Clavinova – older models
– can replace noisy hammer down-stop felts with the later type and make the action very quiet.
– can replace detached hammer up-stop felts with the later type. This affects over 90 models. I have three of these new felts in stock. A piano only needs one. This job is quite difficult and really needs to be done by an experienced repairer.
– can replace “sticky keys” on the affected Clavinova models but see my “sticky keys” page which explains more about this. I have one new CLP170 keyboard assembly in stock.
– can repair some circuit boards but need the top half of the piano to test the board.
– can replace many of the volume controls and jacks in older models.
I’ve not done on-site repairs for many years but you can bring the top half of your piano to me.
It may be necessary for you to order parts and possibly a service manual from Yamaha yourself as I no longer have an account with them. This is a less than ideal situation so you may well prefer to contact other UK repairers on the internet who are authorised service centres.
Other old blog below …
I’ve been repairing Yamaha electronic musical instruments for longer than seems possible!
In fact since Yamaha’s first electronic organs and most products since then.
As a “claim to fame” I was twice offered the job of Chief Engineer but it meant moving to Milton Keynes and not ever working on any other makes – so both times I declined.
WITHOUT PREJUDICE Yamaha closed my spares account in April 2023 without any warning. This was probably because I’d not ordered anything for a year after my wife became ill and died. Yamaha said that my account should not have been closed without first notifying me. They had not done this. I asked for my account to be reopened and was told it was not possible (even though I think it was less than a month since I was still able to get into my account online). They said I would have to open a new account. This would have meant losing my old account number which I’d had for well over 20 years and losing my order history records. Yamaha’s last email communication on 20th April 2023 said that I will need to apply to open an account again; I won’t be given the same account number; they are finding out what info Credit Control need from me (why? nothing has changed) and who I need to contact; they apologised that no letter was sent to me and said they are looking into this; they will come back to me once they have more info with regard to applying again … but they never have.
This means that I can no longer see price and availability of parts or order parts. I still have some spares in stock for older models e.g. contact boards from the old AE-88 type and some other keyboard assemblies so would be able to repair those.
FOR SALE – brand new Clavinova keyboard assembly of CLP170 type which can be modified for many of the other Clavinovas with the “sticky key” problems.
Some brand new hammer upstop felts “V8468201 STOPPER U88-S CLP-430R” These are used to replace upstop felts that have become detached. The service bulletin for this problem covers 93 models I think.
Some other useful bits for sale too.
WITHOUT PREJUDICE Yamaha introduced new requirements for their authorised service centres a few years back. Some of the requirements were aimed at larger operations than mine and didn’t apply to how I’ve always worked. I couldn’t tick all their boxes so my access to viewing and downloading service manuals was removed. Service manuals are obviously a necessity for a repair person. Asking if I could be given viewing access only, I was told “no, but you can BUY service manuals!” I felt I was being treated like a member of the public who fancied having a go at a repair rather than a well-known engineer with over forty years of full-time experience repairing music products.
See below for some old notes I made ages ago which might be helpful to someone …
NOTE: for Clavinova products with sticky or sticking keys, keys stuck or sticking down … see the special page about this.
Clavinovas with noisy keys – thud/rattly when released – get the model number before ringing – usually CLPxxx or CVPxxx.
If one of the early graded hammer piano actions in ranges of CLP and CVP it can be fixed very successfully and will be miles quieter than it was when it was new!
Clavinovas with bouncy keys and/or keys hanging low – get the model number before ringing – usually CLPxxx or CVPxxx.
The affected keys should be replaced but these have been discontinued.
It is sometimes possible to improve things by moving some keys and/or hammers to different positions. The degree of improvement depends on how bad the problem has become. If a great many keys have worn to the extent of becoming bouncy and hanging low, it will not be successful. Warning – some “repairers” do a temporary bodge by removing affected keys and putting small pieces of card between the rear of the key and the leaf spring. Woo-hoo! Now the key returns normally again. Playing the key a few times results in the leaf spring cutting through the card and the key is as bad as it was before. Not woo-hoo after all.
It used to be possible to buy a complete replacement keyboard assembly but unfortunately this is no longer available.
Info about INSURANCE CLAIMS on Home page.
IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING REPAIRS AND “SERVICING”
Modern electronic pianos, keyboards etc. do NOT need servicing
Is your piano or keyboard playing ok? Then it does NOT need anything doing to it.
If anyone recommended servicing my electronic piano, as opposed to just repairing it,
I wouldn’t let them. I know these products only need attention when they go wrong.
It is a waste of money to have all your piano’s contacts cleaned or changed if it’s playing normally apart from a couple of notes.
It is standard practice for me to vacuum out the muck and fluff that accumulates inside.
It costs almost nothing to do and lessens the chance of more contact problems but it is not necessary to replace contacts or contact boards unless there is bad corrosion from a spillage.
It is wrong to charge people for something which doesn’t need doing.
As the saying goes “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it!”
Many of my customers have said that their music shop told them their piano or keyboard could not be repaired. Owners of Technics pianos usually get told this when trying to find an engineer or technician who repairs Technics.
Music shops who do not carry out repairs are not really able to advise on repairs.
You would be better advised by someone like myself who is only a repairer because,
unlike a shop, I won’t try to sell you a new one!
DISCLAIMERS
Goods here for repair are at your own risk entirely as they are not insured for any eventuality.
Goods here for repair will be sold or disposed of if there has been no word from the owner for 3 months.
E&OE