How I fixed my brand new but bent Teenage-Engineering OP-Z
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- I bought brand new Teenage Engineering OP-Z a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, all of them were already bent in the package (brand new and sealed).
The third OP-Z I got (after some exchanges) Is the one you can see here in the video and It was the most bent of all them. Since the dealer I bought it from was not willing to do a fourth exchange and Teenage Engineering itself unfortunately has a really miserable support, I just had to help myself. But everyone who knows the product and still Bough’s It actually knows what to expect.
Otherwise, you can buy less cumbersomed instruments that are of better quality than this one. 😅
But anyway, I've made a short, qualitatively not particularly exhilarating, but its purpose fulfilling video to show that you can also easily fix the problem itself.
The video is purely an illustration of how it can be done. The OP-Z can also become completely broken, which voids the warranty. I advise everyone not to do it! If you still want to try It…. your turn
Cheers ZUIO
A music device that costs as much as it does shouldn’t have this issue. TE should be embarrassed, especially when they tout themselves as having a premium “design”.
OP-Z with aluminum casing is what they *should* release instead of the slightly updated op-1..
I really hope that's next!
I want one of these but their crapoy quality is repelling me!
It will cost $9 million dollars but has a TE logo on it. I say this an an OP-Z owner
Wow that was an interesting gamgle...unbelievable how a company like TE can not quality control on the production line I know the production line is in another country far away but this can be done when they receive the stock.
These units should of been all sent back to TE and you should of got a full refund.
Nice fix...
Yes that is indeed very sad when you consider what the products cost. But what disappoints me much more is their support, you would think that for a premium price you also get a premium support. But no, the double triggering of the keys for example that occurs when the OP-Z warps is not covered under warranty as the keys are subject to a wear and tear clause at TE. Which is ironic when you see how the products are delivered "new".
@@SuspiciousGranny Very sad for a company that has a big user and fan base.
I am surprised no one out there has made a 3d printed case for the OPZ ..
I have just got a detailed 3d printed special vertical case for my Nintendo Switch made to a high standard by one unique seller on Ebay..
Whoah! Thank you for posting this. My friend is a machinist and I sometimes want to take mine apart and have him build me an aluminum body. I’m not brave enough to try it yet. This is the first video I’ve seen of somebody taking it apart! Great job!
THX 🙏
Appreciate your video. Still getting frustrated with mine because of the encoders popping out. Even while using a replacement model. TE should be very, very ashamed of the product quality which unfortunately, I consider a total rip-off by now.
I had to do the plumbers tape trick on mine but one of the four will still pop out. It’s so frustrating.
mine also came slightly bent, just got worse over time. double trigs started around 4 months in and the shift key stopped responding around 1 week after warranty. interestingly i got it repaired for free under warranty even tho it was 1 week over the purchase date. im assuming they changed the casing of the device because it came back with the same backplate and my projects still in place but the case was a darker color and had a huge scratch in the front and a few smaller ones all over the place. it is not bent anymore but only around 2 weeks after use the doubletriggers came back. saddens me cause the unit in itself is incredibly good. its just the build quality holding it back
I am now waiting and hoping for an "OP-Z field" to put an end to this "quality drama". The way TE is currently experimenting with its prices, I think the part will certainly come on the market for 999€/$. If not, I'll try to mill myself a aluminum housing or have milled since I do not have my own CNC milling machine. Creating 3D Model should be that hard 🙄🤞 I’am honestly surprised that so far no one has done that before….
Fresh baked OP-Z
🙌✨
This would be funny if these things weren't the price they are
I can get one almost new for $250. I'm giving it some thought.
My brand new OP-Z has double triggers and defective encoders. Wtf is TE doing? Are they just shipping refurbished units as new?
To be honest, I asked myself the same question when I received one bent OP-Z after another. In the end I sent the OP-Z shown in the video back (good for the new owner) and bought a used one for half the price. Now that I know how to get the parts straight again, it didn't have to be a new one.
@@SuspiciousGranny nice, the next owner will be happy to receive a baked device without knowing :/
...or did you labeled it "prebaked"
Hello. Thank you for this video. I'm wondering what you call the red tool you used to clamp the op-z frame to the table
Hi ✌️ i would call it a T-profile ruler... It’s made of aluminum and its heat conduction also contributed to rapid cooling on a uniform surface. At least that’s how I envisioned it, and I would say the result wasn’t bad. I’m not sure, as mine has no branding. But the “Jadeshay T 260” is very close to the one I have, almost identical.
I feel your pain deeply, as someone who's very aware of inconsistent electronics build QC, and has been through this product return loop many times in the desperate hope to simply get what you paid for. I assure you I'm suffering by proxy and would be deeply pissed at TE.
In fact, I was very annoyed and wondered how they could launch something like this after the OP-1 and still charge 550€ for it. But it is what it is…
In the meantime, I have also sent back the device from the video and got myself a second-hand OP-Z. It was half the price and works just as well. And if it continues to bend, I now know what to do.
I want to say that I’m shocked that they haven’t changed case materials yet but I’m not and I doubt they ever will until a v2, which will probably be twice the price.
as a small company that should have a tight QC focus. Instead they have changed nothing and keep on charging folk half a grand for it. They know the score and have been profiting, screwing over their customers. And the funniest thing is many of those customers will be instant buying another more expensive one if they do make an op-zf. So why change anything, when you can get folk to buy the same device twice? It is gonna take all of my will-power to resist an updated version though, as like most, I really adore using it. But there has to be a line somewhere.
@@sodiumlights Well they may have already produced thousands of these things that they have to sell so it may not be a case of them continuing to make more but just having to get rid of the stock they have. When I bought mine the firmware version was like six versions before so it had clearly been sitting there a while.
@@harveytherobot I bought mine from the first/second batch. They produce small runs on products, certainly not mass produced, and the op-z has been out for what, 4 years now? Not just a bad batch, not some rookie error, and not a company who gives a sht. All these op-1f price comments are valid, but I do truly detest those folk that just don't get what it really costs to manufacture something like that . The op-z is very, very different. I, like everyone else, love what it can do. But fck TE, as a company/brand. There is an ugly arrogance, elitism to that business. Ace ideas, sometimes well produced, but overall more interested in Instagram stylistic brand cool rather than anything with real heart & substance.
I don’t mind cooking the plastic, but what about the metal and moving parts that also get baked? That worries me.
Hi @Jørn, if you have listened carefully you will hear that I said "warm, not hot" the oven is at 100 degrees, but most of the internal components has been removed from the casing. As mentioned, it should only be warm! You should not bake the part in the oven until it is soft. Just warm enough so that it can be deformed. Cheers ✌️
Thank you for posting this! This reminds me of a technique I used this technique to reflow solder in a 2008 MacBook Pro that had graphic card issues. I did it 3 times, which brought my laptop back to life. In my case, with the OP-Z I left it charging overnight without think of the fact it was sitting in a west facing window. When I discovered my mistake, I found that it was severely bent and it wouldn’t power on without a cable. I tried most of the methods to resolve the battery not charging issue including replacing the battery. I pulled it out of a drawer yesterday, about a year and a half later and thought I’d experiment more. What I found is that if I turn the unit on while plugged in and power it up, then unplug it (powers down), and I bend the device over my knee it turns on. This tells me it’s a connection issue, possibly caused by the severe bend. I took the bottom plate off and found a point where I pressed a point on the circuit board between the two middle encoders, pressed more lightly between my fingers - it worked again. When I did this I was able to use my free hand and press the screen button to test the battery - and it showed an actual partial charge vs full charge when plugged in. I’m going to try your method to straighten the body and report back here to let you and others know if it works without being plugged in again.
@karn3094 Wow, this is actually also a very special and interesting scenario that you bring to the table. Thank you very much for the contribution, the "double triggering" of the individual keys mentioned in the video is also a problem that is due to the bending of the OP-Z. Therefore, it is definitely interesting to hear that this problem can possibly also be solved by shaping the housing. I am very curious what kind of experience you will have with the method. Cheers ✌️
Thank you, happy to share, and have appreciated everyone’s contribution. So I heated the body of the OP-Z, and it isn’t as warped as it was. The left end of the unit has a localized bend I might fix at a later date. I also took a chance and heated the internal frame that houses the circuit board for the encoders, also the battery connection. After baking my MPB all those years ago I must be more brave. After putting it back together I noticed 3 of four encoders are no longer popping out, but I still needed to plug it in. So heating didn’t fix it, but - one thing I tried before was to put a folded “wad” of tin foil on the pressure point of the encoder - it didn’t work that great but made it easier to put pressure on that point with the bottom plate on. I thought I’d put the little foil wad on again. Now it runs without being plugged in! I think restoring the shape of the body helped. Before the bottom plate wouldn’t close very well, but now, while it’s not perfect, the bottom plate is less distorted with the foil. Good news is I can plug and unplug it without it turning off, I can check the battery, and even hold it and shake it, and even pound it on my hand. But it’s still fragile. If I try to bend it over my knee it stops working (vs working as before)! Even if heating the body and straightening it didn’t totally fix it, your method certainly contributed to my partial fix. One method I tried a while ago is the hair dryer method to straighten. I actually damaged thin parts of the body and frame, so I would advise the oven method you describe because the heating is uniform. Thank you for your contribution!
Great idea. Good to know that the heat doesn’t fry the components that are still in there. I thought about using a hair dryer but this seems like it distributes the heat more evenly.
I have done this before with the MacBook Pro boards to get a new connection to the MLB (refloating) with the GPU from Nvidia.
Therefore, I had no concerns that anything could happen to the electronic components.
Should I put the TE CV/Gate YELLOW module in a microwave to see if it expands and won’t disconnect from the unit???
So the slot for the modules is definitely another weak point besides the placement of the feet. From that point of view, an idea in that direction is definitely not wrong.
I've also been thinking for a while about how I could stiffen the middle of the OP-Z to make it more stable.
Nothing has worked so far, but if I find a solution I'll share it of course!
@@SuspiciousGranny … I was trying to be sarcastic… I bought the module straight from the company’s website and after a few months the module started disconnecting… couldn’t find a fix … but TE is still selling it like nothing wrong with it … very disappointing (and I take care of my stuff, no way my gear is in bad shape)
@@mauriciomandara5946 so sorry to hear that. I had gotten the first batch of OP-Z and the cv module right away too. I figured it was an issue with early models but I guess they just don’t care. Pretty lame TE…
My OP-Z was bent too. Still is lol. Really poor engineering on them sadly, they are a lot of fun but have very poor quality control, manufacturing standards, and used materials that the designers clearly didn't fully understand...
Yes, as I wrote in the comment below, the quality and support is extremely poor.
If you are not technically proficient and do not dare to do repairs yourself, you should definitely not buy an OP-Z.
But it is simply an ingenious instrument... as long as it works.... can not be said otherwise.
It's like it's been engineered by teenagers... oh wait.
🤣👍
Good video! I had just picked up my op-z recently and noticed the body is bent! It wasnt bent when I got it. I wondered if anyone had the same issues.
I guess there are only a few people who own one that is not bent. But if you own one and use it regularly, you will encounter this issue sooner or later. I’m convinced it is inevitable….
i laughed when i saw it in the oven. nice work haha
100C or 100F? I expect C but just checking.
@@Geekraver It’s C
would love to hear how this holds up over time!
I don't think it will last long, which is due to the material. But if I think about it I'll let you know when it warps again. The whole thing cost me 15min working time, if it then holds for 1-2 months and I then repeat the process is also fine for me.
@@SuspiciousGranny did it help with the double triggers? i've heard mixed opinions as to whether it's caused by bending or a separate issue
sorry and what type of screwdriver did you use?
I can't say anything about this at the moment, at least I can't hear any double triggering at the moment. I used an T4 Torx Screwdriver.
Hey does this stay straight or does it bend again?
I returned the device from the video because I paid full price for it. Then, I bought a used one and repeated the “repair method”, and until today, the OP-Z is working fine and is straight. I have to mention that I use the OP-Z relatively rarely, mostly when I'm on the go or on vacation, so not a everyday use. But i this this could be repeated a couple of times.
How has it held up? Any noteworthy updates?
Sorry for the late reply, so far so good... I have only noticed a minimal bending since the “repair”. But hardly worth mentioning. But I don't use it every day.
Thomann is the only Place I would buy this at, with their great warantynpolicy.
Is there any conseses now on why the chassis bends?
That‘s true, i buy all my gear from Thomann, but this is the first time I've had to use their service. Props to Thomann 👌
Well, this is simply a construction issue by TE, the material used here is not stiff enough in the long term for the pressure load when playing. Since the feet are also mounted very far out, it will sag at some point.
same, got a decent op-z, little bend on corners like our friend but anything else is pristine
@@Samhain1984 I have actually seen this in some forums, you can definitely do it to prevent the effect in the long run.
But I was too a little bit to stingy to spend 15€ for 4 rubber feet 😅
Quick question: Did you pre-heat the oven? Or did you just put the OP-Z in there for 2 min with the oven cold at start?
Thanks!
Hi @tomás , i pre heated the oven.