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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 12 June 2014, 12:19:09

Title: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 12 June 2014, 12:19:09
Yamaha QX3 sequencer (http://www.ebay.com/itm/yamaha-qx3-digital-sequence-recorder-vintage-This-runs-like-a-charm-/181431816504?pt=US_Vintage_Pro_Audio_Equipment&hash=item2a3e2dd138)
So you're saying hey Ivan... this isn't a keyboard why are you posting some music kit in here? Well because this bad boy has Cherry Hirose MX orange switches and double/triple/quad shot keycaps. Check it out (http://kbd.rzw.jp/cherry/yamaha_qx3_cherry_orange/).
While I would love to get this I just can't afford it at the moment even at the $125 starting price.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: Zeal on Thu, 12 June 2014, 12:25:12
Interesting find & switches. But it appears that Hirose Oranges are a little bit stubbier/fatter and smaller than regular cherry MX switches.

Quick Google translate says they're 60-70g actuation/bottom out, similar to MX Black.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: yicaoyimu on Thu, 12 June 2014, 12:31:34
Ivan, do you know whether those caps are made by Cherry or not? I'm very interested.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 12 June 2014, 12:43:08
My best guess is those keys were probably made somewhere in Japan if not by Hirose. They are quite distinctly different from any other MX keycap I have seen on anything else. No they are not stem compatible with common MX keycap, the stem mount is smaller but the housings and electrical pins etc are cross compatible.

In case anyone here does get this with the intent of harvesting the Hirose switches and keycaps... if you feel like dumping the rest of the sequencer at a bargain price you know who to offer it. :))
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 12 June 2014, 19:58:28
One of the few tripleshots available, and one of the even rarer quad shots. I think the only other quad I know of is a keytronic mount.
In case anyone here does get this with the intent of harvesting the Hirose switches and keycaps... if you feel like dumping the rest of the sequencer at a bargain price you know who to offer it. :))

I'm not as familiar with hirose. Can you desolder and replace with cherry MX? I think they are pin-compatible.

I mean, If I were in the market for bargain sequencers, I'd desolder and replace with relegendables on cherry black.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: Pacifist on Thu, 12 June 2014, 20:00:20
dem hiroses
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Thu, 12 June 2014, 20:09:58
Right, besides from the smaller keycap stem ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ they are the same as MX in very other way. Hirose was simply the Japanese licensee of MX back in the 80's.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 12 June 2014, 20:29:14
Huh, those caps look to be the same shot technique as those triple shot Topre compatible caps that come from Brother (I think) typewriters.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 12 June 2014, 23:42:30
Huh, those caps look to be the same shot technique as those triple shot Topre compatible caps that come from Brother (I think) typewriters.

The Brother AX series typewriter keycaps are pretty awesome
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40658.msg1303119#msg1303119
(thanks to terrpn for the picture)

But the bottom looks completely different than the hirose. I just think they're the same age, not necessarily the same factory
http://kbd.rzw.jp/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/YAMAHA_QX3_Cherry_Orange_12.jpg

Yamaha sequencer keycaps appear to be cherry profile but (possibly) shorter.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 14 June 2014, 12:45:03
Wooo. I guessed it would go higher, but not that high.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: tinlong117 on Sun, 15 June 2014, 00:23:58
O_O, qx3 isn't that rare.
Title: Re: Yamaha QX3 sequencer
Post by: CHERRYFAN01 on Sat, 11 April 2015, 22:00:58
then where can i find one?