Origins
As an engineer I've always enjoyed solving technical challenges. With limited desk space for my MIDI keyboard but a love for the weighted-key piano feel and playability, I searched like many of you for a keyboard solution that didn't exist. Undeterred, I bought a used MIDI keyboard from Craigslist, studied its mechanical design and electronic circuitry, and transformed it to my own specifications (in this case, 53 keys).
Business Evolution
Knowing that others were searching for a similar solution, I shared my accomplishments on Reddit. I started receiving messages and I commissioned some builds on different keyboard makes/models. In the process I learned that I love helping others acquire the instrument of their dreams even more than I enjoyed building one for myself. Special thanks to my first customers who put their trust in me to deliver on these pioneering efforts!
Present and Future Plans
Gracenote Keyboards is a further extension of this passion project. Beginning with the Gracenote Hammer series, I aim to deliver the same high-quality MIDI keyboard modifications to a larger number of musicians.
In addition, I hope that you all share more about the MIDI keyboards of your dreams so I can expand my product offerings, either as standard items or as custom one-off commissioned builds.
Jay Avis, owner and craftsman