Minifreak Stellar glossy keys & scratches ;)

Freak MiniFreak
#1

Hi everyone !

I recently got hold of a supposedly mint Minifreak Stellar which had been barely tested.

I can confirm it does look and sound stellar :slight_smile: I applied the 3.0 update which is amazing.

I have a question though. My unit looks absolutely as new, apart from small scratches on the keys. I guess it is due to the glossy finish which gets fingerprints and probably scratches easily too ?

It’s really no big deal but just wanted to make sure. How do you people deal with those ? Is it possible to prevent or kinda make scratches less visible ? Maybe over time ? – yes I maybe have a problem. I have always been obsessed with scratches, since I got some on my Game Gear back in the early 90s :wink:

Take care & thanks again to the Arturia team for their dedication to making & supporting great instruments.

1 Like
#2

Hi,

I for mine for 6 Months now. I just checked beacause the fingerprints are something that is terrible on black glossy things. Ist checked and I also notice Some small scratches on the keys. I guess from my nails. My other keyboard with White keys has scratches too but they are harder to find.

Anyways. The stellar edition is a beauty I.m.o. And I really appreciate the calm look the black keys bring.

I dont know if its normal, but now you know you are not the only one.

Enjoy your minifreak! I really like mine a lot :grinning:

1 Like
#3

Hey @Bidinou

I don’ t have the Stellar version, but just the plain old boring vanilla one :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye::stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
I DO have a couple of other ‘finger print magnets’ with my Midi controller and Moog.
I bought a ‘Decksaver’ cover for both of them, not cheap i’m afraid, but they are superb!!! https://www.decksaver.com/.
I also use a VERY soft microfibre cloth and a very fine water spray (on to the cloth first) to basically just create some ‘humidity’ on the cloth, and use that to wipe them over with after use and before putting the Decksavers back on to them.

Same way i look after my bass guitars, i keep them in cases when not in use and wipe them down the same way after use.
Acids in the oils in our skin can be pretty corrosive to things like chrome plating, so it’s worth getting into this kind of habit.

HTH!

2 Likes
#4

Hi !
Yep, got a decksaver too ! Actually I don’t pay attention at all to those micro-scratches anymore. They are completely normal. I could find some on any keyboard if looking closely with a proper lighting - and those being glossy, it is more obvious.

But the keyboard looks great anyway and is meant to be played, not looked at with a microscope !!

#5

You could use something like Meguiar’s PlastX which is a mild cutting compound. I guess other manufacturers [of car-care products] have an equivalent, if Meguiar’s is not available in your territory. But unless you intend to only ever play the keyboard wearing silk gloves it’s kinda pointless making the white keys absolutely flaw free. Also don’t use compounds on the matte black keys unless you want them to also be shiny.