No sound from FR8X.

[Mockie]

Hi guys
I took out my Roland FR8X today after leaving unplayed for sometime, maybe over 5 to 6 weeks due to holidays etc. To my surprise it did not produce any sound...global. The battery display indicates a charged battery. I checked all controls and nothing.... not a squeak.I have it on charge at present

 

[JerryPH]

Does it play with the AC plug in it and NOT charging the battery? (never do them both at the same time... play and charging, can easily burn out an IC board)

 

[John M]

Do you ever play your 8X through a remote speaker? If you do, be sure you have the internal speakers turned on. I always use an external speaker. If I just turn on the 8X, with no external hook up, no sound comes out. Also, be sure the volume knob is turned up.

 

[Mockie]

Does it play with the AC plug in it and NOT charging the battery? (never do them both at the same time... play and charging, can easily burn out an IC board)

The battery displays a fully charged icon. I did get it sounding from it again and then no sound. I've a feeling it might a bad connection inside. I will have to get it fully checked out before playing again in public.

 

[JerryPH]

I did get it sounding from it again and then no sound. I've a feeling it might a bad connection inside. I will have to get it fully checked out before playing again in public.

You just might be having issues with the JACK BOARD, specifically the plugs. Inside if they are "grounded out" they can "silence" the accordion, however, if the settings on the accordion are set to SPEAKER ON, even when plugged in, they may turn off.

Check the FR-8X MENU 14.3 – set “SPEAKERS” to “ON” and see what happens.

 

[Mockie]

You just might be having issues with the JACK BOARD, specifically the plugs. Inside if they are "grounded out" they can "silence" the accordion, however, if the settings on the accordion are set to SPEAKER ON, even when plugged in, they may turn off.

Check the FR-8X MENU 14.3 – set “SPEAKERS” to “ON” and see what happens.

Jerry I take your point about the speakers not being ON .I'll check that out. By the way do I save that setting to System. Thanks

 

[JerryPH]

If the setting is turned on, your next task may be to troubleshooting the actual jacks, you may need to work with the internal pins/wiring and if all looks good there, the next step is a call to an authorized Roland dealer.

 

[Ventura]

the FIRST step when troubleshooting Jacks like that is to just get
a clean extra patch cable or bare plug and with the device OFF
plug it in and out firmly a few times

this is to make sure the physical switches/contacts are sprung clear
and not interfered with by some odd debris or dirt.. sometimes this
is all you need to do to clear an errant hidden switch

jacks are made of metal, some of the metal is sprung,
metal can fatigue over time or get pushed out of sorts by some
accidental whatever or get obstructed by a piece of fur or tissue

if you do still need to take it apart, first look closely under
a bright light and magnifying glass and try to see the
internal connection/switching path and check/ohmmeter for connectivity
as closely as you can to the contact points

good luck

 

[Mockie]

the FIRST step when troubleshooting Jacks like that is to just get
a clean extra patch cable or bare plug and with the device OFF
plug it in and out firmly a few times

this is to make sure the physical switches/contacts are sprung clear
and not interfered with by some odd debris or dirt.. sometimes this
is all you need to do to clear an errant hidden switch

jacks are made of metal, some of the metal is sprung,
metal can fatigue over time or get pushed out of sorts by some
accidental whatever or get obstructed by a piece of fur or tissue

if you do still need to take it apart, first look closely under
a bright light and magnifying glass and try to see the
internal connection/switching path and check/ohmmeter for connectivity
as closely as you can to the contact points

good luck

Thanks guys for all the suggestions

 

[Mockie]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions

Well, things might not be as bad as it seemed earlier. The 8X is back working again. I have a gig in 3 weeks and I'd like to use it. I'm going to play it everyday to make sure that the 'gremlins' are gone. Keep you posted

 

[John M]

Well, things might not be as bad as it seemed earlier. The 8X is back working again. I have a gig in 3 weeks and I'd like to use it. I'm going to play it everyday to make sure that the 'gremlins' are gone. Keep you posted

If you didn't change anything, chances are the intermittent problem will return again. While the problem is gone, it may be a good time to remove the grille to get access the Output Jack Board, connectors and other IC boards. Get an insulated probe (wooden pencil -- eraser end) and poke around the various wire connection points. Do this with the power on. Wedge a small piece of cardboard (matchbook cover) between a key to hold it down. Pick a tone that will sound without use of the bellows (Fixed setting). As you poke around, listen for any interruption in sound coming from the speaker so that you can zero in on the bad connector, solder joint, etc.

 

[Mockie]

If you didn't change anything, chances are the intermittent problem will return again. While the problem is gone, it may be a good time to remove the grille to get access the Output Jack Board, connectors and other IC boards. Get an insulated probe (wooden pencil -- eraser end) and poke around the various wire connection points. Do this with the power on. Wedge a small piece of cardboard (matchbook cover) between a key to hold it down. Pick a tone that will sound without use of the bellows (Fixed setting). As you poke around, listen for any interruption in sound coming from the speaker so that you can zero in on the bad connector, solder joint, etc.

Thank you for your suggestion John. I believe that the speakers were turned off and when I turned them on again I did save to System.
I'll keep checking the instrument every day for awhile and hopefully it won't show up again. As to your suggestion of opening up the instrument and try and locate the problem, I have done that with band gear in the past and it cost me dearly to repair the gear when I interfered with it......never again..thanks for the suggestion anyway.

 

[JerryPH]

If all it was is a setting, that is awesome... good luck with it and let's hope it was nothing else!