Ck73 would be fantastic. Also a keybed weighting in between semi weighted and fully weighted, a good compromise for piano and organ. Anyone else thinking this?
The CP73 is a pretty good compromise. It has an electric piano action. It doesn’t have the same synth-type features, though. It’s a simple high-quality stage piano.
i just bought a CK61 2 weeks ago and was blown away how great it is. I have a reface YC which is too small (octaves) and too quiet to be useful to play along with stereo or someone singing- but the CK61 is just perfect and loud enough on its own. the layout and functionality of the stage layout with the 3 sections is incredibly easy. I have a Nord Stage 3, crummar mojo, (sold my Nord Grand), and this little Yamaha wins for portability, fun factor, ease of use, and price. built in speakers that are loud, battery powered, perfect size, the 1/4 inch outputs sound good but the built in speakers are just fantastic and loud... a huge thumbs up IMO. ... The YC may have better sounds but it's HEAVY, no speakers, costs a lot more. I can throw the CK61 in the back of my car and have a keyboard that i can play anywhere at any time, it's so light i can put it on my lap and play it, try that with a YC?. The keybed itself on the CK is typical good quality Yamaha , and perfect for organ sounds, not too squishy and smooth, solid. HUGE smile factor with this keyboard. I have a stage 3, i don't need a YC, i need a great portable cheap travelling battery powered keyboard... would have preferred a reface with more octaves, but this CK will do. Your video on the organ sounds and you fiddling with the Leslie sounds great.. I wish keyboards were this good when i was younger... no tinkering with sounds and needing more keyboards. the stage layout with the 3 sections.. so good. Why i stumbled across your channel was because last month I got a used/brand new Crummar Mojo and was trying to learn more about making it sound good , searched and found your video, then found the YC video.
@@darrylday30 for the price it really is unbeatable. And it's like luggage, you can drop this sucker and nothing happens to it. what blows me away again, is the first sound you get works great, then you can add strings, and organ and live mix it on the fly... for how much again? I can buy 5 of these or buy 1 Nord Stage 3. I don't think the audience would know the diff. Someone could steal my CK61 and I'd still have enough cash to buy 4 more, vrs the Stage 3. LOL. apples and oranges but the smile factor for the price, plus the proper keys for organ playing... I really could yap all day about how great this keyboard is.
The Nord is more like ~ 4 times the price and well worth it. But I picked up a CK61 and love it. It is perfect for what I need: a rehearsal and gig machine. It has speakers and can be powered by 8 AA batteries so I can take it with me to a practice session just about anywhere. I plug it into the mixer at the gig without a fuss. I don't need an uber sounding machine. When I do I'd pull out all the stops with a laptop with 2 tb of sounds driven by Ableton Live, Reason VST, with a Push, Akai APC40mk2 and Launchpad and go to town, hell Mars. The CK with a Nord Drum 3 (using the Nord Beat 3 sequencer app on an iPad) is perfect for the basic gig setup to accompany singers and geetarists.
I picked up one of these and love it for casual playing and production. Yamaha nailed the usability. I see it as the line 6 helix version of keyboards (owned by Yamaha also). Sure there are others that might sound better on this or that setting, but it sounds generally great in a mix and is so easy to tweak on the fly. Also the 88 key is perfect for those of us who dabble in both piano sounds and synth parts. The keybed is heavy enough but not too heavy for also playing non-piano sounds.
Not sure why this keyboard gets lot of hate. Yes, it's not a nord and not sure why it gets compared to the DGX and PSR line. It's not even in the same category. I just picked up the ck88 to give my yamaha YC a break and so far its been great.
Please tell me how yc and ck compare in terms of organ and fafisa sound! Is ist true that the upper drawbars hurt your ears weven even using high cut? Leslie: I got a fantastic external lesie pedal from strymon but the base organ needs to be awesome
Great Joblin! Seeing all of these review on YT have been very helpful. I played this in a store and needed a bunch of "second" opinions. The value with this one is a bit surprising!
Thanks for touching on the DX7 sounds toward the end of your review. I definitely want the more realistic DX7 sounds that you say are on the YC61 as well as the more authentic organ sounds.
I think if someone doesn't like the organ on this, you can connect your iPhone/iPad and use the organ sound there, which I think makes it highly flexible. Also, the speakers up top would make a DGX-type piano.
WOODY on the CK61 check out the patch 7-4 2310 Orchestra !! it has wicked velocity sensitivity , different orchestra elements come out so smoothly plus the sound quality is UNFKN believable... really great for the price
Thank you very much for your in depth reviews of this model, really considering the 61, for recording and songwriting,, your videos are very much appreciated!!!!🎹
Very interesting, that you put the YC organ above the Nord Electro. Seems that you self had to think about it. I like that the YC has three Hammond models and two rotary models (including the new Studio rotary) on the panel and thus gives a huge variety at hand. However, I liked the waterfall keybed of the Nord for being more weighted.
Had to sign into TH-cam to comment this, the hammond sounds like crap in the nord. There’s a huge difference in the warmth of the sound when you hear it on the yc88 then hear it on the nord, you have to crank up the highs on the ck to get it to sound right. But the ck88 has more than plenty of usable sounds, but action is not that great. I’m hoping yahama will make a new ck88 with better action, I’m going for it. I thought the lesli sounded better on the ck88 than yc88, i have knowledge of how a real lesli should sound
Great review! I too own the MODX8 and have zero issues with the keys and think it is still the best value for money one can find in a synthesiser. I read on the forums of guys breaking the keys/keybed. I can only assume they are emulating, and playing a lot of, Jerry Lee Lewis songs…
One of the biggest issues is only one source for the mod wheel. Really limits what you can do when layering up synths sounds. Hope they add more in an update.
Nice overview, Woody. Re: competition, surely the Roland RD-88 is the closest rival? Also I believe since updates the CK has more pianos in it these days and matches (or even has more than) the YC. The YC never had tonnes of pianos - they held some back for the CP, I believe, which is the more piano-focused instrument. (Although having said that I believe a revent update to YC added another grand piano so even that may be out of date info. Hard to keep up!)
yeah, the crumar organs look lovely, but only if you can manage without all the extra sounds and effects, controller features. i wouldn't call crumar organs a "stage keyboard" myself.
The main competitor that the CK88 is aiming at is the Roland RD88. I’m tossing up between these two. RD88 doesn’t have the drawbars, but is expandable with Roland Cloud. Yamaha sound is very clear and authentic. Roland has a lot more synth stuff. Similarly priced
I just sold my RD88 and bought the CK88 and no regrets. I love this CK88. I did like the RD88 it has way more sounds and yes it is Roland cloud compatible, but it’s way way too much menu diving on a tiny screen. The pianos on the Yamaha sound better IMO. The action is better on the Roland, with ivory feel plus escapement etc…one final thing, I liked when I bought the Roland how narrow it was but then I realized when you put it on a keyboard stands it slides around a bit and kind of looks odd. To me anyway. You will be happy with either but I personally am connecting better with the CK.
Thanks for your update and input. It’s always great to hear from people who are living with this instruments. I sell both of these at my Toronto Canada store so great feedback from both of you!
i'm not sure it's a direct competitor, as it is a much more expensive option and very different features and capabilities. great board though, but I would miss those speakers. :)
@@WoodyPianoShack The RD88 is the same price point in Canada where I live as the CK88 and it has small and decent speakers like the CK. It has more sounds, Roland Cloud, 3 parts like the Yamaha. I’m looking forward to comparing them as I should get it at my store this week.
@@MrFn65 good call, thanks for correcting me, i was probably thinking of rd2000, you're right the rd88 is in the same price bracket. the zencore engine makes it very versatile. never got my hands on one, yet! does it do splits and layers?
Hello Woody ! Great series! After watching this series I decided to buy the ck 61! It has just irrite but my pitch bend doesn’t come back to neutral from the top! Only from the bottom! Is this normal? Or it just came broken?? Thanks for your help! Continue inspiring other people like me!!
hmm, mod wheel should stay in the same position, but pitch bend wheel should spring back to middle when you release it. you may have a defective unit, sorry to say.
Question from an amateur: I currently have a Hammond C3 and Leslie L122, but I want a wider variety of sounds. I'm going to sell (or effectively trade) the Hammond/Leslie and get a Yamaha CK88, and a 49 key MIDI controller with after touch as a second keyboard (console organ style) and for playing synth type solos. This is all straightforward. But - what amplifier/speaker system should I buy? I only play at home in my 24x16 lounge, and (obviously) the 30 Watt valve amp Leslie FILLS THE ROOM. But what's best to buy to do room-filling justice to the wide range of sounds of the CK88? A stage keyboard amp? Studio monitors? HiFi Amp and Speakers?
4:52 It's a GHS keyboard... it would be helpful to know if it feels as if it's implemented in the exact same way as in the P-125 or MODX8, but these 3 are probably either/or keyboards for most people. I've tried the CK61 (not the 88), and the keys were identical to the $300ish PSR arranger keyboard nearby... but the springs may have been adjusted for the worse, or else I preferred them to be broken in a bit (that PSR was in the shop much longer than that CK). The PSR was lacking the quality sounds and user interface controls, in comparison, unfortunately. I didn't like the key action that much. Was hard to consistently trigger low velocity notes. I like the GHS for a cheap light piano action. It's not my favorite in the world, but I'm used to it now. I wish they made a 73 with the BHS action (same as the top octave of GHS, but the same weight over the entire keyboard, instead of progressively getting heavier as you go down the keyboard. That's what YC73 uses. Actually, I wish for that in a waterfall shape, in a 73 or even 61, instead of the CK61 keys in a waterfall shape, as I've heard the YC61 is, tho I haven't tried that one in person, so that's only heresy from a forum post).
I'm curious if the CK88/CK61 supports the addition of any external voices/sounds/patches (Yamaha or other) via USB A connection, like some other Yamaha keyboards offer? Also, is the included engine comparable to their Zencore, and is there a synth Arpeggio function?
i find it difficult to describe actions in words, and have never played the korg, i don't have much to add over what i said in the video. sorry, perhaps someone else will chime in.
Just found out the CK can only trigger voices from another controller. Doesn't take incoming midi control messages like for rotary controls. (from Yamaha Support) Wanted to use my Nord Electro as a controller. Bummer
I was really looking forward to replace my Roland Fp7f with this, but for me the facing down speakers is kind of …exact what Yamaha says, a last minute thing for quick rehearsals, even a p-125 has more quality and on top
i found they worked fine when on a proper keyboard stand, the sound will bounce up from the floor and walls. but not exactly hi-fi or studio monitor quality.
In a real gig you would want to put this through a sound system, but when I played it, I was floored at how good it sounded through its built in speakers that I didn't see. I was very surprised at the frequency spectrum of the built in speakers and would have never guessed it was simply a pair of 4,5" speakers.
Hey there! Just subscribed, love the channel! So I have a CK88 and absolutely love it; I've always played 90% piano and 10% EP and love the GHS action. But I've started getting very interested in playing Hammond; I know the sound quality on the YC61 is better, but wanted to ask your thoughts on the key action (for someone used to GHS weighted); how important to hammond organ playing is it really to have the semi-weighted waterfall keys as opposed to fully weighted piano keys? I really wish someone would make a waterfall style midi controller (I don't think any exist, not sure why . . . ) because then I could just connect that to my CK and have the best of both worlds.
if the price is the same, i think i would go for an electro for the rugged pro quality build, and great sounds, but the speakers and convenience of CK hard to beat. it is a tough one to call.
Hmm.. from Yamaha.. not a keyboard but an outboard maybe. Have you bought a boat, Woody? :) Seriously though thanks for a great roundup review of the CK88. That screen 'auto off' feature would be a great help if you were powering the CK with batteries.
Is it possible for ck88 to connect it to a Bluetooth speaker to listen to it through the Bluetooth speaker? Also can you use the drawbar faders with other sounds except organs? Thanks
no on the bt, as it would be bad anyway, since bt has slight delay in the audio transmission so hard to play in time. iirc the drawbars only work with organ, but i see no reason to use with other sounds.
yeah, that would be a great head 2 head, i might choose the yammy over the roly for the speakers. once you've had them, there's no going back, it sucks having to clamp on your headphones for a quick jam.
I took the plunge after your reviews. The piano sounds are awe full, my 5 year old privia sounds lots better. On the plus side all the other sounds are great and should cover all bases when playing out. Also why they don’t include a music rest is bazaar ??
It’s seems nice, but not sure about those keys … I hope not but if these are the same like the p95 (older model home piano) than you can have problems after a lot of playing … I mean after a few years. The results are a bad touch , loud clicking after releasing the keys, and playability goes down … that’s of course my experience. For quality is better to go with Clavia
It's ... "Cheerio!" Woody at the end ... come on, it's your catchphrase, get it together man! 🤣. Thanks for the series review on this 'board. I've got the Numa-X Piano GT so I'm good to go there, but there's defo a market at this kgs/£ point especially being a Yam which I'm a big fan of (if you saw my 'over' populated Studio here!!) 🍻
Yamaha have given you a motorbike? Nah, I can't see that. A midi wind controller? Guitar? Violin? Drum(s)? Brass? Electronic audio gubbins like mic or recorder? Right, I'll stop guessing now before I list every product Yamaha make. Anyway, whatever it is: wear a helmet!
It's just a sample player, with mediocre samples. Yamaha have been recycling their own sounds for 30 years or so, and they even manage to make things worse with every new launch. If I want a cheap sounding piano or organ, I'll just stick with my midi keyboard and free sample-based VST's, some of which actually sound better than this Yamaha. Thanks for your thorough review.
Overall the sounds on the CK are disappointing 🫤 I don't care about organ/harpsi/clav, though they sound fine to me. The pianos and EPs are fine as well. Nothing to make me go "wow", but definitely usable in a performance. But most other sounds are a disappointment. I hear a lot of loop points in strings and pads, I hear clipping on some sounds, and resampling of some sounds as I go up the keys. I get Yamaha don't want to put their most expensive sounds in here, but surely that doesn't mean they have to use 35-year-old samples? Heck, I think even Korg's M1 from 1988 has better versions of some of these sounds. The biggest saving grace is the effects and easy interface, which you can use to help mask the poor quality of some of the samples.
Ck73 would be fantastic. Also a keybed weighting in between semi weighted and fully weighted, a good compromise for piano and organ. Anyone else thinking this?
The CP73 is a pretty good compromise. It has an electric piano action. It doesn’t have the same synth-type features, though. It’s a simple high-quality stage piano.
Yes!
CK73出たら絶対に買う！61鍵だと足りないし88鍵は重くて長いから持ち運びしたくない。鍵盤はセミウェイトでなくてもOK
Definitely a 73-76 key would be awesome, i want the yc73 but is out of my budget 😢
i just bought a CK61 2 weeks ago and was blown away how great it is. I have a reface YC which is too small (octaves) and too quiet to be useful to play along with stereo or someone singing- but the CK61 is just perfect and loud enough on its own. the layout and functionality of the stage layout with the 3 sections is incredibly easy. I have a Nord Stage 3, crummar mojo, (sold my Nord Grand), and this little Yamaha wins for portability, fun factor, ease of use, and price. built in speakers that are loud, battery powered, perfect size, the 1/4 inch outputs sound good but the built in speakers are just fantastic and loud... a huge thumbs up IMO. ... The YC may have better sounds but it's HEAVY, no speakers, costs a lot more. I can throw the CK61 in the back of my car and have a keyboard that i can play anywhere at any time, it's so light i can put it on my lap and play it, try that with a YC?. The keybed itself on the CK is typical good quality Yamaha , and perfect for organ sounds, not too squishy and smooth, solid. HUGE smile factor with this keyboard. I have a stage 3, i don't need a YC, i need a great portable cheap travelling battery powered keyboard... would have preferred a reface with more octaves, but this CK will do. Your video on the organ sounds and you fiddling with the Leslie sounds great.. I wish keyboards were this good when i was younger... no tinkering with sounds and needing more keyboards. the stage layout with the 3 sections.. so good. Why i stumbled across your channel was because last month I got a used/brand new Crummar Mojo and was trying to learn more about making it sound good , searched and found your video, then found the YC video.
Yep, you pretty much nailed it. I rented one and I missed the awesome leslie on my other board. Still it’s fantastic for the price and super portable.
@@darrylday30 for the price it really is unbeatable. And it's like luggage, you can drop this sucker and nothing happens to it. what blows me away again, is the first sound you get works great, then you can add strings, and organ and live mix it on the fly... for how much again? I can buy 5 of these or buy 1 Nord Stage 3. I don't think the audience would know the diff. Someone could steal my CK61 and I'd still have enough cash to buy 4 more, vrs the Stage 3. LOL. apples and oranges but the smile factor for the price, plus the proper keys for organ playing... I really could yap all day about how great this keyboard is.
thanks for sharing your review and opinions, the 61 is very appealing to me for the reasons you mention.
Is the hammond too bright?
@@jayswitzer9871
Bro, the Organ patches are good ?
The Nord is more like ~ 4 times the price and well worth it. But I picked up a CK61 and love it. It is perfect for what I need: a rehearsal and gig machine. It has speakers and can be powered by 8 AA batteries so I can take it with me to a practice session just about anywhere. I plug it into the mixer at the gig without a fuss. I don't need an uber sounding machine. When I do I'd pull out all the stops with a laptop with 2 tb of sounds driven by Ableton Live, Reason VST, with a Push, Akai APC40mk2 and Launchpad and go to town, hell Mars. The CK with a Nord Drum 3 (using the Nord Beat 3 sequencer app on an iPad) is perfect for the basic gig setup to accompany singers and geetarists.
I picked up one of these and love it for casual playing and production. Yamaha nailed the usability. I see it as the line 6 helix version of keyboards (owned by Yamaha also). Sure there are others that might sound better on this or that setting, but it sounds generally great in a mix and is so easy to tweak on the fly. Also the 88 key is perfect for those of us who dabble in both piano sounds and synth parts. The keybed is heavy enough but not too heavy for also playing non-piano sounds.
Great to hear again indeed, thanks Woody. Keep bringing up your visions for us, so inspiring too.
Bless you 👍
Not sure why this keyboard gets lot of hate. Yes, it's not a nord and not sure why it gets compared to the DGX and PSR line. It's not even in the same category. I just picked up the ck88 to give my yamaha YC a break and so far its been great.
Please tell me how yc and ck compare in terms of organ and fafisa sound! Is ist true that the upper drawbars hurt your ears weven even using high cut?
Leslie: I got a fantastic external lesie pedal from strymon but the base organ needs to be awesome
Great Joblin! Seeing all of these review on YT have been very helpful. I played this in a store and needed a bunch of "second" opinions. The value with this one is a bit surprising!
happy to provide a second opinion and great that you actually got to try one out first hand for yourself, always better than watching youtube videos!
Thanks for touching on the DX7 sounds toward the end of your review. I definitely want the more realistic DX7 sounds that you say are on the YC61 as well as the more authentic organ sounds.
I think if someone doesn't like the organ on this, you can connect your iPhone/iPad and use the organ sound there, which I think makes it highly flexible. Also, the speakers up top would make a DGX-type piano.
WOODY on the CK61 check out the patch 7-4 2310 Orchestra !! it has wicked velocity sensitivity , different orchestra elements come out so smoothly plus the sound quality is UNFKN believable... really great for the price
Thank you very much for your in depth reviews of this model, really considering the 61, for recording and songwriting,, your videos are very much appreciated!!!!🎹
Very interesting, that you put the YC organ above the Nord Electro. Seems that you self had to think about it. I like that the YC has three Hammond models and two rotary models (including the new Studio rotary) on the panel and thus gives a huge variety at hand. However, I liked the waterfall keybed of the Nord for being more weighted.
Had to sign into TH-cam to comment this, the hammond sounds like crap in the nord. There’s a huge difference in the warmth of the sound when you hear it on the yc88 then hear it on the nord, you have to crank up the highs on the ck to get it to sound right. But the ck88 has more than plenty of usable sounds, but action is not that great. I’m hoping yahama will make a new ck88 with better action, I’m going for it. I thought the lesli sounded better on the ck88 than yc88, i have knowledge of how a real lesli should sound
Great review!
I too own the MODX8 and have zero issues with the keys and think it is still the best value for money one can find in a synthesiser. I read on the forums of guys breaking the keys/keybed. I can only assume they are emulating, and playing a lot of, Jerry Lee Lewis songs…
One of the biggest issues is only one source for the mod wheel. Really limits what you can do when layering up synths sounds. Hope they add more in an update.
Yeah i agree but could easily fix with a vst
Very helpful and informative video man thanks a lot!
Nice overview, Woody. Re: competition, surely the Roland RD-88 is the closest rival? Also I believe since updates the CK has more pianos in it these days and matches (or even has more than) the YC. The YC never had tonnes of pianos - they held some back for the CP, I believe, which is the more piano-focused instrument. (Although having said that I believe a revent update to YC added another grand piano so even that may be out of date info. Hard to keep up!)
yes, agree the RD88 is close rival, i am surprised i did not mention it!
Very nice keyboard! looks like the best among
Korg Vox Continental
Roland V-Combo VR-09-B
Studiologic Numa Compact 2x
Hey Woody I understand that there is a menu feature that redirects the speakers if its sittind on table...
Good wrap-up review. Content and production quality of your videos are excellent.
appreciate that, thanks!
A great series of reviews, Woody. Very much appreciated.
Well done Woody. Always enjoing your reviews. Greetings from Germany
I was going to comment that I like the design of the knobs, much more practical than round ones, then you beat me to it.
great minds think alike!
Future Yamaha purchase twist.. its a jetski!
There are also Crumar Mojo 61 or Crumar Mojo Classic as Clone Tonewheel ("Clonewheel").
yeah, the crumar organs look lovely, but only if you can manage without all the extra sounds and effects, controller features. i wouldn't call crumar organs a "stage keyboard" myself.
The main competitor that the CK88 is aiming at is the Roland RD88. I’m tossing up between these two. RD88 doesn’t have the drawbars, but is expandable with Roland Cloud. Yamaha sound is very clear and authentic. Roland has a lot more synth stuff. Similarly priced
I just sold my RD88 and bought the CK88 and no regrets. I love this CK88. I did like the RD88 it has way more sounds and yes it is Roland cloud compatible, but it’s way way too much menu diving on a tiny screen. The pianos on the Yamaha sound better IMO. The action is better on the Roland, with ivory feel plus escapement etc…one final thing, I liked when I bought the Roland how narrow it was but then I realized when you put it on a keyboard stands it slides around a bit and kind of looks odd. To me anyway. You will be happy with either but I personally am connecting better with the CK.
Thanks for your update and input. It’s always great to hear from people who are living with this instruments. I sell both of these at my Toronto Canada store so great feedback from both of you!
i'm not sure it's a direct competitor, as it is a much more expensive option and very different features and capabilities. great board though, but I would miss those speakers. :)
@@WoodyPianoShack The RD88 is the same price point in Canada where I live as the CK88 and it has small and decent speakers like the CK. It has more sounds, Roland Cloud, 3 parts like the Yamaha. I’m looking forward to comparing them as I should get it at my store this week.
@@MrFn65 good call, thanks for correcting me, i was probably thinking of rd2000, you're right the rd88 is in the same price bracket. the zencore engine makes it very versatile. never got my hands on one, yet! does it do splits and layers?
The CK61 should have a blue colour like MX series or dark brown. New to the channel, Woody. Subscribed. Greetings from Brazil.
Battery powered 88 keys with speakers is the Casio PXS1100
agree, that's a fantastic alternative.
Hello Woody ! Great series! After watching this series I decided to buy the ck 61! It has just irrite but my pitch bend doesn’t come back to neutral from the top! Only from the bottom! Is this normal? Or it just came broken?? Thanks for your help! Continue inspiring other people like me!!
hmm, mod wheel should stay in the same position, but pitch bend wheel should spring back to middle when you release it. you may have a defective unit, sorry to say.
@@WoodyPianoShack thanks for your answer!!! I’ll and to change the unit! You have help me a lot!!! Blessings
Question from an amateur: I currently have a Hammond C3 and Leslie L122, but I want a wider variety of sounds. I'm going to sell (or effectively trade) the Hammond/Leslie and get a Yamaha CK88, and a 49 key MIDI controller with after touch as a second keyboard (console organ style) and for playing synth type solos.
This is all straightforward.
But - what amplifier/speaker system should I buy? I only play at home in my 24x16 lounge, and (obviously) the 30 Watt valve amp Leslie FILLS THE ROOM.
But what's best to buy to do room-filling justice to the wide range of sounds of the CK88?
A stage keyboard amp?
Studio monitors?
HiFi Amp and Speakers?
6 part reviews? Amazing
that's how we roll here!
Kurzweil PC and SP series might be worth considering.
I never seen them over here in this part of europe unfortunately, that's why I've never checked them out, but thanks for the suggest!
4:52 It's a GHS keyboard... it would be helpful to know if it feels as if it's implemented in the exact same way as in the P-125 or MODX8, but these 3 are probably either/or keyboards for most people. I've tried the CK61 (not the 88), and the keys were identical to the $300ish PSR arranger keyboard nearby... but the springs may have been adjusted for the worse, or else I preferred them to be broken in a bit (that PSR was in the shop much longer than that CK). The PSR was lacking the quality sounds and user interface controls, in comparison, unfortunately. I didn't like the key action that much. Was hard to consistently trigger low velocity notes. I like the GHS for a cheap light piano action. It's not my favorite in the world, but I'm used to it now. I wish they made a 73 with the BHS action (same as the top octave of GHS, but the same weight over the entire keyboard, instead of progressively getting heavier as you go down the keyboard. That's what YC73 uses. Actually, I wish for that in a waterfall shape, in a 73 or even 61, instead of the CK61 keys in a waterfall shape, as I've heard the YC61 is, tho I haven't tried that one in person, so that's only heresy from a forum post).
It feels certainly better than the modx8, but not better than the rh3 action
I'm curious if the CK88/CK61 supports the addition of any external voices/sounds/patches (Yamaha or other) via USB A connection, like some other Yamaha keyboards offer? Also, is the included engine comparable to their Zencore, and is there a synth Arpeggio function?
Thanks Woody !
Could you describe the keyboard playing action please, it’s a toss up between a ck88 or Korg sv2. I’m torn what to go for
i find it difficult to describe actions in words, and have never played the korg, i don't have much to add over what i said in the video. sorry, perhaps someone else will chime in.
I’ve just had mine delivered, I’m very impressed . It covers so many bases, the amount of settings is insane !!
Just found out the CK can only trigger voices from another controller. Doesn't take incoming midi control messages like for rotary controls. (from Yamaha Support) Wanted to use my Nord Electro as a controller. Bummer
I was really looking forward to replace my Roland Fp7f with this, but for me the facing down speakers is kind of …exact what Yamaha says, a last minute thing for quick rehearsals, even a p-125 has more quality and on top
i found they worked fine when on a proper keyboard stand, the sound will bounce up from the floor and walls. but not exactly hi-fi or studio monitor quality.
In a real gig you would want to put this through a sound system, but when I played it, I was floored at how good it sounded through its built in speakers that I didn't see. I was very surprised at the frequency spectrum of the built in speakers and would have never guessed it was simply a pair of 4,5" speakers.
How does it compare to the modx8+
Hey there! Just subscribed, love the channel! So I have a CK88 and absolutely love it; I've always played 90% piano and 10% EP and love the GHS action. But I've started getting very interested in playing Hammond; I know the sound quality on the YC61 is better, but wanted to ask your thoughts on the key action (for someone used to GHS weighted); how important to hammond organ playing is it really to have the semi-weighted waterfall keys as opposed to fully weighted piano keys? I really wish someone would make a waterfall style midi controller (I don't think any exist, not sure why . . . ) because then I could just connect that to my CK and have the best of both worlds.
Very Nice Video. Have a nice Weekend ! 🙋♂️🎹
thank you and the same to you, well, a nice week.
How can I get a ragtime or honky tonk sound on this keyboard? My previous Yamaha had a preset for Honky tonk.
Great review , is the 61 better than an used electro 4D ?
if the price is the same, i think i would go for an electro for the rugged pro quality build, and great sounds, but the speakers and convenience of CK hard to beat. it is a tough one to call.
Got an old electro 4D
It has good feel even for a beginner.
Thanks for a great channel and taking the time to reply.@@WoodyPianoShack
@@WoodyPianoShackwhich is better to play? the nord electro 2 or the ck61?
Great review!
Great job but how about wooly bully watch it now 😮
We question, can you set velocity scaling on any of the 3 layers?
no idea, rtfm :)
Hmm.. from Yamaha.. not a keyboard but an outboard maybe. Have you bought a boat, Woody? :) Seriously though thanks for a great roundup review of the CK88. That screen 'auto off' feature would be a great help if you were powering the CK with batteries.
great idea on the screen battery saver., i did ask yamaha for a jetski, but they seemed to insist on a musical instrument. boring.
Is it possible for ck88 to connect it to a Bluetooth speaker to listen to it through the Bluetooth speaker? Also can you use the drawbar faders with other sounds except organs?
Thanks
no on the bt, as it would be bad anyway, since bt has slight delay in the audio transmission so hard to play in time. iirc the drawbars only work with organ, but i see no reason to use with other sounds.
@@WoodyPianoShack thanks for your fast response. Your videos are very useful. Keep it up!
"Lashings" 😅. Showing your age with a bit of Enid Blyton there, Woody!
lol, so true, you got me there!
Im wondering how the 61 key version compares to a Roland VR 09, which has a very similar design and festures.
yeah, that would be a great head 2 head, i might choose the yammy over the roly for the speakers. once you've had them, there's no going back, it sucks having to clamp on your headphones for a quick jam.
I second woodys advice. Had a VR09 and the organs were not that good...maybe slightly better keyboard the the CK shines sound wise
I think you meant "laden". ;o)
thx, mate! :)
I took the plunge after your reviews. The piano sounds are awe full, my 5 year old privia sounds lots better. On the plus side all the other sounds are great and should cover all bases when playing out. Also why they don’t include a music rest is bazaar ??
I think they’re not great, but if you hear Luke from Yamaha pianos they’re really good on YT
Any drum sounds?
None
It’s seems nice, but not sure about those keys … I hope not but if these are the same like the p95 (older model home piano) than you can have problems after a lot of playing … I mean after a few years. The results are a bad touch , loud clicking after releasing the keys, and playability goes down … that’s of course my experience. For quality is better to go with Clavia
that is true, hopefully just an issue related to the first batch and something they sorted out eventually
It's ... "Cheerio!" Woody at the end ... come on, it's your catchphrase, get it together man! 🤣. Thanks for the series review on this 'board. I've got the Numa-X Piano GT so I'm good to go there, but there's defo a market at this kgs/£ point especially being a Yam which I'm a big fan of (if you saw my 'over' populated Studio here!!) 🍻
always appreciated when loyal viewers remind me of my catchphrases :)
@@WoodyPianoShack 😁👍🎹🎶🍻
Got one after your recommendation and after 2 days returned it
Total CRAP
I love Yamaha keyboards
How can you recommend it, especially that you have NI Kontrol?!
Yamaha have given you a motorbike? Nah, I can't see that. A midi wind controller? Guitar? Violin? Drum(s)? Brass? Electronic audio gubbins like mic or recorder? Right, I'll stop guessing now before I list every product Yamaha make. Anyway, whatever it is: wear a helmet!
some great suggestions, should have thought of it. no it's a boring musical instrument but some PPE may be required... have a nice summer :)
@@WoodyPianoShack my newest Yamaha item is the new DM3S digital mixer. Great piece of hardware. But no musical instrument….
It's just a sample player, with mediocre samples.
Yamaha have been recycling their own sounds for 30 years or so, and they even manage to make things worse with every new launch.
If I want a cheap sounding piano or organ, I'll just stick with my midi keyboard and free sample-based VST's, some of which actually sound better than this Yamaha.
Thanks for your thorough review.
P r o m o s m
Poor man…you don’t have money to buy a nord stage 👎👎👎
Overall the sounds on the CK are disappointing 🫤 I don't care about organ/harpsi/clav, though they sound fine to me. The pianos and EPs are fine as well. Nothing to make me go "wow", but definitely usable in a performance.
But most other sounds are a disappointment. I hear a lot of loop points in strings and pads, I hear clipping on some sounds, and resampling of some sounds as I go up the keys.
I get Yamaha don't want to put their most expensive sounds in here, but surely that doesn't mean they have to use 35-year-old samples?
Heck, I think even Korg's M1 from 1988 has better versions of some of these sounds.
The biggest saving grace is the effects and easy interface, which you can use to help mask the poor quality of some of the samples.
yeah, perhaps fair to say "reface tech in a larger box" than "YC tech in a cheaper box", that's a good topic to debate!
…and we didn’t hear a thing, what a waste of time!
Great review!