Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Roland V-Piano / [Key replacements requested]*

That sounds impressive indeed. To be clear, they changed out the electronics that make the sound or did they change out the board that contains the sensor? I'm actually super interested in the degree to which parts can be replaced and upgraded in digital pianos.

What do you mean by GHD? Is that another name for the GH action?

Ando is completely right about Yamaha. They sort of found a good formula years ago and haven't really moved from there since.

I don´t know what Roland´s support is like in USA, but certainly in UK, they´re great. For those who don´t know the history of how the white keys on my V-Piano came to be replaced, I didn´t actually request a replacement - when Roland took away my V-Piano in order to put in the Evolution upgrade (after a couple of botched attempts by me, I rang them for advice and was told not to try any more in case I damaged the electronics, and they´d put them in for me), I mentioned the fact that the white keys had developed a little roughness from my playing over the 9 months or so since I bought it, and they said they´d look into it. When it was returned to me, it had not just the Evolution upgrade, but also the replacement keys.

Hello,

I'l try to clarify:

the keyboard comes with 3 circuit boards that contain the sensors and the interface to the DP. My original keyboard is a GH3 (3 sensors per key) model and the one the tech brought was a GHD (only 2 sensors per key), so he dismounted the circuit boards that came with my GH3 and mounted back in the GHD keyboard and it worked like a charm. So, mecanically, the GHD keyboards and GH3 are compatible. I was amazed it worked

I can't honestly say I've ever had any issues with Roland's product quality ...even the Ivory feel keys don't seem to be a issue for me.

[Edited]

Read post, below.

Maybe a little harsh pv88? I don't know only you can judge, but sh*# happens in business and when something depends on one or two 'key' people clients can get messed about. An apology and explanation is expected though, let them know you're not too happy, and if you keep the endgame in sight then all should be OK, eventually.

[Edited]

Read post, below.

Richard, try and remember the good points about the V-Piano - the reasons you bought it in the first place. I understand you feel let down.

I carry no brief for Roland, but a one-time serviceperson's need to reschedule isn't all that strange. Most of us have had to reschedule the odd appointment from time to time.

Agree. Richard it seems you were a very satisfied owner of your V-piano, and given how frustrating and love/hate many people's relationships with their DPs are, you may not find that level of satisfaction with any other DP. Burning your bridges with Roland over this might turn out to be biting your nose off to spite your face. Roland has little control with organisational matters to do with repairing your V-piano. It sucks that it has to happen, but you may have had to deal with this repair service no matter which DP you own, so it's about the service arrangement more than the brand of your DP. I'd advise you to be patient and insistently push towards what you want. By all accounts these things do resolve where Roland is concerned.

Yes, everyone is right, as I do appreciate the advice, and, I have already apologized to Spectrum Sound regarding a minor scheduling detail. Here is an interesting new photo:



Looks pretty nice, as we now can view the actual key bed!

The color of the key tops appear whiter, than mine.
(Could be just the lighting in the photo.)

New assembly goes in, on Monday.

Promising developments!

Thanks Richard! With this picture, we can now LAY TO REST the suggestions that the V-Piano uses a unique keyed all its own. It is the same PHA III keyed in the FP-7F and RD-700NX, amongst other top end Roland DPs. Let us know how it goes with the new key bed.

How do you avoid the same problem from happening again?

Buy a Yamaha?

Is it? It looks different than the 7F keyboard. The colour as a start. Maybe that at least is not what you meant?

The color is different between the "S" version in the FP-7F and that in the RD-700NX and V-Piano (amongst others). That is supposed to be the only difference.

Make sure you wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer that DOES NOT have any alcohol in it. Also, keep your nails trimmed short. Other than that . . . no clue.

Don't use any alcohol, chemicals, windex, etc, to clean the keys.

And as mentioned by others, no alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and no hand lotions, etc etc etc.

All I do to mine (pha II, no fake ivory or anything) is wipe it down with a microfiber rag when I'm done for the day.

It's never seen anything harsher than just plain water on a clean rag -- and that, only a few times. The dry microfiber rag works wonders and avoids having to use harsher methods.

Sorry to chime in a bit late; haven't been able to keep up with the posts here recently.

As for support from the suppliers, at least here in Denmark both Yamaha and Roland have great support.

I replaced some of the keys on my Yamaha P150 quite some years ago (there is a design defect that causes them to wear out where the spring touches the plastic, so they "hang" below the others). Yamaha had parts for that available quite some years after they stopped selling the P150. I had to pay for them, though, but had no difficulties getting the parts.

I also replaced some buttons on my JV80 many years ago, and Roland was very helpful to get those parts to me quickly. I have had also a minor issue with a small Roland recorder, that they responded to very fast and offered to replace/fix if I wanted (I didn't).

And lately (2 mo ago) I had the keys on my RD700NX replaced due to wear. That was a stellar experience in my mind. I picked a time that suited me, drove by with the keyboard, which they repaired on the spot in 30 min while offering me coffee and cookies in their demo room. They carefully got me to check out afterwards that I would be OK with the new feel -- which they had thoroughly explained both before and after would feel a little different (less open) etc.

So I cannot imagine they could do much better customer service.

The new keys are btw kind of "Ivory-ish" in that there is a little texture on top of the keys, so they are not like e.g. the Nord keys that are completely glossy. Also, they show absolutely no sign of wear until now.


As for Nord, I haven't had to replace anything (yet...) but they have been quick to respond to email questions and inquiries -- so I'm sure they are good too.


Hopefully all will go well for pv88 too!


-- Per.