Yamaha CP88From real comments

Verdict distilled from 58 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment68%
PROS 68%
CONS 32%

Rank based on 58 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You prioritize keybed feel and playing experience above all else
  • You want a stage piano Yamaha keeps improving via free firmware updates
  • You need a reliable master MIDI controller for multi-keyboard live rigs

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need true sympathetic resonance or per-instrument EQ control
  • You want deep sound-library flexibility like Nord or Montage/MODX offer
  • You're wary of reported keybed noise or key-triggering reliability issues

What users complain about

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Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Premium
Yamaha CP88
Exceptional keybed feelHighly regarded piano and EP soundsOngoing free firmware updatesKeybed noise and key reliability issuesLacks true sympathetic resonanceSound can feel bright or digitally 'blocky'
Yamaha CP88
Exceptional keybed feel
Highly regarded piano and EP sounds
Ongoing free firmware updates
Keybed noise and key reliability issues
Lacks true sympathetic resonance
Sound can feel bright or digitally 'blocky'

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

The keybed is the CP88's standout, repeatedly called better than Nord and other rivals. Across many comments, owners and reviewers single out the wooden NW-GH keybed as the best they've played, describing it as feeling like a real acoustic piano and superior to Nord Stage 3/4, Nord Grand 2, Kronos, and SV1 in side-by-side store comparisons. Multiple long-term owners (3-8 years) say it remains their favorite keybed even after trying many other boards, though a couple note it's slightly lighter than a true acoustic action.

Piano and electric piano sounds are widely praised, with firmware updates continually adding more. Users highlight the CFX2, Hamburg, CP70/80, Rhodes, DX7, and S700 patches as standouts, and Yamaha's free OS updates keep adding samples like Live CF3 and Power Grand years after purchase. Some listeners find the overall tonal signature bright or 'digitally blocky' next to Nord, and a few note the lack of true sympathetic resonance and static decay as sonic limitations.

Build quality and reliability draw a mixed, polarized response. Many praise the sturdy construction, calling it tougher than Nord's offerings, but a recurring cluster of complaints describes keybed noise, keys plinking instead of resonating, uneven note volume, broken switches, and cheap aluminum framing on some units. Several buyers returned units or needed warranty repairs, suggesting inconsistent quality control despite the board's overall strong reputation.

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