Roland A88 Mk2 - noisy black keys?

[FJ5]

Hi all, just took delivery of an A88 mk2. Love it apart from one thing - when the black keys return there is a rather loud knocking sound. Seems to happen on pretty much all of them. Not an issue on the white keys.

Do other users have this or is just mine?

[Patrice Brousseau]

If you search for « Roland FP-10 noisy keys » on Google, you’ll get a lot of results (same keybed).

I have an A88 MKii since December 2021 and it developed a couple of « noisier » black keys in the low range a few months after I bought it. The only cure I know (and it’s a b…..tch to do it) is to disassemble the thing and add some silicon grease under the mechanism.

I’ve done it once in summer 2022 but some keys are making some « klunk » again. I’ve learnt to live with it and guess what, if you search Google for <insert any brand of keyboard here, even pricey ones + noisy keys>, you will get some results…

Go figure, my over 30 years old Korg M-1 is almost immune to that!

I think it’s also linked to humidity/temperature change, how much grease was put at the factory (and it’s quality/viscosity) and a real old upright is full of « clunkiness » anyway.

However, like I’ve said, mine developed noise on some of the lower black keys. They aren’t all like this. Sure, you could return it and get another one… worse or better. It’ll probably develop it anyways even if it is silent (relatively speaking, all keybeds make noise and my Nektar LX-88+ is worst than my A88!). Mine was « silent » as I tested it at the shop and now…

I know it’s not the answer you expected but I find that after a while, I do not bother anymore with the noise… as my keyboard sounds (piano, Rhodes, etc…) are amplified by one or two of my old 100 watts tube beasts .

Getting something perfect (computer, computer LCD monitor, etc…) is a rare thing nowadays.

Heck, I live with some minor flaws with my « real » instruments, drums, guitars and basses!

[FJ5]

Hi thanks for that. As you say I have indeed seen lots of stuff around the ‘net about Roland’s PHA4 keys, especially ‘clicky’ keys which is apparently sorted by grease.

My issue was an extremely loud ‘sharp’ knock, that sounded like the hammers were hitting the inside of the casing when they return to rest (like they were landing straight onto the casing instead of some damping material). I did find a few examples of this on another forum, including an A88mk2 where 3 separate units were found to have different faults.

In the end I returned it as the retailer didn’t have any more in stock & Roland support weren’t much help (just saying “contact dealer”). I’m tempted to try again but not confident that it won’t happen again.

[BrokenTrance]

See if you can test one of these, they seem nice:

https://www.thomann.de/se/studiologic_sl88_studio.htm
https://www.thomann.de/se/studiologic_sl88_grand.htm

[Patrice Brousseau]

Hi thanks for that. As you say I have indeed seen lots of stuff around the ‘net about Roland’s PHA4 keys, especially ‘clicky’ keys which is apparently sorted by grease.

My issue was an extremely loud ‘sharp’ knock, that sounded like the hammers were hitting the inside of the casing when they return to rest (like they were landing straight onto the casing instead of some damping material). I did find a few examples of this on another forum, including an A88mk2 where 3 separate units were found to have different faults.

In the end I returned it as the retailer didn’t have any more in stock & Roland support weren’t much help (just saying “contact dealer”). I’m tempted to try again but not confident that it won’t happen again.

You took the right decision as you would have been always annoyed by this...

In my case, not that objectionable and probably not as pronounced as your specific case.

[FJ5]

Hi thanks for that. As you say I have indeed seen lots of stuff around the ‘net about Roland’s PHA4 keys, especially ‘clicky’ keys which is apparently sorted by grease.

My issue was an extremely loud ‘sharp’ knock, that sounded like the hammers were hitting the inside of the casing when they return to rest (like they were landing straight onto the casing instead of some damping material). I did find a few examples of this on another forum, including an A88mk2 where 3 separate units were found to have different faults.

In the end I returned it as the retailer didn’t have any more in stock & Roland support weren’t much help (just saying “contact dealer”). I’m tempted to try again but not confident that it won’t happen again.

You took the right decision as you would have been always annoyed by this...

In my case, not that objectionable and probably not as pronounced as your specific case.

Yeah mine seems pretty extreme. The fact that half the black keys are OK suggests it’s not normal behaviour, though on the other had, the fact that so many are affected also suggests it’s perhaps OK in Roland’s eyes. I don’t mind a bit of noise (to be expected with hammer action keys) but I’d expect a dull thud. It made playing quick arpeggios unbearable!

Notwithstanding that, I would like to try one again…