after a few years of honorable service (I believe 5/6), my KAWAI CA 97 digital piano:
is starting to have some problems.
Suddenly, I notice a strange "ticking" sound on E2 (and to a lesser extent on A2). This "ticking" is noticeable even when the piano is turned off.
I have uploaded a video to YouTube (link below). To appreciate the anomalous noise, you need to turn up the volume a bit:
https://youtu.be/dfWs9G89dfo
Watching video tutorials on piano mechanics, I am convinced (more than anything it is a hope) that it could be the felt of the front guide pin of the key. Felt that might be worn out.
it could, but I cannot help you with digital [pianos]. The mechanisms are different and cannot be compared to those of an acoustic one. Anyway, if you know how to open it, you can see for yourself what is making noise. The front key guide felt could be
The user manual obviously does not indicate how to open the piano. However, I found a video specifically regarding my digital model that I can use as a reference.
I might have to replace the felt, the one that in the video tutorial regarding the nomenclature of piano parts:
at min. 16:00 you indicate as "felt that raises the damper mechanism lever". Even though you are explaining how an acoustic grand works, I believe that is the felt.
The problem is what to do once that felt has been identified.
In fact, I would need this replacement felt TERAOKA no. 777:
min. 01:56
And I really don't know how to obtain it.
Do you happen to know who I could contact, or if I can use a different product (you can find everything on the Internet, even adhesive tapes are used)?
The problem is that we don't know if there is a match between the types of felt for acoustic pianos and those for digital pianos. If that were the case, you could search the internet for something similar. The typology of felts and skins is very varied; this depends on the stress they must receive and being reliable over time. Such stresses are, however, different from case to case. Naturally, you can turn to a technician recommended by the shop that sold you the instrument. In any case, send me a photo of the type of felt that has been damaged or that has "popped off" from the gluing. I will be able to advise you more precisely on what you might eventually use. Bye Paolo
Let's see if during these holidays I find the courage 🙂 to open the digital [piano] and ascertain the nature of the problem in the keys.
Maybe I'll post some photos of the felts. Although, in truth, they can already be seen in the following video (for example at min. 4:55). In fact, it is about the repair of my exact piano model - Kawai CA 97:
