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
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 that 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. Note that these action swaps are possible, but are in no way endorsed by Yamaha, and will result in voided warranties. The … Read more
A customer recently brought in their Yamaha P-105, complaining of no sound. Occasionally, it would emit a scratchy noise, but even that was inconsistent. After opening it up, I found the culprit: the amplifier chip on the DM board had burned out. The amplifier chip is a small surface-mount device (SMD) mounted directly on the … Read more
I recommend customers with worn-out floppy disk drives upgrade them to “Floppy Disk Emulators.” There are a couple of these on the market. However, the easiest to install and use is the Nalbantov USB Floppy Disk Emulator. I install these regularly in Yamaha Disklaviers, but they can also be installed in keyboards. If you order … Read more
As a piano technician with a subspecialty in keyboards, as well as digital and hybrid pianos, I’ve compiled this guide to address common issues. Drawing from my experience with brands like Yamaha, Roland, and Casio, I’ve put together a list of the most common problems I encounter! One or more keys play at full volume … Read more
In 2022, I had a customer ask me how to change the voltage on his Nord Electro 3 from North American to European. I made this brief write-up to help him. This also includes how to replace the Electro 3’s fuse. If you’re a world traveler, this might be worth printing out and keeping in … Read more