UK Piano Page Piano Forum

Hi there - just a quick question. I recently bought a yamaha ydp 131, it's only a few weeks old, just recently it developed a 'rattle' like something vibrating from inside the keyboard. Sounds like something is loose, and it happens when I hit the keys hard-ish.

I bought it from a company at the other end of the country, and have been given the run-around by their repairers, who keep breaking appointments.

What I'm wondering is, given it sounds like a simple problem, would I be OK in unscrewing the bottom of the keyboard and 'going in' myself, or would this be a 100% no-no? In fact, is it possible to open up the bottom of the keyboard without specialist tools, along one edge is a row of 8 crosshead screws which I could undo myself,is this all that's needed to get inside?
Any advice appreciated!

Hi Sureyfrog.

If you're in the UK, then you're legally entitled to a replacement or a refund within the first three months of purchase.

In the circumstances you describe, I'd insist that the keyboard isn't of satisfactory quality, get a refund and take your custom elsewhere.

See Citizen's Advice for a description of your rights.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/you ... ffairs.htm

Gary.

Thanks for that tip, I'm hoping though it won't have to come to that.

I'm still interested to know if it's safe enough to open the base of the keyboard - there's a row of 8 crosshead screws along the front edge of the underside, is this all that's needed to open it up? I won't try of there's any danger. You see, I believe it is something simple like a loose cable, so the simplest option right now might be for me to fix it myself, as long as it's safe to try it.

What do you think?

Again, thank you.

Hmmmm, the two things I would worry about...

You could leave some evidence that you've been inside the keyboard, in which case the suppliers/manufacturers will probably not honour the guarantee.

Contact with live components and mains electricity could be dangerous for you and/or the keyboard. Leave the keyboard unplugged from the mains for an hour or so to give any capacitors a bit of time to loose some charge before you open the case (paranoia can be healthy at time like this :-) Also, try not to drop any screws or tools onto the circuit boards.

The risks are all on your side, so it's ultimately got to be your decision.

Yes, I think I'll go back to the supplier - he might have an alternative repairer we can use, and I'll take it from there.

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll bear them in mind, I'll let you know what happens.

If the keyboard is still under warranty, don't touch it! Send it straight back. If the supplier or Yamaha technicians thought for a second that you tried to do a DIY, they will terminate your warranty immediately, and you will incurr the full charges for repair!