 128 units.
