Why I bought the CP88 (long-winded review/statement) For my history, I have previously owned a Roland A90 Piano/Midi controller and a Yamaha Clavinova PF-100 (circa 1994) and I got incredible amount of use from both but due to personal changes in my life I thought it was time to upgrade since I haven’t had anything new for almost 25 years. Just so everyone knows, I am not biased with any company whatsoever. Fast forward to Nov/2018 where I purchased a Nord Piano 4. Absolutely LOVED the sound however, there was a huge issue with the keybed as it was making more noise than it should. To the point upon release of the keys the noise would resonate through my mic and through my L1 compact. Not acceptable. After many views TH-cam comparison videos and personal demoing in my local music stores I was undecided between the Korg Grandstage, Korg Kronos, Roland RD 2000, Yamaha CP4, Korg Krome nd the Roland FA-08. All great pianos/workstations so it was a matter of sound, versatility and of course the keybed. So, back in April I my local store had a CP88 so I jumped on. They had it running through a small Fender amp and even with that I got soooo sooo excited ….just as I did my Nord. So, when that excitement hits, instinctively I go with it. Plus, the keybed/action was just so soooo amazing that the decision was made there and then. So, traded in my Nord Piano 4 it in for my new love, the CP88. Unfortunately they only had the floor model so they gave me their floor model as a loaner until the new one came in. So, as far as sound. I will admit I am not as happy with the piano sounds themselves compared to the Nord but with some tweaking with the EQ I have got 3 amazing piano sounds that I am very very happy with. The CFX has this sort of tinny sound to it and I will admit I thought the CFX on the CP4 was a bit better. However, the Imperial, S700 and the upright U1 are truly amazing. A little tweaking and you can basically get a great sound out of it. The CP80/70 sample is definitely comparable to the Nord (which I use quite a bit in my set) so apart from the bug that’s going to b fixed this coming September it sounds absolutely incredible. The Wurlitzer (especially with April’s update) totally blows the Nord away. I am just so so happy with it as it really helps with my Supertramp/10cc tunes that I use in my setlist. The keybed, Well, it truly came down to the CP4, the RD2000 and the CP88. The CP4 was great for sure as was the RD2000 but after a number of jumps between the CP88 and the RD 2000 I found the RD was a little heavier than the CP88 and the CP4 was a little lighter so the CP88 was the perfect balance between the two. As weird as it sounds (no pun) I feel my playing has actually improved on the CP88. Songs that I had a hard time playing before (Tony Banks’ Lamb intro and Firth Of Fifth plus some blues scales for example) are coming much more easier. Weird how that works. Yes, there are only 57 sounds with the CP88 as opposed to the NP4 and yes you can load samples into the NP4 but I had to be practical within myself. I use Logic Pro X for a trillion sounds that I can trigger so for home use/editing/sequencing for backing tracks the limitation of the sounds in the CP88 is not limiting to me at all. Plus, one has to ask themselves……or myself…how many sounds does one actually need? I mean seriously…these are stage pianos. I usually get between 3-5 gigs per month and I do not use more than 4-5 sounds within my 40 song setlist. So it’s basically, Acoustic Piano, CP80, Wurli, Rhodes and a AP with a combined Ample Acoustic Guitar (triggered through my laptop) /Piano sounds. The rest are just icing on the cake. Ok, the other pianos may give you way more sounds but in all honesty, many of them are just different variations of the same sample, Don't let 1000 sounds fool you into thinking you're getting 1000 samples because you're not. Now, that’s just me and I can’t speak for anyone else’s needs as everyone has different needs and requirements. I also love the fact that I do not have to use my M-Audio interface anymore as the CP88 has a USB audio interface built in so with that and my upcoming purchase of a Yamaha MG10XU mixer (USB audio interface) going through my Bose L1 Compact system will be the perfect match for me. So this whole notion that CP88 blows this out of the water…or The RD2000 feels better or the Nord Pianos sound so much better is total nonsense. It is ALL down to personal taste for personal needs. I will say for price, keybed, versatility (again depending on your needs), sound and weight (yes I can actually carry the piano in my gig bag with one hand) the CP88 is hard to beat….but that’s just me. Finally, I will say buying a piano is actually worse than buying a house or a car. Very stressful at times and we always want to make the "right" purchase. Yes, you can watch a trillion TH-cam videos, read all of their comments, jump on the forums, get a a thousand different opinions and yes it helps but many times it can actually confuse you even more and also cause ulcers...LOL. It’s best to think of your own needs and try not to let anyone’s opinions (comments) sway you but your own. Cost/price aside there will ALWAYS be pluses and minuses to any of these pianos and if I had to do it all over again I would have waited until April this year before purchasing the Nord and maybe taken more time to study as it’s been 9-10 months to land to where I am now. I hope my experience/review will resonate with anyone who is undecided in purchasing the CP88 or any other piano for that matter. Now get out there and get a CP88!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You won’t regret it….LOL!!! PS - Woody....you sound great!!
Excellent comment. I recently purchased the CP88. I was a little dissapointed in the tinny sound of the CFX (for some reason when trying it out at NAMM i remember it sounding better hmm). The newest update hasn't been installed yet. Maybe they fixed it with the update? Also thank god for SEAMLESS SOUND SWITCHING. I can't even tell you how refreshing it is to finally find a yamaha digital piano that has it
Dukerbud 88 This was actually not too long-winded. I found you sharing your journey encouraging and enlightening. I'm a drummer and I'm now starting my journey into the world of Piano/Keyboard. I am trying to figure out my first piano and knowing that I don't need to stress so much about making the "right" choice so quickly is relieving. Thanks for sharing!!
sorry to be so offtopic but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account..? I somehow forgot the account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me.
@Branson Marco thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and im in the hacking process now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
I recently purchased a cp88 but returned it after one week . I found the action a bit in the heavy side , I much prefer the action on the rd2000 tbh . I will miss the interface on the cp88 though , that interface is a work of art .
Thank you for this information. I'm running away from too heavy keys. I have a Yamaha P-140, which has a very heavy action which is almost damaging my wrists and hands. I was thinking about a Roland RD2000 or a Nord Stage 3. I play classical music and jazz, and everything, so I like instruments which makes us to like to play. Once I tested a Roland RD800 and found the mechanism excellent. Not too heavy. 🎉❤❤
DX7 sound is legendary, loved the panning to the actual DX7 video clip (definitely the bane of most synth people's existence, but I love that sound). CP-80 sound is beautiful on it! Thanks for touching on that sound, didn't find demos of it on other videos. Could imagine it working gorgeously for Genesis tunes, add some chorus to it, it would be right on the money for the Tony Banks sound. Wurlitzer is instant Supertramp. A great bread and butter digital piano. Ideally I'd love the real CP-70 one day, but this would also work out well. Clav sounds gets in touch with your inner Stevie Wonder. :) The pad sounds great too, so 80s. The layered pad and piano sound is definitely Bruce Hornsby sounding. This digital piano would look stunning with my Korg Wavestation EX. :)
@Simone Buralli If you want a proper organ, you should get either a Hammond XK or the Nord Electro. They have the proper waterfall keys and action for the stuff you do with an organ. This, much like the Nord Stage is for when you need an organ sound "in a pinch" and are in no way a substitute for the proper deal.
Thanks for the good review. By the way, I personally feel sorry that most CP88 reviews including yours do not pay attention to the S700 piano sound. In my home country (South Korea), the outdated Yamaha S90ES is still the most popular stage piano for professional musicians thanks to its default piano sound - S700. Hence, used S90ES pianos are still quite expensive in Korea because there are demands looking for this model that is discontinued. Fortunately, current MODXs and CP88 also have this S700 sound but it is hard to find videos playing the S700 sound without any other effects. For those who own Yamaha pianos with the S700 sound, please give it a go. It is a very balanced piano sound.
It's very interesting, as it is one of the sounds hated most here (osaka). The tone is just....well. 'Balanced'. People seem to have developed a real love for specific brand characteristics overall and interest in anything else is as you say, negligible.
Hey Woody, I have been following your channel for quite some time now and I am happy that it worked out well for you (especially after you lost your main time job back in the day...). Now with the support of big companies, please don't forget why we, your followers, are here - objectivity and personal opinion. Don't let this channel become just another marketing tool, we got enough of these. And, of course, thanks for the video!
hi there, thanks for the advice, this is always forefront in my mind, this vid is not sponsored, I'm not getting paid and I won't give away editorial control. by collaborating with brands I'm able to share with you instruments that I otherwise would not have access to. Thanks for being with me on the journey!
Hi Woody! Thanks for reviewing the CP88 prototype and I think you provided essential information in an entertaining video. Why do some viewers need to be so negative about the presentation or the instrument? Occasionally, I wonder if these so hip and cool dudes can actually play the instrument. Probably not and just have nothing else to do apart from criticising established manufacturers for creating similar looking and sounding pianos! Many thanks for sharing your initial impressions of this new piano!
That’s a seriously impressive sounding instrument. That Rhodes sound is spot on and that Wurli is pretty good too. The built quality looks quite substantial too. I noticed that the display and boot-up sequence are very similiar to the reface range, it’s looks like it’s the same display as in my reface-dx. Makes me wonder if Yamaha are cooking some more tasty prototypes in their labs.
Reface CP owner here, it doesn't have a screen, but it has the little hex collared toggles and the same CP logo on the back. I think that the Reface YC uses some of the brightly colored rockers. It makes me feel better about my little Reface to know what else some of these little parts go to. Unrelated, but I think that the Reface app needs updating badly now, BTW.
It's the best overall package in that range. Yamaha, bravo, engineers put in the work for the traveling musicians. Will still fit in my trusty old Gemini case ;-) Nice vid - enjoy your demos.
I heard that the mechanism is too heavy. I own a Yamaha piano P-140 which is destroying my wrists and hands, I got tendinitis by playing several hours a day. I need a lighter action. I had a Roland A90EX which was excellent, but it is out of action now. Once I played a Roland RD800 and it's a keyboard who invites us to play, you can't stop playing, it's delicious, perhaps the RD2000 would be the same way. I have played in several Steinway acoustic grands, and they are a bliss to play. Very responsive and light action. You literally fly on the keyboard. Nord is very light too. I don't know why Yamaha insists in creating too heavy actions. 🎹❤
Hey fellow keys-lovers: Let's show Woody some love! Give up at least a pint in a pub per month and Patreon-ize our good friend. He's brought us so much info, encouragement and enthusiasm over the years. It's easy to sign up (link in the description) and you get extra content/goodies/access. Let's take care of him so we can continue enjoying what he brings us!
Hi Woody, Great Job man! One of the best reviews on this board I've seen this days. My wife loves your musical memory ..thank you for taking me back over thirty years with beautiful songs man.." You are a extraordinary talented artist on a great instrument!! You sold me on this. As a gospel musician we all tend to gravitate towards the almighty motif. You did a superb job and I really enjoyed watching and listening..All the best to you!!
Very impressed with the CP80 sound. I have a “real” CP70, and I still use it quite a lot. The CP sounds on most keyboards (including Yamahas own keyboards) are really digital and synthetic; too perfect and precise. This one’s CP80 had the right amount of dissonance that is typical of a real CP70/80. Well done. Also impressed by the U1 upright sound; I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a keyboard that got the tonality right on a so-called upright piano; most of the time they sound like a smaller grand with less reverb. This one, once again, got the upright dissonance that makes an upright sound like an upright.
thx for sharing your thoughts, I'm with you. the upright and CP in particular have a lot of character and you can really hear the distinctive sound of the instrument that they sampled instead of some generic sounding piano. there are a couple more uprights onboard but I haven't played them yet.
This x100. I have a CP70 and gigged for a while with a CP60. I'm crossing my fingers but not holding my breath for a CP73b with the Graded Hammer/Triple Sensor action!
Excellent review, thanks. Only reasons I’d consider the CP73 over my Nord Stage 2 HA76 would be the more amp friendly piano sounds and lighter weight. It’s not really a direct competitor though as there’s no dedicated organ or synth sections.
I'll be definitely take one of this, specially the 88 version. Mind blowned with the piano, electric piano sounds, the overall is awesome. Thanks Woody for the excellent video, you've tested so nice. Greetings from Brazil.
Interesting change in direction. Going back to building a tough, workhorse keyboard with close to knob-per-function a la Nord. I’ll stick with my CP4 though. It’s still a hell of a keyboard and I prefer the simplicity. The only thing so far that stood out in demos that I’ve seen is that nice Reface CP style delay combined with the ability to turn off keyboard control for the section that’s looping in the digital delay at full depth while you play something else over the top of it. Nice for some one man band stuff on the fly.
Alan Chapman agreed. Keeping my CP4 for now. Looks like they found a use for all those leftover benders, toggle and rocker switches from the Reface series....
pshealy69 I also noticed the more I looked into the specs, they actually scaled quite a few things back. Gone are the SCM modeled sounds. Back to the AWM2 samples for everything which lines up with the rest of the products. I’m not sure if there is any binaural sampling. I noticed a ton of the VCM effects have been removed and the variety of reverbs and chorus cut down. Way less presets (although with flash expansion you can probably add back some of the Motif/Montage sounds you like and customize it). They still don’t have the level of extra detail that some of the digital pianos have such as string resonance, Virtual Resonance Modeling, etc although in a stage piano who cares? I can’t help noticing all the parallels with the Nord Stage series. It still seems like a really great keyboard. They chiseled it down to the most used features and brought the controls of those features up to the surface. You made me laugh with the leftover Reface parts comment lol I actually like that series too. Waited for discounts and got one of each.
This would be a perfect competitor to the Nord Stage and the Roland RD 2000. The pitch and mod toggles actually look like they are inspired from the Nord Stage and yes,it does look likke a Nord that has been painted black. Overall, I love the Piano and Ep sounds of this keyboard!
Love love loved all the requests!! Think it's super thoughtful of you to name check the "requester" and to also put the time and effort in to executing the tunes so well mate - makes me feel very lazy and has given me much food for thought fine Sir. Lots of Manly love Xx
Thanks, Woody, for another entertaining and informative video. This is the most interesting digital piano to come out for a while. I was so hoping that Yamaha would release the Reface CP with a full size keyboard because I love the CP sound and this has it in bucket loads. I guess the thing is going to be quite expensive though. Quality usually costs and wooden keys won't come cheap. Great playing, by the way!
hi andrew! i'm not sure what the final price in the stores will be, but for sure it's going to be expensive. would be interesting to compare price against the nord piano and grandstage.
@@maxthompson4363 my mistake, I was on the sweetwater site but I forgot that it automatically converts to Canadian. My prices are the ones adjusted to Canadian Dollars.
I love jazzy synthy sounds. Reminds me of Japan I was really interested in this, but I looked at the price and now I'm not. I'm not saying this is not worth it (I'm sure it is), but I can't afford one. Sometimes life sucks...
Hi Woody, just a suggestion to perhaps pass on to the nice people at Yamaha... When a section is turned off the name of the tone in the section is removed from the display but it would much more informative if the name remained, perhaps inside ( brackets ) , users would instantly know what tone will be turned back on... Cheers man, and congrats for getting the opportunity to be part of a flagship launch! 😀👍
The display lights can be switched to 'always on' in the control panel, so that the section parameters are displayed even when the section is bypassed.
One thing you should always check with 88 key models is how easy you can press the keys close to where they enter the keyboard. A keyboard with a proper piano action should allow you to press them easily across the entire length of the key. This is also why many stage pianos are considerably deeper or thicker than their non-weighted counterparts.
Great demo Woody, and thank you for actually playing the CP80 setting which so many have ignored. Ive been considering the CP88 for awhile but a year on from release and all ive read are owners with issue after issue. It's really a bummer that for $2500 you are getting a sub-standard stage piano. I'm not down on Yamaha, i actually have lots of gear made by them, but you would think they would get it right at this point. Even the previous CP4/CP40 had very little issues., and very little negative feedback. Having played the CP88/73, i do think they sound good, but who wants to deal with ongoing issues? Give a gigging musician a reliable stage piano that's the equivalent of a Fender Tele, and you're gold.
Lots of keybed issues, stuck keys, key noise, and some powering up issues. Problems seem to occur after owning a few months, but some are more immediate and need full replacement.
How many sounds can be layered at one time? The Roland RD2000 is king of layering in my opinion and I think Nord’s approach is a bit clunky. Have you explored this yet?
It is awesome you got one of these Woody! Nice review! Never considered Yamaha as a stage piano but this really fills a gap in their range. Yamaha certainly are doing a great job of price/qualitybalance the ergonomics and controls on this look amazing. Tricky now to choose between modx ( more synthy ) versus this ( more pianoey)..ps I liked the talk talk song ( their piano riff were often great). Also next time you have a cp80 sound how about “ video killed the radio star”:)
This is long overdue, as the CP4 is old and lacks string resonance and really top-notch samples. This seems to have all of the MODX/Montage samples and it sounds just as good. If you don't need all of the MODX capabilities and want a hands-on stage piano, this seems like a great choice. It will definitely be a tough competitor for the Roland RD-2000, Korg Grandstage and Nord. I can't say which is best without playing it, but it would certainly be on my shopping list if I were buying a stage piano.
@Alex K. The only way to decide is to actually play them. Once you get your hands on them, you'll figure out which sound, action and panel design is your favorite. They're all excellent instruments, so any of them would be a fine choice.
@RodneyLee He'll be getting string resonance, newer and better samples, better controls and a better action. In short, a major improvement of everything. Plus it's a brand new instrument that hasn't been on the road getting beat up for 5 years.
@@rodneylee4026 newer does not always mean better? the cp4 is better its not worth the upgrade i will keep my cp4 it has way less sounds and not much better than p515
Super intro video ! That's a handsome machine. The Yamaha guy said it was metallic construction on another video. If you demo the other one(the 73 key version), I would love to hear the CP70 electric grand type sounds too - a nice bit of Peter Gabriel would do like "Wallflower". Or anything else really! 21:46 PhD I won't Let You Down - what a GREAT request. Woody doesn't let us down! ;-)
I still have my Yamaha DGX-640 Digital Piano sitting in a corner of the room getting all dusty. But it has the CP-80 sound and I absolutely love that sound. This video, surely enough, made me get my Kleenex and cloth to wipe it clean and then play it some. I expect this to be not available in my country any time soon and be very expensive when available, so I'll make do with my entry level DGX ^^;
Looks like a good stage piano, but it compares more to the GrandStage than the RD2000, which is borderline workstation. I’m glad they put the CP in the piano category so you can layer the DX with it.
My god, you are a hell of R nice guy with honest down to earth exurberence (silent h, lol). You sure will attract followers who want your opinions which ever way. 😊 Best wishes from nz. 👍👍👍
As soon as I saw the layout I thought ‘Nord’ and my immediate reaction was anti as it seemed to rip off Nord’s successful design. But then I thought, ‘Why not?’ The sincerest form of flattery and I bet it will be a LOT cheaper than the Nord Stage. Free downloads for life as well like Nord? I can see the Scandinavians getting rather worried! Great video Woody. Thanks. 👍
indeed, it's inevitable to compare with Nord. i did discuss this when shooting the video but cut it out during post, so I'll share that in a separate video. Yammy is definitely cheaper, but remains to be seen by how much.
Quite a beast of an instrument, and some very nice playing. As you were wrapping up, I was expecting it to go on a little longer. That upright sound really nailed it. Are there any stated differences between this prototype and an actual one?
Those toggles make it look like an engineering sample but I see they carried through to production. Strange styling choice but good and robust gigging.
That panel looks like something Mr Sulu would be working in the original 60s Star Trek. None of this touchscreen tomfoolery 😉 I suspect the automotive/industrial switches will be replaced with little molded plastic jobs on the production models
I really hope the "Power Grand" from the Motif will be available in the future. Sad to see that missing in the recent CP pianos. The other grand pianos are great, bit the Power Grand has its place for some things.
Generally an excellent review, but he does tend to 'waffle' a bit about some things which are relatively unimportant. I'm sure that he'll be pleased to learn as a result of his review, in addition to trying one myself, I've bought this Yamaha (after trying other brands and models)) to restart the musical 'experience' I'd enjoyed for several years - especially having reached Grade 7 on the piano in the UK prior to (regrettably) ceasing to play 🤗
I'm excited for everything about this board except for the wooden keys.... I had to return my CP4 after a year of playing cause my KEYS GOT STUCK IN CLUSTERS. I really hope this board can handle heavy playing. (I was raised on grand pianos... can't help it lol)
Next week I will be at NAMM, definitely going to try this board out while I am there. Who knows, maybe in person, I won't think this board looks like a piece of crap.
Yamaha and other Keyboard manufacturers need to give you a job at music gear shows like NAMM. Would make a pleasant change to have someone as enthusiastic, entertaining and talented as you demoing their gear and showing it off to it's fullest potential Woody :) .....
Awesome video! That piano sounds amazing! If you're taking more suggestions for what to play, how about Walk Forever By My Side By My Side by The Alarm. :)
Hi , I am new to this community. Just purchased a CP 88; I cant easily understand how to save setting (sounds i create ) so that I can recall them later. Have you already done a video regarding this? Thank you Alex
Playing moonlight sonata “a bit too fast, but it’s TH-cam, we need to keep the tempo high”. This cracked me up
The sound at Bar 17 of Moolight was so nasty, maybe his playing, maybe the speakers, maybe the board?
Why I bought the CP88 (long-winded review/statement)
For my history, I have previously owned a Roland A90 Piano/Midi controller and a Yamaha Clavinova PF-100 (circa 1994) and I got incredible amount of use from both but due to personal changes in my life I thought it was time to upgrade since I haven’t had anything new for almost 25 years.
Just so everyone knows, I am not biased with any company whatsoever.
Fast forward to Nov/2018 where I purchased a Nord Piano 4. Absolutely LOVED the sound however, there was a huge issue with the keybed as it was making more noise than it should. To the point upon release of the keys the noise would resonate through my mic and through my L1 compact. Not acceptable.
After many views TH-cam comparison videos and personal demoing in my local music stores I was undecided between the Korg Grandstage, Korg Kronos, Roland RD 2000, Yamaha CP4, Korg Krome nd the Roland FA-08.
All great pianos/workstations so it was a matter of sound, versatility and of course the keybed.
So, back in April I my local store had a CP88 so I jumped on. They had it running through a small Fender amp and even with that I got soooo sooo excited ….just as I did my Nord. So, when that excitement hits, instinctively I go with it. Plus, the keybed/action was just so soooo amazing that the decision was made there and then. So, traded in my Nord Piano 4 it in for my new love, the CP88. Unfortunately they only had the floor model so they gave me their floor model as a loaner until the new one came in.
So, as far as sound. I will admit I am not as happy with the piano sounds themselves compared to the Nord but with some tweaking with the EQ I have got 3 amazing piano sounds that I am very very happy with. The CFX has this sort of tinny sound to it and I will admit I thought the CFX on the CP4 was a bit better. However, the Imperial, S700 and the upright U1 are truly amazing. A little tweaking and you can basically get a great sound out of it.
The CP80/70 sample is definitely comparable to the Nord (which I use quite a bit in my set) so apart from the bug that’s going to b fixed this coming September it sounds absolutely incredible.
The Wurlitzer (especially with April’s update) totally blows the Nord away. I am just so so happy with it as it really helps with my Supertramp/10cc tunes that I use in my setlist.
The keybed, Well, it truly came down to the CP4, the RD2000 and the CP88. The CP4 was great for sure as was the RD2000 but after a number of jumps between the CP88 and the RD 2000 I found the RD was a little heavier than the CP88 and the CP4 was a little lighter so the CP88 was the perfect balance between the two. As weird as it sounds (no pun) I feel my playing has actually improved on the CP88. Songs that I had a hard time playing before (Tony Banks’ Lamb intro and Firth Of Fifth plus some blues scales for example) are coming much more easier. Weird how that works.
Yes, there are only 57 sounds with the CP88 as opposed to the NP4 and yes you can load samples into the NP4 but I had to be practical within myself. I use Logic Pro X for a trillion sounds that I can trigger so for home use/editing/sequencing for backing tracks the limitation of the sounds in the CP88 is not limiting to me at all. Plus, one has to ask themselves……or myself…how many sounds does one actually need? I mean seriously…these are stage pianos. I usually get between 3-5 gigs per month and I do not use more than 4-5 sounds within my 40 song setlist. So it’s basically, Acoustic Piano, CP80, Wurli, Rhodes and a AP with a combined Ample Acoustic Guitar (triggered through my laptop) /Piano sounds. The rest are just icing on the cake.
Ok, the other pianos may give you way more sounds but in all honesty, many of them are just different variations of the same sample, Don't let 1000 sounds fool you into thinking you're getting 1000 samples because you're not.
Now, that’s just me and I can’t speak for anyone else’s needs as everyone has different needs and requirements.
I also love the fact that I do not have to use my M-Audio interface anymore as the CP88 has a USB audio interface built in so with that and my upcoming purchase of a Yamaha MG10XU mixer (USB audio interface) going through my Bose L1 Compact system will be the perfect match for me.
So this whole notion that CP88 blows this out of the water…or The RD2000 feels better or the Nord Pianos sound so much better is total nonsense. It is ALL down to personal taste for personal needs.
I will say for price, keybed, versatility (again depending on your needs), sound and weight (yes I can actually carry the piano in my gig bag with one hand) the CP88 is hard to beat….but that’s just me.
Finally, I will say buying a piano is actually worse than buying a house or a car. Very stressful at times and we always want to make the "right" purchase. Yes, you can watch a trillion TH-cam videos, read all of their comments, jump on the forums, get a a thousand different opinions and yes it helps but many times it can actually confuse you even more and also cause ulcers...LOL.
It’s best to think of your own needs and try not to let anyone’s opinions (comments) sway you but your own.
Cost/price aside there will ALWAYS be pluses and minuses to any of these pianos and if I had to do it all over again I would have waited until April this year before purchasing the Nord and maybe taken more time to study as it’s been 9-10 months to land to where I am now.
I hope my experience/review will resonate with anyone who is undecided in purchasing the CP88 or any other piano for that matter.
Now get out there and get a CP88!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You won’t regret it….LOL!!!
PS - Woody....you sound great!!
Excellent comment. I recently purchased the CP88. I was a little dissapointed in the tinny sound of the CFX (for some reason when trying it out at NAMM i remember it sounding better hmm). The newest update hasn't been installed yet. Maybe they fixed it with the update? Also thank god for SEAMLESS SOUND SWITCHING. I can't even tell you how refreshing it is to finally find a yamaha digital piano that has it
Dukerbud 88 This was actually not too long-winded. I found you sharing your journey encouraging and enlightening. I'm a drummer and I'm now starting my journey into the world of Piano/Keyboard. I am trying to figure out my first piano and knowing that I don't need to stress so much about making the "right" choice so quickly is relieving. Thanks for sharing!!
sorry to be so offtopic but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account..?
I somehow forgot the account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me.
@Edgar Benson instablaster :)
@Branson Marco thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and im in the hacking process now.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
Thank you, Yamaha, for including our Woody in the CP88 and MODX intros. He's definitely sold me on getting the MODX!
Same here, whenever I save up enough, I´ll be getting a MODX6!
He got me to get one!
Same here. I just got me the MODX7.
same
I recently purchased a cp88 but returned it after one week . I found the action a bit in the heavy side , I much prefer the action on the rd2000 tbh . I will miss the interface on the cp88 though , that interface is a work of art .
Thank you for this information. I'm running away from too heavy keys. I have a Yamaha P-140, which has a very heavy action which is almost damaging my wrists and hands. I was thinking about a Roland RD2000 or a Nord Stage 3. I play classical music and jazz, and everything, so I like instruments which makes us to like to play. Once I tested a Roland RD800 and found the mechanism excellent. Not too heavy. 🎉❤❤
DX7 sound is legendary, loved the panning to the actual DX7 video clip (definitely the bane of most synth people's existence, but I love that sound). CP-80 sound is beautiful on it! Thanks for touching on that sound, didn't find demos of it on other videos. Could imagine it working gorgeously for Genesis tunes, add some chorus to it, it would be right on the money for the Tony Banks sound. Wurlitzer is instant Supertramp. A great bread and butter digital piano. Ideally I'd love the real CP-70 one day, but this would also work out well. Clav sounds gets in touch with your inner Stevie Wonder. :) The pad sounds great too, so 80s. The layered pad and piano sound is definitely Bruce Hornsby sounding. This digital piano would look stunning with my Korg Wavestation EX. :)
The Moonlight is definitely NOT too fast. It's in 2/2 time!!! But people insist on playing it like a funeral march because it's tradition.
Yamaha Manager: “Can you make me a Nord Stage, and use all these leftover benders, toggles and rockers from the Reface series. Go! “
Simone Buralli right concerning the organ....
@Simone Buralli If you want a proper organ, you should get either a Hammond XK or the Nord Electro. They have the proper waterfall keys and action for the stuff you do with an organ. This, much like the Nord Stage is for when you need an organ sound "in a pinch" and are in no way a substitute for the proper deal.
More like a Nord Piano than a Nord Stage
Get a Reface YC for organ stuff and put it on a music stand or use a double stand and you're good to go. MIDI it to the CP88.
Wow!! This thing looks and sounds amazing!! Never seen Yamaha release something quite like this!! Definitely a competitor to a nord stage!!
perhaps more accurate to compare to Nord Piano than Stage. discuss...
True that! I stand corrected!
Excellent review, I am getting the YC-73 as pretty much a do it all board 😁
Thanks for the good review. By the way, I personally feel sorry that most CP88 reviews including yours do not pay attention to the S700 piano sound. In my home country (South Korea), the outdated Yamaha S90ES is still the most popular stage piano for professional musicians thanks to its default piano sound - S700. Hence, used S90ES pianos are still quite expensive in Korea because there are demands looking for this model that is discontinued. Fortunately, current MODXs and CP88 also have this S700 sound but it is hard to find videos playing the S700 sound without any other effects. For those who own Yamaha pianos with the S700 sound, please give it a go. It is a very balanced piano sound.
It's very interesting, as it is one of the sounds hated most here (osaka). The tone is just....well. 'Balanced'. People seem to have developed a real love for specific brand characteristics overall and interest in anything else is as you say, negligible.
No, it's not just you. I find walking past a keyboard instrument without touching the keys pretty difficult in most situations.
Every opportunity 😊
Hey Woody, I have been following your channel for quite some time now and I am happy that it worked out well for you (especially after you lost your main time job back in the day...). Now with the support of big companies, please don't forget why we, your followers, are here - objectivity and personal opinion. Don't let this channel become just another marketing tool, we got enough of these. And, of course, thanks for the video!
hi there, thanks for the advice, this is always forefront in my mind, this vid is not sponsored, I'm not getting paid and I won't give away editorial control. by collaborating with brands I'm able to share with you instruments that I otherwise would not have access to. Thanks for being with me on the journey!
No no Woody, we wanted the third movement of the moonlight sonata. There. You have a request!
Hi Woody! Thanks for reviewing the CP88 prototype and I think you provided essential information in an entertaining video. Why do some viewers need to be so negative about the presentation or the instrument? Occasionally, I wonder if these so hip and cool dudes can actually play the instrument. Probably not and just have nothing else to do apart from criticising established manufacturers for creating similar looking and sounding pianos! Many thanks for sharing your initial impressions of this new piano!
That’s a seriously impressive sounding instrument. That Rhodes sound is spot on and that Wurli is pretty good too. The built quality looks quite substantial too. I noticed that the display and boot-up sequence are very similiar to the reface range, it’s looks like it’s the same display as in my reface-dx. Makes me wonder if Yamaha are cooking some more tasty prototypes in their labs.
i've now learned from some other videos that it is an aluminium enclosure, so it's solid, interesting about the reface.
Reface CP owner here, it doesn't have a screen, but it has the little hex collared toggles and the same CP logo on the back. I think that the Reface YC uses some of the brightly colored rockers. It makes me feel better about my little Reface to know what else some of these little parts go to. Unrelated, but I think that the Reface app needs updating badly now, BTW.
It's the best overall package in that range. Yamaha, bravo, engineers put in the work for the traveling musicians. Will still fit in my trusty old Gemini case ;-) Nice vid - enjoy your demos.
I heard that the mechanism is too heavy. I own a Yamaha piano P-140 which is destroying my wrists and hands, I got tendinitis by playing several hours a day. I need a lighter action. I had a Roland A90EX which was excellent, but it is out of action now. Once I played a Roland RD800 and it's a keyboard who invites us to play, you can't stop playing, it's delicious, perhaps the RD2000 would be the same way. I have played in several Steinway acoustic grands, and they are a bliss to play. Very responsive and light action. You literally fly on the keyboard. Nord is very light too. I don't know why Yamaha insists in creating too heavy actions. 🎹❤
Great demo as always. Always honest and nerdy reactions, and humorous self deprecation. By far one of my favorite YT channels!
Hey fellow keys-lovers: Let's show Woody some love! Give up at least a pint in a pub per month and Patreon-ize our good friend. He's brought us so much info, encouragement and enthusiasm over the years. It's easy to sign up (link in the description) and you get extra content/goodies/access. Let's take care of him so we can continue enjoying what he brings us!
love ya!
It's not just you Woody :-) Just picked up my CP73 today, and I can't stop touching it :-)
Hi Woody, Great Job man! One of the best reviews on this board I've seen this days. My wife loves your musical memory ..thank you for taking me back over thirty years with beautiful songs man.." You are a extraordinary talented artist on a great instrument!! You sold me on this. As a gospel musician we all tend to gravitate towards the almighty motif. You did a superb job and I really enjoyed watching and listening..All the best to you!!
Hi Tarcisio, thanks to you and your wife, very heartwarming comment, I'd love to hear this keyboard in the hands of a gospel musician!
Very impressed with the CP80 sound. I have a “real” CP70, and I still use it quite a lot. The CP sounds on most keyboards (including Yamahas own keyboards) are really digital and synthetic; too perfect and precise. This one’s CP80 had the right amount of dissonance that is typical of a real CP70/80. Well done. Also impressed by the U1 upright sound; I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a keyboard that got the tonality right on a so-called upright piano; most of the time they sound like a smaller grand with less reverb. This one, once again, got the upright dissonance that makes an upright sound like an upright.
thx for sharing your thoughts, I'm with you. the upright and CP in particular have a lot of character and you can really hear the distinctive sound of the instrument that they sampled instead of some generic sounding piano. there are a couple more uprights onboard but I haven't played them yet.
That CP80/70 sample sounds better than any hardware keyboard I have ever heard/played.
This x100. I have a CP70 and gigged for a while with a CP60. I'm crossing my fingers but not holding my breath for a CP73b with the Graded Hammer/Triple Sensor action!
Excellent review, thanks. Only reasons I’d consider the CP73 over my Nord Stage 2 HA76 would be the more amp friendly piano sounds and lighter weight.
It’s not really a direct competitor though as there’s no dedicated organ or synth sections.
Great demo, thanks. Also like the fact you have the physical demeanour of a Thunderbirds puppet whilst playing.
I tried out this baby today at the store and those wood keys are amazing, they make you wanna play more and more❤️
No idea who you are just wanted to see the cp88, Such a solid video tho
wouldn't expect anybody to know who i am!
I'll be definitely take one of this, specially the 88 version. Mind blowned with the piano, electric piano sounds, the overall is awesome. Thanks Woody for the excellent video, you've tested so nice. Greetings from Brazil.
Interesting change in direction. Going back to building a tough, workhorse keyboard with close to knob-per-function a la Nord. I’ll stick with my CP4 though. It’s still a hell of a keyboard and I prefer the simplicity. The only thing so far that stood out in demos that I’ve seen is that nice Reface CP style delay combined with the ability to turn off keyboard control for the section that’s looping in the digital delay at full depth while you play something else over the top of it. Nice for some one man band stuff on the fly.
Alan Chapman agreed. Keeping my CP4 for now. Looks like they found a use for all those leftover benders, toggle and rocker switches from the Reface series....
pshealy69 I also noticed the more I looked into the specs, they actually scaled quite a few things back. Gone are the SCM modeled sounds. Back to the AWM2 samples for everything which lines up with the rest of the products. I’m not sure if there is any binaural sampling. I noticed a ton of the VCM effects have been removed and the variety of reverbs and chorus cut down. Way less presets (although with flash expansion you can probably add back some of the Motif/Montage sounds you like and customize it). They still don’t have the level of extra detail that some of the digital pianos have such as string resonance, Virtual Resonance Modeling, etc although in a stage piano who cares? I can’t help noticing all the parallels with the Nord Stage series. It still seems like a really great keyboard. They chiseled it down to the most used features and brought the controls of those features up to the surface. You made me laugh with the leftover Reface parts comment lol I actually like that series too. Waited for discounts and got one of each.
I also have the CP4 and a CP reface so no need for this upgrade for now...... I like the new build of the CP88 though.
Very good Woody, some nice edits, thoughtful, balanced, and passionate (and no that isn't a contradiction). Thanks
I love how you edited in bits of your own videos. Awesome.
This would be a perfect competitor to the Nord Stage and the Roland RD 2000. The pitch and mod toggles actually look like they are inspired from the Nord Stage and yes,it does look likke a Nord that has been painted black. Overall, I love the Piano and Ep sounds of this keyboard!
Love love loved all the requests!! Think it's super thoughtful of you to name check the "requester" and to also put the time and effort in to executing the tunes so well mate - makes me feel very lazy and has given me much food for thought fine Sir. Lots of Manly love Xx
arright my luvver, chuffed to bits you watched this nonsense, really looking forward to hearing what you can do with one.
A lot of very positive reactions on the internet on these ones. Nice......
Thanks, Woody, for another entertaining and informative video. This is the most interesting digital piano to come out for a while. I was so hoping that Yamaha would release the Reface CP with a full size keyboard because I love the CP sound and this has it in bucket loads. I guess the thing is going to be quite expensive though. Quality usually costs and wooden keys won't come cheap. Great playing, by the way!
hi andrew! i'm not sure what the final price in the stores will be, but for sure it's going to be expensive. would be interesting to compare price against the nord piano and grandstage.
$3149.00 for the 88 and $2499.00 for the 73. That's actually a great price for all those nice sounds.
@@tehhkrmn65 Not sure which currency you're using. In USD , $1,999 for the CP73, and $2,400 for the CP88. Sweetwater, Kraft Music, and B&H prices.
@@maxthompson4363 my mistake, I was on the sweetwater site but I forgot that it automatically converts to Canadian. My prices are the ones adjusted to Canadian Dollars.
You're probably responsible for a good portion of those MODX sales! Also you gotta love those wooden keys, very sexy.
sexy is the word I should have used in the presentation.
@@WoodyPianoShack what is the keyboard stand you have there in this video, is it stable? I have the ex stand but I think it causing me knee problems
Awesome, thanks Woody! While this product is not for me, your MODX videos helped motivate me to buy one!
cool, how are you liking it?
Good job Yamaha. Give all your prototypes to this guy.
Woody doesn't know any hip hop? That's the way it is. Some things will never change.
You played Bruce Hornsby - The way it is. Great piano song.
I love jazzy synthy sounds. Reminds me of Japan
I was really interested in this, but I looked at the price and now I'm not. I'm not saying this is not worth it (I'm sure it is), but I can't afford one. Sometimes life sucks...
Hi Woody, just a suggestion to perhaps pass on to the nice people at Yamaha... When a section is turned off the name of the tone in the section is removed from the display but it would much more informative if the name remained, perhaps inside ( brackets ) , users would instantly know what tone will be turned back on... Cheers man, and congrats for getting the opportunity to be part of a flagship launch! 😀👍
The display lights can be switched to 'always on' in the control panel, so that the section parameters are displayed even when the section is bypassed.
you deserve first hand on every keyboard synth in the world
One thing you should always check with 88 key models is how easy you can press the keys close to where they enter the keyboard. A keyboard with a proper piano action should allow you to press them easily across the entire length of the key. This is also why many stage pianos are considerably deeper or thicker than their non-weighted counterparts.
100% with you. discussed this actually, but edited it out, not an issue with this board.
Sounds cool. Thanks for taking my request.
it was the request I enjoyed playing the most, so thanks!
god...it sounds so good, very realistic to my ears, maybe the best I've ever listened to.
Your vids never boring , thnx man .
sweet of you to say so, thx
Looks and sounds like a beast! Big fan of Yamaha's sound. Probably go for this over Nord.
Great demo Woody, and thank you for actually playing the CP80 setting which so many have ignored.
Ive been considering the CP88 for awhile but a year on from release and all ive read are owners with issue after issue. It's really a bummer that for $2500 you are getting a sub-standard stage piano. I'm not down on Yamaha, i actually have lots of gear made by them, but you would think they would get it right at this point. Even the previous CP4/CP40 had very little issues., and very little negative feedback. Having played the CP88/73, i do think they sound good, but who wants to deal with ongoing issues? Give a gigging musician a reliable stage piano that's the equivalent of a Fender Tele, and you're gold.
i haven't been following this, what are the issues?
Lots of keybed issues, stuck keys, key noise, and some powering up issues. Problems seem to occur after owning a few months, but some are more immediate and need full replacement.
Wow that thing sounds great! I'd love to hear you play some complete pieces!
What a amazing Keyboard! Congratulations for the review!
My friend, thank you for this review. So cool ! 👏
The first song you played is from Bruce Hornsby ...but you know it sure 😉
How many sounds can be layered at one time? The Roland RD2000 is king of layering in my opinion and I think Nord’s approach is a bit clunky. Have you explored this yet?
3
That Don Henley Piano Synth sounded absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!
It is awesome you got one of these Woody! Nice review! Never considered Yamaha as a stage piano but this really fills a gap in their range. Yamaha certainly are doing a great job of price/qualitybalance the ergonomics and controls on this look amazing. Tricky now to choose between modx ( more synthy ) versus this ( more pianoey)..ps I liked the talk talk song ( their piano riff were often great). Also next time you have a cp80 sound how about “ video killed the radio star”:)
Haha, thx Woody for including I won't let you down. The CP88 sounds great btw.
You got me on the Moonlight Sonata. I just went. Wow.......goosebumps. Really...wow. You did the Liberace recorded tempo I believe.
quite by coincidence then, glad you enjoyed it, means a lot.
This is long overdue, as the CP4 is old and lacks string resonance and really top-notch samples. This seems to have all of the MODX/Montage samples and it sounds just as good. If you don't need all of the MODX capabilities and want a hands-on stage piano, this seems like a great choice. It will definitely be a tough competitor for the Roland RD-2000, Korg Grandstage and Nord. I can't say which is best without playing it, but it would certainly be on my shopping list if I were buying a stage piano.
I also have the Yamaha CP4 and im going to buy the Yamaha CP88 as i will have my CP4 5 years in April.
@@paulallenMacca What will you be gaining by getting this if you already have the CP4?
@Alex K. The only way to decide is to actually play them. Once you get your hands on them, you'll figure out which sound, action and panel design is your favorite. They're all excellent instruments, so any of them would be a fine choice.
@RodneyLee He'll be getting string resonance, newer and better samples, better controls and a better action. In short, a major improvement of everything. Plus it's a brand new instrument that hasn't been on the road getting beat up for 5 years.
@@rodneylee4026 newer does not always mean better? the cp4 is better its not worth the upgrade i will keep my cp4 it has way less sounds and not much better than p515
Super intro video ! That's a handsome machine. The Yamaha guy said it was metallic construction on another video.
If you demo the other one(the 73 key version), I would love to hear the CP70 electric grand type sounds too - a nice bit of Peter Gabriel would do like "Wallflower". Or anything else really!
21:46 PhD I won't Let You Down - what a GREAT request. Woody doesn't let us down! ;-)
Man that piano sound was bright.
I still have my Yamaha DGX-640 Digital Piano sitting in a corner of the room getting all dusty. But it has the CP-80 sound and I absolutely love that sound. This video, surely enough, made me get my Kleenex and cloth to wipe it clean and then play it some.
I expect this to be not available in my country any time soon and be very expensive when available, so I'll make do with my entry level DGX ^^;
Sounding good. I probably won't be able to afford one, but would like to hear the organ sounds. Keep up the good work.
noted, something for the follow-up perhaps!
Thanks for your great videos. They are entertaining, interesting and informative!!
Looks like a good stage piano, but it compares more to the GrandStage than the RD2000, which is borderline workstation. I’m glad they put the CP in the piano category so you can layer the DX with it.
That first Rhodes sound... Holy crap, that's beautiful.
And of course, CP-80!
The Montage and MODX have those same sounds as well. The Montage also has the Rhodes sound with the amplifier turned off.
Also noticed the split and octave buttons per section - Nice touch!
That art piece behind you is a cat's wet dream.
Now that sounds real nice...and superbly played Woody :-)
Black Nord
That's what I thought lol
Thinking the same. 😁 Nord will sue.
@@ShanMichaelEscasio If they made it red I'm sure they would lol
Congrats Woody! @09:19 I'm colour blind myself but pretty much looks green? Looking forward to the VST vs modelled vs MODX shootout.
You Da Man, Woody! Always Love your videos!! Cheers, and Keep on Keepin' on... : )
My god, you are a hell of R nice guy with honest down to earth exurberence (silent h, lol).
You sure will attract followers who want your opinions which ever way. 😊 Best wishes from nz. 👍👍👍
As soon as I saw the layout I thought ‘Nord’ and my immediate reaction was anti as it seemed to rip off Nord’s successful design. But then I thought, ‘Why not?’ The sincerest form of flattery and I bet it will be a LOT cheaper than the Nord Stage. Free downloads for life as well like Nord? I can see the Scandinavians getting rather worried! Great video Woody. Thanks. 👍
indeed, it's inevitable to compare with Nord. i did discuss this when shooting the video but cut it out during post, so I'll share that in a separate video. Yammy is definitely cheaper, but remains to be seen by how much.
I’d like to see the next version of the CP88 with the GEX graded action. The action from the Montage M8X
Rhodes are fantastic !!
Quite a beast of an instrument, and some very nice playing. As you were wrapping up, I was expecting it to go on a little longer. That upright sound really nailed it. Are there any stated differences between this prototype and an actual one?
Bruce Hornsby - That's Just The Way It Is. ;-)
Would love another video with more detail on the last section of sounds
That thing sounds great! Good job Yamaha!
Those toggles make it look like an engineering sample but I see they carried through to production. Strange styling choice but good and robust gigging.
That panel looks like something Mr Sulu would be working in the original 60s Star Trek. None of this touchscreen tomfoolery 😉
I suspect the automotive/industrial switches will be replaced with little molded plastic jobs on the production models
I really hope the "Power Grand" from the Motif will be available in the future. Sad to see that missing in the recent CP pianos. The other grand pianos are great, bit the Power Grand has its place for some things.
0:00 HAHA immediately recognized the Ph.D. song. Was a smash hit in Brazil too.
incredible, a real one-hit-wonder!
What amplifier or speakers are you using? I'm assuming it doesn't come with on-board speakers (not that I can see at least).
Great first sound Bruce Hornsby and the range I saw him live a long time ago 😉
Generally an excellent review, but he does tend to 'waffle' a bit about some things which are relatively unimportant. I'm sure that he'll be pleased to learn as a result of his review, in addition to trying one myself, I've bought this Yamaha (after trying other brands and models)) to restart the musical 'experience' I'd enjoyed for several years - especially having reached Grade 7 on the piano in the UK prior to (regrettably) ceasing to play 🤗
your reviews are the best
I'm excited for everything about this board except for the wooden keys.... I had to return my CP4 after a year of playing cause my KEYS GOT STUCK IN CLUSTERS. I really hope this board can handle heavy playing. (I was raised on grand pianos... can't help it lol)
ouch! i guess real wood more sensitive to temp and humidity changes than plastic...
Next week I will be at NAMM, definitely going to try this board out while I am there. Who knows, maybe in person, I won't think this board looks like a piece of crap.
such an intuitive Layout
Yamaha and other Keyboard manufacturers need to give you a job at music gear shows like NAMM. Would make a pleasant change to have someone as enthusiastic, entertaining and talented as you demoing their gear and showing it off to it's fullest potential Woody :) .....
very flattering, thank you
Why ?
I already have the MODX7. Why would I purchase this too? Just a better(arguable) keybed?
16:00 theres your second hiphop tune!! What was it called..?
1:48 Doug DeMuro is that you?
I'm probably going to buy this.
Fantastic video as always!!
How many acoustic pianos are there (grand & upright) ??
Thanks!
Awesome video! That piano sounds amazing! If you're taking more suggestions for what to play, how about Walk Forever By My Side By My Side by The Alarm. :)
Thank you so much. I love the Yamaha.
wow, the tone is actually really good. And I don't say that lightly.
loved the rhodes on this!
Hi , I am new to this community. Just purchased a CP 88; I cant easily understand how to save setting (sounds i create ) so that I can recall them later. Have you already done a video regarding this? Thank you Alex