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I love the sound of Elton's Yamaha, but everytime I try a Yamaha in a store, it just doesn't sound like his... take a quick look at the beginning of this video to really get a feel of the sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCNqIBpO2ho

Could anyone with better ears help me out and let me know what kind of "sound" is going on here, and maybe what pianos have this sound that I could get my hands on, whether it be acoustic or digital?

Thanks!

That piano sounded very weird, bright and digitalish. I don't like it. I've never played a Yamaha sound like that.

I wouldn't know how to describe this sound except to say it's bright, and no doubt being processed/ampified/mixed (you name it) by very costly electronic equipment.
It's not exactly to my liking, and I'm pleased that my acoustic piano doesn't sound that way.
However when playing my Yamaha PF1000 digital piano, on selecting one of the 2 'Bright Piano' voices, and layering with 'Midi Grand' voice, I get a sound which is not unlike the one you refer to, but richer and warmer - especially when monitored through Grado SR80 headphones.

The piano is a CFIIIS. The recording is awfully buzzy, which is a function of the miking or the record itself, not the piano.

Elton's pianos (indeed, CFIIIS's) are always special editions -- packed with equipment which helps to deliver the stage sound Sir. John requires for touring. Unplugged, off stage, they are hardly usable as pianos. But on-stage, plugged in, they do just as needed. Even the touch is customized. Each piano is named -- one famous one (now-retired) being "Diana", named for the late British Royal.

James

My piano tuner works on a lot of pianos used in studios on Nashville's Music Row. She complains that the artists and engineers want the studio pianos tuned so bright they no longer sound like pianos when played. She thinks the sound is even worse once recorded.

Dear JBeck,

If your self esteem isn't totally wrecked by the responses to your question, you are a strong person indeed. Obviously, likes and dislikes when it comes to piano sounds are very subjective. So, take heart and see if you can find that special sound that you're looking for.

Best regards,

I'm curious about this... could you explain further?

Sounded great to me.....until he opened his big mouth.

Haha! That was a good one.

He is a genious. We can't even get close to his world. I believe that kind of talent comes at a price though.

I like the sound of his 'piano' I just enjoy the sound, without having to compare it with this or that.

I don't think it's a great sound in that video and I wonder if it sounds better when you're there. But, that said:

It sounds like there's an electronic pickup. Helpinstill pickups are electronic pickups that slide under the strings for example.

This makes the soundboard a bit less of a factor since the sound is coming from the strings directly (but the soundboard is still a factor in how the strings vibrate of course just like the body of an electric guitar is still important). They produce a thinner, but more clear, cutting sound than regular micing.

They sound best when used together with mics. Like in this recording:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QgqRdbpA7Y&feature=channel

They cost a few hundred bucks. Helpinstill himself has some videos up you can search for that demonstrate the system.

Even taking into account that it's a You Tube clip, in my opinion the piano sound in that Elton John performance is very poor. It almost sounds like a toy. It's odd since he obviously has the means to get a very nice piano sound in a live setting.

Here' a clip from a show that Elton produces with an acoustic piano performance by Diana Krall. Quite a difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM1ZE86Y2qY

That's a jazz combo though and the other one's more rock. They might have to pull some of the body out of the sound in order to make it audible against the rock.

Maybe that has something to do with it because when she's playing her piano isn't against a backdrop of electric guitars and such. She's also playing in a studio as opposed to an arena or stadium.

Sure. The instruments used in pop situations like this can be so totally packed with gear that sans amps and plugs, the instrument isn't setup to sound like much. But used in the setting for which it is intended it can become an incendiary musical tool and very exciting.

Not to beleaguer this too much but perhaps someone could enlighten me since I'm not an audio engineer. I understand that it might be necessary to thin out the piano sound once the rock band joins in, but the first half of the Elton John song is solo piano. Would it not be possible for the engineers to adjust the EQ so the piano sounds better at the beginning and then cross fade to a different setting as required? Am I the only one who thinks that when the piano is by itself it sounds woefully thin?

The Krall clip was recorded at the Apollo theater in a live setting so it's certainly possible to get a rich full sounding piano in front of a large audience that sounds pretty close to a studio recording. To get that sound does the microphone setup preclude the brighter, thinner sound that would fit into a rock mix?

HooDoo:
I'm not qualified to comment on Sir John's taste or direction in sound, but whatever sound is heard at his concerts is by his direction. Yamaha makes the pianos to suit, and his own crew does the voicing and technical setup. Ms. Krall is a jazz pianist whose natural setting would be piano alone, with an emphasis on the acoustic properties of piano and voice. Sir. John is a stalwart of pop/rock, and the intent is just different.

To me, this sounds like a digital piano. The type of tone and sustain is more similar to what I have heard on various digitals. You might try some of the more popular ones and see if any of these suit your tastes.

Hop

If you liked the sound that much Im not sure that you could customize like uim but always keep in mind a technician can voice the piano anyway you like.