Dear Jay: You are probably correct that the problem is with the Wheel. As I understand it these Wheels are normally spring-loaded, automatically returning to their neutral position each time they are released, after applying the "bending". Is your unit different? My recommendation is to have the part repaired by the nearest authorized Yamaha service facility, or by a qualified and reputable professional. DO NOT TRY OPENING YOUR KEYBOARD TO EFFECT A REPAIR! Keyboards are complex machines and fiddling will only pave the way to additional problems. Good luck.
Sep 30, 2009 Rating
Pitchbendwheel by: Dick Rector
Hi,
The answer of Alfred is correct. If you release the wheel it should return to its zero-position by a spring. That is: the notch should be in the middle, or in other words, pointing straight upwards.
In that position you keyboard should be in tune as normal. If it doesn't jump back to that position the spring is broken or something is blocking it's free movement.
If a keyboard has a 'modulation' wheel as well it can be set in ANY position, it doesn't have a spring.
The sound of the keyboard can sounds horrible 'out of tune' or 'strange' when you have for example a piano or violin voice activated. This 'effect'wheel is used for instance to make a distorted guitar-voice even more distorted.
For normal use, without any effect, the notch on this one should be all the way down to it's zero point.
Let us know what the problem was please so other people can benefit from your experience.
Hope you solve it soon.
Regards
Dick Rector
Bali (Indonesia)
Oct 07, 2009 Rating
Thanks + Update by: Jay
Thanks for your replies.
I have this tendency to open things up and so I did with my PSR...
Yes - the PB wheel uses some sort of a spring mechanism. I found some dirt which was blocking a bit movement, cleaned it up and... Voila! seems to be back to normal.
Jay
Oct 11, 2009 Rating
Pitch Bend Wheel by: Alfred
Dear Jay: Good for you! Like you, I always have the tendency to open up things. First,satisfy my curiosity. Did you have to open the unit to get rid of the dirt obstructing the movement of the wheel? Next, read COMMENTS IN OPENING PAGE of the Q & A title (left of this post). Mantius, Dick Rector and I offer some sound advice to all keyboardists. Know your limitations,and don't risk spoiling your unit. We mean well, and believe you me, I really have to keep my demons in check whenever I feel an "open up" tendency. I look forward to your response. It should be of interest to the Forum community. Thanks.
Regards.
Oct 12, 2009 Rating
Pitch Wheel bend - cont. by: Jay
Alfred,
Specifically to my case, the dirt was somehow caught in the spring itself meaning that the PSR had to be opened. Don't know how it got there but it was there and after cleaning the spring from the dirt it made the problem disappear. However, thinking about this again, it could be that "touching" the mechanism from the inside could have released something else which prevented the wheel to reset to zero.
You are correct about keeping our demons and in the past I've "opened" some other stuff (including a Clavinova and even a 1973 VW Beatle) and coming to understand my limitations without proceeding further.
I apologize not following your direct warning in advance but I wouldn't go further besides trying to "clean" what needed cleaning.
Regards and thanks again,
Jay
Oct 12, 2009 Rating
Pitch Bend Wheel by: Alfred
Dear Jay: Thanks for reply. I think I speak from experience after 30 plus years of DIY fiddling. I don't mean to discourage you in any way. To the contrary, as you obviously recognize your limitations, I say bravo! It's just that there are problems with keyboards which will require specialized testing tools. Thanks again, and good luck. Regards, Alfred
