Digital Piano Repair

[Paul McCloud]

Hi, Michelle:
    Your question seems to be, should I try repairing these electronic instruments?  If this is your aim, you would indeed need specialized knowledge in this field.  Before I got into piano repair, I had taken a course in electronics.  I live in San Diego, which is a military town.  Lots of ex-military electonic techs live here.  I couldn't land a job to save my life, because I had no experience.  Out of desperation, I took a job as an apprentice piano technician at a local store.  I'm still at this same store almost 20 years later.  It happened  that there was an organ repair shop in the same warehouse where we had our pianos.  I used to imagine myself working in their shop, but no openings were available.  As time went on, I observed the difficulties of electronic repair, and was glad I never went in that direction.
    First of all, you have to understand electronics, so you go to a school, pay thousands of dollars for that, and then graduate.  
    Ok, so  you have the skill.  Now, you get one of these glorified organ things (digital whatever), and it's time for repair.  You have to disassemble the whole thing, just to get to the part that's ailing.  Then, you look up the part number, and order it from the electronic part supplier.  Or so you think.  Hold on, partner!  THE PART NUMBER DOESN'T MATCH ANYTHING IN THE PARTS CATALOG!  It's marked with special numbers at the factory, which are proprietary.  You have to order the replacement parts from the factory.  No problem, I'll order them from the factory, right?  NOT!  They won't sell to you unless you are the "Authorized Repair Facility".  In order to become such a repair shop, you have to stock thousands of dollars of parts, so you can do these repairs in-house.  Ok, ok, so you shell out the bucks to become the "Authorized" repair shop.  You have to do the warrantee repairs for the company (I'm talking about just one line of products here), so you'll have your phone ringing off the hook for these.  And, guess what?  They don't pay very much to do the repair, and it takes a long time before you get paid!  
    Now, not all brands are like this.  But, many are.  The repair shop has since moved, but the repair guy has branched out.  He's now doing- PIANOS!  Kind of gives you the idea which way you should go.  If their electronic keyboards need repair, leave it to those who do that sort of thing.  If the school can't afford to have them repaired, that's a shame.  But, I wouldn't try to get involved unless you know what you're doing.
    DISCLAIMER:    The foregoing is my personal experience only.  If yours is different, I'd like to hear about it.

    Good luck.
    Paul McCloud, RPT
    San Diego


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Michelle Smith 
To: Pianotech List
Sent: 07/07/2007 6:01:15 AM 
Subject: RE: Digital Piano Repair


Aart, 
 
Thanks very much for this useful information!
 
Michelle Smith
 



From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Aart in America Piano Services
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 9:21 PM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: Re: Digital Piano Repair
 
Hi Michelle.

I would contact Musical Instrument Technicians Association ( MITA International) to find an electronic musical instrument tech in texas.
It's a great organization, very nice people.

www.mitatechs.com

I hope this helps.
Best,

Aart

Aart in America Piano Services
Hoboken, N.J. 07030
201 406 2594
aartinamerica at optonline.net



On Jul 6, 2007, at 9:33 PM, Michelle Smith wrote:

Hi everyone from the very wet state of Texas.  (Go figure!) 
 
Our local school district has several Yamaha digital pianos that are in need of repair.  I’m sure they don’t have the budget to send these off to someone.  Have any of you branched out into this kind of repair and if so, any advice?  Is this best left to an electrician-type repair person?
 
Thanks!
 
Michelle Smith
Smith Piano Service
Bastrop, Texas
(512) 466-0238
michelle at smithpianoservice.com
 
 
 
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