Hello I am a new user and I greet you all.

I am an organ player that plays piano as well. In the last 5 years I played on a Yamaha CLP-115 (that in 2003 was the most expensive Yamaha Clavinova I could afford). CLP-220 is the evolution of CLP-115 and as far as I understand it is the same instrument with some added capability, where the main add on isthe built in sequencer.

Now I would like to upgrade my piano. I tried GH3 and Natural Wood keyboards in a shop. I tried Natural Wood on a Modus and I really felt the difference with the GH3 (on a CLP-230 I think). My Clavinova has a GH keyboard. I also tried GHS and I felt a big gap between GHS ans GH, while the gap is smaller between GH and GH3 (in touch feeling, not sound).

I read many threads on this forum and I agree that the CLP-280 is the way to go to have a natural wood keyboard, at least if desgin is not so important!

I didn't try the CLP-280 but I tried its keyboard (Natural Wood) and I loved it. I also think that plastic black keys are not an issue, since the main difference between plastic and wood is felt on white keys.

Now... I am not in a hurry for upgrading, so I wonder if waiting for new CLP release can be an option. On this forum I read that "new CLP should be out in 1 year or more".

Why waiting for new CLP release? I think there are at least 2 reasons:
- it will be possible to find some CLP-280 of the old series at a lower price
- it will be possible to have an instrument with added realism.

Now my 2 questions:
- does anyone know which are the new features expected from the next generation of CLP-280? (so the top "no frills Clavinova") Is there a preview somewhere? Or at least a list of "known issues" that will be fixed in next release?
- I found 2500 euro the better price for a CLP-280 at www.cherubini.it (I live in Italy). Does anyone knows a better price?

Thanks in advance!

well I have the clp280 for 3 months now and I can tell you it rocks and kicks butt in every conceivable manner..2500e is a very good price by european standards, actually it is a bargain compared to what I paid for mine here in Finland (3300e) ! I say go ahead and get it ! the NW-keyboard is superb!..and the sound!

as for your questions, googeling something like "next gen clavinova" or "clp new features" will only get you information about the 295GP,F01 and maybe the Modus..so no, as far as I can tell there's no info anywhere about this yet..we'll be lucky if we know anything by next fall..

3 months ago I was also wondering if I should wait a year or so and get the new line of CLP's..
however i decided to not wait and get the clp280 because when yamaha starts selling a new line they will start with the lower-end models in that line and only start selling the high end models much later..meaning the first few models in the new line of CLPs will probably NOT be better instruments than the current flagship-model(the 280) and you might have to wait 2 years for the real DP's of that line to come to shops..

Thanks for the reply.

I understand, so I will try to find one to try it out (at the store they only had Modus and "middle range" CLP).

Thanks also for the pricing advice.

Anyway it would be nice to have a general preview of what they will do in next gen. For example if they won't modify the keyboard and work only on sound for me it would mean "buy it CLP 280 now".

Some one posted a feww weeks ago that the next gen CLP would be more like the CVP. Updated electronics etc.
I'm interested in this also.

For almost sure these things will be added:

- Internet MIDI Stream radio (Like the new F11)
- Moving keys (Like the new F11)
- USB wav recording (Like CVP-405.7.9)

Andrew.

Thanks, this is interesting. This means that next CLP 280 will be expensive, since Moving keys cost, it is not just a new small electronic part.
I would personally like to have USB wav recording, but it is not so important since it is possible to record also in another ways. So if those 3 are the new key features I can be really happy with the current version of CLP-280, since I am looking for nice sound as nice keyboard.

Does anyone know if they will improve significantly sampling or acoustic physic models?

I have also other 2 questions but I will post a new thread for that.

Is I said, there is no info whatsoever online about any of this, so anything people say here is just wishful thinking or educated guesses.Show me the yamaha website where this info has been released..err..that's right, you can't, cuz it's nowhere near out yet!

Exactly, businesses are not in the habit of announcing new releases very early because it kills the sales of existing products. Why would I buy today's product if I know newer and better is coming out in 2,3,4,5,6 months? They just announced the 635 which is a mediocre upgrade to the 625 and they announced that only 6 months before release. So we can reasonably conclude that since nothing new has been announced that it will be at least next year before we see anything that may be nearing production today. Bottom line is if you want to play a DP before this time next year, you may as well decide on what is available today. But then again, manufacturers are probably thinking two or three models down the road. So like a PC you can just keep waiting and waiting and waiting. Or you can choose what works best for you today and start playing within the week.

Hi,

I agree, my guesses are nothing else.

But I doubt that we won't be watching a new CLP before the end of the year. Next summer NAMM could be.


Other POSSIBLE features, maybe more than the moving keys:

- New improved piano samples (As CVP-405/7/9)
- Ivorite on white keys (as CVP-409)


A soundboard as the one inside Kawai CA91 would be delicious, but it may be contrary to the also great iAFC feature.


Just guessing again.

Andrew.

are moving keys a really big selling point..? it seems like a waste of money to me, but i am a digital piano n00b.

Moving keys are just for pubs and non-playing misuc aficionados, but Roland sells them from long ago and Yamaha jumped the wagon with the style piano Modus F11.


I always thought this feature comes to complete with Disklaviers, in which it really makes sense, but is just cuteness here. And Disklaviers are a step way too big.

http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha_euro...1_PB/index.html


Just what I read,

Andrew.

The Yamaha CGP-1000 (available at dealers in the Spring) has a soundboard and iAFC. So your speculation regarding a conflict between a soundboard and iAFC is answered.

Best regards,

Thanks for all the answers.

If my budget for this year will allow it I will go for the CLP-280, while if I have to wait I will see which is the "available CLP-280".

For sure I will stick to Yamaha, I like their keyboards and I had a personal intense experience with CLP-115 with 100% satisfaction.

Of course the poor bass sound due to the low power (2x20W) and the GH keyboard (not as realistic as Natural Wood) are the main (for my usage) limit of the instrument, but both aspects have been improved in CLP-280.

I personally use Grand Piano 1 sound only, switching to organ only when I need to sustain long notes (like in practicing organ pieces).

Anyway the organ sound is too unrealistic, as with all organ sounds created with more organ stops together. For a real organ simulator with amazing capabilities have a look at what I use with my organ console:

http://www.crumhorn-labs.com/

it is not a free software but it is worth every penny! I use it 2 hours per day on my midi organ console. There is a downloadble demo version that has full features but a bell plays every number of seconds "forcing" you to buy the licensed version... The software has an hardware USB key, so it is not possible to copy it.

Yamaha did NOT show a replacement for the 200 series CLP's at the January NAMM show as they usually do. It is unlikely to see anything new until the Fall at the earliest, more likely next January at the show with availability in the Spring 09, as their habit.

In Germany Musik Schmidt had recently announced the Yamaha CLP-300 series to be available in July 2008. However, this entry has now been removed (There were no technical details available anyway). So there is some speculation about whether Yamaha may show them at the Musikmesse in Frankfurt.

Certainly, Yamaha has to do something to bring their DPs to the same technical level as Roland and Kawai (string resonance below 2000€ etc.).

Some info on the new CLP300 series here .

Thanks Gerry...nice link!

I'll guess they'll do the "easy" incremental electronic upgrades, related to memory, computing power/speed, software and recording features, computer I/O options and audio power.

Of all the features I thought they'd add, I was pretty sure they'd up the levels for dynamic stereo sampling. 5 levels...I'd really like to hear that.

l's dad

Only the 380 has 5 levels - the others only have 4.