Culling through the bbs here, I found this thread:

http://empegbbs.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/154051/1

Which started out discussing possible display alternatives, but wound up discussing the empeg MK3 (I can dream, can't I?)

It seems that the possibility existed to buy the pre-fabbed Noritake display board (with a slightly different but compatible VFD) from several vendors. I have found this board with VFD available at digikey.

http://search.digikey.com/us/en/products...part_dkc_buynow

The GU128X32-800B Noritake specs below:

http://www.noritake-itron.com/subpages/productsE/vfmod800.htm

Big Picture:

http://www.noritake-itron.com/subpages/Photos/Reduced%20size/GU128x32-800A.htm

For $122 each. This isn't cheap, and apparently it's a "J" VFD module, which to my untrained eyes looks identical except for the nipple location.

Can anyone comment on whether or not I can use this VFD? I can un-solder and reattach it, it LOOKs like it will work, the nipple has me scared. Any comments at all are appreciated, I know there are a bunch of us that want to replace our VFDs...