RH3 Hammer action key gap irregular?

johnsoncp · Post by **johnsoncp** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:58 am

Hello.

I have just bought a new Korg keyboard with the 88 key RH3 keyboard.

Unlike my Yamaha and Casio hammer action keyboards, the Korg keys are not regularly spaced. There are larger gaps every octave on the C and slightly larger gaps on the F. It looks like the keys are made in groups and then fixed to the keybed.

Is mine faulty or do other people have these irregularly spaced keys?

Thanks, Chris

orpheus2006 · Post by **orpheus2006** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:17 pm

Same issue with my M3-88, but I guess it is normal.
I have seen similar irregularities on a Korg SP250 stagepiano.

johnsoncp · Post by **johnsoncp** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:29 pm

orpheus2006 wrote:Same issue with my M3-88, but I guess it is normal.
I have seen similar irregularities on a Korg SP250 stagepiano.

Thank you very much for the reply. I've spent ages trying to find photos of the keys and it does appear that Korg keys have this feature. As I have a light touch I also find the C5, D5 and E5 keys have more of a rattle than the others.

Best regards, Chris

orpheus2006 · Post by **orpheus2006** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 3:54 pm

To minimize the rattle, I did NOT put my M3-88 directly on the keyboard stand, but put a stable wooden board in between. This way, the M3 stands on its rubber feet, and rattle and other noise (due to vibrations of the casing) is reduced significantly.

johnsoncp · Post by **johnsoncp** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:04 pm

orpheus2006 wrote:To minimize the rattle, I did NOT put my M3-88 directly on the keyboard stand, but put a stable wooden board in between. This way, the M3 stands on its rubber feet, and rattle and other noise (due to vibrations of the casing) is reduced significantly.

Thanks again. I must admit I am very disappointed with the quality of the keys. The gaps, rattling - terrible on some keys, is driving me mad. I'm seriously thinking of returning it. If Yamaha and even Casio can produce high quality keys then why can't Korg?

Regards, Chris

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:49 pm

I have to agree with you there. Had they spent the extra $4 on a better keybed and internal power supply, they'd be having trouble manufacturing them fast enough.

-Mc

fduncan · Post by **fduncan** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:38 am

Same here, my C3 key is driving me nuts when I play it with the pinky. It touches the B2 key and emits a plastic vibration, very annoying. Some other keys do that too but to a lesser extent. Therefore I mainly play the M3 with my closed headphones.

Do you think it is correctly manufactured ?

Other than that, it is an awesome piece of hardware.

johnsoncp · Post by **johnsoncp** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:42 am

fduncan wrote:Same here, my C3 key is driving me nuts when I play it with the pinky. It touches the B2 key and emits a plastic vibration, very annoying. Some other keys do that too but to a lesser extent. Therefore I mainly play the M3 with my closed headphones.

Do you think it is correctly manufactured ?

Other than that, it is an awesome piece of hardware.

As far as I can make out, the keys are made in units, C to E and F to B. These are then screwed to the keybed. This is the reason for the irregular gaps and in your case the fact that 2 keys collide. As each unit is made on its own I assume that why they differ in rattle as well. Like you, if I play with headphones or very loud volume it's not a problem. I hope when they invent RH4 they re-think and redesign it.

orpheus2006 · Post by **orpheus2006** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:07 am

As said before, if you put the M3-88 on a board (on all ruber feet!), then vibrations of the casing is reduced significantly. I'm sure you will enjoy the unit much more.

If directly placed on a keyboard stand, the rear of the M3-88 (the metal rod) is vulnerable to vibrations as are the two side covers.

IMO Korg saved on the wrong end. They should have build a solid casing with a single metal plate on the bottom, and not a half open unsteady something. For me, it makes no difference if the unit weighs 60 pounds or 70 pounds (in any case two persons are required for carrying the unit).
Note: Even when the unit stands on all rubber feet, key noises cannot be suppressed completely, but this is almost always the case with other 88 keyboards, too.

BTW the keys on my M3-88 do not touch each other.
And I do not really have a problem with the spacing of the key groups. It just doesn't look as good as it could be.

fduncan · Post by **fduncan** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:27 pm

Well I thought that it might be the case with all the digital weighted keyboards after few weeks of use (it's my first kb), if not then it's too bad, wrong choice in the first place. However, now, I really enjoy the M3 so I won't dump it for another one. I'll try the board idea Orpheus if I can find one with the right size. I'm not so much of a carpenter and don't fancy to use a saw. Thanks for the idea.

johnsoncp · Post by **johnsoncp** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:03 pm

fduncan wrote:Well I thought that it might be the case with all the digital weighted keyboards after few weeks of use (it's my first kb), if not then it's too bad, wrong choice in the first place. However, now, I really enjoy the M3 so I won't dump it for another one. I'll try the board idea Orpheus if I can find one with the right size. I'm not so much of a carpenter and don't fancy to use a saw. Thanks for the idea.

I emailed Korg and this is what they said

"The keyboard design is such that all the keys should be uniform in their location. Your unit sounds like it has exhibited signs of stress or possibly transit damage at some point since its manufacture. If you still have the box, does it shows signs of damage or any concertina type effect on corners or edges? Was the polystyrene cracked or broken in any way when you opened it?

It might be worth speaking to the retailer to discuss your options."

My box does not show these problems and I am keeping it as the information from you guys has convinced me that this problem is more common than Korg may think.

orpheus2006 · Post by **orpheus2006** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:36 pm

@johnsoncp: would you mind uploading a picture of your keyboard?

I'd like to understand if "uniform in their location" means zero tolerance,
even small deviations are not acceptable?

I'm quite sure my dealer will say "this is in the norm" cause many other Korg M3-88s do have the same problem.

johnsoncp · Post by **johnsoncp** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:23 pm

orpheus2006 wrote:@johnsoncp: would you mind uploading a picture of your keyboard?

I'd like to understand if "uniform in their location" means zero tolerance,
even small deviations are not acceptable?

I'm quite sure my dealer will say "this is in the norm" cause many other Korg M3-88s do have the same problem.

I can't see how to post a photo. My dealer has been very understanding and said I can have a full refund if I want. I sent him a photo of the gaps and this was sent to Korg.

We had a family debate about it LOL. My wife and daughter can't see why I'm worried whilst my son and younger daughter said it would keep niggling them.

I've had comments like 'get a life' etc so perhaps I should just forget it and enjoy the keyboard.

If you google images of the RH3 keyboards, it is possible to see these gaps on many of them so I still insist it's a funny with the Korgs. This is the danger buying over the Internet as you can't try things out until you have bought them.

orpheus2006 · Post by **orpheus2006** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:07 pm

OK, here is a picture of the keys of my M3-88. You can see a slightly larger gap between B and C. Is this normal?

If you look at it from the distance then the irregularities are hardly noticeable, but there are slightly larger gaps between all B and C keys, and sometimes also between E and F keys.

johnsoncp · Post by **johnsoncp** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:03 pm

orpheus2006 wrote:OK, here is a picture of the keys of my M3-88. You can see a slightly larger gap between B and C. Is this normal?

If you look at it from the distance then the irregularities are hardly noticeable, but there are slightly larger gaps between all B and C keys, and sometimes also between E and F keys.

Thank you for the photos. I don't know if normal is the correct description but it may be common. In fact your gaps are larger than mine but the pattern you describe is the same.

I've had enough of mine, I've sent it back. I will use a 61 key M3 instead and use a Roland 88 key piano.