Yamaha CP88 88-Key Stage Piano

My entire adult life/career (touring pro) I've been searching for an amazing keybed, a way to integrate my iOS device(s), and onboard fx. THIS, ladies and gents, is a stellar machine. Btw the 78 Rhodes sound is one of, if not, the best around !...now that I'm done tugging the nuts of Yamaha...For piano purists such as myself, this is not going to satisfy your desires for one reason alone..the release samples. All the pianos (and the extra ones with the new firmware !), sonically, are fantastic. Classic yamaha goodness. But once you start playing short notes then it sounds like a keyboard. This is nothing new, I just thought maybe Yamaha would have nailed it on this machine. Nord has got it down! So I'm in heaven with this keyboard MIDI'd to my Nord Electro 6D. ... MoreMy entire adult life/career (touring pro) I've been searching for an amazing keybed, a way to integrate my iOS device(s), and onboard fx. THIS, ladies and gents, is a stellar machine. Btw the 78 Rhodes sound is one of, if not, the best around !...now that I'm done tugging the nuts of Yamaha...For piano purists such as myself, this is not going to satisfy your desires for one reason alone..the release samples. All the pianos (and the extra ones with the new firmware !), sonically, are fantastic. Classic yamaha goodness. But once you start playing short notes then it sounds like a keyboard. This is nothing new, I just thought maybe Yamaha would have nailed it on this machine. Nord has got it down! So I'm in heaven with this keyboard MIDI'd to my Nord Electro 6D. (If anyone has this combination use the "Wide" Touch Curve).All in all this is an amazing piece of gear and I highly recommend !

I have been spoilt by my Grandmother's Ronisch Crown 3 acoustic piano.Here, the Keys are all lighter, yet still maintain the Staccato, and you can play for Hours without any tiredness. (It is Soft to Play).The CP88 is Good in all other aspects, except the last Top Key Notes could be better, but this may be a problem with most Digital Piaos.

I love my new Yamaha CP88! Manny's had the best price and their service was amazing. I give a big shout out to you guys. The Keyboard has a very user friendly interface and the most realistic feel to the natural graded hammer action keys. It also has great piano sounds and splitting the 3 engines across the Keyboard is a piece of cake! It's the perfect Stage piano for the most discerning pianist.

A reliable stage keyboard that will not get in the way of the music.

As a reliable niche product targeting the basic needs of professional stage performers, it does it's job well. Portable, solidly built, controls easy to use in live mode, consistent action, acceptable sounds, especially after the last OS update (thanks for the CF3!) Overall, I am satisfied. A suggestion for future models: the keys should depress an additional 2 or 3mm, in order to emulate the range of movement and expression of real grand piano keys. the CP88 hits bottom just a bit too soon. Also, I suggest a new CP88 OS update to address the following: Add a few of the excellent samples that Yamaha used in previous models, such as the P250. For example: - The Rhodes had distortion audible ONLY when a key was hit hard. This was a welcome expression tool, and is ... MoreAs a reliable niche product targeting the basic needs of professional stage performers, it does it's job well. Portable, solidly built, controls easy to use in live mode, consistent action, acceptable sounds, especially after the last OS update (thanks for the CF3!) Overall, I am satisfied. A suggestion for future models: the keys should depress an additional 2 or 3mm, in order to emulate the range of movement and expression of real grand piano keys. the CP88 hits bottom just a bit too soon. Also, I suggest a new CP88 OS update to address the following: Add a few of the excellent samples that Yamaha used in previous models, such as the P250. For example: - The Rhodes had distortion audible ONLY when a key was hit hard. This was a welcome expression tool, and is absent on the CP88. - The Imperial sounds different between sectors of the keyboard, almost as if different techniques were used at the low, mid, and high range, and the shifts happen from one key to the next, not subtly. - The S700 decay has been deliberately cut too short. - The C7 sounds too metallic in the low range, almost as if the "hammers" had less felt. - The acoustic bass sounds like a deeper bass guitar, very metallic. The sample on the P250 was better, with the softer sound of plucked gut strings.- The B3 sample on the P250 was also closer to the real thing. I hope this helps. Best, MxB

An incredible instrument and a joy to play.

I've been looking for an 88 key stage piano for sometime now and finally arrived at the CP88 after several workstations including the Korg Kronos and the Nautilus. This instrument however is a completely different beast.This actually feels like a piano, has some incredible samples that rival anything else I've ever heard, and the intuitive interface is just sublime for a live player.I've had this thing for a few hours and it's more addictive then any of the other beds I've worked with, SO rewarding to interact with and not just with the usual piano type sounds.AMAZING, Huge appreciation to the guys at PMT Brum too for giving me space and time to get round this stage piano unhassled but with help should I need it, and for helping me to get it into my car ... MoreI've been looking for an 88 key stage piano for sometime now and finally arrived at the CP88 after several workstations including the Korg Kronos and the Nautilus. This instrument however is a completely different beast.This actually feels like a piano, has some incredible samples that rival anything else I've ever heard, and the intuitive interface is just sublime for a live player.I've had this thing for a few hours and it's more addictive then any of the other beds I've worked with, SO rewarding to interact with and not just with the usual piano type sounds.AMAZING, Huge appreciation to the guys at PMT Brum too for giving me space and time to get round this stage piano unhassled but with help should I need it, and for helping me to get it into my car eventually. Top Class service as always.

CP quantum leap

I have been a gigging musician since I was 14 years old. I'm now 62 and still gig. The journey to the CP88 came through two other top notch keyboards; a Nord Electro 6D and Dexibell VIVO S7 Pro.I thought maybe I would go Roland again, but the only board I would even consider would be the RD2000, but it's just TOO HEAVY. My Fantom X8 is heavy enough. I'm trying my best to lighten my setup, while maintaining great sound. I listened to the new RD88 but am not impressed.As I said in the beginning, I have owned a Yamaha CP4 for a few years. I never really connected with that board. The keybed is nice and most of the pianos are good. I wasn't a fan of the EPs. The CP4 is just too menu-driven. I had heard about the new CP that would be coming out so I gave it a listen. ... MoreI have been a gigging musician since I was 14 years old. I'm now 62 and still gig. The journey to the CP88 came through two other top notch keyboards; a Nord Electro 6D and Dexibell VIVO S7 Pro.I thought maybe I would go Roland again, but the only board I would even consider would be the RD2000, but it's just TOO HEAVY. My Fantom X8 is heavy enough. I'm trying my best to lighten my setup, while maintaining great sound. I listened to the new RD88 but am not impressed.As I said in the beginning, I have owned a Yamaha CP4 for a few years. I never really connected with that board. The keybed is nice and most of the pianos are good. I wasn't a fan of the EPs. The CP4 is just too menu-driven. I had heard about the new CP that would be coming out so I gave it a listen. Wow. This board sounded great. They call it "the black Nord". LOL The sound sections do remind you of a Nord. I have had this board for two weeks now and am getting to know it. I can say that I am very pleased. The pianos, for me, are much nicer than the Nord pianos, and that's saying something I know. The EPs are much better. MUCH better. It plays very nice and is easily tweakable. I LOVE the Live Sets! 20 pages of eight sounds a page for arranging your setlist.Right now I have only two issues: I wish the screen was larger, and a lot of the voices in the Sub section (organs included) aren't great. Other than that, if you're looking for a board that will give you the BEST APs and EPs with strings and pads, this is the board. I doesn't have 1,200 sounds like my Fantom but who really needs that many when you're gigging. This is a stage piano, not a workstation. Anyway, Yamaha did great with this keyboard!

Excellent Stage Piano

This keyboard has superb action. I mean, the keybed is simply amazing. I was contemplating buying the Nord Piani 4 or Piano 3, but ultimately chose this because it was much more reasonably priced, and because there's an additional zone for extra layering vs. the Nord. I also LOVE the piano sounds on this much better than the Nord.The only thing that gave me pause before buying this keyboard is that it does have a limited sound selection, compared to, say, a Roland RD 2000. But every single one of the sounds included are excellent and usable, unlike other boards that come with 1000 sounds, of which you end up using only 10 on a regular basis anyway. Also, Yamaha provides updates to the OS, which gave me comfort that the library will expand over time. I think it's ... MoreThis keyboard has superb action. I mean, the keybed is simply amazing. I was contemplating buying the Nord Piani 4 or Piano 3, but ultimately chose this because it was much more reasonably priced, and because there's an additional zone for extra layering vs. the Nord. I also LOVE the piano sounds on this much better than the Nord.The only thing that gave me pause before buying this keyboard is that it does have a limited sound selection, compared to, say, a Roland RD 2000. But every single one of the sounds included are excellent and usable, unlike other boards that come with 1000 sounds, of which you end up using only 10 on a regular basis anyway. Also, Yamaha provides updates to the OS, which gave me comfort that the library will expand over time. I think it's important to keep in mind that this board was probably created to compete with other stage pianos used primarily for gigs, not with workstations designed primarily for the studio.The best thing about this keyboard for me is how little menu-diving I need to do. Everything control I could possibly need is right there at my finger tips, easily adjustable with a nob, flick of a switch, or press of a button.For a gigging musician, or a pianist who wants a realistic-feeling and sounding keyboard to play at home, and you hate menu-diving, this thing is hard to beat, man. Simple, intuitive, sturdy, lightweight, and it looks so darn good!

I found true love

I'm absolutely in love with this keyboard. I can't stop playing it. It's the FEEL of the thing. It just wants to pull music out of me. The real test of a musical instrument is not whether it has this or that "feature," or how its technical specifications compare with others - it's whether it inspires you to make music with it. You can't find that out by reading reviews on the internet. You just have to sit down with it and see how you react to each other. When I started seriously looking for my next keyboard, I was sure I would end up with the Roland RD-2000. It seemed to have everything I could ask for, plus it looks great! So I tried several of them in different stores over a period of weeks. It is indeed an awesome instrument, and I can see many reasons for its ... MoreI'm absolutely in love with this keyboard. I can't stop playing it. It's the FEEL of the thing. It just wants to pull music out of me. The real test of a musical instrument is not whether it has this or that "feature," or how its technical specifications compare with others - it's whether it inspires you to make music with it. You can't find that out by reading reviews on the internet. You just have to sit down with it and see how you react to each other. When I started seriously looking for my next keyboard, I was sure I would end up with the Roland RD-2000. It seemed to have everything I could ask for, plus it looks great! So I tried several of them in different stores over a period of weeks. It is indeed an awesome instrument, and I can see many reasons for its popularity. But somehow, I just didn't fall in love. I won't go into detail on that, because the details don't matter. It was like going out with the prettiest girl in school, only to find out you have nothing in common. The CP88 wasn't love at first sight. My first impression was the control panel looked kind of busy and cluttered, and kind of limited at the same time. The small sound library was a concern. I didn't want to give up "modern" functionality for "retro" styling. But I finally decided to really sit down and PLAY the thing. After a few minutes, I knew it was the one for me. I've been playing it pretty much nonstop since I bought it, and rather than exhausting the possibilities, I'm actually seeing more than I did at first. There's a lot of complex functionality "under the hood" that hasn't gotten much attention. For example, you can easily map almost all the knobs and switches to your VST/AU synths to control them remotely, layer them onto the keyboard, and mix them into the audio signal from the CP88, all through a single USB cable. But the main thing is this is a PLAYER'S instrument. It will bring out the best in you.

The best stage piano for the money!

I am keyboard player, not a classically trained pianist. I play cover band keys. I have a friend that is classically trained pianist. So i invited her to shop stage pianos. She doesn't know a Casio from a Kurzweil , she's perfectly un-biased about brand name stage gear. We went to a Seattle music store in Fremont that has all the top stage pianos in their sound room . All are patched into a board with QSC K12s, eq flat across the board. We played a Nord Piano 4, The new Nord Grand, Roland RD2000, Korg Grandstage , and Yamaha CP88. The CP was the winner for action and presence. No frills, great piano . She and I agreed the Nord was a close contender, she loved the triple floor pedal, but then she sits, I don't. The RD2000 nice, But why the extra 5 inches wide for ... MoreI am keyboard player, not a classically trained pianist. I play cover band keys. I have a friend that is classically trained pianist. So i invited her to shop stage pianos. She doesn't know a Casio from a Kurzweil , she's perfectly un-biased about brand name stage gear. We went to a Seattle music store in Fremont that has all the top stage pianos in their sound room . All are patched into a board with QSC K12s, eq flat across the board. We played a Nord Piano 4, The new Nord Grand, Roland RD2000, Korg Grandstage , and Yamaha CP88. The CP was the winner for action and presence. No frills, great piano . She and I agreed the Nord was a close contender, she loved the triple floor pedal, but then she sits, I don't. The RD2000 nice, But why the extra 5 inches wide for modulation wheels, its a piano first. The RD was also the heaviest beast as well.The Korg was good as well, but blah, ...Action turned her off, as did Nords FATAR key bed. She and I kept returning to the CP88. This is the piano I purchased. Piano first. On other boards I have all the B3s and Leslies, as well as strings, brass, Pads, etc. Don't need more drums, sequencer, yada yada. The CP88 was the perfect compromise for a standing keyboard/ piano performance . The Nord Grand was exceptional as well, but way too expensive.

Yamaha CP88 Stage piano

Wow, this stage piano from Yamaha is even better than I had hoped. It fits the bill perfectly for the crossover between a quality electric piano and master midi keyboard. As a piano player I find the feel and touch of the keys amazing and get all the benefits of great sounds and midi control and connectivity.