[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

Anyways, if I can ask a more pointed question: for those who have played/owned the CP4, what's your experience with the interface?

[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

Just now, ElmerJFudd said:

For me it was the price, $3150 vs $2600.  I just don’t want to pay that much to get the organ engine.  I don’t enjoy playing organ on a weighted action either way, or vise verse.  That said, they could have done a better job with the CP organ patches, but as usual with Yamaha - good enough for the piano-centric gig.  

 

Yeah to be honest I think the whole YC line is overpriced, and really confuses this whole line that Yamaha is doing. Originally they tried claiming that CP was for the pianists, YC was for the organists, but with the price and continued YC updates that usurp more and more of what made the CP distinct, it's pretty clear they were just trying to placate upset CP owners, and that the YC is truly their "flagship" product in a higher tier. So then CP owners have been left feeling like they got the beta version for a cheaper price. (I'd still prefer CP88 to YC88 overall, all things considered).

[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

13 minutes ago, ElmerJFudd said:

You may also look for the CP5 which preceded it. 

 

That thing is 55 lbs, so it's out of my mind immediately. I also can't help but wonder if it'd have an interface worse than that of the 4.

 

15 minutes ago, ElmerJFudd said:

ES120. I haven’t had the pleasure of trying the 520 or 920? Yet

 

I posted about it above, but I'd highly recommend checking out the 920! I briefly owned the 520, seeing good reviews about the RHCII action, but it just felt too springy and bouncy for me.

[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

3 minutes ago, Michael Wright said:

Is it safe to assume the YC 88 action is identical to that of the CP 88?

 

It's not only safe to assume, it's guaranteed. I'm not sure why you're bringing up the YC, but I actually did have the 88. The keybed does NOT lend itself to organ playing at all, for my tastes. Really just feels like they said "Well, we gotta feed the 88 key players out there somehow" and just decided to throw the YC soul in the CP88 body.

[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

1 minute ago, Chummy said:

Just curious, maybe try a CP73? It's lighter and more compact than the 88, with the same familiar interface and sounds. In addition its action is still better than what Korg (RH3) or Nord (Fatar TP100) offers, speaking from experience. I found the Yamaha balanced plastic action very slightly inferior to Kawai's RHIII and is very much playable even for advanced technique . If I were to come to a gig with such keyboard action I'd be very satisfied.

 

 

I've seen this before, and I get the logic, but I'll be real, those missing 15 keys are just a bridge too far for me. I use those lower notes ALL the time, I just know I'd regret it. Plus, the CP73 is weirdly expensive for what I think it is.

 

2 minutes ago, Chummy said:

So just FYI, I'm happy with my Kawai ES920. It's the same weight as a CP88 with less sounds but it does offer the best action in a portable digital piano IMHO. Kawai piano engine is also better than Yamaha CP since it's 88 key sampled and has more modeling aspects for more realstic sound. However the CP88 has better variety sounds especially in the acoustic instrument categories (Guitars, Chro. Percussion, Strings, etc.). 

 

I LOVED the 920 when I tried it several weeks ago. To be honest, I'm still considering it. It'd be amazing if Kawai made an even lighter version without speakers, but if I'm back to considering 40ish lbs., might as well have this on the drawing board. There are some things I'd rather it have, such as pitch and mod, and an interface that's easier for tweaking (the app can somewhat mitigate this), but when it came to just playing a keyboard it felt soooo good. Was surprised by how good the EPs sounded, too. If I found one for a really good price used, I'd probably snag it up. I'm trying not to go over $1,500, but I want to be cheaper if possible.

 

19 minutes ago, Chummy said:

That being said, I understand your concerns about a board being light for carrying around and in the action too because of your wrists . In which case honestly I'd give up weighted action entirely. For solo piano, Jazz ensemble or just piano +singer 88 weighted is awesome . But If you're playing in a rock band with electric guitars etc. You don't need it!! so maybe go the semi weighted route? I know this is not what you first asked in the OP but I've been through this dillema as well and came to that conclusion. And I believe you should consider that more seriously. 

 

 

I know whachu mean, and I've done the semiweighted board hooked up to laptop thing before, but I didn't really enjoy it. I didn't feel anywhere near enough control and it risked screwing some of the musical numbers up. Would you have any recommendations, though? A lot of the music I perform is very keyboard-centric, so it's just not a layer of cool sounds to go under guitars etc. If anything, I'm the guitar player! 😂

[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

5 minutes ago, ElmerJFudd said:

The trick would be finding a CP4 that’s pristine due to the time that has passed  since they stopped making them.  You don’t want one that was regularly gig’d.  You want one that someone enjoyed at home and played casually for enjoyment.  

I do like the SV2, for similar cost of a CP88 it is worth a play to compare.  But I ultimately picked a very lightly used CP88.
 

Although Yamaha doesn’t bother with simulating escapement on their next tier piano action (GH or NWX), I find the keys similar in weight and speed to playing the real thing.  

 

 

Good point to consider, I haven't really dealt with used gear in a long time when it comes to biggies like this. Is that just because of the condition, degradation of keys? So what made you go for the 88 instead of the 4? (assuming that was ever a crossroads for you).

 

To be honest, I don't think I care about escapement very much; maybe it's cause I came up of age playing an upright, but more than "authenticity" in form, I want "authenticity" in  playability. I know there's much said about how a singular Real Piano Feel (TM) doesn't exist, which is true of course, but when I go to most acoustics I find myself being able to express my ideas in ways most digital pianos don't feel conducive to. 

[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

2 minutes ago, SteinwayB said:

I'm in the CP>>CP88 camp.  I tried the CP88 and hated the piano compared to CP4.  Then I tried a used NP3 with White Grand and never looked back.  To me, far superior sound although the action is lighter than I like (loved the CP4 action).  Of course there are many on this forum that dislike the White Grand so it is very personal taste.  You can find the NP3 fairly cheap.

 

When you say you hated the piano, do you mean the piano sound, or what?

 

Also, cheapest NP3 I'm seeing right now is about $2,500 (on Reverb), where have you seen it for fairly cheap?

[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

7 minutes ago, AnotherScott said:

For something in the ballpark of CP88 simplicity/directness of operation, but lower priced, I'd say maybe look at Korg SV2 or maybe a used Nord Piano of a previous generation. While they may not have top-tier actions, I'd say those options would beat the GHS action you didn't like, while also still feeling somewhat lighter than the CP88.

 

Thanks, Scott. I mostly really like the interface of the SV series (it has some really weird limitations though), but I really want to have a board that doesn't weigh anymore than a CP88 does. Used, the prices here in America are still very much neck-and-neck with the CP88. I haven't thought about looking at an older Nord Piano, I see Nord and I usually just think "too expensive".  

 

Is the CP4's interface really that clunky?

[2023: CP4 instead of CP88?]

Hello, everyone! I've lurked this forum many a time over the last several years, and always have enjoyed reading your perspectives on keyboards. As such, I wanted to get your perspective on this question. I'm reposting from a thread I made on Reddit.

 

TL;DR Question: I miss my CP88 but even used, I'm thinking it's too expensive to go back to. However, CP4 used prices are right up my alley. I'm seeing a number of people online saying they actually prefer the 4 over the 88 in its sounds and action, but I'm worried I'm not gonna like the interface. I recognize it's not gonna be as immediate as the CP88--most keyboards won't be--but is it still quick n easy enough to be a good approximation of the ease and inspiration I get from the CP88's simplicity?

 

Several months ago, I flirted with replacing my CP88 for the CK88. Ultimately, I decided to get rid of the CK because I just couldn't vibe with the GHS keybed, but I also got rid of the CP for price and wanting to find a lighter keyboard and supplement it possibly with a multi-fx pedal.

In this span of time, I've had the Numa X Piano 88 (good board but the keys were too shallow for my arthritic wrists), the PX5S (eh), and currently the RD88. You know I was playing it and uh, uh....you know, I was going through the board and uh........

 

I MISS MY CP88!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I kept trying out the FP30X at my local GC to get a feel for the PHA4...I thought I liked it, I thought I liked the dynamic control of it, but after getting the RD88 and playing it for extended periods of time...I get why people have criticized it for feeling heavy, it's hurting my wrists; I think the way it uses escapement might be contributing to that, I didn't get this pain when I had a MP7SE. The CP88 had a heavy action but there was an evenness to the action that never caused any pain.

But more than anything, I miss that interface sooooooo much. I actively felt inspired to create all kinds of sounds: the limited selection of instruments actually felt like a benefit because it encouraged shifting and combining these elements in different ways to produce all kinds of different sounds. And it was sooooo quick n easy. Truly a live instrument.

But as I look at the price tag, I feel like I made a good choice in selling it to have extra money. As I expected, though, the used prices still are too expensive for me, but in my search, I discovered...the CP4????

 

The CP4 has been on my mind lately 'cause Hermeto Pascoal and Jovino Santos Neto were playing here in Seattle about two weeks ago, and when I showed up, surprise surprise, there was no acoustic piano for these incredible players....only a CP4. The piano sounded crisp and present, even through some of at-times VERY dense jungle of sound coming from the rest of the bands, and it sounded like it had good dynamics, too.

 

I'd always written off the CP4 'cause I thought it would be one of those old stage pianos that are like 60 pounds, but I looked it up last night, and it's even a tiny tiny bit lighter than the CP88???? Well, that's cool, but what about the interface? Here's where I'm more conflicted: is it as immediate as the CP88? Looks like a "hell no" from what I can see...but yet...you can press a button to jump to the effects, and change those up. Looks like too many parameters than I care to control--love on the CP88 that you got a knob for rate, a knob for depth, and boom, done. But maybe the CP4 is still quick enough on its feet to change the parameters I really care about very quickly, and can dig into the others if I really want that extra control over the sound? In some ways, the interface seems like a better thought-out RD88, AKA not total donkey testicles.

 

And I'm reading all these posts from people over the years--including on here!-- saying they'd never trade the CP4 for anything, including the CP88. Why? They say it sounds better, particularly the CFIII over the CFX, which made its debut in the CP4, and that the key action feels better than the CP88, too, saying that it's lighter...and my problem with the CP88's action is that in some ways it felt a little too heavy. I also like that the CP4 has more "gig-ready" sounds, such as more mono-compatible pianos and different variations. The 88 is strangely light on these, practically nonexistent. Funnily enough, the CK addressed this with their sound selection.

 

The final kicker? I could get a used CP4 for just a tiny bit more than I got my used RD88. So the wheels are turning.....

 

Dearest KC veterans, I humbly beseech your advice. How does the CP4 stack up to the CP88? Is CP88's interface such a drastic improvement over the CP4 that I would inevitably crave the 88 after trying and failing to get along with the 4?