Nord Grand clicking noises

[jrichardson]

I’ve recently noticed a slight clicking noise when I release a key. This happens on the lower half of the keybed. It sorta feels like the hammer is sticking before being released. Has anyone else experienced this with the Grand?

[hughes]

Hello jrichardson,
I have exactly the same issue on all keys except the lowest and highest 8 keys, approximately. It startet half a year after I bought the Grand with one key in the middle. Now the Grand is one year old and it applies bit by bit to all keys I often use. It sounds to me as if the conductive black rubber of the keycontacts adheres to the green circuit board. May be I’m wrong. Now I‘m in contact with the german support to send back the Grand because it is still under warranty.
Kind regards
Hughes

[FZiegler]

It's hard to evaluate/judge those sounds through a video. I don't perceive anything odd - but maybe it's louder in real than it seems on my computer. If you, hughes, say, you didn't have it in the beginning - it may be of some relevance: Who knows?

For sure, I sent back another keyboard in vain: It wasn't a Nord, but one of those USB controller keyboards for studio use, and the sound of the keys was as it was. Not very reserved, some keys even scarily loud when played a bit down the length. So, I don't have a good idea when a keyboard would be too loud. Because I got that keyboard back in more or less the same condition as before.

[hughes]

@FZiegler, maybe you should use headphones to hear the click when the keys will be released. In the real situation the click seems to be nearly as loud as the well known low frequency plop if you hit the key. The click sound is annoying especially if you play soft sounds and long tones because it is at the middle or end of the tones and at high frequencies. I would like to know the reason.

If it were a cheap USB-controller I, perhaps, would accept it. But the Grand is an expensive 1. class keyboard.

[varignet]

I'm sorry to hear this, I've been having a similar issue with a Kawai MP7SE which mounts the same action.

This tick/sticking key noise happens on release, so in moments of relative silence, which is distracting when playing. This issue developed over time, over the past three years and nearly all keys are now affected. See the following videos of my mp7se:



Did you resolve it?

[varignet]

This was resolved by Kawai swapping all contact strips.
The issue is caused by the key rubber suction bits.
Replacing the two contact strip pcbs solved the issue for me.

I believe all gran piano will encounter the same issue with age, as it’s a kawai keybed related side effect.

Did you resolve it?

[hughes]

many thanks for the interesting information.
This confirms my suspicion that it is a problem in the innermost mechanics of the Grand. But, why do the contacts only start to click after some time?
I haven't solved the problem yet because I haven't dared to send in or open the Grand yet. My hope was that cleaning the rubber contacts would be enough.
Has anyone further information?

[varignet]

In my case it was literally just the gray little rubber pumps where contacts are, on the pcb.
The very kind Kawai tecnician that visited me took the pcbs out and tried the keybed and to my amazement the clicking noise disappeared.
He then proceeded to swap the two long pcbs with new ones. The whole operation took 10mins.

The old ones had gray rubber pumps and the new ones blueish if that helps.

Could it be caused by the rubber deteriorating? in my case this happened over the course of two-three years. Not great if you ask me. If that helps, the kawai piano was delivered during a particular cold week been in November 2018. It felt very cold like freezing to the touch. Maybe this compromised the rubber inside?

I’m concerned the sticking/clicking sound will reappear, but only time will tell.
Good luck and please do keep us informed!