Last week a customer wrote in about his older, beloved Roland E-16 that had begun humming and would occasionally reboot. This was caused by a poor power adapter. As power adapters age, they can become unreliable, and often introduce humming or erratic behavior. I’ve put together a search tool for Roland power adapters, but I … Read more
Look closely at the photo above. Your P-525 detects which key you play, and its velocity, with those little rubber contact strips. You can read more about them on my digital piano troubleshooting page. Those tiny white flecks mean the contacts no longer work correctly. The smallest debris—or even a single cat hair—can cause significant … Read more
When a customer asked me what power adapter they should buy for their Roland FP-90X, I figured it’d be a quick lookup. A few minutes later, I was elbow-deep in Roland service manuals, product listings with conflicting voltage specs. Some sellers offered “compatible” power supplies at both 9V and 12V. (There’s some incorrect information on … Read more
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 me 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. There are other reasons Clavinova keys stick, including spilled … 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 FAQ 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 tool—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