New VFD - Possible sources... Comments please?

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...

I think the 12832J nipple location may well clash with the rotary control. The other thing that I remember about the J is that the legs are shorter, hence you may have more fun mounting it on the board (nothing that can't be fixed by soldering some pinstrip header into the display board, then soldering the legs to the pinstrip I guess... if you're ok with that amount of soldering).

Desoldering displays for reuse isn't easy though. I tried it once and it was very messy.

I was slightly amazed that Noritake still list the 12832E display...

I was afraid of that nipple being in the wrong spot. I just swapped the rotary encoder out too... Oh well, I guess I can live with it (the current missing-line display) if I cant source another. I wouldn't want to risk $120 on a chance it would not work. The soldering might be a pain, but certainly do-able with some patience or creativity :-)

If only there were 100 of us that needed a new display, we could order from Noritake.

I had requests for two in the last week. Could we get a group buy going? Where should we post? I would probably be good for 3 or 4.

Thanks,
Stu

I am certain I am one of those requests, Stu.

It would be nice, but getting a hundred of them sold seems like such a long shot. But if it does happen I would certainly get 2.

if it does happen i'm in for one. might as well cover my ass.

Did anyone ever try this? Sadly my wife dropped one of my empegs Wednesday, and guess what happened...

Is there any chance Noritake (or someone else) could repair a display that had lost vacuum.

Or, Is it just too likely to be blown out from an attempt to run at air.

I don't know for sure, but I would suspect that something bad would happen if it was run without vacuum (like something burning off in the presence of oxygen).

I likely still have some display boards in Cambridge where the VFD could be fine but other bits may be bad. I should try and dig them out next month and give them to someone who can do *something* useful with them.

Any volunteers?

odds that i can do work as fine as required to salvage such: low.

another thought, tho: is there anything which is likely to be available that would be compatible either directly or with a PIC between it and the empeg's display board, to replace the noritak VFD with?

Hmm. With kernel mods, maybe you could hook up an LCD, but suitable LCDs aren't exactly thick on the ground either

I'm good for now, I still have one working empeg, but one 13 year old device is worrisome.

I'll keep thinking. There has to be some sort of answer.