Microtonal keyboards - cheap!

Velocity-sensitive MIDI keyboards (no sound) can be got new for
$130US each here. There are two obvious ways to combine as
many of them as you want into any desired playing
configuration: key extensions and push rods.

Key extensions: pieces of metal bent in a Z shape, one end
fastened to the MIDI keys, the other holding the surface to be
played. In side view (the * are the extensions):

************** -----------
********** ----| keyboard |
playing * --------| 1 |
surface * -----------
********************* -----------
********** ----| keyboard |
--------| 2 |
-----------
etc.

Push rods: with a pin on the lower end to sit in a hole in the
MIDI key, the top surface going through a plate that defines
the key configuration desired (you can have several plates).
Push-on keys of various lengths, shapes and colours identify
each as desired and can be interchanged to change tuning. Side
view again:

playing
surface
_____****______geometry plate
** * *
* * * *
* * * * -----------
* * * ----| keyboard |
* * --------| 1 |
* * -----------
* * -----------
* ----| keyboard |
--------| 2 |
-----------
etc.

Either way: no electronics work. No special software
development. (Not even any "entrepreneurial attitude"!) Cost
about $600 for a 48 notes/octave setup.

I'd use the push rod method if I were building one. Wood
doweling is light weight and rigid in compression for the best
feel, easy to work and cheap. And, with the only modification
of the keyboards being a small hole in each key for a pin,
they can be put back to regular use at any time.

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