Electronic keyboard instruments — especially Yamaha Disklaviers, Clavinovas, stage pianos, and organs — represent significant financial investments. Some of these instruments cost well over $50,000. I’ve had a few customers ask be about the best surge protector for their Disklavier or other instrument. My predecessor in keyboard repair here in Maine, Nick Orso, was so … Read more
If you own a Yamaha Clavinova from the early 2000s and you’re noticing some sticking keys or sluggish response, you’re definitely not alone. I get this call a lot. Unfortunately, it’s a design flaw from that era that inevitably catches up with these otherwise excellent instruments. Why Are My Clavinova Keys Sticking? The culprit is … Read more
This article is not mine, but I was researching information for a customer trying to convert older Technics keyboard files to a modern format, and stumbled on this derelict article on Technics APC files. I rescued it from http://www.keso.nl/, which is a website that went “off the air” several years ago. The editor in the … Read more
Roland digital pianos, particularly models from the mid-90s to the early 2000s, are known for their unique feel and sound. However, many owners face a common issue: the failure of the infamous plastic weighted hammers! The Issue with Original Roland Hammers The original hammers were constructed by surrounding a lead weight in a very thin … Read more
Today I’m sharing a few pictures of a repair on a Yamaha CLP-370 with sticking keys, clunking sounds, and dead keys. But this could happen on most Yamaha Clavinovas. See my Digital Keyboard FAQs for more! Hammer Rest Felt (Sticking and Clunking) One of the most common complaints I receive from customers is that their … Read more
This particular Yamaha P-115 had been nonfunctional since a lightning strike occurred near the owner’s residence. I found the primary issue was damage to the main DM board, which is prominently featured in the accompanying image. Additionally, the volume slider and several buttons exhibited significant damage. While it’s uncertain whether this resulted solely from the … Read more
Yamaha GH actions require the insertion of a “rod” (as it’s referred to in the service manuals). Yamaha sells a specific tools—specifically part TX000671 (VCN03010) during disassembly. The rod blocks the hammers, relieving the pressure on the contacts and contact circuit boards. You can then easily remove the contact boards, or perform other service. The … Read more
I recently encountered a Yamaha PSR-S750 with a couple of issues that appear to be quite common in this series. I wanted to share my experience in the hope that it might help someone in the future. Sudden Shutdowns The customer initially reported that the keyboard would display an error message at irregular intervals and … Read more
I was working on a Roland KR-370 that had been through a lightning strike, and I was looking for the BIN file to program onto a replacement EPROM (IC2). I did eventually find one, posted by a very helpful individual in the Badcaps forum. During my search, I encountered several enormous repositories of EPROM dumps … Read more
I recently had a client request I replace the stock GH3 action in her Yamaha CVP-305 with a Yamaha Natural Wood action, and so I had an opportunity to do some experimenting. The Yamaha GH3 keyboard action can be replaced with the NW-GH3 action, the GH3X action, or the NWX action. All four of the … Read more