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Barnes and Mullins

Yamaha launches CP88 and CP73 stage pianos

Yamaha has announced the launch of the CP88 and CP73, two new stage pianos designed specially to appeal to live musicians. ‘Both instruments are particularly lightweight but boast a robust build and a comprehensive set of sounds from traditional grand pianos to electric piano classics to synthesizer sounds’ the company says.

The CP88 features Natural Wood Graded Hammer (NW-GH) delivering an authentic grand piano feel: ‘making it the ideal choice for piano purists’. The CP73 offers 73 equally weighted keys for keyboarders playing with a larger number of different sounds on stage. ‘The outstandingly direct control concept, smart connection options and Seamless Sound Switching makes the CP88 and CP73 perfect stage instruments that can be sonically enhanced with content updates,’ Yamaha says, adding: ‘Discerning pianists find their perfect match with CP88, while gigging keyboardists fare best with compact CP73. Both instruments boast a road-ready compact aluminium housing for easy and worry-free transport’.

Yamaha says its CP88 and CP73 stand out for their: ‘comprehensive selection of flexible, high-quality sounds. Classical pianists rejoice in the sampled reproductions of two outstanding, world-renowned grand pianos, among others: Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial. A Yamaha U1 upright piano is part of the library, too. Keyboardists find legendary electric piano sounds, ready to enhance every performance. Digital effects like wah-wah or phaser allow for further customisation the sounds. This extensive library is augmented by synthesizer sounds to achieve even more flexibility for live gigs’.

In their factory settings, Yamaha’s CP88 and CP73 already offer a large variety of sounds for gigging keyboardists and pianists. The CP88 and CP73 are also the first models of the CP series to be enhanced with additional high-quality piano and keyboard sounds through content updates. The first update will feature a 1967 tine piano, a reed piano and a classic Yamaha C7 grand piano – one of the most recorded pianos in the world. With subsequent updates, the sound library will be expanded even further, the maker promises.

In developing the new introductions, Yamaha says it focussed on stage compatibility. ‘This focus is evident in the control pattern, linking every element on the instrument’s surface to exactly one function under the hood. There is no navigating of menus and submenus, every function can be controlled directly – a great advantage when adjustments need to be made quickly, reliably and intuitively in hectic live situations. Seamless Sound Switching allows for changing to a different sound while played notes still fade out. A song’s final chord can still slowly ebb away while the sound required for the next song is already loaded up’.

Available immediately, UK SRPS will be as follows:

CP88                                       £2,218 (inc VAT)

CP73                                       £1,774 (inc VAT)

SCCP88 (SOFTBAG)£248 (inc VAT)

SCCP73 (SOFTBAG)£248 (inc VAT)

YMR04 (MUSIC REST)        £61 (inc VAT)

Info: uk.yamaha.com

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