Product: Yamaha CP-70M
Price Paid: US $600 used
Submitted
08/29/2001
at
12:03pm
by
Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
This is an electric grand piano - kind of self-explanatory. As "easy to use" as a Steinway concert grand.
I got me the manual for a CP70D off the Yamaha web site for free. This manual does not really give you much information beyond what you already see when you have the instrument with you. I also ordered a service manual for the CP70 series from Yamaha customer support here in CA, which gives all parts numbers etc, which I will use for further maintenance and repair.
I have not found any official documentation about the FACTORY-INSTALLED (!!!) MIDI option version, which differentiates my CP70M from a normal CP70D. But since the most important thing to maintain anyway is the piano action and the keys, that is fine with me.
Features
:
10
This is an electric grand piano, thus it has full polyphony = every key produces a sound. Remember Jerry Lee? That's as polyphonic as it can get!
The inbuilt chorus is a bit cheesy, but useable. The strong signal and distinctive sound of the piano survive the effect no prob. There is also a nice equalizer built in. You can send out two separate channels to effects and have them returned. All effects and the qualizer can be bypassed.
My CP70 came with a FACTORY-INSTALLED(!!!) MIDI-out! The MIDI out has a spearate power supply, and separate out/thru channeling, and it can be switched off and on with a small switch on the left of the keyboard. It also has a switch for a split of the keyboard to different MIDI channels.
So my CP70 offers me the best of both worlds - piano action and feel PLUS all MIDI capabilities!!!
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
As expressive as your ability to express yourself on a grand piano.
Reliability
:
10
Rock-solid built. I don't expect any problems beyond the normal tuning / servicing.
Contrary to some fellow reviewers of similar models, I will not have girls dancing on mine (ask my wife about the concept), or stack up other synths on it (I use a 3 tier rack built up around it so I have more space and no additional weight on the legs), but I am sure it could take that no prob.
Strings may break, but you can replace those. Everything is standard piano supplies anyway.
Customer Support
:
10
I have yet to check out Yamaha support beyond ordering the service manual from them. They were friendly.
I don't expect problems with ordering normal parts, but would prefer my MIDI to continue working flawlessly, as I am not sure whether Yamaha knows their own vintage models that well - as said, I was unable to find anything specifically geared towards my MIDI-model.
Overall Rating
:
10
I am VERY VERY happy with the instrument. Since I have never seen the MIDI version anywhere else, I would not be able to buy it again, so I would really HATE losing it. Fortunately, thieves do not come in with trucks and don't have the time to disinstall and pack up, so like my Rhodes Suitcase, this Yamaha will likely stay with me for just about forever!
I own a variety of other keyboard gear, including the most underrated synths of all - a Casio! I am also very happy with my other Yamaha pieces - KX88, TX802, etc etc etc...
BTW, the price indicated is without transport, which cost me another $250 from NYC to CA, so total was $850. The seller was a very nice and friendly (elderly?) gentleman, to whom I sent $850 without ever having seen him or the instrument - and I received this A1 condition item in return. It is worth much more than that for me! Sometimes, things just work out fine in life!
