I was one of the first in the USA to purchase one of these. Had a few of them replaced back when there were quality cotrol issues that I no longer hear about.

I've had two of these for a year and a half. This one has been gigged with for about a year, and has been in my studio for 6 months. Left powered on a lot. Now I notice no LCD display. Keyboard works fine. Unless there is a mere connection problem, I better be prepared for a super epensive and lengthy repair.

What a drag.

Beakybird

open it up check the display terminals plug could be loose........not to hard to do just some screws.

If service is needed think of all the money you made with 500 gigs a yr with that small investment .....

good luck

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-03-2009).]

Isn't your S900 covered by warranty?

Not sure what it is in USA.

Ian

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 03-03-2009).]

Really?? It is 90 days labor, 1 year parts in USA.

Does anyone know about extended warranty through Mastercard??

Beakybird

The warranty in Canada is 2 years parts and labor.

Good luck with the repairs.

Ian

Hi Beaky B ,

I would too would check for a lose connection.

You are right , 90 day warranty is not enough , even the T-3 , that is all you get.

Should be atleast a year on the PSR`s and 2 years on the Tyros.

Best of luck to you , also , call Steve D , I bet he would help.

Later

Gary 

I talk`n about FULL coverage !

Hi Ian ,

Sad but true , the rest of the world get a better warranty than USA sold Yamaha KB`s.

But atleast we have Steve Deming , and I truly think he would do all he could to help us out if need be.

Later

Gary 

If you purchase your keyboard from an online retailer..., SOME of them offer extended warranties on keyboards (most often extended a full year) at no cost. I know this was common with AmericanMusical. When shopping and warranty is an issue perhaps looking for an online retailer with the no cost extended warranties may be a good option.

Here's one for example: S900 with extended 12 month warranty for FREE http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-YAM-PSRS900-LIST

Now of course notice the price on this unit is $1,699 and some will say you're paying for that warranty.., but YOU as the shopper.., it's your duty to be an EDUCATED and responsible shopper. ALMOST ALL OF THESE ONLINE RETAILERS PRICE MATCH for business. You tell AM that this unit sells for $1,599 at Zzounds.com and BAM you get a S900 for $1,599 with a 12 month extended warranty! A few extra clicks of your mouse and saying the magic phrase..., "Well they're selling it for less" could pay off in the long run if your unit blows the LCD within that two year period




[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 03-03-2009).]

Gary,

Normal Canadian warranty is 1 yr parts and labour however Yamaha Canada has been running a program for the last few years whereby the warranty is doubled...so 2 years parts and labour.

I guess it's because of our weather...

Ian

Ian.....No, no, no...it's beacuase the fine canadian people are gentle folk and do not abuse their equipment! :-)
Lee S.

Sorry to hear about the 900. I had bad luck with mine also (2x), even though a really great board. I felt in the end that this product was not road worthy for extended use - for home use only

Korg has had its complaints, but at least if offers a full 2 year warranty. Why doesn't Yamaha offer this? I was thinking of a T2, but now not sure.

Off to 3 gigs and small speakers REVIEW AT 10PM

[This message has been edited by zuki (edited 03-03-2009).]

I just got off the phone with AmericanMusical. ANY of the Yamaha keyboards they're selling that have "free extended" 12 month warranties that are selling for MORE than found on other sites (selling it NEW for less).., AmericanMusical will match their price AND you'll get that extra 12 months of free warranty.

It's all a marketing game folks... Zuki if you want a Tyros 2 with a 2 year warranty you CAN get one. All of these online retailers are fighting for your business. Some play a marketing game making you think you're getting something for free (pretty much all of them do really and retail music stores do the same thing).., but you can use their own policies to get a good deal on something.., like an extended 12 month warranty simply by holding them to their PRICE MATCH policy. You just call them tell them it's cheaper (selling new) at the other sites and BAM. You get it for the same price and an extended warranty. If you want that extra warranty I think holding them to the price match policy is a no brainer and really doesn't require you to jump through hoops to get the good deal.

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 03-03-2009).]

Anybody who does a lot of gigging, especially with a relatively inexpensive home keyboard, would do the wise thing like Beaky and have a back-up instrument.

Busy pro touring bands have back up systems for everything, including keyboards, amps, microphones etc...if you're running a full schedule like that, it is not much different...just on a smaller scale.

The two PSR-3000s I had several years ago did me well....as are the present S900s...of course, one must be realistic...you shouldn't be tossing an inexpensive home keyboard in and out of a vehicle night after night, setting it up, tearing down, and expect the same level of reliability that you would a pro digital piano or synthesizer/workstation.

An extended warranty would be a VERY wise decision, as would, as Beaky has done, making sure you have invested in a back-up.

I always say...I'm not a businessman...I am a business, man.

Ian

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 03-03-2009).]

I just made an extended warranty claim with Mastercard. As the manufacturer warranty for parts is just 90 days, this won't be covered, but labor will be.

Last time I inquired into the price of an LCD (as I once cracked an LCD without otherwise damaging the display on a PSR-2100). It was very expensive, like over $400, if I remember correctly.

I hope it's a bad connection.

Beakybird

Hey Beakybird,
A few folks who experienced display failure elected not to repair it but instead bought an inexpensive DVD player and used that as a display. I have heard it works ok and a lot cheaper than replacing the display. Others use a computer monitor - especially if being used only in a studio setting.

Just a thought,
Hammer

great idea in a pinch hammer!! just use the Video out correct?

If I have to wait for months for a part to come from Japan, I'll ask the tech to screw it to screw it together, and I will take you up on that video out idea. Brilliant

Beakybird

When Yamaha split the arranger keyboards into two separate divisions a few years ago, the ability to add the survival kit was only available for the lower end arrangers. The survival kit included an additional 2 year warranty, a pedal, AC Adapter, headphones, usually a dvd on using the instrument and some computer software. Most of us gave this away, but you could pay as much as $30.00 for this package.

Then, the high end arranger division was established with the PSRS550, PSRS700, PSRS900 and Tyros3 making up this lineup. These products all come with Yamaha's standard 90 day labor and 2 year parts warranty. I've asked Yamaha several times to provide these higher end models with a 2 year warranty but they haven't changed.

I would also remind everyone that on March1 the price of the 900 went up to $1695 as the new MAP and any store not advertising at this price takes a risk of Yamaha not allowing them to sell their products.



------------------
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

Connectivity
Video Out NTSC, PAL - User selectable Screen Content (Lyrics only or LCD Contents Mirror)
http://tinyurl.com/aw5alk


Does anyone knopw if you can hook up your Laptop to this video OUTPUT on the Yamaha S900 also?




[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-05-2009).]

I got the estimate: $420.

Tech says that a bulb was cracked in LCD, and that I am responsible, and that it wouldn't be covered under any warranty. I don't know how I'm responsible for something inside the keyboard when there is not a scratch on the outside (OK, maybe a few scratches.

So it is. $10 was to expedite the shipping. He said it will be done by Wednesday.

Beakybird

Do you gig with your S900..??? Does it get moved around much? You're kinda at the mercy of the tech on this one. Hell that bulb could have simply been a ticking time bomb waiting to blow... You may have not even cracked the thing.., and the bulb may have simply blown and you're getting the run-around on a warranty repair backout.

If your board just sits in one place..., you'd have to bang it up pretty hard to crack that LCD bulb. Hell.., many guys here perform with theirs all the time and haven't blown an LCD bulb. I'd fight em on this one man!

Well since this is a matter between me and the credit card company's extended warranty program - and not between the tech and Yamaha, I am going to talk with him about how he writes this up on the repair receipt so I get reimbursed for labor - about $100. As we stated, parts is way out of warranty.

Beakybird

Beaky,

So sorry to hear about your board. That is highway robbery if you ask me. Seems you haven't had the board that long to have a major expense of this nature. I guess it's a good thing that you have a backup. You just have to book a few more jobs, which should be no problem for you

Beaky.....
big deal thats one gig & a few polkas .....just get it done and keep going you'll make that back this week with all your gigs!...& keep playing the lottery too

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-06-2009).]

Hell.., can't you use that as a tax write off...?

Thanks for the encouragement.

I will admit that the damage is a lot more palatable than a medical bill.

And I must be grateful that the failure occurred at home and not on the job.

And I will look into American Music next keyboard upgrade.

Beakybird

[This message has been edited by Beakybird (edited 03-06-2009).]

I got reimbursed handsomly by credit card insurance. Much more than expected. That's all I will say.

Beakybird