Tuning and repairs are a common part of piano ownership. Proper care and maintenance ensures that pianos, most especially the traditional acoustic variety that is made with the string and hammer apparatus is kept in running order. Failure to keep the musical instrument maintained can in turn cause bigger issues in the future. Easy to follow instructions on how to clean a piano or Tips for cleaning your digital piano can aid newbie piano owners in search of care manuals. Compared to acoustic pianos however, digital pianos and electronic keyboards are not in need of constant tuning. In fact it does not need any since it operates just like any computer would. Not to say that digital piano owners do not encounter any problems with their instrument.
Stick, Jammed or Broken Keys
Sticky keys are a problem for both a standard and electronic piano. The usual cause of sticky keys would be dirt, dust or foreign body trapped between the gaps. Since digital keyboards run on circuitry, moisture can also prove to be a problem. However, direct contact such as spilled liquids can cause issues with the board rather than just humidity or moisture in the atmosphere. This is why it is very important to keep liquids away from a digital piano.
When keys become sticky or are broken, replacing it is fairly easy. Not a lot of force is needed in order to replace they busted digital piano keys on your own. A new contact board will be needed if the existing one looks bent out of shape. Phoning the digital piano manufacturer or a repair shop for parts would do the job unless they said component is no longer available. Owners who still have their digital pianos under warranty should opt to call for support rather than tinker on the instrument on their own. Any faulty issues found due to tampering can make warranties void. Be sure to check with your manufacturer or with the store that you have purchased the piano from.
Jammed or unresponsive keys are not only the issues that result to a problem with the contact board. Aside from notes not playing at all, volume control that does not function correctly, either too low or too loudly is also a contact board issue. Graphite is the standard material of many contacts. Correct cleaning of this part is a must. Numerous contact cleaners or lubricants in the market are available and specifically designed for piano cleaning and care.
Power Problems
The old fashioned piano has no on or off switch. It does not require an electrical source in order to be used. Batteries or a power cord hooked up to an outlet allows a digital piano to be operated. Functioning just like a computer or a similar electric appliance, the digital instrument has a power button. When a top digital piano doesn’t turn on properly, first start by checking if it has enough power. Instruments that utilize battery packs should be checked on often. If it runs through an electrical cord, ascertain that the plug is firmly in place. A short circuit could have occurred and may have fried the power system of the piano. Have a repairman come in and assess the damage.
Software Issues
When a digital piano’s on and off switch is faulty, freezing in the system is noticed, or completely locking up at certain times, it is likely that the software is to blame. Factory reset buttons or an “initialize” function can help restore a piano to working condition. Locate this feature by checking the user manual. It should provide step by step instructions on how to properly reset the digital piano. In the event that the care manual is nowhere in sight, contacting the customer support of your piano manufacturer is the next best step. Websites and forums online are also good sources that can help a person troubleshoot this particular problem. Please know that in most case, restore functions will reset the digital piano back to its factory state. Meaning, data could be lost so make sure you have songs, effects, and other data you added, backed up properly. It would be a safe practice to always have backups of the data on your piano on an external storage device or a computer.
LCD Screens
More modern digital pianos for sale now come with LCD screens. There is no way around fixing this on your own. There are some individuals who think that replacing a cracked screen can be DIYed, for safety reasons and to ensure that no other part of the digital piano’s computer system is damaged, call an expert to do the repairs. Dead pixels on the LCD screen may not seem like a major concern, over time however these pixels can slowly affect the nearby ones. In not time you are left with an unreadable screen. Before it is too late, have the LCD looked into. Usually repair centers will take it out completely and replace it with a new one.
Fixing the keys on a Digital Piano
Conclusion
Finding do- it-yourself tutorials on how to repair your digital piano is possible with some research. It cannot be denied that there are many to be found on the internet. Always keep in mind that a digital piano is like a computer, it requires the attention of expert technicians. Trying to forgo the costs of a professional repair can instead lead to larger expenses when you have unknowingly caused a larger damage through your tinkering.