OT: AJ - Contact me ASAP

AJ - I just had a SD2 Unit fail. Please email me ASAP. My email
address is in my profile. If anyone knows how to contact AJ please forward this to him.

Deane

The countdown for AJ contacting you is at 8. and you know what that means. One day could be as a thousand yeare and a year could be as a day.. GOOD LUCK!

Yep, no word from AJ yet - nor any other of the Ketron contacts.
What the hell is up with Ketron and their lack of customer support?
Deane

hammer,

Contact me at Ketron_tech@yahoo.com with regards to your SD2 question, and sorry for the delay.

Hi AJ,
I just sent an email to you explaining what happened to
the SD2 Unit.

Thanks,
Deane

I am STILL waiting to for AJ's response to my email. For that matter - Ted at Ketron has not responded to 6 voice messages either. How on earth do they expect people to spend 5 grand on keyboards with this level of NON-SUPPORT?

Deane

Hi hammer,
my sd2 died after I did an update of the os system. It was only 2 or 3 years old at the time. I'd done earlier ones & everything was fine.

Actually had it looked at, & appears the board was corroded.

Ketron service over here isn't great either.

Hi Rikki,
Yes, that is what happened to mine - after the recommended update the unit died. This is a KNOWN problem for units within certain serial number range. I think Ketron should make good on the units effected.

Deane

I referred a friend with a broken XD3. He sent it to AJ to have variations buttons repaired, have the memory upgraded and new styles loaded.
He just got it back. The buttons still don't work, there is apparently no new memory. Some new styles were loaded, but some don't work. $500. plus for this. I'm sure AJ will straighten it out.
DonM

Deane,

I never could figure out the AJ role with Ketron and I still don't, maybe you do. I found direct contact with Ketron a waste of time, here in the UK we have a good main distributor and he has direct contact with the factory. When you buy a Ketron you should all know by now that you are dealing with a very small company, they don't speakey de English (neither do I properly) any repair works and it’s a no no going back to the factory and you appear to have only one man in the USA who can take the top off and get in there. Ketron is sold in Europe in numbers, their USA market penetration is small beer and I can’t see it changing, especially when you hear stories like yours. Great sounding product but perhaps if you have no proper service backup it’s too high a price to pay. The sound quality turns your head and common sense goes out the window, when you are buying the product, you never think it will go wrong and it will. Anything that is built in small numbers will carry a payload when it comes to reliability, there are no great funds for R&D.

Hope you get it sorted Deane but it’s not looking good.

Tony

Here in the USA, when I purchased an Audya, support from the US distributor was directed to AJ?? When I called the number for support for a failed Audya, AJ told me he only does Ketron Support on Wed, Thur, Fri or something like that??? I called on a Monday and he told me to call back when HE was available. Does this sound like reasonable coverage for the entire US customer base? NO...and that's why I immediately returned the Audya. I'm not going to deal with that nonsense. PERIOD!

Even though I wanted to LOVE that Audya, Ketron seems to conspire against itself.

Al,

Sounds more convoluted than I first thought.

Tony

Hi,
I actually had the opportunity of buying an Audya last year.
Friend of mine had bought it. He was told it could do certain things that he required for his recording purposes. Salesman got it wrong , it couldn't, they wouldn't take it back. Fought them over it for nearly 12 months . In the end he gave up, and asked me if I was interested in it. Could have bought it for about a third of it's retail price. I was tempted, but figured it could end up being more hassle than it was worth , considering technical support here in Aust.

Having been in the music industry for 30+ years what we found was products from Italy, such as organs and keyboards could have some very excellent sounds and features but the breakdown on them was quite high.

Scott,

I remember when got my Audya nearly 2 years back and all the trouble I had with it, a number of cleverer than me SZDERS took the pee out of me, they are gone now. I made a statement back then saying that I had dealt with Italian engineering outside the KB market and found it bad, the Italians copiers are poor one at that. They play around the edges, it looks hellish good on the outside but open it up and surprise – surprise there is not much in there, in the UK we say “jack of all trades, master of none” I was accused of begin racist by a member of SZ back then, I was just saying Italian engineering was and is crap. The olive oil is the best in the World.

I remember when got my Audya nearly 2 years back and all the trouble I had with it, a number of cleverer than I SZDERS took the pee out of me, they are gone now. I made a statement back then saying that I had dealt with Italian engineering outside the KB market and found it bad, the Italians are copiers and poor ones at that. They play around the edges, it looks hellish good on the outside but open it up and surprise – surprise there is not much in there, in the UK we say “jack of all trades, master of none” I was accused of begin racist by a member of SZ back then, I was just saying Italian engineering I had come across was and is crap. The olive oil is the best in the World. Deane could you take the SD2 apart and take some photos, didn’t someone say the PCB on theirs was corroded.

Tony

PS .... Have you noticed that none of this has got Hammer is SD2 fixed, it never will, the whole system is flawed.

Sorry,

About the duplicate.

Tony

Last night I did get an email from AJ asking many questions about how the SD2 Unit acted when it failed. He has sent me to Ted the Ketron distributor here in the US. I sent Ted two emails last night to the two different email addresses provided by AJ.

AJ asked me to keep him informed as to the outcome of it all.

Deane

Ok, this morning I have tried twice to leave messages for Ted at CMC the US Ketron distributor and his mail box is full and is not allowing voice messages to be left. It just never ends!

Deane

Some really neat products, but pretty lame in most other ways.


Sad!


Russ

Deane,

Where did you buy the SD2 from.

Tony

Hammer did you get rid of the Tyros?

Mikey,
I sold both of my Tyros 3 keyboards and bought a Tyros 4 which I still have.

Deane

Hi Tony,
that was me.
I took it to a technician to try & get it fixed. Didn't think it would be worth the cost. Told me the board was corroded.
[quote=Tony Hughes] Deane could you take the SD2 apart and take some photos, didn’t someone say the PCB on theirs was corroded.

Tony

Rikki,

Deane is not coming back to us, I asked him where he bought it from, he sgould be able to send it back, hell it must be just out of warranty if that, if Deane's SD2 has a corroded PCB then Ketron are not washing PCB off after soldering, this might be a common fault, unless Deane takes the top off he will never ever know, it will just sit there or be thrown in the trash can (bin). Rikki what did you do with your SD2.

Can't Deane post it off the Ketron.

Tony

Hi Tony,
I still have mine sitting in a cupboard. I'm only going on what I was told. I don't think I was the only one who's sd2 failed after that particular update , though.
Mine was well & truly out of warranty at the time. I just took it to the same guy that was recommended by the music store to get my out of warranty korg repaired. He fixed that ok, so can't see why he'd be wrong about his diagnosis on the sd2? There's basically nothing to them, so all of the value must be in the board itself. Cheaper to just replace it, by the time you spend money on getting someone to repair it. They charge $50 to $100 just to look at over here.

A failed update sounds more like corruption than corrosion.

I still have one SD2 and sold one. It is fine but I never tried to update it.

Bernie

The Ketron SD2 update procedure is not secured, and 90% of the users who tried it killed their SD2.

I think there is a bug on the Ketron update software, who just send the update file as SYSEX to the SD2

Then the SD2 writes the received SYSEX message into it's memory

I think there is maybe one MIDI packet who is lost during the Update, so the SD2 internal software is corrupted.

This memory is soldiered directely into the SD2 mainboard, so you have to unsolider it, and replace it (or reprogram it with an external programmer?)

The soldier is very fine, so you have to be a very good soldier man.

It's crazy !!!

KETRON, if you read this, as a software developper who knows good Ketron products, I am ok to write for you a SD2 UPDATER software FOR FREE who will not kill the SD2.
Just send me the specs by email

Now there's an offer for you.

I find this hard to believe but not entirely hard to believe, why can’t AJ tell you this or his he frightened of tell you, if its true what Dan said. Deane, does frank know anything about the SD2. It’s looking more and more like the trash can every day. You could put it under the back wheel of the car and reverse over it, when you get tyre right on top of it , rock the car backwards and forwards, that will surely kill it stone dead. It’s the final solution.

Tony

As of today I still am not able to leave a voice mail for Ted at CMC and my emails have gone unanswered. I have a new one on order with Frank.

Deane

If you don't know what to do with your killed SD2, and you can't find a way to repair it,
Don't kill you car's tires too... The SD2 cover is rock solid !

Just, send it to me in France for experimentation.

After all that and you ordered another? ...

This thread is one of the best adverts for Korg, Yamaha, Roland and Casio I've ever seen. Sheesh.

Guys, it's either that, or, Deane is one incredibly rabid devotee of the Ketron sound.

Ian

I am using the SD2 unit on my gigs and it has some really great sounds that I really miss without it. Not much to pay for what you get.
Deane

Fair do's, then, Deane. We all have the loves of our lives. Hope things pan out well for you.

Deane,

Right at this moment in time you aren’t getting anything, so it was a dear do (expensive) in my book and I don't know how anyone can help you, it appears to be a bit of a Ketron mystery with a wall of silence thrown in for good measure. Like I said “Whatever floats you boat” you are either hooked on Ketron or you’re not, you can't take medication for it. Personally, I would not be buying another one until you get this one fixed first.
Best of luck Deane

Well, lets do some math - Ketron SD2 Unit about $400.00. New TOTL keyboard $4000.00 and up. It takes under $1000.00 to get a really pro setup with the SD2 unit that tackles just about all the requirements I need for a gig. Besides, it is a lot of fun to have something a little different.

Deane

I think that maybe Ketron US are closed in august, like Ketron Italy. That's why you get no answers

This is about what I expect from these guys. Don't believe or trust anyone associated with Ketron.

And that's sad, because I really like the equipment.


R.

Update on my failing efforts to get support from Ketron for my Broken SD2 Unit.

Today I again called CMC and once again all 4 of the extensions have voice mail boxes that are full and will not accept any messages. This is now going on 3 weeks and I still have not gotten any response from Ketron other then from AJ who told me to call Ted at CMC and provided me with his contact info.


I have ordered a new SD2 Unit from a dealer and he has been waiting over a week to get one in from Ketron. As far as I can tell he doesn't know for sure when he will get one.
Deane

Ketron Italy pretty much shuts down in August due to a holiday or tradition. I have no idea what it is, I think I heard the whole country does that.

Latest update on SD2 Unit issue.
Now into a month since my SD2 unit broke and I have still not heard from Ted at CMC or any other Ketron person except for AJ who has emailed me twice. Bottom line, not a thing has been done to support this product!

I have ordered a second one because I use it with some very good software and get awesome results - otherwise I would be done with Ketron. How they sell $5000.00 keyboards to people with this level of non-support is beyond me.
Deane

Deane,

I take it you have not got the new SD2 yet, I think the factory is shut and you won't get one until mid Sept if thats the case, unless it's in the post. I have never seen inside the SD2 but with it been a low cost item perhaps $50 to make I don't think you will get it repaired. If they are going to fail early in life, maybe you should order two one as a spare, have you asked around do they have an history of problems, I have not seen anything like that.

Tony

I have found the SD2 tough and reliable. I guess that corrupted upgrade brought it down.

Bernie,
That is correct. Ketron's upgrade killed the unit. That is why I think they should replace it for me. The one I ordered will have a serial number outside those that needed the upgrade.
Deane

I have talked with the people at the distributorship and with their "rep/product expert".

Unbelievable that they're still in business. From ethics to customer and product support, it just "ain't happenin".

How sad!


R.
SD-5, Ms-60 and Midjay owner

We don't have that problem in the UK we have a Fist class
distributor TWD.

He will get anything fixed in the UK.

Tony

Today, Tuesday, I finally got a call and an email from Ted at CMC telling me to call another number. Guess what? It went to the same voice mail as the other number.

Oh yes, Frank just let me know the SD2 units won't be in his hands for "3 weeks or so". At least he tried.
Bah Humbug!!
Deane

Deane,

You are dealing with little fish in a big pond. Why bother Thomann has 3 in stock, perhaps at a better price.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html...amp;gk=&bn=



Tony

Tony,
My dealer is one of the best in the country along with another guy on the west coast. Many of the forum members have bought from both of them. The dealer is NOT the problem here.

By the way the 349 Euros price is over $150.00 more than the going price in the states.

I know you are a Ketron fan but the company sucks.

Deane

Deane,

The prices for all Ketron parts are much cheaper from Thomann than the UK, so to hear they are more expensive than the USA indicates that USA are buying much better. You will just need to wait.

Good luck with it all.

Tony

Well, after 2 months I have yet to hear from Ketron, CMC or anyone else about getting my SD2 unit repaired. Today I got another one in the mail so I am back up and running.

Our good friend Frank has been trying to help out with contacting Ketron - sure hope he has more luck than I have had.

Deane

How old are these SD-2 unit?! Shouldn't the warranty cover all these issues like bricking from software updates and corroded circuit boards? Is that how people do business in the rest of the world? I'm glad I live in Norway. All products sold for over $300 USD are protected from manufacturers errors for 5 years by law.

I really hope Ketron get their act together and take responsibility and treat their loyal customer base with the respect they deserve.

DocZ

Hi Doc,
over in Aust. 1 year warranty. Wow, you guys have it good. Actually the more I think about it, I'm pretty sure that the update killed mine too. Happened just after I did it. Maybe the guy who looked at mine noticed corrosion, but I really don't think it's what killed it.

Sucker for punishment, I think I'll be replacing sd2 too. I just bought Varranger software, pretty cheap way of getting a ketron arranger.

We have those supplier/factory warranties as well, they cover stuff that the laws don't.

Circuit board corrosion, if it's just over one year - that one is hard to believe - unless you had it out in the rain or out to sea in a gale. I have some electronics that are over 50 years old - with no corrosion what so ever that hinder their operation. If I were in your shoes, i would keep contacting Ketron relentlessly and claim it's their fault. One should expect a $400 product meant for proffesionals to last more than one year. Heck my old GEM CD 2 is 20 years old - it stills works like a charm - and it's Italian

DocZ

Sad but not at all surprising.

R.

I think someone confused corrupt with corrode. Corruption being much more likely here.

Bernie,

It would be better if it was corrosion since there is a excuse for that, there can be no excuse for corruption, that should be fixed in minutes, a faulty PCB is in the bin, trash can, in USA. This is an "never ending song of love" at least for Hammer.

Tony

BTW has anyone got the dots for "never ending of love for you"

Hi Bernie,
that was me . The techie that fixed my PA800 screen , also had a quick look at my SD2. He's the one that told me my board had corrosion on it? Personally I'm still convinced it was the update that killed it. The light went solid instead of flashing as soon as I did it.
My sd2 one of the first models. Was going well till I did the second update on it. First time I updated, no problem. It's the second update that killed it.
I noticed now, Ketron at least gives a warning about using their updates, pity they didn't do that with update No.2.

I've updated every keyboard & module I've owned, if & when an update became available. My pa800 had 5, my sd1 had 2. It's not like I didn't know what I was doing. The sd2 was the only one I've had a problem with.

Having said that, I've gone out and bought another one haahaa. Might stay away from their updates. If it wasn't for my newly aquired VArranger software, I wouldn't have bothered with another Ketron.
Now I'm counting the days till it arrives. haahaa

Rikki,
That was exactly my experience too. The light turned solid and that was the end of it. I'am like you - got another one so I could continue with vArranger.

Deane

Hi Deane,
I visited the site. Was your's within the range of serial no's that was supposedly safe to use the current update??

My old one is certainly within that range, but unfortunately I killed mine a couple of years ago, when there was NO Warning whatsoever.
I'm fairly certain it was an earlier update to the one now on site.

Yes, mine was within the range.
Deane

Hi Deane,
that's a bit scary, you should have been safe?

Well, can't beleive it, mine arrived yesterday afternoon.
Ordered it on Thursday afternoon, (USA )arrived Monday afternoon
( Australia ).
Thank goodness it must be a fairly current model, because it's out of the range that requires updating.

Must admit it's good to have one again, the sounds are really quite good for such a teeny box. Apart from using it for VArranger, it will also come in handy for the midi tracks in Band in a Box.

Tony,
Amongst other things, USA does not have the VAT plaguing prices.

The VAT is one of many new taxes being considered in the U.S..

Gary