Open Box Yamaha CP73 73-Key Digital Stage Piano Level 2 197881436131

Great qualityHorrible organ patches; non usable.All else is awesome

Yamaha's old-school ergonomically-correct controls, the advanced mode layering and awesome EFX, and newly added and long-awaited OB brass/synthy (might as well JUMP!!! I'll Wait...) and OB strings--along with their brilliant vintage keys and awesome action and portability make the CP series an absolute dream....now Yamaha, just tweak those Hammond sounds (oh, wait-that might cut into your YC revenue-nevermind) Oh, while I'm kvetching, an integrated MUSIC DESK might be a nice addition. Oh, and tap delay. Still, the CP is the consummate 70s/80s vintage keys lover's ONE-STOP solution!!!

Black keys loose velocity as soon as they're palyed hard & fast ! They sound soft when played hard & fast . The CP88 does not have this issue . The Piano and E. Piano sounds are pro but the Sub's are like cheap synths . The reverb is useful but not the delay since the " Tab Delay " is missing . I have a KORG SV-1 and the E. Pianos are much closer to vintage pianos than CP73/88 . If you're a pianist , go for CP88 . I'm returning my CP73 for CP88 .

I special ordered my CP73 from GC and it arrived in a week. I picked it up on 3/28. I spent a lot of time with it. I edited some presets and arranged sounds in live sets in a way that works for me. I used my CP on a gig on Friday 3/29 with a 7 piece jump blues band. I had no trouble hearing myself, and friends in the audience told me that my solos cut through and that my comping parts could be heard in the mix. My main stage piano is a Roland RD700 and I have to say that I prefer the piano sounds in the RD over the CP but I love both. Lately I have been getting a lot of gigs with small stages and performance areas and some with difficult load ins. It's not practical to use a large and heavy 88 key stage piano on these gigs. I will use my 73 key CP on these gigs and my RD on other gigs where it makes sense. The sounds: Piano sounds are great, especially the Bosendorfer (spelling?). The EPs and clavs are as good as it gets. The Hammond sounds are not that good but they are acceptable if you are not playing a featured Hammond part or soloing. I will continue to use my dedicated clone wheel for Hammond sounds.The Vox and Farfisa sounds are a blast and I will definitely use those! The on board effects sound fantastic. There is a button or a knob for anything you want to do so live tweaking is easy. This takes the Korg SV concept to a whole new level! Remember, this is a stage piano and it functions as one. It's all about the piano sounds, EPs and other electric keyboard instruments. It has a few basic synth sounds good for layering but otherwise it's a piano. Using it as a synth or an organ is like taking a corvette off-roading. If you use this keyboard for its intended purpose you should be thrilled with it!