Hi Jim,

I can confirm that there might be a minor design/quality problem with the Yamaha FC3 pedal. I had exactly the same issue only a few months after my purchase, without any extensive use. In my case I was able to fix the issue by myself by opening up the housing and putting some grease onto the "squeaking" parts. However, I already had to do this the third time now. Please refer to this Motifator thread, where the problem is claimed by other owners as well. Take a look.

From my experience, the problem doesn't seem to be related to the pedal spring; it's more the plastic knobbies on the sides which produce that ugly noise after some time. Therefore, I'm also considering to fix the problem next time like it is described here.

Half damper pedals are differently designed from a mechanical point of view. For example, I'm using an ordinary Yamaha FC4 pedal since 1987, and it still doesn't squeak; and most of all, it needs no special servicing. Not sure why this cannot be achieved for more expensive pedals.

My FC3A Half-Dampering Pedal starting squeaking a month ago and now it is getting worse and real annoying while playing my XF8.

Has anyone had this problem as well? If so, is there a fix?

Please contact Yamaha Customer Support. They will be able to tell what to do, there is some special kind of lubricant that can take care of the issue.

Thank you for your replies.

I did contact Yamaha and am awaiting their reply.

I did also look at both articles that Martin shared, thank you Martin!

These articles do show that nearly everyone has this problem and looks design flaw. I too have an FC4 from the early 1980's for my DX7 and it has never squeaked once!

I really don't think Yamaha should expect us to spring for a very expensive pedal and then on a regular basis have to remove 10 screws and apply lubricant! The way the second article from Martin shows a do it yourself project with putting in felt is how Yamaha should have created this pedal. Acoustic piano pedals have this felt around them and never squeak. From what I can see, just constantly putting on lubricant is not the solution. Eventually I can see stripped screws, the pedal squeaking in an intimate, quiet performance and being really embarrassing, and the problem just not going away. Yamaha should really redesign this pedal with the felt idea (like their acoustic pianos have) and for each of us that owns this expensive pedal allow us to exchange them for the new one, or give us one really good deal on obtaining the redesigned one.

I agree with the articles. Why would a wonderful company like Yamaha continue to produce a pedal that has been proven to have problems and not redesign it? The squeaking is LOUD and very annoying, and embarrassing in performance. I'm not too keen on do it yourself projects. My 30+ year old pedal never squeaked, why does my 2 year old pedal squeak? Create a professional product, and release it. If there is a flaw, do a recall and fix it. Car manufacturers do it all the time!

Just as an update.

Still waiting for Yamaha's reply.

Still have a very expensive pedal that sqeaks so loudly it is driving me nuts that takes away from the wonderful sound this glorious instrument makes.

I don't remember Mozart, Chopin, etc. writing loud squeaks into their music.

Used a pair of times on a FC-4 bought in 1984, and still rocks 🙂

Michele,

Thank you for the reply, but the FC3 pedal is a bit more complicated than the FC4.

If you look above, I have a couple of FC4 pedals for 30 years and they still don't squeak.

The FC3 unfortunately has a design flaw. Yamaha should have put felt all the way around the housing like an acoustic piano. Look at the articles from Martin and you'll see what we are talking about.

And no, Yamaha Customer Support as suggested by Bad Mister still has not replied to me. My pedal just continues to drive myself, my wife and my audience nuts.

The Motif was redesigned to the Montage. A less expensive item, but one that destroys the wonderful sound of these instruments needs to be redesigned. And those of us who can prove that we purchased one, should be given a real nice break with getting the upgrade that solves this ugly problem.

Jim wrote:

...

The Motif was redesigned to the Montage. ....

Such is definitely not the case.
These are two different animals.

Kiwi,

I totally agree with you. I have postings here that detail my feelings regarding the discontinuation of the Motif. It was simply a general statement.

It was simply meant that Yamaha took parts from the Motif, added new parts and came up with a new instrument. That's a huge redesign.

The FC3 has been proven to be problematic. it would be a good choice for an "upgrade" with a redesign to stop the squeaking.

Of course the Motif and Montage are apples to oranges in some ways.

Yamaha support is not responding to this issue.

If you search the internet for this problem, go on Motifator or read the articles that Martin included in his email above, you will see that this is a persistent problem that most people have that own this expensive pedal.

It would be nice if Yamaha would address this problem because there are many of us who are actual pianists and love the concept of the FC3A pedal, but we are also driven nuts by the squeaking.

Speaking for myself, and I hope there are others who are out there that agree, purchasing this pedal and having to take it apart and service it continuously is not an option. My pedal is on nice carpeting and I can only foresee that in the future that if I continuously take it apart (which I shouldn't have to do) and oil it (which Yamaha has never responded to say if this is even the proper procedure) that eventually my carpet will get stained from lubricant. That is also not an option.

Yamaha support needs to contact me and this forum to give us a solid solution that does not include having us take this pedal apart constantly and lubricate it.

Why is Yamaha support ignoring this issue? Do the search I mention above Yamaha, you will see what I saw. I am not by any means alone in this situation.

Please place a call to Yamaha Customer Support. "Most people"? Really, I'm gonna call you on this. To make a claim that "most people" have this issue, is absurd, and really of no consequence because all that matters is you and your pedal. So if you truly have placed a call to a Customer Support and have not heard back, I apologize and I respectfully ask you to try again. Perhaps you just missed their attempt to reach out to you.

Bad Mister,

I have called Yamaha Customer Support, written them, what more can I do? I have not missed their attempt to contact me, they simply have not responded.

I have seen you do this a few times before, once to me, and to others. There is no reason to belittle a person who is having a problem with a Yamaha product where you make the statement "...all that matters is you and your pedal.". I have done my research and I have read many, many accounts of people on many websites that are having problems with this pedal. I do not write or "lay claim" to something without extensive research.

I am unemployed and the Motif is my sanity relief. Hearing that pedal squeaking does not help the stress I am currently going through. You work for Yamaha, have a job, and get to work with extremely cook gear. Most people in this world are not so lucky.

The pedal has a design flaw, it should be fixed. Those of us who shelled out the money should be cut a break on a redesign.

I didn't have unlimited funds before being laid off, and now, I most certainly do not. I'm not asking for something for nothing, but I am looking for a respected company like Yamaha to fix a wrong. Nothing more, nothing less.

Latest update on this situation.

So, I finally had contact with Yamaha Support and they really had no answer other than put a touch of grease on the spring of my pedal.

Well, the spring is definitely not what is causing the squeak with the pedal. I proved that to the Yamaha support person over the phone. I with my hand, applied pressure with precision (unlike a foot) and no squeak. Besides, the support individual said this pedal really shouldn't need any service such as greasing, oiling, etc. And he certainly didn't advise any specific lubricant.

The pedal I was using is what I bought at Guitar Center which is a FC3 (I didn't realize there was no A).

When I initially wrote this article, the only Half-Dampering pedal I thought Yamaha made is the FC3A, however, the one I have (which is not that old) is an FC3.

My FC3 is the one that has been squeaking like a chipmunk and so I had Yamaha send me out an FC3A. They look very different.

Now, the new FC3A is not squeaking (my wife can relax at night), but for how long? Yamaha obviously did some sort of design change because it looks very different, is longer, and for now, doesn't squeak.

Is this FC3A a redesign? I still think Yamaha should put felt around the pedal as they do with their acoustic pianos, but if this (maybe redesigned?) pedal will not squeak, perhaps they solved the problem?

I searched the net in every way I can and can't find anything about the difference about the FC3 and FC3A other than they look different.

This may not seem like a big deal, but as I have said above, the Motif sounds beautiful and should not be spoiled by something as simple as a squeaky pedal.

Yamaha support did say that this is not the first time they have heard of this problem.

If anyone has any insight as to if the FC3 and the FC3A is different other an appearance, I'd love to hear it.

And now, back to our regular programming.

So Yamaha graciously sent you a brand new pedal, and you're back here still complaining and questioning their integrity, competence and motives?

got it...

David,

Did I say they sent me one for free? I don't believe that is in my text.

Next, I'm still trying to figure out if internally there is something different between the 2 models since they look very different from each other.

Am I complaining? No, I'm trying to understand the construction of these two models.

Please read a little more closely before you reply. Besides, I am not going through all of this just for me, I am trying to help the entire Yamaha user community who have had the same problem. If I am able to do that and help people, I will be happy to do so.

I am sorry if you think I am bashing Yamaha, I most certainly am not. I have been buying and using Yamaha musical products for 40 years and will continue to do so. That would make me a dedicated long-time user. I am simply trying to understand this one piece of equipment that for many people (not all, but many) have had the same problem and what it is or if it is fixed with the FC3A.

Have a nice day.