Here's everything I cut from my Yamaha CP88 video

[@hartleygabolinscy3152]

Hi Woody, DON’T be too hard on yourself, some of your endearing features that complete your vids One is your quirky nature and being natural. Best wishes from NZ 👍❤️👍

[@Darrin.Crawford]

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 KZbin 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 KZbin 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!!!

[@murrrr8288]

I can totally relate to what you said about choosing the piano. 100 youtube videos and websites later im even more stressed and confused, but I am thinking of getting cp88 as well lol

[@_reckless_]

I don't understand how such a brilliant demonstrator can get only 35k subscribers. I always feel at home when watching your videos, Woody. Keep it up man!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

thank you, sweet of you to say so. 35k isn't bad in this niche, i'll take it. :)

[@Robin_S78]

I like this talented and very kind guy. Keep uploading these informative videos please.

[@muzikman2008]

Don't be too hard on yourself Woody, it's the natural way you present stuff, unbiased, is why I watch and listen. No need to explain anything.

[@ringodingo6945]

Excellent Woody. Your only human mate. You've got some nice video equipment. I'd love to see you do some reviews from Namm 2019....You'd be great at it. Go on....... I reckon people would recognize you everywhere.

[@alanblack5665]

Hi Woody! Interesting to see how you try to ensure your videos are of a professional standard and extremely honest of you to reveal the bloopers and blunders. However, I think you may be overly critical of aspects of your performance as I find it reassuring that others occasionally forget the chord structures and have difficulty finding the right program for the demo! Of course, there are many KZbin videos that adopt the opposite approach by rambling on and on, sometimes with an exceptionally boring voice, playing lots of notes very fast for no apparent reason other than bolstering their ego. Somewhere in between is good. Informal, but just enough structure to ensure the content is engaging, informative and in a sense, a dialogue of sorts. In fact, just like this opportunity to reply and comment..... yes, Woody your presentation style is working exceptionally well!! Finally, I eventually purchased a Roland RD 2000 last week and love playing it. Has the right feel for me and I am now learning to play the piano properly. You know what I mean.....

[@WoodyPianoShack]

hi alan, thanks very much for taking time to write and give feedback, i will keep it in mind next time! and congrats on your 2000, I should really talk to the people at Roland to beg and borrow one of their demo units.

[@alanblack5665]

Hi Woody. Apologies for not replying sooner but I have been busy playing the RD2000! I took such a long time considering all the 88 key piano options but eventually decided the Roland was the right piano for me. I think you would really like this keyboard. Great feel and the piano samples with modelling and supernatural have real depth and richness. Good luck with 'borrowing" an RD from Roland! If you do manage to get hold of one, I am sure you will do a thorough but entertaining review of this stage piano.

[@Phantorion]

Hi Mr. Woody, how heavy is the resistance of the keybed? Is it lighter than a Montage 8? Because, I find the montage 8 a bit heavy for me.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

it was lighter and quicker than roland fa08 and felt nicer than hammer 88, it was just perfect, when playing you don't even think about the action, so it doesn't get in the way

[@dessiplaer]

Woody, you're just a "Ramblin Man"! Fun video.

[@jonos138]

Haha, I love the out takes! I'm so glad its not just me who fluffs the piano playing. You are human after all Woody.😉 Still a damn incredible player and love these reviews. 👍

[@WoodyPianoShack]

very kind, funny that my outakes are longer than the intakes :)

[@jonos138]

@@WoodyPianoShack I'm torn between the cp88 and the Kawai mp7se. I'm more into a real piano experience more than synth side. The only offput for Kawai is the stories of problem with keybeds in a short space of time. I've not heard problems with the cp88 keybed. Have you reviewed the Nord grand or grand 2?

[@MarkSomosoMusic]

Woody hope you will make video opinion about the sound of korg kronos and comparison in the mo dx or montage… or yamaha cp88 vs Nord piano

[@Supersolyman]

Is there a tap tempo for the delay?

[@crimsun7186]

While the sections are a bit hard to determine, at least it's not the JD-Xi, where only the white version has a readable font. Another thing. Avoid putting light sources with a higher contrast than you in shot. They deviate the viewer's attention away from you.

[@synthplayer1563]

Oh no, not a boring all playing video (don't understand why people that like). What you say is always interesting. I want to hear your opinion about sound and other musical topics.

[@sebastienkeys]

very good channel !

[@tronplayer]

Great video as usual. However, I wish you would have included some "fanboy" observations in your original CP88 overview video. Compared to your other videos, I perceived that you were not thrilled with the CP88. This seemed to be confirmed in your "What would Woody buy" video when you chose the hard to get, used Nord Piano 2 over the CP88, Stage 3 and NP4. Because of this and the fact that I take your opinion seriously, I initially purchased an RD-2000. To sum it up I did not love the RD-2000 and sent it back. I'm now waiting for the CP88 to arrive.

[@machiwoomiapoo]

Nice video

[@mousehouse4617]

Hi Woody. Sorry to drop this comment/question here but are you going to do a follow up review of the Native Instruments Komplete Kontol A49? Not sure why Yamaha don't produce a Midi Controller Keyboard or have I missed something?

[@WoodyPianoShack]

i thought yamaha did, but regarding A49, no windows 7 drivers so I'm out of luck!

[@jeanpierregabriele9515]

MR WOODY WEN YOU PRESENT THE NOBILESS KURZWEIL ...THANKS.

[@SeleniumGlow]

Yep. Lots of hard work goes into making something look perfect. But videos like these are a good reminder for those people who just assume that everything happens in a single take or attempt. No it doesn't. And in all creative processes, only 5% to 10% of the whole recording/composition/art/etc is actually disclosed or showcased by the artist. The remaining 90% to 95% is swept under the carpet, because it is boring to the viewer/listener. That's why most streaming or radio songs are only 3 minutes average. There are great 20 minute songs out there, but they would never be as popular as the 3 minute ones.

[@WoodyPianoShack]

hi glow, yeah sounds about right, about 10% of the footage you shoot makes it to the final video.

[@TaffmanGuyo]

Very enjoyable - that's just the way it . . . . was. ;-)

[@adarshupadhyay877]

would love to see what you cut from this video lol

[@WoodyPianoShack]

:) what i cut from the what i cut video... ad infinitum

[@jakob5947]

Hey Woody! Another great, informative but entertaining video! But tbh I'm a bit astonished not to see Yamahas state of the art spectral component modelling technology (the one they came up with in the exorbitantly expensive cp1) in their new stage piano series (instead they put in the awm2 engine, which is, correct me if i'm wrong, by far not the most recent. Motif xs era-ish, isn't it?) Does it suffer in any form from that? I mean, even the reface cp does have the SCM technology. Or doesn't that any matter and they are able to put (electric) pianos of the same, if not better, quality into the cp 73/88 having (just) the awm 2 technology? Kind regards from germany, i really appreciate your videos! :) Jakob

[@WoodyPianoShack]

hello Jakob, I've reflected on the same thing, you're right it's the old AWM2 from the Motif XF, even the P-series digital pianos have newer sound engines, but really, it's just an acronym, when playing you're not thinking so much about the sound engine :), but somewhat surprising on a flagship model

[@jakob5947]

@@WoodyPianoShack thank you for your honest reply Woody! One more thing keeps me thinking. Since cp1 all cp's had greaat Rhodes sounds (even better than sv-1 in my opinion and in the same ballpark like crumars physical modelled Rhodes) and i suppose they were all (at least partially) physical modelled (and the instruments noises ala key off were tweakable!!). In cp 73/88 the rhodes are called very identical (75' rd, 78' rd...you get the idea) to the spectral component modelled ones in the older cp's. Are those the very same or equal detailled sounds? I wouldn't understand the world no more if not, because yamahas competition doesn't sleep at all...what's your opinion on that?

[@Croaker369]

Keep the chat in during play - I prefer it.

[@ManishForGood]

Does it have in-built speakers?

[@fredmanteghian5913]

My all plastic M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 could knock sense into a baboon.

[@chloedevereaux1801]

dx7 has sticky out top screws!!!!!!

[@WoodyPianoShack]

omg, and i love the design of the dx7...

[@zlippery1]

NO STRING RESONANCE AND ESCAPMENT. Only on clavinova and P-515. Dealbreaker. Nord has it.

[@xp50player]

Martin Jakobsson -and RD-2000

[@robertfischer1895]

And the beautiful Kawai MP7se that I have in front of me. Fantastic keyboard, damper resonance and sympathetic resonance that don't use up effects slots and are editable, key-off noise, etc etc. Its electric grand is the old Kawai model, not the CP70/80, but it still sounds quite good. And less than half the price of the CP88. I wanted this new one until I read the specs, and I'll stick with what I have.