Yamaha Clavinova CLP Piano offers traditional piano looks with Yamaha’s signature piano touch and authentic tones based on its flagship concert grand pianos. Most CLP pianos do not come with built-in rhythms.
Introduction to Yamaha CLP
There are very few brands that offer digital pianos ranging from portable ones to models with more traditional looks.
The Yamaha Clavinova series include the more premium upright pianos. Yamaha also has the ARIUS YDP series that include more affordably-priced console-style pianos.
Even within the Clavinova series, there are a few more sub-series, the Yamaha CLP, CSP, and the CVP series.
While the Yamaha CVP pianos are more of ensemble pianos (with several built-in accompaniments), CLP series include pianos without the various bells and whistles (including accompaniments). These have Yamaha’s signature piano keyboard touch and tone, minus the accompaniments.
The CLP pianos are great for piano practice & performance, but it can also be used for learning as well.
Yamaha launches the Clavinova CLP-700 digital piano series
Yamaha has launched the new Clavinova CLP-700 digital piano series, consisting of six models ranging from the entry-level CLP-735 to flagship upright CLP-785 plus two grand piano-style model.
Useful features include allowing users to record their performance via the USB Audio Recorder, touch sensor control panel, improved sound engine, refined speaker system. In this series, Yamaha has used new samples for the Yamaha CFX (bright tone) and the Bosendorfer Imperial (deep resonance) concert pianos. The Clavinova also integrates with the free Smart Pianist App (via Bluetooth).
“The highly distinctive sounds of these pianos feature lush harmonics and vivid resonance created from the sympathetic vibrations of the strings and soundboard, faithfully delivered in response to your articulation and pedalling,” Yamaha stated.
Besides producing outstanding level of authenticity, these pianos reproduce minute expressions and nuances based on keystrokes, hammer movement, dampers, pedals, strings and casework resonance.
All the models feature excellent piano keyboard action and features synthetic ebony and ivory key-tops (some models have natural wood white keys).
In the models upwards of the CLP-775, voices and functions can be selected via touch sensors below the LCD screen.
Certain models also feature Bluetooth audio, allowing you to stream audio from devices such as phones and tablets, helpful for learning and for practicing.
CLP Pianos: Detailed Guide
Yamaha has been producing acoustic pianos for more than 100 years and digital pianos for a few decades now. Yamaha is also a major producer of commercial audio products like digital mixers and sound processors.
With so much experience, Yamaha is able to record and edit the best piano samples in the CLP series using the latest audio music recording technology, taking full advantage of their experience in this field.
If you are more of a pianist, then you could be more interested in the dynamic range and the expressive abilities the piano, and not necessarily the lots of sounds and features that the piano may have.
And that is why Yamaha has created a separate CLP series, from the CVP ones. The CLP pianos have nice looks, excellent touch and sounds, But if you are looking for more features, styles, and broader capabilities, then you may need to consider the CVP range of pianos, which can be a bit more expensive.
The Yamaha CLP is a great combination of authentic piano grandeur & feel, and digital technology..which will surely impress the serious pianists who are not looking for a lot of bells and whistles on their piano.
Acoustic Concert Grand Piano samples
The Yamaha CLP pianos include piano samples of top concert grand pianos, which are perfectly tuned to the best condition by Yamaha’s most experienced musicians and tuners.
On the CLP series pianos, the wide dynamic range of the CF3S is fully captured using Yamaha’s dynamic stereo sampling technology. With this technology, not only the volume changes when you play different dynamic levels but also the piano tone changes depending on the expression of your performances.
Additional stereo sustain samples, key-off samples and string resonance effect contribute to a very realistic acoustic feeling of the piano sounds.
Authentic Keyboard Action
To control the wide dynamic sound range, the Yamaha CLP pianos come with GH (graded hammer) action keyboard.
The CLP pianos have a natural wood keyboard with synthetic ivory key tops, which offers an authentic natural piano touch and feel.
The keyboard on these pianos includes Yamahas GH3 (graded hammer) system, where every key has 3 sensors to get that perfect touch and the best possible repetitiveness of the keys.
More Instrument Sounds
These pianos also come with various other sounds, besides the pianos, such as harpsichords, organs, guitars etc.
The piano sound on the CLP is very responsive and gives a solid tone which makes the piano playing experience much better.
Buying a Used One
If you have the option of going in for a used one, by all means, go for it, if you’re getting a good deal on it. You can do the usual checks that you do when you evaluate a used digital piano.
Yamaha Clavinova CLP Digital Piano Video Demo
The video here demonstrates the amazing sounds of the Yamaha Clavinova CLP. It talks about the Graded Hammer keyboard and also takes you through the major functions of the Yamaha Clavinova CLP.
It demonstrates the use of the sequencer by recording a beautiful jazz progression and playing it back. It also talks about the two headphone connectors that are available on the Yamaha Clavinova CLP, which can help to play with another piano player.
Easy interface to a computer and the option of using a memory stick to save data are some of the other features on the Yamaha Clavinova CLP Pianos.
You can read about more such valuable tips here.
Summary – Yamaha CLP Clavinovas
The Yamaha CLP is meant for serious pianists and learners, who are looking for nice looks, authentic sounds and piano action, and do not want extra features like accompaniments and effects. What they care for is an authentic piano sound, look and feel. Though features like song recording, and internet direct connection (for online lessons) are available on the CP series pianos. The Yamaha CLP digital pianos are a perfect combination of grandeur and digital technology, sure to impress the piano purists.
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KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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