CP88

$2,499 yamaha.com

Ben is the Group Content Manager of our sister website MusicRadar, and a piano and keyboard player of more than 30 years

Strengths

+ A versatile, high-quality soundset for the gigging musician
+ A straightforward and logical interface makes the CP88 very easy and rewarding to use
+ Natural wood, graded hammer-action keyboard is a joy to play

Limitations

- The organ and synth sections are lacking in comparison to some of its rivals
- It can be difficult to see where the controls for each section begin and end on the panel
- We’d have liked to have seen a matching stand

The clue’s in the name. A stage piano is something that you’re going to be seen with and is, you might argue, a reflection of the kind of player you want to be seen as. We wouldn’t go quite as far as to say that it’s an extension of who you are —