I have been using the Yamaha CP300 stage piano for my solo piano and/or solo piano/vocal gigs for about 3 years (since it was released).
It be fair it has served me well and I still pretty much like the piano sounds and find that the built in monitors are useful; however, I'm considering upgrading. (partly due to the fact it is looking a bit tatty due to the amount of lugging around it gets).
I'm looking to spend up to £2000. I use decent external amplification - QSC K12s
Part of me thinks don't bother upgrading having tried out the Yamaha CP5 - To be honest I liked the feel but really could not get a full impression as to the sound due to the shop using a mono keyboard amp in a noisy room, and offering poor headphones (why do they do that?)

I see Roland are bringing out another revision of their RD range soon - NX? with supposed new pianos.
The Roland Virtual piano is too much and looks too heavy.
I played a Kawai stage piano a couple of years ago but I found the action sloppy to be honest. Never tried a Kurzweil stage piano .

Any thoughts on recommendations or peoples thoughts if technology has jumped forward in the last 3 years in my price range to warrant changing would be appreciated

I appreciate the subjectivity of it all by the way!

Regards

Have you considered the Nord piano ?

Hi there. I would like to try it. I probably unfairly dismissed this product as I played a Nord Stage (88 key weighted version) in a shop a few years back and I absolutely hated the acoustic piano sounds. Everything else was absolutely terrific though. (In my humble opinion of course!)
It is a completely different product I suppose and that was a while back (updates etc) - I just get a bit precious as I play literally solo piano.

Regards

I just got one - changed over from a roland rd700gx ( I liked it that much ). Fantastic piano sounds.
I am essentially a piano player as well, so having a hifi piano sound is paramount. The Nord seems to be fitting the bill , and taking a load off my back !
That said I have detected some very minor acoustic anomalies when listening very hard - could be the sample including the odd hammer noise, but I get the odd awkward clunk. This is with the optional pedal noise turned off. But dont let me put you off , it is quite simply the best digital piano I have ever played. All my opinions of course !
The Clavia website gives you a reasonable impression of what to expect.

Cheers for this info. The demos on the Clavia site do sound great.
I like the apparent simplicity factor of operation too. I guess this product has completely distanced itself from the early acoustic piano sounds of the Stage!!???

Interesting that you changed over from the last latest Roland RD. Were you been able or interested to play any of the latest Yamaha CPs per chance before going for the Nord?

Its a shame its not possible to realistically hire or trial instruments from the manufacturers or distributers to try it in the comfort and familiarity of your own set-up.... I did try this with Yamaha a while back without success

Cheers again

Quote skipper01:

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Interesting that you changed over from the last latest Roland RD. Were you been able or interested to play any of the latest Yamaha CPs per chance before going for the Nord?

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The latest Yamaha CP's are very much at the bottom of the pile, both in the quality of their piano actions and the quality of the sound: go to PMT in Birmingham, that's one of the few shops that has the entire Roland, Yamaha and Nord range for you to try out.

People like different manufacturer's sounds, I'm very much in the Roland camp, but I can understand why people go for Nord, or Kurzweil, but the CP range is simple terrible and horrendously over-priced.