Grand Felt Issues (not the program, the felt!)
-
nddyck
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 29 Mar 2018, 21:48
- 8
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Electro 4
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Grand
Re: Grand Felt Issues (not the program, the felt!)
Same issue here! How hard is it to replace the felt? Did you order the part from Nord, or get a felt strip from elsewhere? I have been thinking about different materials which might be more durable, maybe a thin strip of leather? I imagine this would not dampen as well, but this issue seems like its bound to recur.
-
Ikbenem44
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 13 Sep 2025, 00:26
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Grand
Re: Grand Felt Issues (not the program, the felt!)
We are having the same issue here! Links to what you ordered would be so appreciated!
-
jimmyjam
- Posts: 14
- Joined: 27 Apr 2021, 05:16
- 5
- Your Nord Gear #1: Nord Grand
- Your Nord Gear #2: Nord Electro 6
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Re: Grand Felt Issues (not the program, the felt!)
I don't know if this is still helpful, but here's the part I ordered, from Synth-parts.com; they're in Germany. I had no trouble ordering it a couple years ago, but haven't ordered anything recently. They were very helpful and it came within a week or two.
https://www.synth-parts.com/en/products ... A-KBFZ0125
https://www.synth-parts.com/en/products ... A-KBFZ0125
Re: Grand Felt Issues (not the program, the felt!)
Hi everyone.
I own a used NG since 2 months and had not been happy from day 3 with the bounce of the hammers when pressing the keys. This irritates me and I also think I hear the bounce from the speakers, probably because the sensor "sees" the bounce (the bounce is not on MIDI).
As I had read a lot about this behaviour and possible fixes ( also in this thread), I ordered the felt/rubber strip from synth parts and did the replacement this morning. I also replaced the felt strip on which the hammers rest.
Interestingly, the felt strip I received is slightly different than the one which they used in 2022, the felt layer is a bit thicker and two of the 3 neoprene rubber layers are now one. Therefore the new strip is a bit thicker.
Replacing the strips wasn't to complicated. The upper strip (where hammers hit when the keys are pressed) is very easy to replace. Just make sure you do not pull too much on the strip when glueing it to the rail. The lower strip (hammer rest) was more difficult because I only have two hands and no one to lift the hammers while I fiddle with the strip. So I used a u-shape aluminium extrusion to slide over the hammers and clamped it to the upper rail. Then there was enough space to remove the old and glue on the new strip.
And the result? Because the new catch felt strip is thicker, hammer and key travel is slightly reduced. The felt part of the new strip is thicker, therefore it feels more plush when the hammers hit the felt. Overall, I am not satisfied with the result but now I know it's in the design of the Kawai keybed. It bounces just like before and I do not like the plushness at the end of the key travel.
I do understand that the weight of a stage piano has to be limited to roughly 20 kg otherwise it will have a hard time as a stage piano (i.e. not been sold very often). And with reduced weight come simplified folded "hammer" keybeds. I did not pay enough attention to this fact when I made the decision for the NG (everyone praises Nord pianos, who am I to doubt this??). Because I use the NG as a stationary piano at home I am not so much worried about the weight. I will therefore try to sell the NG and will then see if a MP11SE will suit my needs better.
I had been playing on grand pianos since I was 10 and I had always appreciated the refinement and sophistication that comes with centuries of keybed development. I am not a good player but with unsupportive keybeds I am even worse. Yes, most of these "weighted hammer" keybeds have hammers, but they are missing an essential property: The hammers are not linked to the keystick, but instead a very clever design is applied to approx. halve the static weight of the hammer after the tone is triggered and the hammer has returned. Leverage ratios are different before a strike and afterwards. Also, except when playing very softly, returning hammers are being caught and their motion energy is consumed preventing the hammer from bouncing on the keystick. Some people ask for "heavier" action (see wishlist), but this comes with even heavier hammers that hit back at both of their resting positions. Ok, I should probably stop here.
If someone knows which internet service I could use for uploading pictures (without registration), I will gladly add a few pictures I had made during the repair.
Best, gpe.
(P.S. another source for the felt would be the German distributor, Sound Service in Berlin. They were a bit slow with an answer but said I only need the upper felt: 90090 Kawai Hammer Catch Felt for NG88 22.80€ + German VAT + shipping.)
I own a used NG since 2 months and had not been happy from day 3 with the bounce of the hammers when pressing the keys. This irritates me and I also think I hear the bounce from the speakers, probably because the sensor "sees" the bounce (the bounce is not on MIDI).
As I had read a lot about this behaviour and possible fixes ( also in this thread), I ordered the felt/rubber strip from synth parts and did the replacement this morning. I also replaced the felt strip on which the hammers rest.
Interestingly, the felt strip I received is slightly different than the one which they used in 2022, the felt layer is a bit thicker and two of the 3 neoprene rubber layers are now one. Therefore the new strip is a bit thicker.
Replacing the strips wasn't to complicated. The upper strip (where hammers hit when the keys are pressed) is very easy to replace. Just make sure you do not pull too much on the strip when glueing it to the rail. The lower strip (hammer rest) was more difficult because I only have two hands and no one to lift the hammers while I fiddle with the strip. So I used a u-shape aluminium extrusion to slide over the hammers and clamped it to the upper rail. Then there was enough space to remove the old and glue on the new strip.
And the result? Because the new catch felt strip is thicker, hammer and key travel is slightly reduced. The felt part of the new strip is thicker, therefore it feels more plush when the hammers hit the felt. Overall, I am not satisfied with the result but now I know it's in the design of the Kawai keybed. It bounces just like before and I do not like the plushness at the end of the key travel.
I do understand that the weight of a stage piano has to be limited to roughly 20 kg otherwise it will have a hard time as a stage piano (i.e. not been sold very often). And with reduced weight come simplified folded "hammer" keybeds. I did not pay enough attention to this fact when I made the decision for the NG (everyone praises Nord pianos, who am I to doubt this??). Because I use the NG as a stationary piano at home I am not so much worried about the weight. I will therefore try to sell the NG and will then see if a MP11SE will suit my needs better.
I had been playing on grand pianos since I was 10 and I had always appreciated the refinement and sophistication that comes with centuries of keybed development. I am not a good player but with unsupportive keybeds I am even worse. Yes, most of these "weighted hammer" keybeds have hammers, but they are missing an essential property: The hammers are not linked to the keystick, but instead a very clever design is applied to approx. halve the static weight of the hammer after the tone is triggered and the hammer has returned. Leverage ratios are different before a strike and afterwards. Also, except when playing very softly, returning hammers are being caught and their motion energy is consumed preventing the hammer from bouncing on the keystick. Some people ask for "heavier" action (see wishlist), but this comes with even heavier hammers that hit back at both of their resting positions. Ok, I should probably stop here.
If someone knows which internet service I could use for uploading pictures (without registration), I will gladly add a few pictures I had made during the repair.
Best, gpe.
(P.S. another source for the felt would be the German distributor, Sound Service in Berlin. They were a bit slow with an answer but said I only need the upper felt: 90090 Kawai Hammer Catch Felt for NG88 22.80€ + German VAT + shipping.)