Stage Piano Buying Guide - YAMAHA CP88 vs NORD STAGE 3
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- čas přidán 19. 08. 2024
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By popular request here is my comparison of the YAMAHA CP88 and NORD STAGE 3 88 digital stage pianos.
We'll discuss the other contenders in this keyboard category, compare the prices and features.
► YAMAHA CP73
► NORD PIANO 4
► ROLAND RD2000
► KORG GRANDSTAGE
► KORG SV73 SV88
I've included a few short sound demo clips from the archive.
I have an Rd-2000, a Kronos2-88 (which is similar to the Grandstage) and a Montage8 (similar to the CP88). So here's my opinion:
Roland RD-2000. This makes the best MIDI controller, as the sliders can be assigned to any internal or external sound. The overall panel design is great. I love the PHA50 action, which is quite heavy, even though the keys have plastic cores. It's very well-made and fairly portable. The real star is that it has both sampled "Supernatural" pianos (which are excellent) and also modeled V-Piano sounds, which have unlimited polyphony and great expressiveness. It has string resonance, which Yamaha lacks (but Korg has). It's my favorite stage piano and my primary board.
There are 2000 sounds on board and most are excellent, although the organs could be better. Not the best action for organ anyway.
Montage8 I don't use this primarily as a piano but I could. The action is excellent and the Bosendorfer especially just sounds wonderful. My second-favorite piano after the RD-2000, an I could live with it as my only one. No string resonance, but you don't miss it too much. The Motage isn't portable, but the CP88 is. On the other hand, the CP88 only has 57 sounds, which is a bit mean compared to the Roland or Korg.
Kronos2-88. This is a brilliant instrument with a highly customizable, well-sampled piano featuring string resonance. It also has an excellent keyboard action--very similar to the Yamaha. But I just don't quite like it as well as the Roland or Yamaha. An excellent choice, though, and many people will play it and prefer it to the Yamaha or Roland. The organs are excellent.
I also have a Kurzweil PC3K88, but the piano is a bit dated and I don't care for the Fatar action. I hear that the new Kurzweil pianos are very competitive, though, especially if you want a 76-key model. The same goes for Casio. Casios sound great, they're surprisingly cheap and the action is very good. They also have 76-key models.
If you are a classical musician and want a piano with a true grand piano action, built by an acoustic piano maker, than the Kawaii MD-11 is unbeatable. But it's enormously big and heavy, the action is a bit noisy and the on-board sounds are limited. It's a great instrument, but it's not for everybody.
Finally, don't overlook Computer-based instruments. Keyscape is one of my favorite pianos and many others, such as Pianoteq, are excellent. A computer and a good MIDI-controller would match any of these pro boards.
And Nord? I just don't see the appeal. Yes they have a good sample library, but their instruments lack the memory to hold a good number of high-quality samples in memory at once. The Fatar keyboards are lousy and the polyphony is disappointing. And the pricing is simply ridiculous--way out of line with what you're getting. They sound Ok, but lack the customizability and technology of the Roland or Korg.
All that said, you could buy anything mentioned above and be very happy with it. So try them all. Play before you buy and decide for yourself. And don't be swayed by brand names or prejudices.
geoffk777 -the RD-2000 doesn’t have 2000 sounds. It has 1113 sounds from the RD-800, kept in same patch numbers for compatibility, 10 new V-pisno sounds, 14 variations of the RD-800 Rhodes with the new vintage effects (2001-2014) and 11 new RD-1000 tones starting at 2015. It’s 97% the exact same tones as the RD-800, until you download more tones to the 2 expansion slots.
Ok, so it's more like 1200 sounds. The fact is, I probably don't use more than a dozen of those, so the difference is trivial to me (plus it's the master controller for a dozen racks and a computer anyway). It compares very well with a Grandstage and blows away a CP88 in onboard sounds.
Hi Geoffk777 Miles here. Thanks for your comments, especially those re the RolandRD 2000. I am thinking about upgrading from the FP-50 that my son uses to practice onThe Piano seems to tick illl the boxes for me. Piano feel, 88 keys, high level of control and daw compatibility. Just not sure on the sounds? Ive read others suggesting its very bright? Metallic. I realise sound is deeply personal but as far as pianos go what are your thoughts? And are you happy with the sound shaping abilities.
I'm very happy with the sound of the RD-2000 and it seems very natural and authentic to me. Moreover, there are dozens of different acoustic piano sounds, so one of them is bound to fit your tastes. And the sounds are very customizable. All that said, I would make two comments:
1. Don't take my word on it. Play one and listen to it. And play the competition too. Better yet, have your son play them and get his opinion.
2. If you're not planning on using it on stage, a home piano like a Roland HP-605 might be more convenient to practice on (and wouldn't need a separate amp).
thx for sharing insights of a RD owner, plus other boards, agree on many points at least for the boards i've owned, i'll pin you.
for 4499$ i would be expecting to just magically be able to play piano the moment i plug it in
Honestly i recommend the cp88 it has a much better feel sure the nords good but the cp88 puts the nords action to shame
Seamless transitions between presets used to be missing on all digital instruments It's so good to have them now!
Just bought a Nord Stage 3. I don't care much about key action since I mostly do synth, with some piano and organ stuff. I highly value being able to do everything from the front panel, and I love a strong synth engine. One of the better cover bands in the area uses a Kronos and I'm shocked at how bad the organ sounds on that are. Not to mention a couple of the synth sounds had way too much resonance or the decay times were weird, and there was nothing he could do about it in a live situation. People can brag about how deep their workstations are, but when something goes wrong live you're completely SOL since you have to deep dive for everything. Plus with as many presets as they have that's all anyone will ever use. I pride myself on understanding the process of how sounds were originally created by the artist, and crafting my own sounds in a similar way rather than just relying on a 'good enough' sound anyone could use.
Tl;dr... I'll take an incredibly accessible and playable interface with quality of sounds over quantity of sounds any day.
I agree, I find Korg sounds to be over processed and over compressed, they sound thin. I love Nord and Kurzweil sounds, some Roland pads aren't too bad either!
Been looking for a gigging keyboard for 3 years now. Nord is out of my range when you have a growing family. So I love the sound of the Yamaha CP73 & 88. Just order the CP73 last month on layby. Will be doing mostly Reggae, soul and RnB after the lockdown. Glad I made the right decision.
It's great that you encourage people to get second hand gear! You could even get a marvellous roland D-20 or JX-8P if you want a synth engine to your piano for less than a deepmind
good call, or a used microkorg for a couple hundred bucks!
Last week I tried the Crumar Seven. Never heard of IT before some weeks ago. It's not for everyone but I think it sounds even better than a Korg sv-2 or Nord.
Crumar have some of the best organs in the business
Love it , best sounds for Rhodes and EP sounds, easy to play, compact, probably my next keyboard
Buy the best you can afford. Most of us have to be realistic. Honestly, all modern keyboards are amazing.
I got the Kawai ES8, great key action and sounds, built in speakers (almost as good as MP11, but less controller functions and less weight). If I was to buy a NEW stage piano, I would SERIOUSLY consider the new Casio PX-S3000. Great sounds, action and portability, DAW integration, built in speakers, controllers, good looking, low price...It might be the holy grail for a lot of musician’s needs.
ES8 is great. I own a Kawai ES7. It is similar to the ES8. The Hammer Action is really nice.
When I bougt it (over 6 years ago) me knowledge about Jazz and Rock wasn't as big as today (so I wasn't so much interested in E-piano sounds).
So the E-Piano-sounds on the ES7 are not many and you can't add so much effects on it (no drive, no corus, no phaser).
Today I look more for great E-piano-sounds (or organ) additional to great piano sounds (piano sounds on the ES8 are gorgous ... I tested one)
The Casio PX-S3000 (or even a 1000) was also gonna be my suggestion, if Casio was to make a 73 / 76 keys model. And Woody specifically said he has no room for a 88 keys instrument.
But great suggestion anyway. I also hear great stuff about those keyboard.
Maafa 1619 I didn’t say it was the same, but I played all Rolands, Yamahas, Nords, Korgs, Kawais and Casios, and to me the ES8 had the optimal key action, I even tested it side by side to an 100000$ Steinway, but OK, I couldn’t afford the Steinway, neither carry it under my arm...
You’re not wrong. The latest Casio boards look pretty promising. I was always a fan of the Casio cgp line in general. Good bang for the buck.
@Maafa 1619 Yet another one of your biased comments..
I ended up going with the P121 and have been happy with it
Hi Woody! Great, and very informative topic.
The the thing is about the 3 keyboards compared to the Stage 3 is that you only get 6 synth voices on the DeepMind compared the the 34 A1 voices, which can be split into 2 panels, giving you 2 independent 17 voice synths. Also the Hammond SK1 has a terrible Leslie effect forcing you to buy a Ventilator pedal. This makes for a massive setup. If you are gigging, you also have to pay extra for stands, cables, extra cases, pedals, weight, setup and tear down time, and space. You did mention that it was convenient to have everything in one keyboard. As a Stage 3 owner, I definitely have to agree! Great video as always. Have been a long time subscriber. 👍
I don't think the Hammond's SK-1's leslie simulation is 'terrible' my friend and co-keyboarder - especially if you use its (separate) organ Effect on a tremolo to add to the Leslie; and sometimes the Chorus. (I still have my B3, but lately use VR-09 sometimes.)
Here's what I mean: czcams.com/video/mLwIX4Y2ze4/video.html
Tommy Mandel gotcha, yeah that sounds good. I used to have an XK3 and couldn’t live with the internal Leslie. (Bought a 2101) was thinking it was an XK1. My bad
This is so subjective. Its strange how nobody else felt the way I did playing the CP88. I'm a live engineer, and get my hands on Steinways and Bosendorfers regularly, and equally have to mic up (usually Nords) all manner of stage pianos. I actually thought the Yamaha was in a completely different league to the other keyboards you mentioned above, including Yamahas own P515 and older live stalwarts like the CP300. Its something to do with the dynamic range of the sounds, both on piano and EPs. It was so much more expressive. Everything, and I mean everything, else tended to disappear into a shapeless mass too quickly. I absolutely hear what you and others say about the Nord's sounds being characterfull, and woody, but they also became a mire when you began playing songs. The Yamaha had so much more air around the notes. I really disappeared into it, like I do with a real piano. I don't know why. It had something intangibly lifelike about it.
Also, the keyboard action itself is really big deal. The Nord one is significantly inferior to the others. Very much feels like a basic weighted keyboard.
well said that man, i agree Chris, the dynamics, touch and keybed set the CP apart from the rest.
" I really disappeared into it, like I do with a real piano." I don't own one but this was my exact feeling when I played one at a store. I am pretty sure I have never felt that before from another non-acoustic keys before.
I bought the CP-88 a year ago after looking at all the reviews, yours and Dr. Mix, and just love this keyboard. If I got stranded on an island alone, the CP-88 is what I would choose to have with me. Who needs water or food.. :-)
remember to bring your headphones too! ;)
@@WoodyPianoShack Dammit, your right, I forgot, that would've sucked! Well, in that case might as well bring my Kali LP8s and my DAW.. and the piano seat.... :-)
I have the yamaha s90ES i love it!
I have a RD2000 now and to be honest. When I was in the store to buy a board, I was trying both the rd2000 and the nord stage. Eventually bought the rd2000 because of the pricing. But I found a couple of negatieve pointe (Some personal):
-playing it for a while, I just started to get annoyed by the sound, not sounding natural.
-I also think the system is Kinda hard to operate.
-Not much room te expand with more sounds via axial also not much available
-Organs are not that great
-build quality could be better
Don’t get me wrong the RD2000 is still a great piano and has a lot of positives. it’s price is affordable and it is way better than most stage piano’s.
But I’m probably going to trade it in for the nord stage 3.
Great perspective Woody! I don't always agree with your sound opinions, but love your song choices and creative thoughts. I agree on your final verdict, though
Great choice! I bought my P 121 a mounth ago, and I love it. I'm a giging musician and I like the the weight of it...10 kg.
spoiler alert!
Got the Kawai MP7SE, feels like a great musical investment, it has so many good features. It's great to practice piano on, it's superb as a Master Keyboard, and a great production tool with a good DAW. Also, it looks classy and timeless, fits great into a small apartment room.
My friend I have Kawai MP7 for 3 years, and I'm very disappointed. Piano sound is not bad if you play single, same ballads or romances...on stage if you play with band sound no good, it's catastrophe!!!! Also after 2 years have issues with keyboard, for example if you play chord with bass, note on bass have no sound, if I press just bass, like one note is working. Now my Kawai MP7 is in the repair center, something burnt inside and I ordered some piece to replace...no confidence more in Kawai! But action on Kawai MP7 SE is good compare to MP7.
@@VadimShinnik Can't say I agree about sound, since there's so many parameters to change. And if I'm completely honest, if you can't get a good live sound, it's not the board's problem, but rather a lack of sound engineering skills and knowledge. And I have no problem with the keybed, yet... ;P
@@dynoroad That's the right answer - SO MANY PARAMETERS and as a result piano sound is caput!!!! Board problem is board problem! I mentioned separately about sound! In all ways Nord pianos sound good! Keyskape from spectrasonics! But not Kawai my friend, i'm shure if you make comments like this you are not professional musician or who have good ears!!! FACT!!!
@@dynoroad czcams.com/video/uT2X98Bf1Sc/video.html Very nice piano sound, as I said....but in mix with band is big problem!!!! Also with sound techinician try to record in studio piano and nobody was happy....had to borrow from others different keyboard! Now in few days I will have Sequential Prophet XL from Dave Smith and samples from 8dio. And I'm shure that I will not have problem with piano sound!
@@VadimShinnik Kind of unecessary with the personal attacks though, as if you're some big cat yourself. I never heard of any Vadim Shinnik before, and even if you've played in a "professional" band, you're still a fucking nobody in the greater picture. So get off your high horse.
Bonjour Woody, thank you for this digital piano + comparison. I have been playing since the 80s with a KORG SG1-D. I just gave it to my daughter . I replaced it in my home studio with a CASIO CDP-130 realy great keys and very good piano sounds for only 250€ ...
Looks to me that Casio is doing great on the digital pianos, the keyboard touch is very pleasent ...
Thanks again and take it easy Woody ;-)
Patrick.
I forgot to mention that the CASIO CDP-130 have on board powered speakers and, I have made a power supply from a small motorcycle battery with a 12VDC buck converter so I can play for hours without an 220v outlet ... which is very cool ;-)
The Stage 3 is just so easy to use, despite how crowded it is
TransistorBased, That’s what I’m in the market for. Thanks for your comment. Very helpful.
Your advice to try them in person is important. Everyone has different needs and preferences and action/touch especially is very personal. That being said, here’s what I’ve found so far:
Yamaha: great synths with a storied history but I just don’t like the action. Too springy/stiff for me.
Nord: also a great line of synths but the action also doesn’t work for me.
I’ve been able to try the Roland FP30, RD2000, and Juno DS88. The FP30 felt somewhat better to me than the Yamahas. The RD2000 was alright. The Juno DS88 came out feeling the best for me. I wouldn’t mind having one at least.
I’ve played some older Casio Privias for quite some time and they’re not too bad, all things considered. I haven’t gotten much time on the PX-S1000 and haven’t been able to try the PX-S3000 at all. I’m sure they’re decent though. The action tends to be a bit on the light side.
I haven’t been able to find a Korg D1 or Grandstage so far.
I really want to try the Kawai ES8, ES110, MP7SE and MP11SE but I can’t find them *anywhere*. I don’t know what it is, but nobody has Kawais. I’ve got a Kawai VPC1 at home which has a great piano-like action (although it is a bit on the heavy side). But it just weighs too much to try to drag around everywhere with me.
There are others like the Kurzweil SP6, the Studiologic SL88, and the Dexibell line of keyboards. I haven’t run across any of them in the wild.
I've had Roland stage pianos for decades. I just replaced my ancient, battered and tired RD300SX which has played thousands of musical theatre shows with me sitting in front of it. It was your videos that shaped my short list; Kawai MP11SE but I *do* need something I can move without hiring a crane. It has a lovely action though. I was looking at the RD2000 in keeping with my past history but I sometimes need a reasonable Hammond sound and somehow, Roland hasn't ever cracked it. I need a good harpsichord sound too more often than you'd think but really, I need a great piano with 'other stuff'. So I went and auditioned the CP88 locally and it liked me. I liked it. I was offered it for $2700 Australian dollars which sealed the deal It lists for around $3500(ish) in stores. So far I am thrilled with it - it is perfect for my needs and I can't wait for an upcoming show to try it for realsies. I really like the channel - keep up the good work. Stu
The Yamaha CP-88 is an excellent professional stage piano....I played one at Guitar Center here in Sacramento, CA. The key action is excellent and the Grand Piano and Electric Piano sounds are great!!! This is the perfect stage piano for any type of gig!!! This would be an excellent professional entry level stage piano. However, Yamaha has a tendency to introduce new stage pianos with extreme high prices!!! This is not good for their business....$2,500 is too high for the CP-88...the better price would be $1,650. So, if you can afford $2,500 for a new stage piano, then get the Roland RD-2000 at $2,600!!
Just to share it: I've been to a concert of Roger Hodgson some months ago, and I wondered what wonderful stage piano he uses for all the famous Supertramp sounds, but also his wonderful piano ballads. It was the Roland RD2000, connected to an Apple book for additional sounds features, I think (this for the DAW control) .
I’ve got the RD-2000 too. It has some great on board sounds but really comes alive with Omnisphere and Keyscape, using it as controller. The only thing it’s missing is some DAW transport controls, although I use Cubase IC and an IPad for that, and it allows much more than just transport to be controlled. It is a bit of a beast though, I wouldn't like to have to move it around! If they had a smaller one, it would be perfect for you Woody!
I also noticed he played an RD-2000 but I guessed he only used it as controler.. which you could see from his cables plugged in the back...(he didnt use the audio outputs..)
It's not really heavy. But the length is a bit of a problem sometimes. Compared to a Montage8 or a Kawai MD-11 it's practically a keytar, though.
Agree totally on Omnisphere and Keyscape.
Loved your Brazilian T-shirt
I think he's right in talking about the Yamaha P models like the P 125 and so on I have just bought a p115 and that Yamaha Keyboard has just a couple of great sounding pianos on it acoustic grand pianos love it five hundred bucks.
I’m so happy I live in Sweden! My buddy bought his stage 3 88 for 2800$ brand new
what a great deal!
A Kawai mp7se is also a good choice if you want a true piano experience. RHIII action, same piano sound samples as the MP11SE but currently around the £1350 price. Only available in 88 key. Midi connection, no midi audio, but has tone wheels and one of the second best accoustic actions next to the MP11SE GF action.
Also, if anyonebis in the market for a reasonably priced midi piano controller, the Casio PX S3000 is a good buy. Its onboard piano sounds are lacking for me personaly but ive found it to be a very good midi piano.
I'm thinking of a new purchase because sometimes i want to be able to just turn on a keyboard and play without the PC. I'm only interested in 88 key, so its between the cp88 and Kawai. Nord grand is a bit pricey, though the piano samples even beat Kawai. The Nord grand also has the Kawai GFIII action. It has the advantage of Nords piano library, but can i warrant the price? With the recently released Grand 2 being another 1k compared to the Grand 1, I have to think, well, i can play midi samples I already have, Kontakt, Keyscape etc, so I dont necessaraly need the Nord library. Decisions, decisions.....mmm.
I think budget wise, action wise, and sample wise for me, the Mp7se wins. If the cp88 was around the same price that may have been my choice.
RD 2000 is pretty old now, no samples just rolands virtual created piano sounds. ( The name escapes me this morning 😅) However, they have a new V piano addon that sounds very good. OK if you own the RD 2000 already, but if only now buying, you have to add on another £145 not so great.
Oooo Prezi very high-end. :) Actually, I really like Prezi presentations. Great vid, Woody. Cheers, Cliff
Now Nord has the Nord Grand with Kawai action and the great sound of Nord.And only 20 kg.Game changer.
12:44 Woody you nailed it with this comparison!
We are in 2022 and the Nord Stage 3 88 is $5,299 on Sweetwater now.
Good final choice, the Yamaha p121 is mine as a student, and it's just fine (compact, good hammer action, good piano sounds even electric piano)
Congratulation for your great video with the best information about stage pianos... Excelent work!!!
I bought the p125 as well as my practice piano. Haha I use a Nord Electo, also my favorite keyboard of all time, as my stage tool.
Hey Woody, its 5am here in Melbourne. Cant help but stop what I'm doing once YT gives me a notification that Woody is at it again and watch your reviews. Hey a few people here have mentioned CASIO and some of the older models PX 5S and the CT range. However It would tickle my fancys if you considered reviewing Casios new PX S3000 or PX S1000 digital piano as recently showcased at NAMM '19. These things look amazing and sound amazing. I nearly purchased a PX 560 but then somehow ended up my Roland Juno DS88. But I think Casio products would continue to contend with some of these brands you reviewed and from a cost perspective:)
i agree they sound nice and look pretty slick, if only casio would send me one...
@@WoodyPianoShack We'll arrange
Are you happy with the juno ds88. Key feel and piano sound?.
@@wereoursouls3472 Gday Geoff,
It took me a while to get used to it, I really wanted the buy the FA08 which has the Supernatural Piano sounds etc...but at the time I couldn't afford it. The Feel of the DS is fantastic and the Ds Grand piano is very nice. I'm looking at Yamaha MODX 61 and an 88 key controller of some kind.
Hi Woody, I made the decision my self a couple years ago to get an 88 key piano/ synth. Fortunately for me Sweetwater is only a 4 hour drive away, in the same state. Personally I picked up the Roland FA-08. I did look at the Nord line and the Yamaha line as well but the cost difference made the choice for me. Great video. Have a great day.
hi, i used to have the FA08, it falls into the synth category, but does everything a stage piano can do, plus a lot more, so a great all-round choice!
Hey Woody, take a look at the Yamaha P-515.
NWX wooden keys with escapement. CFX and Bösendorfer samples. Binaursl sampling for the CFX...
I had a Yamaha P125 for a few months so agree with your P121 choice.Nice action.BUT I purchased a Kawai Es8 for the action alone so it is a shame Stockholm does not have many to try..The Kawai action is just lovely!
Hey Woody, not sure if you realize this or not. The Yamaha CP73 DOES NOT have the same keybed as the CP88. It is much lower quality. I went to NAMM and was able to compare the CP73, CP88, Korg Grand stage, Roland RD-2000, Dexebell VIVO and the Kawai MPSE 11. And as everyone would expect, the KAWAI has the best feel. I was very disappointed with the CP88 and CP73. To be honest, kinda shocked they would put out a lack luster stage piano to compete with the other manufactures. The CP4 was already long in the tooth, yet they come out with the CP88 that doesn't even nearly catch up with my RD-2000. A fellow pianist at NAMM was waiting for the CP88 because he currently has the CP4. He was very disappointed with the keybed and the lack luster sounds. He and I both agree, it was basically a stripped down black nord. if I were shopping for a new digital stage piano it would be:
With a lower budget:
1. The KORG D1
Other wise:
1. KAWAI MPSE11 (if I didn't plan on moving it much as it is 76#)
or
1. Roland RD-2000 (if a was taking it on gigs)
2. Korg Grand Stage
The CP88 1.5 update would probably change a few minds.
Great comparison Woody of the stage piano jungle! I like the Nord flash backs. Personally I love Yamaha (I started 20 years ago with the 52lb/24kg S80 piano/synth) and I admire Nord because of the piano/sample downloads and the organ sounds. You mentioned the Nord Electro HP73. That one is IMO the contender of the Yamaha CP73. I think you forgot the Casio Privia Pro PX-5S stage piano (88 weighted keys, great Yamaha-CFIII like piano sound and reasonable synth sounds such as pad and synth strings and all of the stuff). The Casio is only 24lb (11kg) and a lot of high quality plastic 😀 I think a great choice when: low weight (gigging pianist), low price, great piano sound, full control of 4 parts. The Casio interface (tweaking sounds, layers etc) is a bit of struggling (like the watches 😜). Bottom line: I am very excited Yamaha introduced the 1-to-1 CP73 and CP88. In the future I will try the CP73 (and experience the piano feel of the keyboard). Final choice is a very personal decisicon about sounds and feel. Good luck to you all 👍
Great video as always! BTW, thumbs up for the Brazilian Flag shirt...
i always get comments about that shirt
Have had a lot of pianos including vst pianos but never really satisfied with the sound. Now that I own a nord piano5 I know that I will not buy another piano anymore, these samples are very good and can be set up as you want. Know it is quite pricey but if you can afford it then I would definitely recommend it.
I don't know why, but in my country Yamaha prices are up to Nord levels, so I went for The Nord Piano 5, which $1500 less than the CP88. I also have a Roland Fantom, their piano sounds (which are many and range from V-pianos, Supernatural and Zen-core) sit very well in mix, but sound kind of digital in isolation. I also have a Kawai ES8, which sounds fantastic but you are limited to the 10 acoustic piano sounds and 5 more electric samples. All in all, my new NP5 is becoming my favorite sounding piano, but I'm going to keep the ES8 because it has built-in speakers and they come in handy for practicing. Maybe I'll get rid of the Fantom, not sure yet.
Pretty Neat Presentation , Woody. I, like yourself , would likely choose Yamaha CP, just for the keyboard action , Keybed aspects.
I never was too content with Fatar type made 88 keys (Kurtzweil .... & other...) no matter how good the sound . Feel and piano action is the number one 1st priority to me , then portability . (As far as sounds , there are always plug in’s or modules ... ). I’d even rather trigger a NORD from a Yamaha (combining best sounds with best action.... etc...) As far as NORD, for a keyboard that has such great sounds built in, and also the price & cost for one, they lack so much, in my opinion , in the area of straight up durable & authentic piano action . Fatar made controllers don’t have the feel, response nor durability of Yamaha keyboard action & key bed. And with Roland RD wood or wood like action , they go bad more than Yamaha’s do , and end up costing extra in repairs of keys. Where as in Yamaha’s they can take more punishment of the road than lost 88 keys Keyboards as far as I am aware of . Ever since their KX88 (what Chick Corea used to use... etc...) Yamaha has made the most reliable 88 keys action electronic keyboards . (Maybe Kawai as well , but I’m not as familiar with yet to give my personal testimony...).
Now a days , with lap top use with plug in’s , a decent Yamaha 88 keyboard (used or new .... older ones are the ones I’m more familiar with ...) Plus some awesome software based sounds like , Keyscape (Spectrasonic ? Spell check ...) Komplete (Native Instruments ... ) will have way more value for the same amount of money , or less, spent on a NORD.
Just a MacBook Pro alone can give the greatest value than any hardware keyboard for the money .... So just focusing on the best feel and action to trigger the best sounds would happen to be the lowest cost route .
Software plug in’s are not only the future , but the present, just on best sounds available alone .... Unless one has decent tour support budget type situation , it does not appeal to me to spend all the money it cost to go NORD.
With NORD prices , you still would not get best Key Bed ... keyboard action.... And there are way far better sounds available through software combined with laptop (MacBooks being my 1st preferences ) .
For studio works , a MacBook Pro with software is greater option than NORD.
For live performances , NORD doesn’t have the best piano action keys ....
Because of the price of a NORD , unless I get a gift , they are never a consideration for me personally ....
Though I liked the Korg SV1, Yamaha is still the winnner for me ... in my personal preference .... and what I would personally encourage anyone I know ....
you make some excellent points, thank you!
Good show Woody...always informative and entertaining!
You should really consider the new Casio PX-S1000 for your next purchase! Also, for the head to head comparison you should also throw in the Casio PX-5S it has a superb Steinway piano sound, a nice synth sound, bread and butter sounds and a killer keybed plus midi controller features.
Nope, NOT THE PX-S1000, For a with more hundrend bucks, you can have the PX-S3000 and get 700 sounds.
i got a nord electro 2 the other day for $600. i was thinking of taking it back but now after watching this, and hearing you say its the best, im going to give it another try.
not the best in the range, but my personal favorite, sometimes less is more
Why I bought the CP88 (long-winded review/statement)
For my history, I have previously owned a Roland A90 Piano/Midi controller and a Yamaha Clavinova PF-100 (circa 1994) and I got incredible amount of use from both but due to personal changes in my life I thought it was time to upgrade since I haven’t had anything new for almost 25 years.
Just so everyone knows, I am not biased with any company whatsoever.
Fast forward to Nov/2018 where I purchased a Nord Piano 4. Absolutely LOVED the sound however, there was a huge issue with the keybed as it was making more noise than it should. To the point upon release of the keys the noise would resonate through my mic and through my L1 compact. Not acceptable.
After many views CZcams comparison videos and personal demoing in my local music stores I was undecided between the Korg Grandstage, Korg Kronos, Roland RD 2000, Yamaha CP4, Korg Krome nd the Roland FA-08.
All great pianos/workstations so it was a matter of sound, versatility and of course the keybed.
So, back in April I my local store had a CP88 so I jumped on. They had it running through a small Fender amp and even with that I got soooo sooo excited ….just as I did my Nord. So, when that excitement hits, instinctively I go with it. Plus, the keybed/action was just so soooo amazing that the decision was made there and then. So, traded in my Nord Piano 4 it in for my new love, the CP88. Unfortunately they only had the floor model so they gave me their floor model as a loaner until the new one came in.
So, as far as sound. I will admit I am not as happy with the piano sounds themselves compared to the Nord but with some tweaking with the EQ I have got 3 amazing piano sounds that I am very very happy with. The CFX has this sort of tinny sound to it and I will admit I thought the CFX on the CP4 was a bit better. However, the Imperial, S700 and the upright U1 are truly amazing. A little tweaking and you can basically get a great sound out of it.
The CP80/70 sample is definitely comparable to the Nord (which I use quite a bit in my set) so apart from the bug that’s going to b fixed this coming September it sounds absolutely incredible.
The Wurlitzer (especially with April’s update) totally blows the Nord away. I am just so so happy with it as it really helps with my Supertramp/10cc tunes that I use in my setlist.
The keybed, Well, it truly came down to the CP4, the RD2000 and the CP88. The CP4 was great for sure as was the RD2000 but after a number of jumps between the CP88 and the RD 2000 I found the RD was a little heavier than the CP88 and the CP4 was a little lighter so the CP88 was the perfect balance between the two. As weird as it sounds (no pun) I feel my playing has actually improved on the CP88. Songs that I had a hard time playing before (Tony Banks’ Lamb intro and Firth Of Fifth plus some blues scales for example) are coming much more easier. Weird how that works.
Yes, there are only 57 sounds with the CP88 as opposed to the NP4 and yes you can load samples into the NP4 but I had to be practical within myself. I use Logic Pro X for a trillion sounds that I can trigger so for home use/editing/sequencing for backing tracks the limitation of the sounds in the CP88 is not limiting to me at all. Plus, one has to ask themselves……or myself…how many sounds does one actually need? I mean seriously…these are stage pianos. I usually get between 3-5 gigs per month and I do not use more than 4-5 sounds within my 40 song setlist. So it’s basically, Acoustic Piano, CP80, Wurli, Rhodes and a AP with a combined Ample Acoustic Guitar (triggered through my laptop) /Piano sounds. The rest are just icing on the cake.
Ok, the other pianos may give you way more sounds but in all honesty, many of them are just different variations of the same sample, Don't let 1000 sounds fool you into thinking you're getting 1000 samples because you're not.
Now, that’s just me and I can’t speak for anyone else’s needs as everyone has different needs and requirements.
I also love the fact that I do not have to use my M-Audio interface anymore as the CP88 has a USB audio interface built in so with that and my upcoming purchase of a Yamaha MG10XU mixer (USB audio interface) going through my Bose L1 Compact system will be the perfect match for me.
So this whole notion that CP88 blows this out of the water…or The RD2000 feels better or the Nord Pianos sound so much better is total nonsense. It is ALL down to personal taste for personal needs.
I will say for price, keybed, versatility (again depending on your needs), sound and weight (yes I can actually carry the piano in my gig bag with one hand) the CP88 is hard to beat….but that’s just me.
Finally, I will say buying a piano is actually worse than buying a house or a car. Very stressful at times and we always want to make the "right" purchase. Yes, you can watch a trillion CZcams videos, read all of their comments, jump on the forums, get a a thousand different opinions and yes it helps but many times it can actually confuse you even more and also cause ulcers...LOL.
It’s best to think of your own needs and try not to let anyone’s opinions (comments) sway you but your own.
Cost/price aside there will ALWAYS be pluses and minuses to any of these pianos and if I had to do it all over again I would have waited until April this year before purchasing the Nord and maybe taken more time to study as it’s been 9-10 months to land to where I am now.
I hope my experience/review will resonate with anyone who is undecided in purchasing the CP88 or any other piano for that matter.
Now get out there and get a CP88!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You won’t regret it….LOL!!!
I just fell in love with my new Nord. And I get why so many people think they are the sh... easy to navigate live, lightweight, great sounds. But I just gotta say the piano sounds are not as crazy-good as so many people make them out to be. They are great, no doubt. But I was just a tad bit disappointed when they didn't turn out to be an incredible step up over my Yamaha CP73...
i don't think the nord pianos are a significant step up over the cp73, trouble is all modern digital pianos are so good, it's such tiny margins of difference. the nord pianos do have a nice character and unique sound to them tho, which i do enjoy.
Casio Privias should definitely be considered. I bought a used Casio Privia PX-5S a few years ago. It sounds great and is super lightweight to carry around. There is a deep synth engine in it if you take the time to delve into it. I like the action and whenever I start to crave a Stage 3 too much I control my Electro 6 from the Casio. It is triple sensor and is a great controller. I think I like the feel of the Casio triggering the Nord piano library from the Casio more than the action on the State 3 88. The PX-5s synth can handle most of what I am looking to do so I don't feel the loss of the A1 synth.
Hi Woody, excellent review!!!..., for you, the best key action (more balanced, faster, same weight at back of keys, best for classical practice, reliable and less noisy) and sound connection (accurate, fast response for jazz and classical repertoire), between these options: Roland RD-2000, Kawai MP7, Yamaha CP4, Yamaha CP88 and Yamaha P515. Thanks...!.
I have the Kawai MP7SE. Great feel and action in the keybed. Fantastic Kawai piano sounds and electric pianos. Also very competent as a controler for my other gear. Got it new for less than 1400 Euro at the Kawai retailer in Stockholm.
Excellent comparison. My own experience still favors my Roland FP7F for beautiful piano and bass splits, while my Yamaha P515 offers an inspiring nylon guitar sound along with triple sound layers (I did add a sub woofer to enhance the output of the built in speakers).
Hi Woody. Nice review. The main question was missed when comparing a stage piano in these levels. These are all considered top of the line for the lead brands but which can CUT THROUGH THE MIX? Most of us watching will get one of these bad boys as main stage piano and in this league, it's really a matter of taste; The sounds you like, the action you like on the keys etc.
The one thing I learned is that some keyboards require significant EQ'ing to cut through a mix. In most cases, the sound guy will not know how or won't have the time to EQ. I already know Nord is fantastic for cutting through the mix with very little tweaking. How is CP88?
It’ll be interesting to put the CP88 up against the newly-announced Nord Grand. I was thinking of replacing my NP2 with the CP88 as I’d like a better action and triple sensors but the new Nord might be the one.
I bought the CP88 a year ago and absolutely love it. Something I love to do is recreate the piano synth combo’s of songs I love and grew up on. The CP 88 has not disappointed me to date in this endeavour. The sky’s the limit with this keyboard and the best thing about this customization process is you can save your settings to the digital library tweaking the sound as many times as you like to get it just right. I’ve owned several keyboards over the years and this one does it the best in terms of recreating that special tone that sounds just like the original in bands like Journey and Foreigner for example.
But literally everything sounds good when Jack Duxbury is playing it
I mentioned the Yamy CP88 but he found the Kawai mp7, and it blew me away. Very complex and amazing feel and action.... I mean amazing
Great presentation Woody. Relating to the CP121 you mentioned at the end. A very good contender in that price range, is the Korg SP280. Yeah it’s 88 key, but for those that do have the space, it’s far superior. Great piano sounds, including the electrics. Even the organs are very useable. 22w stereo speakers. And yes, it comes with it’s own stand. For around £520 i paid for it, I’m over the moon with it. I like you just wanted a simple piano, without a lot of bells and whistles. This is a nice balance with 30 voices, and a few simple effects ect. I would be very curious to hear your opinion of it.
your enthusiasm is infectious ! I didn't hear if your Yam P series had midi out ( controlling your digital piano VST collections)? yamaha makes a good meat and potatoes product.
cool! cheaper p-series don't have the round DIN midi in/out, but they have usb midi, which is better for connecting to pc. not good for controlling other synths and hardware devices though...
I’m not entirely in agreement. I just bought a P125 as a piano-alternative (while the family is sleeping) and I’m very disappointed in it. It sounds exactly like my 25-year-old Clavinova, which I got rid of to make room for a new keyboard. Now I really want to see what a Nord plays like in person.
What I like about the Yamaha CP .... it is black, not red.
GrandStage all day long for the money, were I starting over. Some corrections on the RD-2000 mention: the primary piano engine in this unit is the modeled V-Piano technology with its own full polyphony , the SuperNatural resynthesized/PCM sounds being in a secondary engine with 128 note polyphony. The RD-2000 does not have, as stated, a multichannel audio interface, though 2-channel stereo is technically “multi”. You mIght be thinking of the Montage and to a lesser extent, the MODX.
Yes it does have a USB audio interface to connect to DAW software to blend with onboard sounds. Google pics of the back. Its on almost all demo vids.
I'm just starting to look for a replacement for my now quite old and obsolete General Music PRO1 "stage piano" (only used at home). I only play classical music and want A) fully weighted grand piano action, B) concert grand sound(s) (to my dedicated v.g. external sound system) C) string resonance modeling (the old GEM does this very well) and, of course, 88 keys and 3 pedals. Nice to haves include MIDI/USB and a few other voices, e.g. pipe organ. I'm not sure I want to pay for a "virtual piano" system, but I like the idea of setting up different acoustical piano sounds to compare with recordings. My first steps? To check out the youtube videos and the piano forums, then kick the tires at music shops... Please wish me luck!
Generally Nords are significantly more expensive in the US than they are in Scandinavia. But I agree that the Nord Piano is a more fair comparison.
Hi Woody, I just checked the Sweetwater price for the Nord Stage 3 is a measly $5,299.00. Ha, pocket change my man. lol I think I will go with the Roland RD-2000. Keep the great videos comings.
A few weeks ago I got a 73 key Nord Electro 6 which is a stage Piano as well as an Organ and a Sample synth for the bargain new price of £1300 uk pounds, a very strong contender for bang for the buck methinks !
DAW control from a high end piece of gear we don`t care big companies as there is tons of cheap stuff that will do it for us anyways innit ? ha ha
btw loved from my childhood the genesis lil intro Turn it on
riff at the end
Great, if you want to play on a Fatar keybed.
Man, I just bought a Roland Juno DS88 for $1600AU and it's an awesome thing. I dont feel like I'm missing out on anything by not spending 3 times as much!
The RD-2000 has both a joystick and the wheels, which is an interesting design choice. You missed something that would be an interesting turning point. CASIO CTX 5000. Sure, it's only 61 keys but...There's a ton of cool features in it.
Wait for the Casio PX s3000. It will be released in April. You will love it.
Both wheels on the Roland are Mod wheels. The stick is the only pitch bender. And the mod wheels are "extras" as you can get mod by pushing up on the stick.
@@geoffk777 Interesting. I thought it was the same as the JD-XA, which has the same combination, but one of the wheels returns to center, like a regular pitch wheel. So, the thing is more like Roland copying the Yamaha VL-1, which has two modulation wheels.
I think it was a bit a strange comparison. It does not really make sense to compare the Nord Top of the Line Stage Pianos with the Yamaha 121. But I can understand your choice for the P121. It is a nice piano.
I have a Roland ES8 which is easy. I go to it, turn it on an play a great piano. It is a nice keybed, a nice main piano sound but quite crappy loudspeakers meaning I need to use a headphone. And you have a rythm section included, which I use often for fun.
Additionally, I have an StudioLogic SL88 Masterkeyboard which I use together with the Grandeur from Native Instruments. The Keyboard is a bit heavy compared to the Kawai but the Grandeur Lib is superior to the Kawai. And since I have connected decent loudspeakers, the sound is way better.
If I would have to choose a single Piano, I would still go for the Kawai because it is more accessible.
At PMT in Birmingham, UK, they let me compare a Roland RD2000, Yamaha CP, Korg Grand Stage and a used Kawai instrument. Listening with Senheiser HD600 and Sony MDR-1000X (noise cancelling) headphones, my comparison was between piano sounds ONLY. Roland's RD2000 is a synth, with pleasant enough vanilla piano sound. Same with the others. However the Korg not only sounded more like a concert grand, it has 6 very different sampled instruments, 2 uprights and (Yamaha) electric grand. I find practicing on a synth too distracting, finding myself programming patches all the time. With the Grand Stage at home now nearly 5 months, those piano sounds still sound like unaffordable concert grands. B.t.w., the 490 other non piano sounds are also pretty fantastic.
cool to hear from a GS owner, intriguing instrument!
For comparison, pricing in Europe is : 2300 euros for CP88 and 3500 euros for the NS2-88 !
that's more like it, must be something funky with the exchange rates, many US retailers have it at $4500
Hope to see you get your hands on the new Yamaha YC61 👍
Not versus, the BOTH of them together! :D - A Stage 3 compact on top of a CP88 would be an ideal gig for many types of gigs! :)
oh yeah, now we're talking :)
Yup..! I do now own, just this combination... (well, among other keyboards, of course...) At the moment the CP88 sits on top of my Viscount KeyB Legend Live :D
Life is good! :)
I bought a Casio PX-5S a few years ago. :)
I was always interested in this. Many of the same powerful features of other stage keyboards. A lot of flexibility in the assignable knobs and faders, the stage settings and hex layers. Great price too. Ultimately I went with the CP4 which I love.
So is the Casio PX-5S action as good as they say???
@@Alan_Chapman Money was an issue, so the PX-5S was the best I could get at that price. If money wasn't an issue I probably would have gone straight for a Nord Stage! :D
Peter Walker I saw one in a store used. I liked the textured feel of the keys, but the action felt short and clacky or bouncy. I’m not qualified to say whether it doesn’t work for me because it wasn’t powered so I didn’t get to see how it feels in response to your playing. Most keyboard actions grow on me after several minutes once I get adjusted.
Alan Chapman I’ve been playing my korg sv1 for a couple months, and now the action on the acoustic piano I’ve been playing for years feels odd. Lol. So I feel ya.
THE DGX 660 is better than the p121 for roughly the same price
This was really good and helpful review and I have very similar kind of needs :)
Korg Grandstage it's a very good piano, I have one and it has very good piano sounds. It is very easy to program presets. The section thing was invented by Roland years ago with its first VR model. I don't like Nord hammond organs, I prefer yamaha montage's. I wasn't sure about the yamaha CP88 But the summary commented by a person in this chat has clarified my ideas and I'm not going to buy one. I'm not going to buy a Nord either, it's too expensive and I don't quite like it either. Thank you very much.
Would love to hear your comparison including some old Yamaha models like the CP300 or Korg SP200 thanks for your smart commentary.
For your described desires I would go with a used high quality digital piano. These are available at the $400-$800 range and many have actions that are very similar to a real piano. Roland's and kawaiis offerings are especially nice sounding.
slim pickings in the sub-88 category though,.
@@WoodyPianoShack Ah. Excellent point.
I came here after seeing you magnificent beard in the thumbnail.
Great music at 5:36 and 10:50 Woody!!! Are they of your creation?
For me, Yamaha CP-300 and Casio Privia PX-330, and of course Yamaha Montage are most wonderful instruments for playing piano. Korg's Pa-1x, though 61 keys unweighted, also is very playable. No offense against your countrymen, but I never fell for the Nords except for their EP's, a fine Upright, and the occasional Clav. Roland's XV-88 was my piano of choice for years, (the plastic keys break with age though) and I also enjoy some of their FP's, though the newer ones like the FP-60 have become quite heavy!
Where Casio rules is in Weight. (Otherwise Kawai would be way up there too!) . . .But in this particular video of yours, the focus is on home use only, so weight isn't an issue: in fact, heavier may be better - it means it won't shake around! - understood.
Thanks for your educated and useful tutorial!
Hello teacher, please, I need your help, I just bought a yamaha cp88 and I like it a lot, but I have a big problem, I want to use it as a usb midi controller, in Cubase to play kontakt vsts, I am not selecting it as a usb output , because I have my monitors connected to another audio interface, I'm only interested in the cp88 keys, my problem is that when I play, the vsts sound very low in volume, I can't play loud. try changing the keyboard sensitivity to the other options but no change please i have until tomorrow to return the cp88 to the store where i bought it my question is cant change the key sensitivity if i am using the cp88 as usb host midi controller, without selecting it as audio? Please, if you can help me and can you tell me if it is possible to do it, how do I do it? or if you can confirm that it is not possible, I return it to the store tomorrow. I do not want to lose my money. please. thank you very much in every way.
Tnx for sharing this sir..nice playin at last part..i prefer CP to donate in a church
Nord looks great and has great sounds, as does the Korg, but to me the keyboard action on Roland and Yamaha is the best..... I would like to see a comparison of the CP88 and RD2000..
I campared the CP88 with the RD-2000. NO COMPARISON!
The RD-2000 wins hands down on ALL counts.
CP88 has 57 sounds, is a stripped down black nord with a lack luster keybed.
The RD-2000 (which is 2 years old) has 2000 built in sounds (17 of the pianos are Virtual pianos giving you unlimited polyphony), the keybed is fantastic, has actual sliders to use as draw bars for the organ, doesn't have bolts comping out of the top deck, doesn't have toggle switches from grandpa's ham radio and it has a very clean, organized design.
@@musikone1780 thanks for your answer.. when I wanted to buy a piano 2 yrs ago, I doubted between the RD800 and CP4, but then the RD2000 came out and made the choice really easy. I love this piano, in particular the piano and rhodes sounds (and the heavy, but smooth keyboard action)...but because before that time, I had always played Yamaha (S90), I am very curious about the CP88... but of course I will check it out for myself at the music store.
@@musikone1780 RD-2000 points noted, thanks... I will check it out. Regardless, I love toggle switches, being a "grandpa ham type" and vintage tube radio and audio collector!
Great! I liked the idea of the CP73 until I read one of the comments below
Turn It On Again!!
I’m one of those odd people that bought the 10 year old tech in the korg sv1 88. I love it. Will it be my only board? By no means. I love your buyers guide analysis, which is, you don’t need the latest and greatest to practice. You need something that moves and motivates you. I also recently checked out the Yamaha p125/121 and was very impressed with the quality for the cash. I think it looks pretty good on the stand in the pic too.
hello again matt, i've got a strange urge to buy an sv as well, always thought they were quirky and very cool. although I'm cheap so looking second hand, glad you're enjoying yours! :)
Lucky for me I can download for free really good samples of others makes of pianos for my Nord Stage 3, they’ve recently uploaded some new enhanced electro instruments with added dynamics for a more specific sound.
Nord's library conveniently gets forgotten or downplayed in a lot of arguments like this. It's an ever-expanding library of incredibly-nice sounds that's all free!
Great presentation, very useful, I do appreciate your comments
Thank you for your honest opinion and assessment !
Hi Woody,
Great video!
One feature I'd like to see compared is the master keyboard possiblities (splits MIDI CC, DAW control).
Otherwise a very good and informative video.
What would I get?
Given I got the budget, it would be the keyboard with best master keyboard funtionality and piano action, as a master keyboard (as well) it has to be 88 keys. Plus the Nord A1, that is a great VA synth to my ears!
Haven't seen this vid yet Woody... gotta say I still prefer the Stage 3! :)
don't get me wrong, i love the NS too!
When I was watching this video, I was wondering what a “Cow Eye” piano was. 😆 Then I realized you were saying “Kawai”! Just messing with you. Love your videos!
Woody you totally missed out the Kurzweil Artis SE - an excellent high quality piano/controller & an affordable alternative to the Kurzweil Forte at around $1495 I think.
It features great onstage controls & piano sounds that stand up there with the best available, even beating some of the more expensive keyboards.
Well worth a closer look at the Kurzweil Artis SE.
Cheers!
hi Sharona, don't know where you are based, but you never see Kurz over here in Europe, well very rarely, but thanks for the correction!
Pretty cool video again! Well, now there is a new conteder that might be just the right thing for you, Woody: The Yamaha YC73! I am sure you know this one already...
for me, an organ-centric keyboard needs organ style keys, so not personally interested in the yc73, although great to have more choices, so thx yamaha!
@@WoodyPianoShack Ah, ok, I fully understand what you mean. I studied classical piano before I started with rock and gospel music, so for me weighted keys are essential, but for you it seems to be different of course. Cheers from Germany!
How come you didn't mention the Roland Rd88...it is also great.
How about Kaiwa ES8 or ES110?
Yamaha CP vs MODX? Are the sounds between the two keyboards different from one another (piano, rhodes, wurliz, synths)? If feel was out of the question, I feel like a MODX7 would be way more bang for your buck than a CP73 because of how much more it has and does.
The CP has more piano samples built in. Also, the CP88 has a better action than the MODX 8, but I think that the difference is minimal on the 73s. If you only (or mostly) want a piano and want hands-on control with simple knobs than the CP might be better. But the MODX is much more versatile and flexible and definitely more keyboard for the money.
How can you overlook the Korg SP280 or Korg D1? They feel and sound a lot more realistic than the Yamaha P121 you ended up with. Same price range.
What piano would you buy if you could accommodate a 88 key sized keyboard?
What about the Studiologic Numa Compact 2x? This 15 lb keyboard has an 88-key Fatar Keyboard, a drawbar organ, sampled pianos with dsp string resonance, and a synth engine derived from the Sledge with 1 GB Rom, and parameters adjustable from the controls including the drawbars. The street price is only $699 in the US. Oh yes, it has built in amplifier and speakers 10 watts each side.
very rarely see them in the stores, but yeah, they always make interesting, slightly obscure, stuff.