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 Yamaha GH3 keyboard action can be replaced with the NW-GH3 action, the GH3X action, or the NWX action. All four of the actions below seem to be interchangeable, with the features as listed:
But how different do they really feel?
Although there’s some subjectivity, we mutually agreed that the Natural Wood actions felt lighter than the plastic equivalents (which is a bit counter-intuitive initially), and that the escapement added perceived weight.
Overall, we found that the NW-GH3 action was the lightest action, and the GH3X had the fullest response. You can read more about the specific differences in this article from Yamaha (from 2019). Her favorite action was the NW-GH3 which is, interestingly, was discontinued from Yamaha’s lineup. She was an organist, and wanted as light a touch as possible, even though that’s not necessarily the most accurate simulation of a piano.
Availability and Pricing
The Yamaha part numbers and prices from Syntaur as of this writing (6-7-25)
It’s important to note that although the GH3 actions seem to be substitutable with one another, the GHD and GHS actions are not compatible. If you have a 2-sensor Yamaha action, you cannot swap a 3-sensor GH3 action in its place.
I also can’t guarantee compatibility of any replacement key bed; although this has always worked for me, it’s an at-your-own-risk operation!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me. I can quickly look up your keyboard and see if this might be an option for you.
Keyboard Compatibility Lookup Tool
If you’d like to try to look it up yourself, you can use the form below. I can’t guarantee it’s 100%, but it’s pretty close! Alternatively, you can check product descriptions for your keyboard on Yamaha’s website to see if they include the keyword “GH3” or “NWX.”
Note that the above application will ignore dashes and case. “CLP-625” and “clp625” will both work. This script also will identify nonexistent models as likely not compatible.
Not sure if you will see this. Is there any chance I could put a nw-gh3 in a Yamaha cp300 which would have used a gh action?
The Yamaha CP-300 uses two contact sensors, rather than three contact sensors. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be possible to substitute a NW-GH3 in place of any Yamaha GHD or GHS two contact actions.
I edited this on March 14th, 2025 with new information and a demonstration of the new tool above.
Hey, i find it amazing you post such a helpful tool online, thank you for that.
I’m currently looking to replace the gh3 action of my old CLP-230 with a brand new NWX.
You think there is some adjustment work to do on the velocity curve or should I be fine?
Unfortunately I’m from Italy else i would call you for the job hehe.
Hello Florian! Thank you for the kind words; I’m glad you found the tool useful! The NWX features wooden keys and an escapement mechanism, both of which enhance the tactile experience and can aid in expressive, delicate playing. While it’s not strictly necessary to adjust the velocity curve when transitioning to NWX, it might be helpful to tailor the response to your personal playing style. Although this is very subjective, the NWX probably feels “lighter” than the basic GH3.
And please let me know how you like it when the work is done!