Yamaha fixing 200-series keyboards for free?

[lasershow2000]

Here in the Parts and Repair forum is another thread entitled "Faulty key on CVP 207", about certain keys sticking then failing, due to cracks in the key. Because the problem starts with the same keys (B below middle C, E above middle C) and because a number of people have reported this, it sounds like a manufacturing defect.

I believe Yamaha will fix it for free. I believe they will replace the entire keyboard with a 300-series keyboard, and they will pay for parts and labor even if the Clavinova is out of warranty.

Here is my story (condensed!):

In November 2004, the keys on my CVP-207 began to stick in the same way as described in the "Faulty key on CVP 207" thread. I contacted Yamaha service (800-854-1569, opt 2, opt 4). I told them my Clavinova was purchased at a U.S. dealer about 2.5 years ago. (Warranty is 5 years on parts, 1 year on labor.) They checked my serial number to confirm a U.S. purchase, and said to get service through the dealer.

I contacted the dealer-recommended service person. I told him I wanted a replacement 300-series keyboard, not just fixing a few keys. (Others reported that additional keys started to fail, after the first few.) I also said I felt Yamaha should pay the labor since a keyboard failing so soon and on so many other users' CVPs sounds like a manufacturer's defect.

He ordered the keyboard but said I'd have to pay labor. I called Yamaha back and got the service supervisor. She said Yamaha would pay for the service, no problem.

So in conclusion, if you have the sticking-then-failing keys on the 200-series, and you purchased from a dealer in the U.S., I believe you can get a replacement 300-series keyboard at no charge to you. This makes sense if the keys were indeed defective in design or manufacture. If you run into any problems with your local service person, take it up with Yamaha service. I found everyone there to be very nice and understanding.

-- Patrick

[pborello]

Your comment is useful. I have the same problem with my Clavinova CVP203, bought in march 2002, and a couple of months ago several keys started to fail, stuck. Yamaha local service support has told me there was no report of manufacturing problem. They don't even have stock of keys so they have just moved the failing keys in the main part of the keybord to the extremes, of course this worked a couple of weeks only.
I spent quite a lot amount of money to see that the piano is now useless. I live in Argentina, Yamaha left after our crisis in 2001 and is simple: I have nobody to claim. I wonder if I could try something with Yamaha Corporation at USA.

[ClavinovaGuy]

Mine (on a 209) was also replaced free of charge with a 300-series keyboard, after I had broken a number of keys on various occasions. It's been great ever since. I don't know if they had a particular manufacturing run that had a defect or what. Perhaps we should take a poll here to see how prevalent the problem is.

[lasershow2000]

Just a note on the resolution of my CVP-207 stuck keys.

I had to wait while Yamaha sent a 300-series keyboard from Japan to the service person. It took a couple of weeks, but fortunately I my keyboard was (mostly) operable during that time.

The service guy just left here a few minutes ago. It took him about 90 minutes to do the service call. The hardest part was for him to find the screws to open the top. I guess he doesn't work on many 200-series Clavinovas.

Yamaha USA picked up the cost of both the keyboard (under warranty) and the labor -- not under warranty, but they honorably decided to pay for it anyway.

The new keyboard's feel is definitely different. I like the quieter keys. It was interesting that a sticker has to be placed next to the serial number, which indicates the keyboard was replaced. I guess this is so they don't do it twice!

When I looked at the old keyboard, I could not see any visible cracks on my sticking keys. But I did not take the keys off -- just looked from above and underneath. The old keyboard had to be shipped back to Yamaha (by the service guy), I guess to prove that it really was replaced.

[ClavinovaGuy]

When I had keys replaced, some had such fine hairline cracks that they weren't very visible. But once you had the key in your hand, you could easily break a little chunk out of that tab. It apparently doesn't take much weakness for the key to not stay in place.

[ravishankar9992000]

Hi guys,

I am having the same problem!

i got my CVP 209 2 years ago and now two keys are stucking very badly and the funny thing is that these are in the middle part of the entire keyboard so it's now impossible for me to play correctly almost anything!

Unfortunately my father purchased the cvp in italy and strangely he sent me the warranty paper without dealer's stamp or signature so i have to assume that now I am out of warranty!

I suppouse it will be extremely costly for me to order the entire 300 series keyboard from Japan!

I am noticing that slowly slowly one by one all other keys are getting stucked day by day more and more deeply...to not to speak about the Vocal harmony that has stopped working 6 months ago but that is another sad story...

[ClavinovaGuy]

Ravi - I replaced a few keys myself, rather than waiting for the repairman to become available. With the help of the service manual, which I ordered from Yamaha, it wasn't terribly difficult. The keys cost roughly $15US each.

[ericho]

Hey ravishankar

If you still got the Invoice or some other prove of date of purchase call yamaha and explane it to them.
I'm sure in Belgium they would give me the waranty, even if the stamp and signiture are missing on the warantycard.
In the states they use probably any excuse not to give waranty.
But your in India ... give it a try ..call them, you got nothing to lose.

Kind regards

Eric

[efi_gabriel]

I have a CVP 205 and my problem is the E just above the middle C and the D on the next octave. I am still struggling on getting the spare parts. I am from the Philippines and it is very difficult to buy spare parts here. I tried to search online but I just can't locate any. I went to Yamaha website but it seems like I have to make a call before I can order online since they do not provide the Part number online. Anybody here can give a good advice on my problem.

Regards,

Efi

[ClavinovaGuy]

When I ordered my replacement keys, I did it by phone (which seems odd nowadays - LOL!) - no problem. I also ordered the repair manual at the same time.

[efi_gabriel]

Thanks for the reply. I guess phone call ro Yamaha is the only solution for me.

Thanks again,

Efi

[cowpast]

Here are the part numbers from the CVP207 manual. They are probably the same for the 205 which according to the specs has the graded hammer keyboard.You can probably verify this when you call.
The white keys starting with the C key and on up are...
C - VU101000
D - VU101100
E - VU101200
etc, etc, up to the
B - VU101600
The two end keys are different
Lowest A - VU101700
Highest C - VU101800
The black keys are all VU102100
As Clavinovaguy said they are about $15 each here in the States. Definitely go for the manual before attempting this operation. A few of us have done it. Give a shout if you need any help.

[efi_gabriel]

Thanks for the advice and the part number. At least I have something to start with.

Cheers,

Efi

[Free]

I have just contacted Yamaha regarding a stuck key on my cvp201 and I must say the outcome was better then expected. They told me that the keyboard will be replaced in the next few days. The reason given to me for such a generosity was that the new keyboard is less likely to give me troubles in future due to better design and rather then facing a possibility of more stuck keys they will replace the whole thing. Well, I am happy and I did not ask any further questions.

[ravishankar9992000]

23 September 2005, Bangalore INDIA


Dearest brothers and sisters,

You know me for having bothered you with previous e-mails with my CVP 209 sad story.

I am no more able to play properly my clavinova, nor I am anymore in condition to purchase a new one, neither to get repaired the one I have, due to the exorbitantly high fare requested me from the supposed be a yamaha dealer and service support in India.

You all know that the 200 series (the odd one) is having some factory faults like the stuck keys (mine is the B before the middle C) and the popping sounds.
In my case even the vocal harmony has proved faulty without being used form my side.
To not to speak about the pedals: they should be a brass ones, I suppose, but they get irreparabily oxidated within one year of seldom usage (less than 20 minutes per day).

Well I have no intention to bother you further, just I want you to have a look to the letter that I have been sending to the yamaha international customer support, the yamaha service in India and others.
The address where I have sent the e-mail that follows are these:

http://music.yamaha.com/customerSupport/emailSubmit.html

service@yamahamusicindia.com (india customers support)

https://www2.yamaha.co.jp/info/global/other.php (international customers support)

Nedless to say that I did not get any answer till now and I felt much frustrated when I saw that the Yamaha company is repairing, or it seems so, free of cost to all its U.S. customers, but they are negleting even a simple answer to people living in the so called third world countries like India.

Well, I would like to ask anyone of you if I have any other possible chance to get my cvp repaired free of cost and how, seen that here in India alla the yamaha dealers refused to help me: they asked me 500 U.S. dollars just to come in my home and change that damn B key!

I am earning 70 euro per month and so (with the help of some friends of mine) I took 5 loooooooong years in order to collect the necessary money to purchase this damn cvp hoping to be able to work with it, making my own music and get it pubblished, but what I really got are only troubles on troubles, so I advice to anyone living in India and other poor countries like mine to TOTALLY AVOID PURCHASING SUCH A THING LIKE CVP, because once done then FORGET ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE OR TECHNICAL SUPPORT unless you are a crorepati (a milionaire)!

Now guys, have a look at my letter, make it become an open letter one and what to say more:

SHAME UPON YAMAHA!!!

Here is the letter:

Dear Sirs,

I purchased a CVP 209 less than 3 years ago.
I live in India and my income is about 70 euro per month.
You only can immagine how many years I took to collect enough money in order to purtchase such a costly instrument.

Well, with my surprise, before the first year could finish, my cvp started emitting all sorts of popping sounds, like electrical current short cuts.

At the middle of the second year the middle B key got stucked and, being a central key, now I am not able anymore to play my cvp properly.

The vocal harmony (used only 3 to 4 times) is no more working!

What more is that the piano sound is no more as it was before, but a sort of water sound is coming out together with the piano sound (as if I am playing a piano under the water).

Now, I went through the CVPUG forum to find out that I am not the only one who is having the same problems, but many other customers got the central B key stucked, the popping sounds and so on and so forth.

I am aware now that the CVP 209 is really a mess and total failure due to factory faults and of course not from my side.
Besides I am a PHD in piano and I know very well how to handle a piano.

I hoped to produce my own music as well as to prepare for some concerts in order to come out from my poverty.
I have purchased such a costly intrument hopind it would have saved me from a low standard of living, instead, it made me more miserable!

Now I do not have any more money to purchase another CVP.
I asked for repair in India, but all the dealers refused to do so because they were umprepared.
The only one who agreed to repair my cvp is a Mumbai dealer (Furtado music instruments) but they had the courage to ask me almost 500 US dollars just to come here in Bangalore and see what has to be done.
They wanted me to pay to them first class train ticket, hotel, food and of course the eventual spare parts.

Now, why should I go trough this, just tell me: is it fair?

I have to pay for a yamaha’s own mistake?

You just go to www.cvpug.com and check about the comments of other yamha users.

The italian dealer (Cherubini - ROME) from where I purchased my CVP refused any help 'cause I live in India.
To import this CVP I had to pay 1000 US dollars custom taxes plus the airplane fare who was exorbitantly high!
I had invested in this all the money I could possibly afford and right now I have nothing in my hand but a totally broken as well as useless digital piano.

In the end, suggest me what to do, please.
Other customers are telling that yamaha itself is reparing the factory faulty cvps free of charge, will it be my case?

Well, I am waiting a prompt answer from you.
I already have writen to the yamaha international customer suport but they had directed me to yamahamusicindia.com.
Well, needles to say that all the dealers in India are fake ones, they refused me any kind of assistance and I can even tell their name and surnames if it wil be necessary.

So acording to you, a person living in India should never buy a CVP?

The present letter will be soon posted in internet and your answer (or no answer) will be posted too, so try your best.

Who knows, maybe with my regular posting of the present letter I can help so many indians and others too from different countries in order to not to purchase a cvp when there is no answer nor from yamaha neither from a so called local dealer, it all depends from your eventual reply.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation.


p.s. This letter has not been sent in Internet yet...I will wait for just one week to see your reply then I will decide consequently.
I just wish you to remember that a further silence from your side this time will speak loudlier than a sound and positive reply, so it’s up to you now!

All the best!

[COLOR=blue][B]

(letter over)


GUYS PLEASE,

answer to my post, do not let me at least with an answer...it will give me a kind of momentary relief.

Thanks to all of you for your partience

Ravi

[mdoyle]

Wow. I just read the old posts on this and quite a few CVP2XX users have this problem. I've had my 209 for about 3 yrs and not had any break/stick so far, and I play every day, but not banging the heck out of them - I've no doubt you don't either ... so am dismayed about the prospect of a break/stick now outside of warranty.

Maybe I should pre-empt the issue and get stuck in with a nerw keyboard now :-)

Mike

[lasershow2000]

I am sorry to hear about your problems in India.

The only problem I have personally had with my CVP-207 is with the keyboard. I think Yamaha has acknowledged that the original keyboard was poorly designed. They have replaced these keyboards free of charge. I did not have to pay parts or labor. My serviceperson was located in my town, so they did not have to travel.

I cannot speak with personal knowledge about other problems such as popping sounds or water-type sounds.

Good luck!

[ravishankar9992000]

Well,

thank you guys for at least given me an answer I would have like to know if anyone have an idea on how shall now proceede in order to get the yamaha the job done, I mean you know I live in India but since my last letter sent to yamaha cutom service I did not get any answer.

yes Mike,

you are telling that quite a few CVP 2XX users got such problerms like stuck keys or popping sound but I thing that the real problem is much bigger; infact already I tried to make other users figuring out how could be possible that the yamaha company, after having produced the CVP 200 odd series, then soon came out with the CVP 200 even series: this is equal to loose a lot of money 'cause even now, if anyone want to buy a CVP 2XX series, well, the even one has the same price as per the odd one with more an usb port connection (if I am not wrong).
Being the price almost the same, then try to guess which cvp series any customer could choose...of course everybody will go for the CVP 200 even series.
And what will happen with the odd series already produced models?
The clear truth is that they are all factory faulty!
Have you, infact, seen any CVP 1xx even series? NO!
Have you seen a CVP 3xx even series? NO!
And of course yamaha is not gonna make an even series just to add a stupid usb port and keeping then the same price as per the odd series, this is equal to economical suicide unless...something wrong is behind and that's why now yamaha is repairing free of cost to so many customers all the keyboards and other faults without even much effort from customers: yamaha is not acting so out of kindness, but out of fear to loose it's prestige!
Frommy side, by the way, it losted it already and from now on I'm gonna give back to this japanese company a very very bad advertisment using my own CVP as an example for every indian friends of mine to see!

Ravi

p.s. any further comment, help and suggestion will be very much appreciated, even private messages.

Tahnk you guys!

[dancaputi]

This past weekend I finally opened up my 207 and replaced a sticky 'E' key. It wasn't too hard, thanks to previous posts from cowpast and others.

... but I noticed another 'E' key was starting to stick - how annoying is that?

Well, I just got off the phone with Yamaha and this time, before the parts salesperson took my order, she asked me if I had replaced any other keys in the past. I told her "why yes, and in fact, I know from CVPUG that this is a common problem with the 200 series" - with that, she put me through to a "Quality Management Supervisor" who promised to send me a new keyboard assembly :D

The supervisor's only question was to verify the serial number (I'm glad I didn't buy gray market). She also convinced me (since I had no trouble replacing a key) to install the keyboard myself - hey, I'll take it!

I'll keep everyone posted...

- Dan C.

BTW, if anyone in the US is having trouble with 200 series keys breaking and/or sticking: speak up. She gave me her name and direct line at Yamaha, but I'm not going to post it here (that is until I get my new keyboard :p)

[cowpast]

Had another key go on my 207 also. I called the manager at the local dealership and told him this was the 2nd key to go and that I had replaced the first one myself at my own expense. The first time this same individual told me I was on my own for the labor because it was out of warranty which is why I ordered the part and did it myself.
This time, with absolutely no hesitation, he asked for my serial number and said he would order a replacement keyboard.

We discussed having a techy do the swap, but he said there could be a delay scheduling one. I offered to replace it myself if there was too much delay getting one to do it. Out of curiosity, I asked if the tech guy had done many of these replacements, he said the guy he would schedule has done about 10 of them.

Apparently the problem and the replacement policy has finally trickled down to the dealers.

[dancaputi]

My wife just called me at work. My replacement keyboard was just delivered!

Ok, so the keys shouldn't be breaking in the first place but, hey, they recognize the problem and are "making good" on it. Gotta LOVE Yamaha! :D

[mboyceusa]

:confused: Well, I am very disappointed that use of my CVP-209 has been hindered over the past several months due to broken keys. (D&E above middle C and more...)

I am very glad to hear that Yamaha is respondong favorably to these complaints and replacing the keyboards with the CVP-3XX version. I am really not interested in replacing the keys as there is obviously some engineering defect.

Please keep sharing your stories with regard to this problem. I have opened a case with Yamaha Service and will keep you posted.


Philadelphia Suburbs

I miss my Clav!!