Bought a microArranger in Feb 2012. By April the joystick stopped functioning properly. Took it to Sweetwater and after about 5 weeks they gave me a new unit.

The new one was fine for exactly 1 year but now the joystick has stopped functioning again. So I feel that, though i really, really like the microArranger, the joystick can not be trusted. Sweetwater said I'm covered for 2 years so i can take it in again before next February. But how long will the next one last?

It's not like I'm sitting on the thing or hitting it with a large salami. Korg must have wired these microArranger joysticks up with the most frail, fragile wire available in the universe.

Even when it's fixed, I think I'll feel a little afraid to use the joystick much because I won't trust it. Is anyone else having this problem? 2 microArrangers have shown me that the MA joystick is pretty much 100% unreliable.

I had one go out on PA3X. You have to be very careful if you transport them in a soft case, because it sort of sticks up where it could be damaged if banged against something.
I don't think I did that though. I think it just broke.
Some people are replacing them with one from a Korg synth. Don't remember the details, but there is a thread about it on korgforums.com
DonM

The number of times that I had moved the MA since taking it out of the box: 0.

It sat stable on the stand the whole year. All's good, though, because Sweetwater has it now and I know they'll take care of it. I like living in the same town as Sweetwater!

They're having a weekend event in June called "Gear Fest" and said Korg people will be there. I may bug them about this issue.

All ends well! Sweetwater called yesterday and said my microArranger was ready. Picked it up and the joystick is behaving properly again.

I only wonder for how long. The first time it went bonkers after 2 months. Then it went a year. We'll see how long this fix lasts.

Ultimately, I want to step up to a PA600. Off to buy a lottery ticket!