Hi all,
I normally post messages in the Ketron Forum since I own an SD1.
I wanted a 2nd keyboard and piked the Yamaha PSR S900 from Sam Ash- Nice sounding board. When I unpacked it, i noticed it had a big crack in the back (cheap plastic, I thought). Took it back to the store and they gave another one in the box.
when I unpacked and turned it on(the 2nd one)- Nothing turned on- No screen and no buttons- everything was dark- but there was one sound!!!- the default piano sound. Nothing else worked, everything was dead. Took it back to Sam Ash and got my refund. That's it for me- no more S900. I will be checking other options. Any suggestions???

Thanks, Falberto.

Maybe unpack them in the store, so they can fix you up on the spot?

looks like these guys must have had their boxes fall off the truck or something - literally.

I have a S900 and NO problems....first one out and was OK!.

Nick may be right, I worked 5 years ago in S.A. Columbus, and those accidents DO happen.

That is totally unacceptable.

Yamaha is supposed to be better than this.

Most of us know that most brands have two ( or more ) levels of products that they sell to consumers , i.e.: Pioneer , they sell there standard stuff and they have there "Elite" line.

For Yamaha audio , it too has two levels , the stuff you can buy at Best Buy and other like stores , and stuff that you can only get at specialty stores. ( i.e.: there new HT amp :
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=558249

You won`t find this at Walmart !

In any event , it is clear that Yamaha has two levels of products , look at there low end KB the YP-T400 almost the same as the PSR-E403 ( slight difference ) , but you won`t find the E403 anywhere but a music store ( in most cases ).

Yamaha , it really doesn`t matter what or where you sell your products , what matters is quality.
I realize they {Yamaha} would people rather buy a Tyros than an S900 , but that is not the point.
If your going to offer a product on the open market , it damn well better work and be in one piece.

You {Yamaha} stand to lose a large customer base if you don`t shape up.

So fly right and get your act together.

Gary

i would love for you to be a keyboard vendor, and your distributor dropped a crate of your keyboards, broke about 10 of them and then your customers blame you for making a breakable product...

lets see what you would think?? ummmm blame the distributor?

Hi Guys... I have a new S900 too. I haven't commented yet because I am still "checking it out".... I got the board last weekend and was out of town til tonight...It arrived in great shape (no gouges or bangs on the box and it looked like it was direct from the factory).

I have noted a couple quirks transferring registrations or reading styles from my T2 to the S900....not the least of which is that when I tried to access my (USB-based) styles on the S900, I got an error saying "Unable to display the directory - too many files". So there is an obvious difference between the T2 and S900 OS. After I "downsized" my directories, the S900 displays and handles my USB files OK.

Second observation.... Copying the reg's directly from T2 hasn't been 100% successful. Partly because of the "too many files problem"...since I had to reorganize my styles on the USB stick, it would make sense that the old T2 reg's are still pointing to a location on the USB that is no longer there.

Having said that, I read the other posts on here about registration problems and immediately came home today and checked it out. I created 4 registrations w/different styles, different keys, and different tempos, saved them and was able to recall them ok.

I haven't seen any issues w/my pitch wheel or mod wheel...I don't use them much, but I did note that the pitch bend wheel doesn't work w/all my sounds....it works fine w/guitars but it didn't work on the piano sounds (thought that was by design?)....

Randy

Nick ,
What I was saying is a general lack of quality control , not the fact that just one store had just 2 bad units.

I have tried 2 in different locations and both were different , granted the last one was not as bad as the first but still not perfect enough to buy.

Many S900`s have been purchased a various locations , having various problems of some kind , very few are perfect.

If you read some of the other threads , you`ll understand the statement that I made more clearly.

Yamaha has dropped the ball on at-least the first batch of S900`s , that much is certain.

The question is can [ will ] Yamaha fix there problem ?

Maybe , but it would mean a redesign of the S900 and that would take it out of the PSR family.

So , all they can do now is fix what they have to work with.

This kind of "failed results" has been showing up more and more in consumer electronics , companies need more "in house" control over what gets built buy other venders. (sub-assemblies)

Gary


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I did not quote your reply.
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No problems here in Canada and no service bulletins from Japan.

Problems seem to be concentrated in the USA.

Could very well be a "damaged in transit" issue.

Ian

Ian ,
Thats could very well be the issue.

Maybe the US , did get a failed batch.

If so it may take a while before they can weed out the bad and replace them with totally new units.

If it was a first batch problem , we could be looking at a 5~6 month wait for completely new and A-OK , S900`s to arrive.

They most likely will try to rework as much of the bad batch ( returned items ) as possible ( of course they would sell as brand new , even though they are not ).

So getting an assembly line fresh perfect one could be a while , I really hope I`m wrong.

Gary

buyer beware.............hold on to your 3k's/t2 until this is totaly resolved maybe a UNIT RECALL will be in order for sure.

Things are well here in Canada, Donny...no problems...but USA buyers should beware and have the keyboard checked before purchase.

I love my S900.

Ian

I hope they get this resolved soon.....
the bad seed has been planted in the minds of perspective buyers on the S-series, & the sir has come out of the balloon, but I hope it doesn't become the "EDSEL" of the arranger KB industry.
Yamaha common get it fixed, and get people happy & excited again !!

I think we are making too much of it. As far as I can see, there is only a handful of units with problems, mine included. They will handle them on a one-by-one basis unless a larger pattern emerges. If it does, then Yamaha may have to do something drastic. I feel it's too soon for panic.
Expecting my new one any day.
DonM

Don not true ....the arranger world is much larger then the SZ & what we're hearing ....who really knows what world wide defects users are having around the globe?
One defective unit is one too many .....I really hope they take an aggressive stand and correct the problem asap......the holidays are coming and sales will soar & so will the Complaints if this is a bigger problem then we assume.


[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 10-05-2007).]

Of course nobody wants a defective unit, but assuming it's a worldwide problem because we know of 3 or 4? I don't know how many have problems, but I do know Yamaha is quick to replace them. Until they can discern if and where a problem exists, that's all we can expect. To ask for a total recall because of a handful of problems seems a little radical to me.
Korg sold me a keyboard that was virtually unusable because it sounded like it had a blanket over it. Nobody clamored for a recall, but evidently they did address it at least somewhat with an OS update.
I think it was several OS updates before Roland's G70 became acceptable also.
We don't know if these problems are hardware or software related, or even how many are affected. I know mine was damaged by UPS, as is ALMOST EVERY PACKAGE I GET FROM THEM.
I wish we could recall UPS, at least in my area of the world.
I gotta go make a living now!
DonM

Don't worry, Donald...Yamaha is already fixing things as we speak.

And, Don M is correct...it is much too soon to panic...calm down, have a cuppa tea...play your PA-800.

By the way, how do you like it so far? Did you get the bad style fills sorted out?

And...are you thinking of getting the new 76 note Korg?

Ian

Guys - I just played my S900 for about an hour, working w/regs (most of which I had to reset and tweak to get them right because some of the voices on the T2 which are not on the S900).

I am apparently among the lucky guys (knock wood!) and haven't seen an issue w/this board. It is truly a great sounding and playing keyboard. I am hoping all the folks on here w/issues will get them solved and Yamaha will take care of their obvious quality control problems.

I have noted on other forums that there are apparently a lot of happy S900 owners, many of which seem to be outside the U.S. I have only seen the one complaint from the gal in Finland regarding registrations not working for her.

Once again, I hope all the folks w/S900 problems get them addressed soon and that Yamaha takes immediate action to correct the flaws that are slipping through.

Randy

1- Dominick not Donald

2- Fills are fine, they work a bit different then Yamaha Pa800 is doing a fine job, so far I'm really enjoying performing with it & still learning its ins & out as I go along.

3- Panic for a gigging musician with a defective unit is imperative that is is remedied immediately, Yamaha has a good track record, lets hope they make this right asap.

4-Ian as far as the 76 keys which Im so glad KORG is addressing with the release of their new Pa units will be a consideration ....maybe more so for a studio piece & backup at this time.

5- Whats your opinion of the Yamaha stage-pass PA system as far as power, coverage, flexibility, & of course Sound?

1.Sorry Donny...I have a friend Dominick who goes by Dom.

5. The Stagepas 300 is nice...good separation, not an extreme amount of bass but quite sufficient for my ears.

I used the Stagepas 500 last week...pretty cool, more than enough power, great sound and coverage, definitely heavier than the 300...but, in my clinics, I don't have to move the stuff..it is set up for me.

I have a set of 15 year old Yamaha MS60s powered monitors that work perfect for most of my dinner gigs, and if I need more oomph, I'll rent a system.

Ian

Thanx Ian.....

I also like the on board mixer makes for usable versatility for what ever arises.

I forgot to mention that in both instances I did check the boxes and packing components very carefully and everything was intact. Not even a single scratch on the outside of the 2 boxes. But it is difficult to believe they are coming out of the factory in such conditions.
One thing I could say is that the cracked plastic in the back of the 1st keyboard was thin and it looked cheap. It reminded me a $99 casio. After seeing that, I don't think I will try another one. Good sound is #1 priority, but for me durability and reliability are also a need. I can't afford a decent keyboard every 2 years. I have my SD1 since 2003.

Thanks,

FA

The company I work for, gets good delivered by sea quite often. I have seen sea-containers getting dropped by accident and from the reaction of the guys handling the container, I did not get the impression that I was witnessing something rare.

It is very well possible that a large batch from Yamaha was handled improperly on its way to/through the US. I think it's nonsense to suggest that Yamaha willfully ships instruments that are not checked thoroughly, or in any other way below Yamaha standards.