Removing Escapement From Numa X Piano GT

[@MDZac2024]

First of all, this is an extraordinary video. Incredible job you’ve done here. Really enjoyed watching the whole process. Bravo. Secondly, I have had my Numa X Piano GT for about 18 months now. Just a superb action. It’s not a keyboard without faults, but for $2,000, given the quality of action and sound flexibility, it feels like one of the best keyboards on the market for the money. With that said, I would love to have these improvements you’ve done to my action!

[@JoseVGavila]

Thanks for sharing!. As a tinkerer, I love this kind of videos. My own experience fixing other keybeds is similar about key grease, they use plenty of it and tends to go everywhere

[@Comfort_One_Another]

I inquired with StudioLogic what type of grease they use and they never replied. I actually thought I might need to buy some. I didn't realize there would be plenty of extra to go around.

[@markaprill6501]

When I take stuff apart I can never get back working again…especially keyboards and believe me there have been many and every one is different. If you lose that spring…….

[@tiagoaraujo71]

Interesting… you nailed it!

[@DennisD-m2b]

Great video - I wonder if I might ask a tangential question please? I own the Numa X Piano and as the weighted action is causing aching in finger joints a wrists, was thinking if it would be possible to replace the Numa piano keybed with a Numa compact semi-weighted keybed. In your exploration for this task does it look possible to do such a thing? Seems it all comes apart pretty easily. Afaics the keybeds look similar in height and length as well as similar length of individual keys. Would appreciate your views on this...thanks

[@Comfort_One_Another]

Hi. It would probably be easier to replace your Numa X with something that has a lighter action. I'm not sure what Studiologic has available.

[@DennisD-m2b]

@@Comfort_One_Another trouble is the other offerings have FAR less audio and MIDI capability!!

[@calikokat100]

wow...its so interesting to see the inside of keyboard and see how it works...you are a brave soul for undertaking such a task

[@Comfort_One_Another]

Yeah, if I messed it up I wouldn't be able to replace it anytime soon. Thankfully, it turned out ok.

[@tbip2001]

Are the wooden keys just cosmetic slips of wood on the side?

[@Comfort_One_Another]

Pretty much. The keys do have a substantial feel to them while still feeling quick and agile.

[@gianfrixmg]

Watch Doctor Mix's Fatar Factory Tour. It's actually a custom plastic material that simulates wood and two wood sheets at the side.

[@jamesa375]

exactly what i was wondering,for a slab advertised as having wooden keys i see no wood in these keys.

[@auwefg]

can this keyboard play good in classical pieces like chopin etudes?

[@Comfort_One_Another]

I really don't play anything too sophisticated so I can't speak from experience, but I would assume a capable pianist could play Chopin on it.

[@disienna]

It’s sort of interesting that your 400wood has a more pronounced escapement than the Roland pha50 you had. I just played both of these keyboards an hour ago and my experience was the opposite. This action is actually my favorite slab I’ve played.

[@Comfort_One_Another]

Are you saying that the escapement on the PHA50 felt more pronounced to you compared to the TP400? Or are you saying that you prefer the TP400 - all things considered - over the PHA50? I actually prefer the TP400 and feel it's one of the best digital slab actions I've ever played. I just didn't like the feeling of the escapement. To me it felt significantly more pronounced compared the PHA50. However, I'd still choose the TP400 over the PHA50 - even with the less than ideal escapement.

[@disienna]

@ On the 2 particular slabs at my most local Guitar Center, the Roland definitely had a more noticeable escapement. It was actually strong enough that I didn’t like playing it at all. The Studio Logic was great. Only noticeable with the gentlest touch. It totally caught me off guard how good it is. I kid of wonder if different production runs, age of the mold(s) for the escapement parts, etc may make a big difference and any particular one off the shelf may be better or worse than the other. I know the last time I was looking for keyboards, one of the models with simulated escapement was inconsistent key to key. Im pretty sure this is why the Bechstein designed Casio actions don’t have it.

[@Comfort_One_Another]

@@disienna I'd like to try another Numa X GT to compare the escapement especially since I've been playing so long without it after the modification. Maybe Studiologic followed my advice and made it more subtle. 😀

[@disienna]

@ could be that too! You can bet they have eyes on KZbin and you’ve got probably the most thorough review of this slab. I never used a Studio Logic slab until this past weekend and I fell head over heels with this one as soon as I played it. That’s why I started researching it and the company. I just hope they make a straight MIDI controller with this action in the near future.

[@Comfort_One_Another]

@@disienna Another vote for a TP400 midi controller. 👍

[@PanopticMotion]

I think I'm going to get the FP-90x. The Numa sounds great in demos, but I hear they do have QA issues.

[@Comfort_One_Another]

I haven't heard of the Numa Piano X GT have quality control issues. I know there was a firmware update that corrected some issue early on when it first came out. There have been several firmware updates since it came out that brought improvements.

[@federicolametti447]

Not clear why is it better to remove the escapement simulation... could you help me?

[@Comfort_One_Another]

It's a personal preference. I didn't like the way it felt on the Numa GT. Especially since it was significantly more noticeable on the black keys.

[@federicolametti447]

@@Comfort_One_Another What about Numa X piano feeling, instead? is it a cheaper version of GT?

[@Comfort_One_Another]

@@federicolametti447 The Numa X Piano has the TP110 action. I also own one and it's a different action compared the TP400 in the Numa X Piano GT. I don't know what the difference is in terms of the cost to produce each action, so I don't know if it's a "cheaper" action. The differences are quite distinct and Studiologic considers the TP400 to be their best/flagship action.

[@nine96six]

This thing slaps

[@DavidIzquierdoAzzouz]

Nice and interesting video!

[@Comfort_One_Another]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@JoeLinux2000]

On a well regulated acoustic grand it's very difficult to actually feel the escapement. My opinion is that is a worthless feature on digitals.

[@Comfort_One_Another]

I tend to agree, but I can live with it if it's subtle enough like on the Roland PHA50 action.

[@WeAreAllDoomed-n5i]

The answer? Get a Roland!

[@amitev]

The action is too heavy for my taste

[@scarsstitches636]

Precisely. You'd have to shoot me to keep me away from the PHA-4. And i tried them all!

[@Comfort_One_Another]

@@scarsstitches636 It's great when you find something you like. 👍

[@WeAreAllDoomed-n5i]

@@amitev Too heavy? So you are a keyboard player and not a piano player.

[@amitev]

@@WeAreAllDoomed-n5i I am a piano player and yes, it is heavy.