I recently picked up an excellent 1980s Casio CZ-101 synthesizer at an estate sale for a song. When I opened it up to do some general cleanup and investigation I found a very nice surprise.
The original owner had done a very clean looking set of modifications, and… what’s that, taped inside the base? A note!
‘CZ101 Memory Expander’
Modification made by Gary P. Richardi on 01/13/87
See: Electronic Musician Magazine
July 1986 issue
Page 64
Article by Scott Morgan
I reached out on the Internet and found out in this Twitter thread that this modification was designed to open up access to an extra set of 16 preset save slots on the optional memory cartridge. Twitter user @kashiokyoiku provided me with scans of the original article (since uploaded here for preservation), which have “…been floating around in cz yahoo groups for a decade.”
I replaced the coin cell battery in the ROM cart (including my own service note) and will post a follow-up when I get a chance to test out the improved functionality (and replace the missing A key). Thanks so much to Gary for his thoughtful note and excellent work.
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