SO YOU WANT TO REPANEL YOUR MODULE...

Please note that any damages that may occur during repaneling are the responsibility of the user and are not covered by warranty. Out-of-warranty repairs are available via our paid repair service.

Alternate panels abound, be they purple panels, black panels, silver panels, or custom-made. But once you have your new front panels, do you know how to install them?  We put together this simple photo tutorial to help make sure you don't damage your modules when installing new panels. Got a helpful tip to add? Tell me about it!

A few things you may need:

  • needlenose pliers or a jewelers bent needlenose plier

  • nut driver for 3/8", 5/16", and 9/32" (yes, Imperial. We apologize.)

  • Possibly other nut driver sizes: 10 mm may be required for some modules

  • a knurled nut driver if you have older NE modules with the knurled jacknuts (this Befaco Bananuts Wrench should work, available at many synth shops)

  • phillips head or small star-bit screwdriver for certain modules (e.g., Confundo Funkitus)

  • tweezers (optional)

Step 1. Remove the knobs.

Use the needlenose pliers to gently pry off any knobs. BE GENTLE! Grip and lever the knob up WITHOUT pulling on the pot shaft (if anything, apply pressure down on the shaft). Walk the pliers up the shaft without pulling on the shaft -- this should be a lever motion without any pull.

Yanking knobs off by hand (or with pliers) can damage the pot/encoder or can break the knobs (pulling the knob cover off the d-shaft portion of the knob).  You don't want that.  That would be sad.

 

Step 2. Remove the nuts. 

Knurled nuts (shown here) will require a special tool, available in various places.  Remove the nuts around the switches and pots, too.  Be careful not to scratch the panel while you do this!

Some people use pliers for this. We do not recommend this: there is a high potential for scratching your panel.

Nut driver sizes:

switches: 9/32"

pots/encoders: 3/8"

jacknuts (new modules that no longer use knurled nuts): 5/16"

10 mm may be required for some modules

Step 3. Remove the panel

Gently slide the old panel off. Try to lift straight off to minimize bumping movable parts like LEDs on some modules.

 

Step 3a. Remove light pipes if there are any.

Newer modules have surface-mount LEDs and light pipes embedded in the panel. To remove them, press the light pipes gently from behind the panel, and they will pop out. Push them into the front of the new panel.

Gently press light pipe out of panel from the back side of the panel.

Gently press light pipe out of panel from the back side of the panel.

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To install them on the new panel, gently press them into the front until they feel snug.

To install them on the new panel, gently press them into the front until they feel snug.

Step 3b. Repanel.

Especially with modules with through-hole LEDs and momentaries (buttons), it can require a little work. Try to press the new panel straight on to avoid moving parts around as it seats on the module. Be gentle. Do not force it.

Step 3c. Troubleshooting (or, what happens when you're sure the new panel just does not fit)

If you slide the new panel into place and it doesn't seem to agree with its new home, a couple of things may be in the way. LEDs, switches, and buttons sometimes are not perfectly in place. Is the panel getting stuck on one of those? If so, move the switch or use your tweezers to gently move the offending part into place.

If none of these are the problem, doublecheck all of the jacks.  Sometimes these are slightly bent. If so, gently bend back. 

If this still doesn't solve your problem contact us.

Step 4. Put it back together

Put the nuts back on the module.  We recommend finger tightening everything and using the nut drivers only if needed. Be careful not to scratch your new pride and joy while you tighten!  Knobs can be slipped right back on (or pushed.  Some will be a tight fit, but if they were on there once, they will go back on!).  And then you're done!