Fixing dead keys on Yamaha MX49 synth

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Airlane1979
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Fixing dead keys on Yamaha MX49 synth

Post by Airlane1979 » Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:25 pm

My MX49 gradually lost response from three non-adjacent keys (lowest two E and the B flat between). For a while, if I held the notes for a long time, the sound would return but now it has gone completely. There is no problem playing the notes from an external keyboard. I've looked inside but I can't see anything obviously wrong. The keyboard is not like an electric piano with individual electro-mechanical systems for each key. Does anyone have suggestions?

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madtheory
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Re: Fixing dead keys on Yamaha MX49 synth

Post by madtheory » Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:53 pm

It's dust in the contacts. You will have to disassemble the actual keyboard, bit of a task if you've never done it before.

These instructions will do for any keyboard with rubber contacts (like yours):
http://www.bustedgear.com/repair_Roland ... 20normally.

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Re: Fixing dead keys on Yamaha MX49 synth

Post by Airlane1979 » Sun Mar 13, 2022 5:33 pm

Thanks, I'll give that a try

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Re: Fixing dead keys on Yamaha MX49 synth

Post by Airlane1979 » Thu Mar 17, 2022 2:30 pm

madtheory wrote: ↑
Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:53 pm
It's dust in the contacts. You will have to disassemble the actual keyboard, bit of a task if you've never done it before.

These instructions will do for any keyboard with rubber contacts (like yours):
http://www.bustedgear.com/repair_Roland ... 20normally.
Thanks for the advice; I carefully cleaned the contacts with 99.9% isopropyl alcohol but it made no difference. I didn't think it was likely to do so, as the three non-adjacent keys failed simultaneously about eight months ago, haven't worked even slightly since then and no other key has developed the problem.

I asked the three people in the UK who repair Yamaha synths and they simply quoted a repair cost approaching £200. I'll have to live with it, using another keyboard to play it remotely.

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madtheory
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Re: Fixing dead keys on Yamaha MX49 synth

Post by madtheory » Fri Mar 18, 2022 7:50 am

Yes it would take a few hours to open up and diagnose. How are your electronics skills? Can you get the service manual?

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