Yamaha SK88 Survival Kit for 88-Key YPG Series Keyboards

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List Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $37.80
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I thought, "Three year extended warranty? Keyboard Cover?" This sounds great, especially at the discounted price.

I imagined a cover that would cover the "keyboard", the keyboard being the entire YPG-635. I've submitted some user photography to show you what it actually covers, and I see that the user images are already accepted and in the description. The word "Keyboard" has multiple meanings when you talk about an item like this. The whole thing is a keyboard. And the electric piano has a keyboard, the area which the keys are in. In other words, the keyboard has a keyboard. I imagined a keyboard cover that covered the first keyboard.

But then I got the box and opened it, and it seems that what they are covering is the second keyboard, the keyboard part of the keyboard. (Whew!) It is a nice heavy felt cover and it might lay flat after a few weeks. Right now it is a wrinkled felt cover. I have no idea how it would stand up to ironing. Since the edges are pinked (again, see photo) rather than whipstitched or beaded I'm scared to wash or iron or handle it much beyond laying it out and picking it up.

But the most important particular that the product description is wrong in is that the extended warranty only adds one year to the original one year factory warranty for a total of two years. The package insert is very clear about how long my new warranty is and it disagrees with what the item description in Amazon says.

I have yet to look at the DVD that came with it or to use the PC software. If and when I do, I'll publish an addendum to this review. I felt that accurately describing the cover and the length of the warranty would help the most people and that an accurate description was needed quickly. The downgrade to two stars was because of the quality of the cover and the incorrect or ambiguious description. It would have gotten three stars if the description was correct and clear. And, this would further be adjusted by the usefulness of the DVD and software, which I have not yet evaluated.

Were the felt cover of better quality (that is, if it had a beaded edge and if it sat flat) I would be starting this review at 4-5 stars.

OK, I've had time to look at the disks. The DVD that shows you how to use the various features of the keyboard is excellent. The disk of software is pretty much junk. There are 2 lite versions, neither of which run on my Vista system, and some demo versions, none of which I cared about. This is the sort of stuff you can download from web sites for free. I know what a midi device is, and so the short featurette on how to hook up your keyboard didn't mean anything to me and as far as I can tell, all of the YPG series keyboards use USB hookups, so the extra stuff on usb-Midi adapters just distracted from what you'd need in a SK88 Survival Kit.

I will point out that the Yamaha web site also claimed that the warranty was extended for two years, so if this information was copied from that web site, it disagrees with the contents of the box.

In any case, my 2 star review stands. The cover is still not sitting flat it looks worse than it did in the photos.

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I mostly agree with what the other 2 star reviewer said. I like the key cover better than he did. It does an adequate job of protecting the keys, and it lays flat enough for me. The extended warranty is for an additional year, for 2 years total like he mentioned. The instructional DVD is nice, but it really should be included with the Yamaha keyboard to begin with. It just covers what's in the manual, and I don't think it is something someone should have to pay for. The software on the other DVD is all trial software. Nice, but again, not worth paying for. The included headphones can be found online for $5. The coupons are for stuff I'll never buy.

This item is vastly overpriced for what you get.

Buy Yamaha SK88 Survival Kit for 88-Key YPG Series Keyboards Now

This product contains good quality products and their value far exceeds the price you pay. The keyboard cover perfectly covers the keyboard area not the whole instrument. This is much more convenient and looks better than a full cover. Full covers are available if needed for very dusty environments. The cover comes folded and can be unfolded and made to lay flat with very little effort. They sewed a "Yamaha" logo onto the cover that gives it a classy look.

The warranty is three years from date of purchase of the keyboard NOT two years. Perhaps the other rater was confused because there are different survival kit numbers and model numbers. Each kit carries different items and includes either a two year or three year warranty. There is a chart printed on the back of the box that mentions the different warranties and references the different model numbers. The sticker on the end of the box clearly states the model number and what you are getting.

Also included are decent quality headphones, one instructional DVD and a CD.

Bottom line: GREAT DEAL. Quality and contents met expectations.

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