Electric grand piano
Encyclopedia
An electric grand piano is a particular type of piano
manufactured and marketed by Yamaha, Kawai
and Helpinstill
during the 1970s and 1980s, although experimental instruments of similar type were made as early as the late 1920s. The other versions of Electric Piano did not use strings, the Wurlitzer Electric used by Ray Charles to record "What did I Say?" uses hammer-struck reeds, while the Fender-Rhodes uses metal tubes called tines.
|image2=Keane1.jpg|caption2=Tim Rice-Oxley
(Keane) playing
Yamaha CP-70 on stage }}
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
manufactured and marketed by Yamaha, Kawai
Kawai
The of Japan is best known for its grand and upright pianos, electronic keyboards and electronic synthesizers. The company was established in August 1927, and has its headquarters in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka.-Pianos:...
and Helpinstill
Helpinstill
Helpinstill is an US-based company which produces a unique electromagnetic pickup system for amplifying grand and upright pianos on stage. During the late 1970s the company also marketed a range of portable pianos ready-fitted with the pickups; these instruments were built by Kimball to...
during the 1970s and 1980s, although experimental instruments of similar type were made as early as the late 1920s. The other versions of Electric Piano did not use strings, the Wurlitzer Electric used by Ray Charles to record "What did I Say?" uses hammer-struck reeds, while the Fender-Rhodes uses metal tubes called tines.
|image2=Keane1.jpg|caption2=Tim Rice-Oxley
Tim Rice-Oxley
Timothy James Rice-Oxley , is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known as co-founder, the principal composer and pianist, backing vocalist of piano rock band Keane.-Life and career:...
(Keane) playing
Yamaha CP-70 on stage }}
Unlike a digital piano
Digital piano
A digital piano is a modern electronic musical instrument, different from the electronic keyboard, designed to serve primarily as an alternative to a traditional piano, both in the way it feels to play and in the sound produced. It is meant to provide an accurate simulation of a real piano. Some...
, an electric grand has hammers and strings. What makes an electric grand unique is its means of amplification, which is done via pickups under the strings (like an electric guitar). This method of amplification yields a piano that is smaller, lighter (about 300 pounds or 130-140kg) and easier to move. The amplification-via-pickups method also bypasses the difficulty of having to mic
Microphone
A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...
a conventional grand piano, and thus makes an electric grand easier to set up with a sound system. However, production of this type of piano ceased in the 1980s with the advent of the digital piano
Digital piano
A digital piano is a modern electronic musical instrument, different from the electronic keyboard, designed to serve primarily as an alternative to a traditional piano, both in the way it feels to play and in the sound produced. It is meant to provide an accurate simulation of a real piano. Some...
.
Electric upright pianos were also produced by all three manufacturers mentioned above, but Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
's CP-70 and CP80 pianos were the first to market, and are still being used by many artists today.
The band Keane uses Yamaha's CP-70 exclusively in its music and the Edge of U2 also uses one. Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
of Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
used a Yamaha CP-70 from 1978 to the late 1980s in solo and band albums and tours, as has his bandmate Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
and his former bandmate Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
. The band Tokyo Keys uses the CP-70 with guitar effects pedals and amplifiers as a key component of their sound. Aaron Morgan, from the band Seabird, also uses a CP-70.
The CP-70 may be heard distinctly on the Kansas (band)
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
song Lonely Wind from the Platinum-selling live album Two for the Show, featuring a solo by Kerry Livgren. The center photograph on inner sleeve 2 shows Livgren and his CP-70 on the right side.
The electric grand sound is part of the official General MIDI
General MIDI
General MIDI or GM is a standardized specification for music synthesizers that respond to MIDI messages. GM was developed by the MIDI Manufacturers Association and the Japan MIDI Standards Committee and first published in 1991...
specification.
Helpinstill models
- Roadmaster 64 (64-note upright)
- Roadmaster 88 (88-note upright)
- Portable Grand (88-note grand)
Kawai models
- EP-608 (76-note upright)
- EP-705M (75-note upright with MIDI output)
- EP-308 (88 note grand)
- EP-308M (as EP-308 but with MIDI output)
Yamaha models
- CP-60M (76-note upright with MIDI output)
- CP-70 (73-note grand)
- CP-70B (like CP-70 with revised action and electronics including balanced outputs)
- CP-70D (like CP-70B; 73-key grand with 7-band graphic equalizer rather than Bass/Mid/Treble controls)
- CP-70M (like CP-70D; 73-key grand with MIDI output)
- CP-80 (88-note grand)
- CP-80B (like CP-80 with revised action and electronics including balanced outputs)
- CP-80D (like CP-80B; 88-key grand with 7-band graphic equalizer rather than Bass/Mid/Treble controls)
- CP-80M (like CP-80D; 88-key grand with MIDI OUT)
