We are digital piano & keyboard specialists, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Stay up to date with the latest news, reviews, tips, and offers by joining our FREE newsletter (unsubscribe at any time).
We’ve been a little quiet about this pair of fantastic new stage pianos from Yamaha, so I’m going to try and give you my thoughts on them today having spent a fun portion of my afternoon playing on the CK88!
I know Chris introduced them to us a few months back, but I think they need some exposure as they are fantastic in my opinion.
Sitting in the Stage piano range Yamaha have taken the best of the CP and YC keyboards and given us something that includes the CFX, S700 and CF3, plus the character-rich U1 upright piano from the Yamaha YC Series. “Digi Piano”.
Added to that there is a whole section dedicated to the organ sounds, lifting that of the Yamaha Reface YC featuring five different organ types.
There are also nine dedicated drawbars with controls for the rotary speaker, percussion and a vibrato/chorus section.
For a pianist, the 88 key version has fully weighted and graded keys, whereas the 61 version has the FSB semi-weighted synth-style keys to suit those of you who want something lighter.
So what is the selling point for this keyboard over others in a similar field, well, several things really:
There is a LOT of stuff on here to get your head around, BUT I have been amazed how quickly I’ve learned to navigate it. I’m a pianist and therefore buttons have a tendency to scare me, however, this is so easy to find your way around. I am also loving the authenticity of the sounds again. Have a listen:
The split and layering function is also totally at your fingertips, and you are in control of where you want the split and within the splits you can even designate one part to a completely different octave.
This is the composer Bella Chen playing the CK88 and you can hear how she is using the split and layer function to create real texture in her compositions.
I enjoy composing my own music too and I’m loving how I can create great combinations of sounds, store them and even add more instruments at certain sections, all by pressing one of the three buttons that’s saved the set up.
If you need me…I’ll be in the studio…with a CK88!
Enter your email address below to receive our free weekly newsletter containing the latest piano, keyboard and organ demonstration videos, breaking news, special offers, invitations to our live video events, technical support articles and much more.
These items are sold on behalf of Yamaha, and are sent to us on a per-order basis, typically within 5-7 working days, unless an ETA is otherwise stated.
We'll contact you the moment your purchase arrives with us to organise delivery, based on your selected option.
Example products: Yamaha DGX670, Yamaha P-525, Yamaha YDP-S55, Yamaha Clavinova.
These items must be sent with a heavy-goods courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via Dachser.
Tracking will be provided by the haulier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
*If you have included the optional £180 "Yamaha Premium Service" home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will contact you regarding arrangements after purchase.
**The Yamaha CSP Series, Yamaha CVP905 & CVP909, Yamaha CLP875, 885 & 895GP, and Yamaha NU1Xa are all sold on behalf of Yamaha and arrive with us on a per-order basis. As soon as your piano has arrived, we will contact you to organise the appropriate dispatch method. ETA for stock is shown on the product page for those items.
***If you have included the optional £99 home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will send your details direct to the installation team, who will contact you within 48 hours to make arrangements.
Depending on which option is most appropriate, we will either contact you to discuss a bespoke ePianos delivery surcharge for goods we can’t package for a 3rd party courier, or otherwise dispatch goods via FedEx or APC.
If a courier is used, tracking will be provided by them directly, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Example products: Yamaha PSR-SX920, Yamaha P-225, Yamaha NP-15.
These items will be sent via courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via UPS or Parcelforce.
Tracking will be provided by the courier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Smaller items, such as books, discs, etc, will be dispatched via Royal Mail second class.
After purchase, you can download the file either from the order confirmation page or the "Downloads" tab in "My Account".
If you have selected the option to receive a pre-loaded USB stick, then this will be dispatched via Royal Mail.
We will contact you regarding any pre-ordered items, and let you know when they arrive so as to arrange delivery with you at a convenient time.
Used items can also be purchased using either of the following options (minimum loan amount of £250 after deposit):
Total amount payable: £893.32
Available finance options are displayed at checkout. Alternatively, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss the options, or email a finance application to you. Find out more by clicking here
Our seasonal opening hours are as follows:
We are closed on all bank holidays, therefore the processing of sales and deliveries will be delayed.
For orders of any stock displaying a 7-10 day lead time, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
This is a special order "agency" item, and comes to us directly from Yamaha on a per-order basis.
It typically takes 7-10 days for this item to arrive with us, whereupon we'll contact you to discuss the arrangement of delivery.
For any pre-orders, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you, and update you with an ETA.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
*Cashback amount varies product to product, as indicated.
Comments: