The Best Affordable Stage Piano?! Yamaha CK88

Today we take a look at the new CK88, the new 88-key stage piano from Yamaha. Join Ted and Patrick as they explore the specs, including menu design and sound quality. Is this the best affordable stage piano on the market today? Check it out and let us know what you think below!
00:00 - Intro
01:58 - Piano Fact!
05:17 - CK88 Review
13:02 - Ted's Demo
21:54 - Patrick's Demo
27:16 - Additional Specs/Final Thoughts
Download our free piano buyers guide here → www.alamomusic.com/discover-m...
Store Locations:
San Antonio/Austin → www.alamomusic.com
St. Louis Kawai Gallery → kawaipianostlouis.com/
Kansas City Kawai Gallery → kawaipianoskansascity.com/
Ohio → kpgohio.com/
Michigan → kpgmi.com/
Shop National Inventory @ alamopianogalleries.com
____________________________________________________________________
? Talk to an expert here → bit.ly/FindYourPiano
♪ Contact us: bit.ly/ContactAlamoMusic
♩ Call Us: [phone]
♬ Connect:
Twitter → bit.ly/AlamoTwitter
Instagram → bit.ly/AlamoPianoInstagram
Facebook → bit.ly/AlamoPianoFacebook

[@hawedehre]

With the 128 notes keep in mind that it has the CK can play three sounds at the same time.

[@seanit]

You guys are great. Thanks for the info and amazing sounds

[@MikeRacioppa]

Good in depth review and demo! Thanks

[@niltomega2978]

I used to gig in the late 90's and early 2000's and this keyboards has the live gigging features I wish I had back then. Mine was just delivered 1/2 hour ago and I can't WAIT to get home !

[@stradaveriusfiddle]

These guys make some of the best keyboard reviews here on KZbin. They have more of a player’s approach than most other keyboard reviewers, which of course, helps.

[@RyanHicks306]

I just got this and thought I’d be returning it. I thought I would not be happy as the quality would not be that great for the sounds. I owned CP88 and Montage and eventually sold them both. This keyboard is awesome as a creative tool. The ability to easily layer three sounds with independent effects is awesome. The keys feel great and a pleasure to play. I hope on future updates they add the Nashville grand and a few other great new sounds. It is a home run!

[@fragu123]

…hm, why would you ever purchase a product with the expectation of returning it due to lack of sound, quality, etc…?😂😂😂 that’s a strange process , isn’t it…

[@RyanHicks306]

@@fragu123 for the compromise of being light and portable to gig with. In the context of a gig vs studio work. I needed something for live music- this is a stage keyboard. For studio, I record with plugins for all sounds. I’ve found that it works great for both. The sounds are really good and it’s the best interface on any keyboard I’ve played.

[@CastleDoctrineJr]

​@jogu123 I buy things expecting to have to return them when I can't get a demo unit in a store, especially when whatever I'm interested in costs over a thousand dollars. If it's not exactly what I'm after it's going back, I don't need to settle just because I already paid for it when there's a return policy.

[@chrislee633]

Good review thanks. I’ve ordered

[@Justin_collier]

I have been sending Eithor getting this or the kurzweil sp7 because i like that it has a bigger screen but the piano on this is so natural

[@jayswitzer9871]

I have the 61 and it is by far the best kyb for the cash, and it's my fav kyb of all time since the 80s because it is so good for the price and it's portable with speakers and the sounds are great. The interface is like a Stage 4 with the volume sliders.. You guys didn't point out that the LAYERS are colour coded with the effects, killer - so you know if you're adjusting digital delay and the light is green then you are adjusting it for layer 2, if it's blue it's layer 3 etc... bullet proof. the other thing is NO MANUAL is needed. The only keyboard where setting up splits is purely visual and done so intuitively it just that easy to make 3 way splits or 2 way splits.. no reading the manual. It also has some great solo lead sounds so you can do those tunes with Rhodes and a solo lead ( Mornin' by Al Jarreau ) - the pitch and mod wheels are classic and solid not flimsy. I have a stage 3, i don't even play it anymore even though the keys are better the sounds are better, the CK interface and sounds are so easy and immediate results on the fly, easy to understand. If i had this kyb as a kid in the 80s wow. a pro could tour with this kyb easily. Really amazing execution of a stage piano and the price is so low, it's just fun. did i mention the ck61 is built like the Reface - indestructible.

[@drjeffreypickens7642]

Thx for your comment! CK61 is only 12 pounds. CK88 about 26 lbs. (similar to the SL Numa X 73). Too bad …Yamaha does not make a weighted 73😢

[@johnbowen3071]

Ted....at 9:02, you described the organ section for Vibrato and Chorus as “violin and cello” :-)

[@tonytonekey]

Guys you will get the 128 note polyphony doing your arpeggios. Yamaha solve note drop out by their proprietary dynamics note allocation technology that was created in the late 80s and 90s so that fantastic arpeggios you like to do you can do it. I done it. With a sustainable chord.

[@thesoundsmith]

I bought the Yamaha CK-88. I LOVE it! But ya know what I CAN'T DO? Find a case that will fit THE MUSIC REST - it's 26" long and will NOT fit in the DEDICATED $449 case! Update - the Gator GK-88SLIM fits it - but the case is LONG. Even with the wheels, you want your tallest band member rolling it...

[@Alffovinni]

I am a professional pianist and keyboardist and I play alot of music that is very dynamic and sensitive (mostly jazz) but also piano bar, etc. I have used rolands for the past 8 years and recently I decided to buy the CK88 and give it a shot because the built in piano sounds sounded great in video demos and the built in organ drawbars and other features and easy to set up splits/duals really impressed me (also the fact that it was under 30 pounds - when I'm on the go that is a must). But I unfortunately have to say upon using this keyboard for a few gigs now, that the action just isn't up to par. It's very platicky and springy and even when I adjust the touch velocity it still feels this way. I have studied piano technique for a very long time and this keyboard forces you at times to "dig in" in a way that is tiring on the wrists. Also when holding certain chords in rest position, it feels like some of the keys are pushing up against my fingers which should never be the case. So overall I would say it's a great idea and overall nice design that's very user friendly but the action is VERY disappointing. I unfortunately would not recommend this keyboard to professional pianists and that's a real damn shame because everything else about this keyboard is fantastic. I expected better from yamaha, seems like they cut corners and whats even more ridiculous is that the cheaper home style keyboard models they have made such as the P-125 and P-45 have MUCH BETTER action and the CK is supposed to be higher tier! Well certainly doesn't feel like it. Very dissapointing work from Yamaha.

[@MrAndy91486]

I have the Yamaha YC 73 and just picked this up. It's been great 👍 . I think this is in its own category. Of course it's no YC or a Nord. But for the price you do get a big bang for your buck. Not sure why the CK gets much hate. It was made for Musicians who don't want to break the bank but still want yamaha features. And I disagree the P-125 and the P-45 are more watered down pianos. But it's all preference on how you use it.

[@AliaksejKa]

All p45, 125 and modx and ck have the same keybed - Graded Hammer Standard. The only difference is how internal engine reacts to keypress.

[@jeffdigiovanni2139]

you said that Yamaha lowered polyphony for this product... yet the CP88 "only" has 128 polyphony as well. The YC88 has 128 each for AWM2 and FM which can help with layering. I don't think they sacrificed polyphony relative to their 2x priced products.

[@abbezwaal]

Thanks for your tips. How does it compare to the YC88? Features and sounds? Greetings Abbe

[@denniswroblewski988]

Is it me or am I hearing some distortion or overdrive effect..? How do you have it connected? I thought it was my system, but not sure.......hmmm.... great review....

[@plrooks]

I think that the output is hitting the ceiling of the daw levels and clipping?

[@Mike-lh4wn]

I really want a MODX, but after playing the MODX8+ and CK88 at the store...the CK just feels so intuitive and comfortable. Everything is easy to pick and adjust. It has enough good sounding instruments and custom control features to meet my current playing level. Three layers and drawbars. USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The batteries and speakers started making me think of it being a toy, but in reality I can see those being 'nice to have' features in some situations. Just push the button and play whereever/whenever without having to lug around monitors or anything. The MODX feels like I have to program a spaceship to play it. It has great theatrical sounds (i.e. for playing epic stuff like the Lord of the Rings theme, etc.)...not sure if the CK could pull that off. MODX supports more layers, but there are many setups where selecting a single category uses up a bunch of the layer slots. A used MODX8 (not 'plus') is about the same price as a CK88. So it's kind of a tough decision. If I were to be seriously honest with myself, the CK might be the next step for me. I might go back to the shop a couple more times to try them side by side to make sure.

[@ApostleBabajide]

Hello, is this good for church and home? I'm looking for a keyboard that is not expensive and not too cheap. The Yamaha CK88 price is reasonable if you guys suggest this. It's $1,999 in Canada. Thank you.

[@MencaroniAndrea]

Excuse could you please tell me which setting did you use for the first piano of CK 88 Piano ? Which timbre is it ? Is the Keyboard touch Normal, Hard or Soft ? Did you use other equalization setting out of the keyboard ? Sorry for all these question but I've just bought the CK 88 but the sound of piano seems so closed, it doesn't want to come out and is very different from your sound that is so good. Thank you.

[@guyjordan8201]

Did you guys, or anyone else here, have an opinion on the CK88 versus the YC88? Just looking for an opinion since I haven’t looked at the CK in person but is the YC twice the instrument or is the CK a high percentage of what YC gives you?

[@stradaveriusfiddle]

They have the YC in a 73 weighted key size. Depending on whether you want to have weighted keys, and/or prefer less than 88 keys, And, whether you have $2,599.** for the 73 key YC, considering the YC 88 is $3,000.**. I think the YC has better Hammond sounds, but there’s an IPad app called B3X that is must see/hear for any organ player. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it, and could help ‘round out’ the organ choices for owning a CK.

[@MrAndy91486]

The Yamaha Yc is a beast but they are both a bit different. I picked a CK 88 up to give my YC a break. I also use my IPad air as a sound module with many samples and apps that I can replace the on board organs sounds so I don't miss anything. I Even have high end nord samples to use so I get the best of all the world's when playing

[@jamessudbury6006]

Any drum sounds

[@stevewoodmusic1]

The best reviews use no compression when recording the sound samples.

[@PoliProPads]

How does this compare to MODX8...? Is it worth getting the MODX8 over this...?

[@WholeHeartedProdctns]

Depends upon what you are trying to do. For flexible control-ability on stage, the CK88 is an amazing machine. If you want to dink around and get killer synth sounds of every flavor under the sun, the MODX8 mat get you further down the road. But the user interface is a bit more clumsy on the MODX8 (layers of sliders and menus instead of dedicated knobs on the CK88). For most live performances, the CK88 will get the job done and give you WAY more flexibility live the the MODX8. At the end of the day, they both utilize the same sound engine (although the MODX8 also has a dedicated FM engine built in), so things like pianos and analog pads will pretty much sound the same. However, the MODX8 will have WAY more sounds. Question is, will you need them? In my experience, probably not, and if you do, get one of each!

[@diegosoto4985]

I'd rather have something like a MODX as 61key upper keyboard en base keyboard a stage piano or a good 88key option. MODX6+ and CK88 is a nice duo with amazing synth sounds and FMX engine + great piano interface and real time controls. Also, you could use MODX performances (sounds) via MIDI with the CK88

[@actie-reactie]

Probably going to be the first with a question.... but , I could be wrong, is this a dgx 670 on steroids? Except the note polyphony.

[@islandtony5009]

No not at all; has the same action, but the DGX is a very fully featured arranger (rhythms, accompaniment, 16 track sequencer to record multi track songs). The CK is a stage keyboard (lots of buttons etc so no menu deep diving) it has no arranger features or rhythms or accompaniment, and no sequencer so no onboard recording. The CK is meant to be used to perform (and it also has a nice organ set of controls with drawbars and percussion controls).

[@actie-reactie]

​@@islandtony5009 thanks for the info 👍

[@tedbarsalou833]

@@actie-reactie Thanks Island Tony, couldn't say it better myself!!! Just add FUN to it, cause it is FUN to play!

[@MrAndy91486]

The DGX and PSR series not even in the same category as the CK line. Those are considered arranger keyboards. This is more of a portable stage keyboard

[@alexgoriatchenkov]

No white version. And speakers like in $ 200 boards. Sorry if I mistake.

[@boseduard]

I've found the buttons are hard to see when the sun goes down. Not all are lighted. Piano sounds are decent. Not the best there is