Yamaha FC5 Compact Sustain Pedal

Comments about Yamaha Fc5 Compact Sustain Pedal:

Small compact , easy to use

Comments about Yamaha Fc5 Compact Sustain Pedal:

I use this product to help me on my Yamaha keyboard as an adult piano student.

Comments about Yamaha Fc5 Compact Sustain Pedal:

I have been using the FC5 pedal as the tap-tempo input for my DD5 delay for over 15 years. I got my first one with a 4-track recorder back in '96, and started using it as a tap tempo pedal around 2000. It has just now worn out and I bought a replacement.
I love the soft feel and large tap surface of this pedal. it is much smoother and the feel is so much better than the small chrome switches people typically use for tap tempo... and it lasted for 15+ years, so I'd say the design and durability are A+.

Comments about Yamaha Fc5 Compact Sustain Pedal:

This item does what it's supposed to do - provide a sustain effect. The price is great! However, there are two problems I have with it that compel me to stay away from this pedal in the future. I play my keyboards from a standing position in a room with medium-shag carpet. With this setup, I find that this pedal gradually "walks" itself away from me to the point I have to stop using it and try to drag it back toward me with my foot while still playing even a single piece. Putting something else on the other side of it to prevent it from walking is not a great option because that idea would be both impractical and not so easy considering the cord is on the side that would need to be stopped.

The other problem I had with this pedal involves my kids. It doesn't take much at all for young kids to test the durability of anything they can get their hands on. It didn't take long for my kids to break the cord free from the solder joints connecting it to the circuit board inside. I had to re-solder the wires and reinforce the cord where it goes into the pedal housing in order to help it stand up better to the abuse from my kids.

I haven't attempted to use this in any other settings (e.g., hard-surface floor, from a sitting position, etc.) but I suspect it would have the same issues thanks especially to the very light weight. Everybody likes something light when it comes to portability but personally, I'd rather go with something that weighs more and is more resistant to sliding on any surface no matter the price.