Sooo.. how important are those little LCD ribbons?

[pakopako]

I presume most video ribbons for GameBoy models are similar. I am borrowing this image of one from a GBSP:


The ribbon I have has snapped off at its connection to the LCD (as marked by the red spray area). Is there anything I can do to replace it?

[Rurouni_Fencer]

I can't imagine Nintendo selling replacement LCD ribbons for their older (and orphaned) systems. Your best bet would be to find another SP (broken for parts - ebay?) and swap out the ribbons. Needle-nose pliers should carefully take out the broken piece, before connecting a new ribbon.

Maybe noiseredux knows another GB model that might share proprietary hardware..

[Anapan]

If the metal contacts can still be inserted and make contact it may be salvageable. If not, I used to see replacement LCD units for SPs all the time. I don't know how common they are anymore, but I remember them being pretty cheap. Since there are two different models now (new brighter and original blueish frontlit) you'd have to be careful which replacement you got. I think I remember someone saying the connections are different on the newer one.
There's always Nintendo's repair services
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/repair ... rts_sp.jsp
Might be cheaper to get a used system at a thrift store or pawn shop tho.
I've never bought from here before but it's a decent price...

[Hobie-wan]

The screens on the different units will all be different. GB is black and white only. GBC is same resolution as the GB, but of course color. Your GB light that's torn uses the luminescent screen, not a light like the SP and later. GBA and SP will of course be different because they are a different resolution and color depth. Maybe someone who has been in both has an idea though.

[pakopako]

Well, I was hoping for either:

• Using a GB Pocket components to fit in the GB Light (the ribbon, modified screen, anything)
• Stripping the ribbon and create contact space (akin to stripping a frayed wire to expose a more usable portion)
• As a last ditch effort, gut the GB Light and use to to modify a GB Pocket

[Ziggy]

What's the other end of that cable look like? Can it be disconnected from the LCD screen? I'm guessing not since no one has suggested just finding a replacement cable.

example only:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... WM10046-ND

[pakopako]

What's the other end of that cable look like? Can it be disconnected from the LCD screen? I'm guessing not since no one has suggested just finding a replacement cable.

Here are two links to a GameBoy's guts.

Memory is a little fuzzy at just exactly where the cable broke, but think it's around here, though I forget if it was the left side or right side of the big cable in the middle. (I remember initially trying to fix seeing blank vertical lines and realizing the cable became incredibly brittle.)