Thank you so much for sharing this knowledge - I've just successfully changed a chipped 'E' key on a Montage 6. I couldn't have done this without your video. Thanks again!
You made my day!. I own two Montage 6 (one black, one white), both bought used and pretty cheap. They did not suffer any transport damage, luckily. One was a pickup buy and the other came with the original box. But on the older one, a 2016 unit (bought used in 2019), the jog wheel misses some steps from time to time. And also one scene selection buttom didn't work for some time (now it works, but I am not too confident). So I planned to replace the encoder and the push-button for those two functions. But had not yet looked at how to open the unit. And, wow, it is fair easier than, for example, my MOX8!. I love the way the Montage is built. It recalls me the DX7 I also own!. Again, many thanks for sharing this. BTW, I work fixing radio communication electronics at my home lab, and have worked on some synths earlier (SY77, DX7, MOX8, Xio 25, DX11, K1 and such). But the crown of the collection, the Montage was still a mystery to me... Now it is no longer that way! 🥳
Thank you for this video! I just picked up a Montage 6 at a great price and FedEx broke my right side panel, bent the metal side frame and snapped the same under part on the top key! I now know exactly what to do in terms of obtaining a repair estimate and finding replacement parts.
One small hint: Yamaha uses an special grease for their keyboards. It is NOT cheap, but does really work perfectly and I prefer it to using generic greases. The code for the grease is G-1066Y. I bought a 50g tube and it has already been used in several keybeds and there is still more than half left. Definitely recommended, it made my MOX8 keybed work like new (I got that MOX8 in very bad shape, mostly because of the tons of dirt, which affected the key contacts, and also with several broken keys. Now it is working like new!)
Yes...I know. :) I actually should have mentioned this in the video. It's actually made by DuPont, specifically for lubricating plastics. I looked up the MSDS on it years ago, and it's actually a PAO grease with lithium as the primary lubricant. So I just use a generic PAO lithium-based grease with approximately the same lithium content in it, and about 1/10 the cost. :) I've been using it in my synth keybeds for years, and it has always worked great.
I'm working on some music I'll play in the church this weekend on my MODX7, and wach your Montage 7 let me mouth watering! What a beautiful machine! Surely the unavoidable next step for me! I'm happy to see your instrument working like new now! Nice video!
Wow Scott you certainly don’t have much luck with couriers them boxes and orders with errors I was going to use ups for my wife’s business but I think I’ll give that a miss 😂 fantastic video buddy take care 👊
I had to erplace several keys on my Motif. Someone tried moving it by picking it up by the keys. Glad the Montage is easier to take apart. Working on the Motif 6 was a nightmare.
Your passion must be higher than mine, I'd superglue that broken tangent.. Done it before and still works fine... I love disassembly and assmebly vids always :)
Single replacement keys are pretty inexpensive. Also, it would be a bit of work to get it perfectly smooth - if it wasn't, you'd get a clickiness to the key when it was pressed. You'd have to solvent wash the key to get the grease off that area in order to have the glue work. I'd probably use ABS cement or MEK rather than superglue if I was going to fix that key. Using those solvents actually chemically melt the ABS (which is what that key is made of) and cause it to bond back together as a single piece of plastic, rather than two broken pieces held in place with a layer of glue. I've used that exact technique for many years to fix ABS motorcycle bodywork, and it is the strongest, most reliable repair that can be done.
Excellent Scott. When I first bought Motif, I thought that a degree in computer science wouldn't be a bad idea. Now after watching your video, I think a degree in Mechanical Engineering would also be useful.
Excellent video! Now I am pretty certain I won't be moving the Montage around :D But it is obviously very well built (and serviceable), inside out. Thomann have also sent me a wrong part once, they were very quick in fixing the mistake though. It's nice to know there are real professional shops selling and servicing instruments.
The same thing happened to me! Broken key and bent frame. I was able to bend the frame back in place and replace the key... Everything done very easily. Also got the Montage 8 for a steal! Had a recent mishap with a Kawai K5000 that was in mint condition... No longer thanks to UPS 😭
Wow. Those packages looked terrible. Especially if that happens to an expensive synth like the Montage. Luckily it's a professional synth that is a lot easier to service. And a professional Scott who knows how to get it fixed 🙂
Scott, this may not be the easiest question to ask, but if you could only have one keyboard out of these three in your studio, which would it be? 1. Montage 2. Fantom Flagship 3. Fantom 00 Series I use a TON of VSTs in my recordings, and will continue to do so, but I miss just slappin' on a keyboard and jamming without any computers and latency involved.
I'd have to say the Montage. It would be a close call between the Montage and the Fantom, but I know the Montage inside out, and I find it much easier to work with than the scattershot UI of the Fantom, even though the Fantom may have more capability in some aspects than the Montage.
Excellent video Scott, as usual. I've never seen a package in such a state. Ups threw it like some garbage. I guess it would have not be so easy to repair in the ModX.
Very helpful video Scott! My Montage6 White’s keybed is noisier than my previous Montage6. Would you recommend putting a felt strip somewhere? If so where?
You could...but it's very critical that the felt be of the correct thickness, so I would just replace the original. On the Montage you have the felt integrated in the aftertouch sensor, and the stop strip. Syntaur has them: aftertouch strop at syntaur.com/Items.php?Item=10191 and stop keybed cushion: syntaur.com/Items.php?Item=10194
Wow... Those packages are a disgrace.. did you make an insurance claim on your Montage?..... here in the UK.. our version of UPS is Parcelforce .. they damaged my M3 cheek when i shipped it with them to a buyer on eBay... then an employee told me the staff actually kick and throw the boxes around in the warehouse, so ive never used them again... Would be interested in seeing whats in my Modx.. if you feel like tackling that one sometime .. love your channel and great video as always Scott, keep up the great work 🙏❤️
I did make an insurance claim on the Montage, which is what paid for the new end cheek (they aren't cheap). I don't have my MODX anymore, so I can't do a video on that one unfortunately. And yes, the UPS guys drop, throw, kick packages the same way here!
Nice video. I need to study up on how to replace a key on my MODX6 should I ever need to. I've been playing synths since the original DX-7 was king. I've never broken a key yet in all my synths, but it could happen. I've had a couple that needed the rubber pads cleaned though. I received two free keyboards in the past year with broken keys however, a Roland and a Kuzweil. Sad that UPS has been so careless for you. It also goes along with my theory of "don't buy a Montage because it has a more durable case thinking it's less likely to break if dropped". Heavier, metal keyboards fall harder than light plastic keyboards. I've seen plenty of metal keyboards hit hard and break. Not that plastic couldn't too, but the theory that it is better protected that many probably have is not necessarily true. And if the MODX was dropped and broke, the replacement cost is half or less, and likely replacement parts could fit it. I have a couple plastic Casio CZ's I gigged with for years. Never broke. Just be careful transporting gear. The only probably I ever had was when I allowed others to carry my gear. Others don't handle with care the same as we might. One person dropped my Roland rack in a metal case not only time, but on two occasions. The 2nd tend bent the metal. Still worked though. That said, a few weeks ago in the dark unlit milll parking lot at band practice, I nearly slipped on solid ice with my MODX. That wouldn't have been good. Maybe I could have put in a claim to the building owner if that had happened for having such a hazard. Did that with a laptop at work one time and it was the end of it (unlit dark parking lot, solid ice), but fortunately I was already shopping for a newer replacement.
It's true that a lighter synth will likely sustain less damage if dropped. However, the Montage is highly modular, with easily replaced parts - where the MODX, were you to break the edge of it from being dropped, requires you to replace the ENTIRE CASE instead of just the end cheek like I did on my Montage. The keys on the MODX are also very different than I show here on the Montage - there are several videos on TH-cam of people replacing them. The MODX requires you to disassemble the entire case halves and remove the entire keybed from the upper case just to be able to replace a key, and the keys are built in groups, so changing one key actually means you have to change several keys.
@@ScottsSynthStuff I've heard that about replacing in groups. Apparently there are other Yamaha keyboards that also use these some key sections. Let's hope I'm lucky and can go another 35+ years without breaking a key on my synths. I know some people really beat on their keyboards. The MODX is no good for people that abuse their keyboards, but with luck reasonably durable for those that take care of their stuff.
My MODX8 broke twice under warranty. What a giant headache to ship it back and forth. Now that it's out of warranty, pads are falling off internally, causing the keys to make a horrible clacking sound upon release. Is this an easy fix? I'm fairly terrified of tearing this thing apart. Where are the dampening pads? I didn't see any when you removed the key.
The MODX is very different. The MODX does not use pivots and individual keys like you see here, the keys are grouped together into blocks, and they use living hinges (plastic that bends) to allow the keys to move. So replacing a key on a MODX actually involves replacing several keys together. You also have to open the case halves, and disassemble the entire keybed from the upper case in order to access the screws that hold the keys in place - a LOT more work than the Montage.
Is it possible to upgrade the keys on a Yamaha Modx? Or a way to quite them a bit? I’ve seen on the Zyntar website some extra keyboard cushion. Is this what makes the Montage keys so quite?
Hi Scott, love your channel and content. Have a question on the Yamaha fader front. Have a main volume fader on my trusty old Yamaha P-200 GHS88 (plastic/carbon) that delivers intermittant noise when raising/lowering master volume. Didn't buy a cover for it :) I've tried blowing it out with air to no avail. Next up is a Deoxit F5 treatment; going to give that a try when I get the product. Other ideas? If that doesn't work will probably resort to ordering a new PCB and replacing the assembly. Have you a lead on where to order parts from Yamaha? Buena Park? Thanks
Fedex is no better. My brand new Nord Stage 3 arrived as if the keyboard and cardboard box were shipped separately. The delivery guy stood the Nord up against the wall and sort of draped the torn box around it.😧 Guitar Center didn't even double box it but simply stuck a mailing label on the stock box. Sweetwater ALWAYS double boxes everything and with lots of padding. Surprisingly there was no damage but I later discovered it was missing the stretchy keyboard cover that I thought was optional and bought one separately. On another note, Guitar Center messed up the paperwork for my 48 month interest free financing. Three weeks later Sync Bank sent the first bill and it was set up for 30% financing!!! The promotion had already ended and nobody could correct it, so I had to return the Nord to my local Guitar Center, torn box and all, and I showed them pics of how it arrived, to explain taping the box back together. I was going to buy another one the next time they offered 48 months, but they never did.
I have never received a package this mistreated as yours in my country. But god knows how the service will be in a couple of years given the delivery guys have to work more and more for less money...
Was your montage brand New or used?? The dealer should send a New one 😢. Similarly when ı bought my brand New montage 6 in 2018, after opening the box, I found the left bottom styrofoam had broken. I was so shocked and checked the left side panel several times. Thanks god there was no damage. I think wooden side panel is more reliaable for those heavy keyboards. Heavy construction creates big impact to weaker sides
@@ScottsSynthStuff if it would have Come with orijinal factory box we would not see the damage, because the orijinal factory paper boxes of yamaha are exeremely strong.
Oh dear. As someone who mothers all of my equipment it breaks my heart to see loved synths being trashed during transit. They literally have one job, take a package from A to B and deliver it the same state as it was picked up in. Glad to see it's nearly fully mended.
Thank you so much for sharing this knowledge - I've just successfully changed a chipped 'E' key on a Montage 6. I couldn't have done this without your video. Thanks again!
Thx for your video, I was able to repair a Montage 6 C Key following your instructions. 🤛🏽
You made my day!. I own two Montage 6 (one black, one white), both bought used and pretty cheap. They did not suffer any transport damage, luckily. One was a pickup buy and the other came with the original box. But on the older one, a 2016 unit (bought used in 2019), the jog wheel misses some steps from time to time. And also one scene selection buttom didn't work for some time (now it works, but I am not too confident). So I planned to replace the encoder and the push-button for those two functions. But had not yet looked at how to open the unit. And, wow, it is fair easier than, for example, my MOX8!. I love the way the Montage is built. It recalls me the DX7 I also own!. Again, many thanks for sharing this. BTW, I work fixing radio communication electronics at my home lab, and have worked on some synths earlier (SY77, DX7, MOX8, Xio 25, DX11, K1 and such). But the crown of the collection, the Montage was still a mystery to me... Now it is no longer that way! 🥳
Have a look at the ribbon cables connecting that control quadrant to the main board. That would be my first suspect for this issue.
Very useful instruction. I needed to open mine, you showed and described it beautifully
Thank you for this video! I just picked up a Montage 6 at a great price and FedEx broke my right side panel, bent the metal side frame and snapped the same under part on the top key! I now know exactly what to do in terms of obtaining a repair estimate and finding replacement parts.
One small hint: Yamaha uses an special grease for their keyboards. It is NOT cheap, but does really work perfectly and I prefer it to using generic greases. The code for the grease is G-1066Y. I bought a 50g tube and it has already been used in several keybeds and there is still more than half left. Definitely recommended, it made my MOX8 keybed work like new (I got that MOX8 in very bad shape, mostly because of the tons of dirt, which affected the key contacts, and also with several broken keys. Now it is working like new!)
Yes...I know. :) I actually should have mentioned this in the video. It's actually made by DuPont, specifically for lubricating plastics. I looked up the MSDS on it years ago, and it's actually a PAO grease with lithium as the primary lubricant. So I just use a generic PAO lithium-based grease with approximately the same lithium content in it, and about 1/10 the cost. :) I've been using it in my synth keybeds for years, and it has always worked great.
@@ScottsSynthStuff OK, sorry, I stand corrected!. Could you please share the exact DuPont grease you use?. Thanks!
I thought it was good enough to subscribe, but already did. Enjoying your videos. Keep posting and I will keep watching.
Thanks for the kind words!
@Syntaur has fantastic customer service. They are my go-to for synth parts.
I agree, and they're just really nice people, as well.
I'm working on some music I'll play in the church this weekend on my MODX7, and wach your Montage 7 let me mouth watering! What a beautiful machine! Surely the unavoidable next step for me! I'm happy to see your instrument working like new now! Nice video!
Happy you got it back to working order :) nice video
Wow Scott you certainly don’t have much luck with couriers them boxes and orders with errors I was going to use ups for my wife’s business but I think I’ll give that a miss 😂 fantastic video buddy take care 👊
I had to erplace several keys on my Motif. Someone tried moving it by picking it up by the keys. Glad the Montage is easier to take apart. Working on the Motif 6 was a nightmare.
No damage on my Montage yet, but a very interesting and useful video. Thanks Scott!
Your passion must be higher than mine, I'd superglue that broken tangent.. Done it before and still works fine... I love disassembly and assmebly vids always :)
Single replacement keys are pretty inexpensive. Also, it would be a bit of work to get it perfectly smooth - if it wasn't, you'd get a clickiness to the key when it was pressed.
You'd have to solvent wash the key to get the grease off that area in order to have the glue work. I'd probably use ABS cement or MEK rather than superglue if I was going to fix that key. Using those solvents actually chemically melt the ABS (which is what that key is made of) and cause it to bond back together as a single piece of plastic, rather than two broken pieces held in place with a layer of glue.
I've used that exact technique for many years to fix ABS motorcycle bodywork, and it is the strongest, most reliable repair that can be done.
Excellent Scott. When I first bought Motif, I thought that a degree in computer science wouldn't be a bad idea. Now after watching your video, I think a degree in Mechanical Engineering would also be useful.
It's not that complicated, really!
Is this key the same one used by motif?
Excellent video! Now I am pretty certain I won't be moving the Montage around :D But it is obviously very well built (and serviceable), inside out. Thomann have also sent me a wrong part once, they were very quick in fixing the mistake though. It's nice to know there are real professional shops selling and servicing instruments.
Yes, Thomann has very good service. Pretty much our European version of Sweetwater. I always buy my music gear there too now.
Thanks for this peek into the insides of the Montage, hope I never have to open mine up to fix something!
They're pretty rugged and reliable!
The same thing happened to me! Broken key and bent frame. I was able to bend the frame back in place and replace the key... Everything done very easily. Also got the Montage 8 for a steal! Had a recent mishap with a Kawai K5000 that was in mint condition... No longer thanks to UPS 😭
UPS is the worst!!!
Wow. Those packages looked terrible. Especially if that happens to an expensive synth like the Montage. Luckily it's a professional synth that is a lot easier to service. And a professional Scott who knows how to get it fixed 🙂
I go out of my way to NOT have things shipped to me via UPS, but sometimes you don't get the option.
Scott, this may not be the easiest question to ask, but if you could only have one keyboard out of these three in your studio, which would it be? 1. Montage 2. Fantom Flagship 3. Fantom 00 Series
I use a TON of VSTs in my recordings, and will continue to do so, but I miss just slappin' on a keyboard and jamming without any computers and latency involved.
I'd have to say the Montage. It would be a close call between the Montage and the Fantom, but I know the Montage inside out, and I find it much easier to work with than the scattershot UI of the Fantom, even though the Fantom may have more capability in some aspects than the Montage.
Excellent video Scott, as usual. I've never seen a package in such a state. Ups threw it like some garbage.
I guess it would have not be so easy to repair in the ModX.
For sure, the MODX would have required a new case to repair that kind of damage.
Very helpful video Scott! My Montage6 White’s keybed is noisier than my previous Montage6. Would you recommend putting a felt strip somewhere? If so where?
You could...but it's very critical that the felt be of the correct thickness, so I would just replace the original. On the Montage you have the felt integrated in the aftertouch sensor, and the stop strip. Syntaur has them: aftertouch strop at syntaur.com/Items.php?Item=10191 and stop keybed cushion: syntaur.com/Items.php?Item=10194
Wow... Those packages are a disgrace.. did you make an insurance claim on your Montage?..... here in the UK.. our version of UPS is Parcelforce .. they damaged my M3 cheek when i shipped it with them to a buyer on eBay... then an employee told me the staff actually kick and throw the boxes around in the warehouse, so ive never used them again... Would be interested in seeing whats in my Modx.. if you feel like tackling that one sometime .. love your channel and great video as always Scott, keep up the great work 🙏❤️
I did make an insurance claim on the Montage, which is what paid for the new end cheek (they aren't cheap). I don't have my MODX anymore, so I can't do a video on that one unfortunately. And yes, the UPS guys drop, throw, kick packages the same way here!
Nice video.
I need to study up on how to replace a key on my MODX6 should I ever need to. I've been playing synths since the original DX-7 was king. I've never broken a key yet in all my synths, but it could happen. I've had a couple that needed the rubber pads cleaned though. I received two free keyboards in the past year with broken keys however, a Roland and a Kuzweil.
Sad that UPS has been so careless for you. It also goes along with my theory of "don't buy a Montage because it has a more durable case thinking it's less likely to break if dropped". Heavier, metal keyboards fall harder than light plastic keyboards. I've seen plenty of metal keyboards hit hard and break. Not that plastic couldn't too, but the theory that it is better protected that many probably have is not necessarily true. And if the MODX was dropped and broke, the replacement cost is half or less, and likely replacement parts could fit it. I have a couple plastic Casio CZ's I gigged with for years. Never broke. Just be careful transporting gear. The only probably I ever had was when I allowed others to carry my gear. Others don't handle with care the same as we might. One person dropped my Roland rack in a metal case not only time, but on two occasions. The 2nd tend bent the metal. Still worked though. That said, a few weeks ago in the dark unlit milll parking lot at band practice, I nearly slipped on solid ice with my MODX. That wouldn't have been good. Maybe I could have put in a claim to the building owner if that had happened for having such a hazard. Did that with a laptop at work one time and it was the end of it (unlit dark parking lot, solid ice), but fortunately I was already shopping for a newer replacement.
It's true that a lighter synth will likely sustain less damage if dropped. However, the Montage is highly modular, with easily replaced parts - where the MODX, were you to break the edge of it from being dropped, requires you to replace the ENTIRE CASE instead of just the end cheek like I did on my Montage. The keys on the MODX are also very different than I show here on the Montage - there are several videos on TH-cam of people replacing them. The MODX requires you to disassemble the entire case halves and remove the entire keybed from the upper case just to be able to replace a key, and the keys are built in groups, so changing one key actually means you have to change several keys.
@@ScottsSynthStuff I've heard that about replacing in groups. Apparently there are other Yamaha keyboards that also use these some key sections. Let's hope I'm lucky and can go another 35+ years without breaking a key on my synths. I know some people really beat on their keyboards. The MODX is no good for people that abuse their keyboards, but with luck reasonably durable for those that take care of their stuff.
Hi Scott, are the same steps for MONTAGE 8, i want to clean all keys?
Can you tell how to fix the black keys when they are not sturdy? The shakes easily from side to side
My MODX8 broke twice under warranty. What a giant headache to ship it back and forth. Now that it's out of warranty, pads are falling off internally, causing the keys to make a horrible clacking sound upon release. Is this an easy fix? I'm fairly terrified of tearing this thing apart. Where are the dampening pads? I didn't see any when you removed the key.
Any idea how to replace the screen on the montage?
Excellent! Is this a GHS keybed (my MODX8)? Are there differences?
The MODX is very different. The MODX does not use pivots and individual keys like you see here, the keys are grouped together into blocks, and they use living hinges (plastic that bends) to allow the keys to move. So replacing a key on a MODX actually involves replacing several keys together. You also have to open the case halves, and disassemble the entire keybed from the upper case in order to access the screws that hold the keys in place - a LOT more work than the Montage.
@@ScottsSynthStuff Thank you very much.
Where can I order some keycaps for the Modx 8? 🙋🏻♂️
Is it possible to upgrade the keys on a Yamaha Modx? Or a way to quite them a bit? I’ve seen on the Zyntar website some extra keyboard cushion. Is this what makes the Montage keys so quite?
I doubt you'll find a keybed that would fit in the same space, and work electrically. Possibly changing the felt strip might make a difference.
Does anyone have a vid taking apart a Yamaha motif XF6?
Hi Scott, love your channel and content. Have a question on the Yamaha fader front.
Have a main volume fader on my trusty old Yamaha P-200 GHS88 (plastic/carbon) that delivers intermittant noise when raising/lowering master volume. Didn't buy a cover for it :)
I've tried blowing it out with air to no avail. Next up is a Deoxit F5 treatment; going to give that a try when I get the product. Other ideas?
If that doesn't work will probably resort to ordering a new PCB and replacing the assembly. Have you a lead on where to order parts from Yamaha? Buena Park? Thanks
The Deoxit would be my go-to as well. As for Yamaha parts, I usually just order them directly from Yamaha.
@@ScottsSynthStuff - Happy Holidays to you and yours! Thanks for the response.
Fedex is no better. My brand new Nord Stage 3 arrived as if the keyboard and cardboard box were shipped separately. The delivery guy stood the Nord up against the wall and sort of draped the torn box around it.😧 Guitar Center didn't even double box it but simply stuck a mailing label on the stock box. Sweetwater ALWAYS double boxes everything and with lots of padding. Surprisingly there was no damage but I later discovered it was missing the stretchy keyboard cover that I thought was optional and bought one separately.
On another note, Guitar Center messed up the paperwork for my 48 month interest free financing. Three weeks later Sync Bank sent the first bill and it was set up for 30% financing!!! The promotion had already ended and nobody could correct it, so I had to return the Nord to my local Guitar Center, torn box and all, and I showed them pics of how it arrived, to explain taping the box back together. I was going to buy another one the next time they offered 48 months, but they never did.
Sounds to me like you learned not to buy from Guitar Center. :)
Sorry to hear of your Nord troubles.
I have never received a package this mistreated as yours in my country. But god knows how the service will be in a couple of years given the delivery guys have to work more and more for less money...
Yamaha Montage has Universal Power supply ?
Unfortunately not - they are locked to 120v or 240v (100v for Japan) only, and cannot be switched.
Was your montage brand New or used?? The dealer should send a New one 😢. Similarly when ı bought my brand New montage 6 in 2018, after opening the box, I found the left bottom styrofoam had broken. I was so shocked and checked the left side panel several times. Thanks god there was no damage. I think wooden side panel is more reliaable for those heavy keyboards. Heavy construction creates big impact to weaker sides
It was (barely) used from Reverb, but sent with insurance on the shipping, so it all worked out in the end.
@@ScottsSynthStuff if it would have Come with orijinal factory box we would not see the damage, because the orijinal factory paper boxes of yamaha are exeremely strong.
@@drtolgaege I agree.
Agree- And for this reason I have the original box for all keyboards purchased, styrofoam and plastic bag along with all paper manuals, docs, etc.
@@bartkimberley8336 I do as well, for every synth I purchased new.
The idea of putting a screwdriver to my montage gives me cold sweats. It's bad enough having a 7 year old near it with a glass of juice🫣
Oh dear. As someone who mothers all of my equipment it breaks my heart to see loved synths being trashed during transit. They literally have one job, take a package from A to B and deliver it the same state as it was picked up in. Glad to see it's nearly fully mended.