Some people love retro gear, including the old Yamaha CP-70/80. For awhile they became a little unpopular and got stored away in back rooms and garages. It seemed they were only used in studios or by bigger named bands that could afford roadies and the maintenance, although it was less than a regular acoustic grand. Digital pianos and samplers improved greatly, and the poor old CP-70/80 was gradually replaced by these lighter, far more compact, and essentially maintenance-free instruments.

It seems to have renewed it's popularity lately, and the biggest reason is the piano's action, which fundamentally feels exactly like a fine Yamaha grand piano...because, basically it is.

Plus, some people want them in their music videos because they look cool, a sort of strange combination of retro and futuristic design.

One of the music teachers at our Yamaha School of Music owned a CP-80 that he used to teach on. I played it quite often, and it was pumped through two big Yamaha powered speaker cabinets (the ones with the white 15" speakers and horns). He wanted it because when we were off for the summer, he had it put in his summer home. It was quite a bit easier than lugging a full sized grand.

One thing for sure...they were quality instruments throughout...no cutting corners, and they tend to last a very long time if maintained properly.

Kawai also made their own version of the electric grand, and, it too was a very well made and bulky instrument...they even made a really unique see-through model of Plexiglas, but the CP-70/80 seemed to be the more common choice.

Ian