More S910 problems

I just got one S910 out of repair with a problem with the mic signal going in and out. The technician said that he repaired the solder. It was $59.

Right after I got that one back, I had a gig ruined by my other S910 not working. None of the buttons would light up or work. I turned it on and off and reset the OS to no avail. When I brought the keyboard home, it worked fine time after time. Yamaha technical support said that it was probably a component on the main board but not the main board itself.

I was going to bring that S910 in for repair on Monday.

Then Thursday at a gig, I had the same problem with the mic going in and out. I tried a different mic cable, and I had the same problem. This was a small gig, and I accidentally brought in a second speaker. I went straight from the mic into the second speaker, and I didn't have a problem.

I brought the keyboard in and asked them to see if they missed something. They tested it, took it apart. They said it worked perfectly and never failed on them. The technician said that he couldn't think of anything that would be causing the problem.

What am I to do? I'm thinking of getting a third S910 so that I can be sure that one works. I would sell one of the two after it gets out of repair.

Maybe I should get an outboard mixer and reverb unit in case the mic input fails again. I don't know what to do.

It looks like it would be wise to scrap the s910 boards and use a Tyros...I have to beleive there is a big difference in quality...Appearance wise it sure looks to be better made..and horror stories like yours confirms it..

Sell off the s910(s) and pick up a Tyros4...

PS: don't sell the s910 to any SZ friends

The S910 is more then gig worthy...don't let anyone say different. Depending on how it's used tings can happen with any electronic item on the market.....sheeeesh I remember having to change all the buttons on my G1000 years ago also!... doesn't anyone understand that a mere $1700.00 investment, etc, brings a profit to a pro gigger using it many, many, many, times over, thru the years so what's a little service once in a while IF needed? Treat your gear with TLC and it will serve you well.
Or you can carry around something like the G70 and pay your Chiropractor...your choice..

Come on...that used G1000 you bought was used as a boat anchor in Lake Erie.....and you didn't replace all the buttons..they were button contact covers

I used the G1000 for more than 9 years..played it everyday, without a single failure...Now that is a documented thumbs up

Look at folks are saying/selling about their PSR keyboards ..for every Gary or Donny (success stories)..there are legitament concerns..I have read at least a dozen folks that had problems with the lower Yamaha keyboards(just on SZ)...so we can't rule out that the PSR are not made for the road..That is why they sell over priced Tyros

It's not like you didn't have to repair key contacts on your older PSR models...they just are not made as well as they could be..

Well the sound more then makes up for any design flaws vs anything else on the market. A heavy metal Kb's doesn't necessarily translate to a better sounding unit as we can hear in may posted demos. There is not much difference in design material with the PSR/Tyros line of arrangers....plastic is plastic. Treat it right and enjoy the wonderful sound it offers. Heavy is fine for a studio setting...lightweight units just make sense for the "on the go" traveling performer in my book. Most likely a laptop/iPad, etc.. & a light weight controller KB will be all you ever need.

Carry On

Then why charge twice as much money for the Tyros?

I'll answer my own question

There is a difference in design and how they are assembled..even though they may both be plastic..I would think there are better quality components..

Also comparing the difference in the Roland line...there is a difference between say an E60 and a E80..you can hear the difference in the samples and output..Not just weight..I would also suggest the added weight must be the design factor and quality componets in the E80 that are not in the E60...They are both 61 keys with speakers ....why nearly twice the weight? It has to factor in..

I would suggest comparing the PS910 to the Tyros model..may be similar differences as my Roland example...Think about it?

I'd say Beaky is just working more often than most PSR arranger players, and in fact, probably a lot more than most of the arranger players here on SZ.

And, I can understand why he is, because he puts on a totally professional show.

Sorry to hear about your problems, Larry, I hope you get them resolved quickly. Problems with the PSR-S910 are very rare, according to my reports, but they do happen. Contact me if I can be of any help.

Ian

Of course there are internal differences to substantiate the price...but us mortals will never know what they truly are.
Bottom line is this, what ever you pay for an electronic instrument it has the propensity to fail in some way or another at times.

Donny, all instruments have the potential to fail...I have heard of problems with Korg PA-series, Roland G-70/E-80/60/50, and with PSR and Tyros.

No companies are immune. Just visit their respective forums, and you will quickly learn they all can have problems.

Rather than offer help, or at the very least, some empathy, Fran is only taking Beaky's problem and using it as an opportunity to bash the product.

I thought Fran had more couth than that...but, sometimes I'm wrong.

Ian

I suggested Larry to use a Tyros..how is that slamming Yamaha?

Facts are facts..the PSR s910 is not holding up for him...

So you are saying the s910 is as good as the Tyros?

BTW: give me the link to all the G70/E80 malfunctions and problems...I can only go by experience..

Couth. Forsooth! Now there's a word.

Right on, Ian. The first law of thermodynamics puts everything in its place sooner or later.

Fran, I'm simply pointing out what you're doing...that's all...stop trying to hide behind the tiny bit of so-called advice you think you're giving Larry.

The S910 is in a different price range than the Tyros...if Larry wanted a Tyros, he would have bought one in the first place.

My point is that any product can fail...and yes, the G-70 can fail...one of my clients had one that gave nothing but trouble from the time she bought it, till the time she sold it and bought another product.

And yes, the S910 is as good as the Tyros, based on each instrument's intended purpose in the product line.

Ian

Agree. If something is more expensive doesn't necessary mean it can't get broken or malfuction. I played the psr series for years from cheap to expensive and never had any problem with them.

+1

There are different factors besides the build of a keyboard that can contribute to it breaking down.

1. Frequency of use
2. How it's stored when not in use
3. How it's treated while in use
4. Luck

It's true that I do many shows per year. I don't bang the keyboard around or splash water on it. I store it in a gig bag with extra padding on the top and on the sides. The ideal would be to store the keyboard in a hardshell case. Nevertheless, the keyboards look almost brand new.

When not in use, the keyboard I gig with is left in the trunk of my car resting on top of the keyboard stand. While I let it warm up before use in the winter, it is subject to many temperature variations and bumps while in the trunk.

It doesn't surprise me that under these circumstances that my keyboard would break down. What upsets me is that both my keyboards are having subtle, hard to pinpoint intermittent problems at the same time.

Two years ago, one of my S900's needed a $425 repair, $300 of which was covered by Mastercard's extended warranty.

Today, I took the keyboard that was having the mic problem to a gig, and it didn't give me any trouble.

I'm going to get a mixer in case the mic input stops working again. In the meantime, I'm going to get the other keyboard repaired, and I'm going to consult with Yamaha about what could have caused the mic to have this problem because the Yamaha authorized technicians had no idea.

BTW, a Tyros probably is more sturdy. But it is a lot more expensive, and I really rely on the onboard speakers that the PSRs have.

Six years of gigging nearly seven days a week with a PSR-3000 and the only failure(s) I've experienced were a worn out USB host jack and a worn out MIDI connector. Never had a keypad failure or any other failure.

My spare PSR-3000 went into service just two days ago, and today, after a $75 repair, it becomes a spare again. I have a spare key strip hanging on my bulletin board that has been hanging there for three years--just in case. I'm confident that I transport, set up, tear down and perform more than 95-percent of all the OMB performers in my part of the world. From my standpoint, the PSR series of keyboards are pure workhorses and with reasonable care they'll last longer than the performers. If you pound on the keys like Jerry Lee and punch the buttons with a ball-peen hammer, NO arranger keyboard will last very long. I've had guys here that claimed they are gentle on their keyboards. But, when you look at their boards the paint is worn off around the volume control, half the buttons have been mashed flat, the keys are filthy, the displays have finger prints on them, and there are scratches everywhere you look. You would be hard pressed to find a single scratch on any keyboard I've owned during the past 20 years.

Now, I've never seen Larry perform, though I would love to be in one of his audiences, therefore I cannot make a judgement call on how he treats his keyboards. I can say, however, with a fair degree of authority and experience, that there have been some Yamaha, and other brands, that have not been constructed to the highest standards--including the S-900 and S-910. Having owned a G-800, a couple Korgs, some off the wall brands, and some that are no longer in business, I can unequivocally say that overall I prefer Yamaha's sounds and operating system over all the other brands.

I sincerely hope that Larry has his problems quickly and inexpensively resolved,

Gary

Larry:

So sorry to hear about all these 910 problems. It has been on my object of desire list for quite some time... and this could certainly tip me into another direction. Please keep us informed about your progress... or lack of it. Thanks for caring enough to share this bad news with us.

Dave

Dave ...go for it ..S910 is one of the BEST Arranger KB's on the market !

I've gotta agree with Donny on this one. I've had PSR 2000, 3000, s900 and now s910. Dollar for dollar the s910 has been the best sounding and prforming keyboard of the bunch. I've had it fall off my cart a couple of times and it hasn't scratched, dented, cracked or had any electronic problems.