Nord User Forum

[intuit]

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[intuit]

Dear all, after a while almost all notes in the center zone was showing peak velocities issues. One or two were different in that they had some kind of sensitivity, but almost played values from 100 to 127. I've had some problems with warranty pick up and fearing even worse problems I decided to open the keyboard myself to investigate on rubber contacts. First of all I can confirm that the keyboard is nothing more than a kawai RH3 without let off and counterweights. The pcb underneath the keys is a kawai RH88B-KKB-044. The spare part KAWAI is selling as a whole (pcb+rubbers) has blue rubbers from what I can see in the internet, while those in my grand are grey, which I thought were from the previous model (KKB-040). Also to my surprise after researching (extendently!) I have found both are sold separately as 12 key contacts strip! I ordered two strips (grey) just in case, for the future.
So what I did was following the disassembly instructions to be found here in the forum (you will have to disconnect the action connection to the mainboard, easy task not mentioned there) and two very good youtube videos showing details about an mp7 and/or similar contacts cleaning operation. I delicately cleaned the bcp with rubbing alcohol and the rubber contacts with a pencil eraser. Reassembled. Nothing changed. Reopened. Swapped the two center zone rubbers with other two (so I swapped 24 keys with other 24) and cleaned more energically (still not much fearing damage!) both the contacts and the rubber contacts with the pencil eraser. It became black with cleaning (removing maybe some carbon dust laying there from use consumption I guess? And maybe responsible for some false contacts?).
Now everything is fine and I can happily close this nightmare.
My guess is the problem is not dirt (my contacts were all but dirty and my nord is one year old) but maybe 1) eccessive carbon debries for the fact that both the pcb and the rubber strips black carbon parts are new and 2) the fact that they combine together shaping each other with use, so I thing that more than cleaning, the most effective way to solve problems is swapping them.
Also, since some are having problems and others don't, I think that it's a matter of bad luck!
I hope this my experience can help here.
Bye all

Hy guys,
I'm a new user here in the forum. Thanks to ziozues I decided to open my Nord Grand. I confirm that I fixed the peak velocity problem cleaning the pcb, and cleaning and swapping the black carbon rubber strips.
I had some problems with following keys: C4, C#4, D. I swapped the middle strips with the high notes keys on the right.
I post some photos to give you feedback on the disassembly of the piano keyboard, pcb and the rubber sensor strips.
To clean the pcb I used a liquid spray for electrical contacts - I rubbed the pcb with a cotton cloth -, for black carbon I used a simple pencil eraser.
To open the front panel, leave the screw in the rear bottom corner loose. The screw works as a hinge on the wooden sides
Use T20 Torx for the side and rear panel screws.
I hope my post can be helpful.
Bye All.

#opennordgrand #nordgrandinside #nordgrandkeybed #nordgrandkeys #nordgrandhammeraction #nordgrandkawaihammeraction #nordgrandkawaiphiii #nordgrandtriplesensor #nordgrandkeyboards #nordgrandhammerkeys

[ziozeus]

I got some private messages from another user who solved with a mix of all the things we are saying here. Pencil rubber eraser plus swapping seems to be the better action. I'm glad you suceeded. Well done!

[huifilm]

Perhaps you can try to open up the unit and clean the velocity sensor and rubber contact with a little alcohol. Sometime dust, moist (in my case, it was coffee) can obstruct the sensor and create the unpredictable volume.

[paulryan]

unfortunately this also occurs on two notes in my Grand 88

[Mind Flayer]

I was thinking about getting either a Nord Piano, Nord Stage, or Nord Grand, but I was trying out a Piano yesterday at Guitar Center and noticed this happening a lot. Then I went online and found that this is a problem with all three models. Really disappointing that this is a recurring issue in keyboards in this price range. I love my Electro, but I think I’m going to look elsewhere for something with piano action. No way I’m shelling out that kind of money only to have to deal with disassembling it and cleaning it within a few months of purchase.

[ziozeus]

I don't think that this issue is more likely to happen on nord then in other brands. It is simply something that can happen in modern keyboard for a numbers of reasons. Buy the keyboard you want and feel lucky, you'll probably be so.

[Mind Flayer]

I was thinking about getting either a Nord Piano, Nord Stage, or Nord Grand, but I was trying out a Piano yesterday at Guitar Center and noticed this happening a lot. Then I went online and found that this is a problem with all three models. Really disappointing that this is a recurring issue in keyboards in this price range. I love my Electro, but I think I’m going to look elsewhere for something with piano action. No way I’m shelling out that kind of money only to have to deal with disassembling it and cleaning it within a few months of purchase.

I can only speak for the Nord Stage 3 88, but this issue has been solve with a recent firmware upgrade. I haven't had it happen not even once since.

That’s good to hear, thanks!

[JazzKars]

Ok, I think I just f*cked up my Grand. Tried to clean the sensors according to the instructions above, but I didn't use a eraser but I used cleaning alchohol and also contact spray. Now most keys don't have any velocity registered and hardly give sound. If they give sound it's only one velocity. Did I do something wrong by cleaning the carbon sensors with alcohol and contact spray?

[Mr_-G-]

I think they should be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. Not contact spray!!