Roland Fantom X8 Disassembly and Cleaning

See how to take apart a Roland Fantom X8 and clean various internals. You can do it!
This is my personal X8 I've owned since 2004. The action on these boards are amazing, which you can see when it's taken apart in this video.

[@T60axe]

Very useful video. I had to change the display in my Fantom X8 and watching this first helped out in knowing what to expect. There was a screw on mine in the middle of the keyboard that also has to be removed that was missed in the video, but otherwise bang on. The cable on the display has a lock on the connector that needs to be opened for anyone doing a screen replace.

[@WayneMusicianUK]

Ian! Can you help me buddy! My LCD screen on my Fantom X8 has just started playing up, it’s gone bright white and cloudy😰

[@alfredfaust9614]

Hi Greg, thanks a lot for this video. This is the right help for me. Before I readed the service manual - which was more confusing, than a help. Now I think, I'm able to clean my FantomX8.

[@GregSimon]

Thanks Alfred, glad this helped!!!

[@threecirclesaudio]

Thanks - very helpful video. I had a weird output issue where one channel was quiet and there was a very hollow sound. Used this video to check out how to take apart and there were 4 very dodgy capacitors on the jack board A quick swap out and it sounds brand new!

[@andrewgraybill7920]

Great video Greg. How would I go about cleaning the key sensors? Not sure which panel/screws to take off or which other Roland has the same layout as far as removing parts. Thanks!

[@kennethwilliams4639]

Thank you Greg! This video was very helpful for me doing maintenance on my Roland.

[@mattbasham3423]

Looking forward to trying this with a unit that I recently acquired from a friend that had a flood. It was partially submerged for about an hour so I am interested to see what it looks like inside and if I can get replacement parts.

[@g28725]

Just the video I needed ! Thanx a lot Greg.

[@scopex2749]

Superb. I just got a Fantom X8 with a damaged key so i need to replace it!

[@JLPlumber]

greg, thanks for the video. my spring came off of the sound bender. And dust on the glass over screen. The only thing I had trouble with was the screws that I took out, some screws were smooth threads, and others were course thread.

[@GregSimon]

You're referring to the screws on the bottom right? There are two types as you mention. Only two of them are machine screws however. One goes in between the black metal shroud (the shroud you DO NOT remove). The other one can be seen at 0:52 IIRC.

[@JLPlumber]

I have 7 machine screws. Sorry, took so long to write back to you. I have been working a lot. Thanks again.

[@THEMADCHALKER]

Greg Simon How DO you remove just that front black shroud? Mine has a dent in it I want to tap out. Do I need to remove the end covers? I tried pulling the screws that hold the shroud on - it loosened it but there's still something holding it back.

[@GregSimon]

THEMADCHALKER Don't remove the side covers, remove the bottom FIRST. If you remove the sides first the structure will collapse and you'll find you have to remove the bottom to put it back together. Once the bottom is off you can see what is holding the front shroud

[@THEMADCHALKER]

Greg Simon OK apparently there are two downward facing screws on either end of that panel on the inside seemingly put there for no reason other than to annoy the crap out of us. lol s16.postimg.org/rwc6laio5/Fantom_X8_Screws.jpg

[@DallasTroy2007]

Thanks for the video. I bought a used X8 that started collecting dust inside the screen. I got most of the dust out. Still a little I missed. Good enough though.

[@pshimmons]

thanks for the video! U r very helpful!

[@TheRealDirtySkillz]

Thanks for that. Helpful. I need to clean my X 61

[@vincegonsalves6125]

Thanks for making this video. I just bought an X6, great deal off CL and even got it reduced more when I discovered that the PC Card Reader was sliding loosely inside the machine. I knew it would be an easy fix, but have never taken apart a keyboard before so I was looking for a video that would guide me and give me the confidence to "DIY" the repair. Your video was very helpful and I am probably going to lift the hood for not only the repair, but also a thorough cleaning and maybe even preemptively change out a couple knobs while I'm in there. This is my second used Roland (other is an Fantom S) and the volume knobs on both seem very wiggly or loose; is that common you think?

[@GregSimon]

Thanks Vince! I haven't personally encountered the wiggly/loose knobs. Do they function? Maybe their solder has broken loose in which case it may be as easy as heating up the solder on the knob connections to the PCB.

[@vincegonsalves6125]

Greg Simon No problem with functionality or static, just scary if something pushed it over the edge and it happened to be at a show. The "S" was toted around in a crappy soft case to gigs by the previous owner, but X6 was in a Gator Case coffin and still was felt much looser than the Real Time knobs. I'll get to the bottom it. Thanks

[@wryaraza5029]

you can help me?

[@punkaholicmember]

Beautiful video. I have velocity problems, i think. Some keys play louder, even though i play them exactly the same. what would be the problem here? i already cleaned about everything :) thanks!

[@j.carlos146]

Great video. My fantom x8 sensitivity is really bad on almost all keys. Any suggestions? thank you very much.

[@anwarsabah2467]

Hi,If the touch buttons stop working so instead of replacing the buttons try ‘WD-40’ (google it) it brings life to your dead buttons.The WD-40 is not for cleaning purpose but fortunately it really works very well, I own more than 30 pro keyboards some of them are vintage and compatible buttons are not commercially available so WD-40 is the solution.

[@giant1band455]

Thanks for this video! I have some keys that really THUNK when played and would like to quiet them. One will be fine and the key next to it noisy. Any suggestions as to what I might need before I take it apart? Thank you-(Fantom X8-88)

[@soundservices1660]

Super job!

[@soundservices1660]

+Sound Services Just mentioning that the two screws (opposite the edge with several screws that must come out) are slightly different than the other screws. Be sure to get these two back where they belong. If you try them in the wrong place, they will be too tight and hard to turn (your warning that something's not right!).

[@jfjusa1]

hi Greg - nice video! hey, i have a roland G8 fantom that's been damaged by UPS. the damage is on the black metal lower front piece. it has a large "dent" that is stopping the keys near the dent from moving. have you ever tired to remove that piece? just wanted to know about the difficulty before i get into. thanks for any info you can provide!

[@kayjix]

thx for this, my Fantom G7's screen has conked out, can you plz demonstrate how to replace it plz? thx in advance !!

[@andrewverran3498]

Hi Greg, i spilt about a cup of water on my Fantom XA,, i put outside horizonatally upright accross the arms of chair , i.e, audio jacks pointing to the sky.. i left it for around 7 hours...it seems to be working fine ...is it possible that i may get away without dismantling and isoprop cleaning? Much appreciated and yes I'm a dumb ass.

[@DocJaymzeMD]

I have X6 and the lowest (B) key doesn't play. I looking for a video on how to repair it? Thanks in advance.

[@bobcatt2294]

Would contact cleaner also work perhaps better than alcohol? Secondly, have you ever changed the felts on the hammers?

[@davelloyd7847]

Hi How do you remove the grey bracket that the keys sit on? as a corner has broken which obviously makes the key loose. I want to swap it for one at the bass end - if you could post a video that would be great - Thanks

[@EquinoxeBruno]

Thanks ! Excellent !

[@MrPlaneTalk]

Hello. I have a Fantom G8. Any differences to remove top panel? I took out all the screws you mentioned for X8, but top panel still seems “stuck” towards the rear. It starts to open about 1” in the front, but then hangs up. I don’t want to force it open and break something. The wood is a little warped. Could that be the hang up or is there a screw somewhere I’m missing (maybe in the expansion bay on the bottom?

[@jfjusa1]

hi greg! i have the g8 and i noticed that the rubber seals around the sliders are dirty what would you recommend cleaning them with? thanks!

[@stefanyou]

Do you have a video or a place to point me on how to simply replace keys on a Fantom G7

[@alejoswp]

thanks for posting, do you know how to fix 'broken keys' or these just have to be replaced? im expecting mine soon and this cleanup and fixing keys will happen

[@GregSimon]

+alejoswp Depends on how they are broken. Perhaps the switch(es) underneath the keys need to be replaced? Roland still stocks all these parts I'm fairly certain.As you can see in the video the switches are a rubber membrane -- I would first try to just peel it off and use some isopropyl alcohol to clean the contacts.

[@alejoswp]

+Greg Simon , thanks for your response... i found out it wasn't the keys but this that broke: Keybed sub-chassis, 12-note. So i did a quick fix (it had superglue) with a strong adhesive someone recommended and tomorrow it should be done. Also cleaning volume pot was a little tricky but necessary.

[@syedmohi8371]

Hi Greg, I own a Fntom X6; 4 of my keys(D,A#,F#,D) are not sounding or responding at all. Should I take it to fixing store ? or open it up and clean it will be fine u think, if so, whats the best way to clean them ? Please let me know ! (btw thumbs up for the vedio)

[@GregSimon]

+Syed Mohi Yes almost certainly you just have dust/dirt between the rubber membrane and the circuit board (PCB). I would definately try a DIY clean first since you're already out of warranty.

[@aniljoshi100]

Thanks for the Video Greg. I have a Fantom that had been working well for 6 years. So obviously out of warranty. Now, When i switch it on, it doesn't boot and the screen keeps flickering. Ive tried holding the exit button etc upon switching on but no use. Spoke to a few people who say I need to change the board inside without even seeing it! That costs well over £650 just for the board and a further few hundreds to repair (from what I've been told). Is there any DIY that I can try before committing? Any help is appreciated. A

[@GregSimon]

This almost sounds like a power supply issue to me. First check to make sure power connections (wires) are good and plug ends are seated. Then check the power supply itself as long as you are comfortable measuring voltages in a live circuit. Be very careful when checking voltages on a live circuit!

[@aniljoshi100]

Thank you Greg. Will try this method and let you know how it goes :-)

[@harleyrider9166]

Do you have the Audio Track Expansion Kit? If so would you be interested in selling it. I’m still on Version 1.0.7 and need to update to Version 2.0.

[@instrumentalistjade8367]

Hi. is it easy to replace a broken lcd screen?

[@ig6438]

Hi Greg, I also own a Fantom X6 but some of the patches sound very dull and with a high pitch (ex. the patch Paris Romance) I owned a lot of Fantom X models and never faced this problem, tried factory resetting it but still some of the patches doesn't sound the way it needs to be. Should I take it to a local store to check it? or is this a problem potentionally caused by dirt inside? If so what do I need to clean in average? Thanks for your video liked!

[@GregSimon]

Not sure. Perhaps there is a discrete part (e.g., a capacitor) in the output stage(s) that is in need of replacing. I would start by checking left vs right to see if only one channel is bad. Key is to try to isolate the issue.

[@beakf1]

do you think the fantom x has the same keys as the fantom g? and can i still purchase fantom g keys because its discontinued?

[@firebuss]

May I hava a video to change x6 key broken ? I have my x6 dissemble now but y can’t see the keyboard for change de key 😭😭 helllpppp

[@manurightz]

thanks

[@DaMaster1983]

if you cover your keyboard with cloth it will remain more clean when youre not using it

[@palakass3218]

I want bring fantom x6 Mother board