CVP lifetime

[sbrbot]

I've got PSR-1500 for already 2 years and few days ago bought CVP-403. My question is how long one can expect that these machines work before failure (of course with proper and gentle usage). What is product lifetime for PSR-1500 and CVP-403?

I've got also classic mechanic piano for 20 years and it is still in perfect condition (regularly maintenanced and tuned) but I'm sure that this piano will be in almost the same condition after the next 20 years but am not so sure about my CVP although I think that it is really excellent instrument.

What you think?

[wally]

I've had my CVP-96 since October of 1998 and I've never had any problems with the keyboard -- it's starting to make clicky sounds, but it still works fine. I did replace the 3.5" disk drive.

I also have a CVP-209 that I got in 2002. I'm having some difficulty with keys sticking and am working with Yamaha's customer support to get it fixed. I've also replaced the disk drive and the ribbon cable between the LCD and the DM module.

The bottom line is that the Clavinovas are so very well built that they CAN BE repaired. They're not like so many instruments that when they break you can only discard them. These will last a long long time and when something breaks, it can be repaired. To me, that's very cool!

[sbrbot]

It's good to hear that you satisfied with CVPs so many years. Also it's good to hear that CVPs are very repairable.

When you mentioned the problem with sticking keys, what does it mean, that you spilled some liquid (like cola or coffee) on keyboard and now have this situation or nothing like this.

Finally I also thing that LCD and dynamic connection cable to front control panel is critic point in terms of possible failure in future, but again it's good to hear that there's good support from Yamaha's side and that all this can be repaired.

[wally]

When you mentioned the problem with sticking keys, what does it mean, that you spilled some liquid (like cola or coffee) on keyboard and now have this situation or nothing like this.


The sticky keys I have on my 209 is a manufacturing problem on the 200-series models that a lot of people have had. Yamaha, from what I understand, has been replacing them under warranty.

A while back, on my CVP-96, my son spilled a whole glass of orange juice on the keyboard at the beginning of Christmas weekend. I knew I wouldn't be able to get a technician out until after the new year, which would give the juice time to dry into a sticky mess, so -- armed with my newly acquired CVP-96 Service Manual -- I disassembled the majority of the instrument. I even took the keyboard module apart, cleaned everything out, put everything back together and was back in business in about six hours. I was very very grateful that I had the Service Manual, which showed me step by step how to disassemble the instrument.

While I was doing this job, I was continually aware of the high quality of the parts and manufacturing techniques used to build the instrument. It was very solid, good quality parts that cleaned up without harming them, generous coatings of protective sealant over parts, etc. It took a while to disassemble and reassemble the piano, but it was easy to clean up everything because it was all constructed so well.

[sbrbot]

Where did you find this Service Manual?

[Philip926]

I must agree with Wally about the reliability of Yamaha's Clavinovas. I've had my CVP-105 for about 9 years now, and the only component that gave up the ghost was the floppy disk drive. Unlike other manufacturers which make proprietary disk drives, all I had to do was get an ordinary floppy disk drive from a computer store (cheap), replace the defective one, and I was back in business.

My CVP-105 has also been experiencing the sticky keys syndrome for the past few months, so I've asked my Yamaha technician to source for another Clavinova keyboard for me. The cost isn't expensive.

All in all, I've used so many Yamaha musical products for the past 20 to 30 years, and I really can vouch for their superb build and quality. :)

[sbrbot]

I must agree with Wally about the reliability of Yamaha's Clavinovas. I've had my CVP-105 for about 9 years now, and the only component that gave up the ghost was the floppy disk drive. Unlike other manufacturers which make proprietary disk drives, all I had to do was get an ordinary floppy disk drive from a computer store (cheap), replace the defective one, and I was back in business.

My CVP-105 has also been experiencing the sticky keys syndrome for the past few months, so I've asked my Yamaha technician to source for another Clavinova keyboard for me. The cost isn't expensive.

All in all, I've used so many Yamaha musical products for the past 20 to 30 years, and I really can vouch for their superb build and quality. :)

OK I see that you're from Malaysia. My CVP is made in Malaysia. Maybe it's much more easy for you to repair something on CVP. ;-)

[wally]

Where did you find this Service Manual?

I ordered it from Yamaha Customer Support in the US. It cost about $40 USD. A terrific investment!

I saw a post here a while back from someone who tried to get a Service Manual from Yamaha and was told they no longer sell them. I sincerely hope that's not true. Anyone have recent experience with getting Service Manuals?

[hpeterh]

Hi Wally,

I got my Service manual for the CVP 96 from an online service that sells manuals for older equipment.
There are numerous of this services just google for e.g. "service manual yamaha" or something more specific. You should find more than one offer.
(To get the url I must boot Linux, cannot do this now)
I had to pay 12$ via credit card and after 1 day I could download it as PDF file.

Yust my opinion to the cvp's lifetime: I bought my CVP in defective condition.
The contacts of the Keys where partially broken. As soon as I realized the cause it was easy to repair. The mechanical quality of the keys is very good, the cvp should live for another 7 years (I hope so;-)
The felts where a little bit compressed; I repaired the felts and the contacts without needing any replacement parts from Yamaha.

brgds

Peter

[Ian J. Evans]

I've got PSR-1500 for already 2 years and few days ago bought CVP-403. My question is how long one can expect that these machines work before failure (of course with proper and gentle usage). What is product lifetime for PSR-1500 and CVP-403?

I've got also classic mechanic piano for 20 years and it is still in perfect condition (regularly maintenanced and tuned) but I'm sure that this piano will be in almost the same condition after the next 20 years but am not so sure about my CVP although I think that it is really excellent instrument.

What you think?

I bought a Yamaha CLP 300 digital piano in 1988, almost 20 years ago and as far as I know at this time it is still in great working condition..The reason I am not 100% certain is because i passed it on to my son in 2003 when i bought my present CVP209; however, he hasn't said anything to the contrary.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that i won't have key problems with my 209; however, I probably don't play it as often as the folks that have had problems or maybe i am too gentle with it.

Ian

[hpeterh]

Hi,

I got my service manual from here:
http://www.user-manuals.com

Costs where 15$

HTH,

Peter

[wally]

Hi,

I got my service manual from here:
http://www.user-manuals.com

Costs where 15$

HTH,

Peter

I went to that link and did a search on Yamaha, Clavinova, and various CVP models by number. It didn't come up with anything related to CVPs. How did YOU find them there?

[hpeterh]

I found them via google while searching for the manuals before I bought the clavinova.
When I went there Yamaha and the CVP 96 manual was in their list.

You are right, Yamaha has vanished from their list.

Anyway, there many more of this services. Another possible source would be here:
http://www.schaltungsdienst.de/anleitungen.html?&L=1
They are in contract with Yamaha HiFi, dont know, if they have clavinova manuals.

A deep search in google gives more suppliers, I did this search before I purchased the clavinova. Maybe there are more services that have licensed Yamaha documents.

Peter

[Philip926]

...My CVP-105 has also been experiencing the sticky keys syndrome for the past few months, so I've asked my Yamaha technician to source for another Clavinova keyboard for me. The cost isn't expensive.


Well, I'm pleased to report that my Yamaha technician here replaced my entire keyboard with a 200-series keyboard, and it is superb! Makes my CVP-105 feel like a new instrument again :p . The cost? US$35.

[mneal]

Hey, Wally,

I read your post about replacing the floppy disk drive. I wonder it could be replaced with a CD recording drive on a 309PE.

[dbjorck]

Hi!

Since the floppy is external, connected through USB, you can replace it with anything with a USB port, such as an external disk. Note though that what you get over USB is data only - i.e. you can only save the MIDI events; not make a recording of how it sounds. For that you need to connect the recorder to one of the audio ports, not USB. I have my CD recorder connected via the SPDIF port to record.

Brgds

Danny

[hpeterh]

Isnt there a restriction for the file system?
A CDROM would use UDF or ISO xxxx (dont know the number yet)

It could be possible to connect a DVD writer that supports DVDRAM because this can be formated with VFAT.

On the other side, using DVDRAM with VFAT is not recommended, because only 100000 write cycles are possible and because the FAT is overwritten at every update. Anyway, this should be true for USB-sticks also....

Questions and no end...

Peter