ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yamaha, the only digital manufacturer with over a century of manufacturing acoustic pianos, has upgraded its top-of-the-line slab piano, the P155, for Winter NAMM 2009. Geared toward the gigging musician who requires quality piano touch and tone, the P155 is also ideal for home use as a practice piano. Features include quality sound and a Graded Hammer Effect key action capable of building proper finger technique.

P155 Digital Piano

The keys are weighted—heavier in the lower registers and lighter in the upper notes—just like an acoustic piano. And, the P155 sounds like a real piano. The natural-sounding four-layer piano sample is a breakthrough at this price range. Depending on how hard a note is struck, one of four recordings will play, offering an unprecedented level of dynamic range and tonal expression for a digital piano. A new Damper Resonance effect emulates the real harmonic overtones of each individual note, taking acoustic realism to the next level.

"The P Series has established itself as the best-selling line of slab pianos," says Dane Madsen, Digital Piano marketing manager, Yamaha Keyboard Division. "The P155 raises the bar for the entire category with more amplification, more sample layers on the piano voice and more polyphony. And the USB song storage means that you can easily record and share more of your music than ever before."

Computer-compatible features include a songwriting tool for jotting down quick piano recordings and quickly importing them into a computer via USB input, which makes it a snap to transfer song files to a PC or Mac. It also works in the reverse: play any Standard MIDI file using the P155's incredible piano voices.

Because it takes up so little space, the P155 is ideal for customers who live in apartments. When it's time to turn up the volume, the P155 relies on built-in speakers powered by a high-efficiency stereo amplifier, but it can also be connected to an external amplifier through 1/4-in. line-level outputs with variable volume control. If volume is an issue, just plug in headphones.

The P155 features easy-to-set split and layer modes, 128-note polyphony, along with 50 built-in songs of standard piano repertoire, recorded with the right and left hands on separate tracks. The two-track song recorder is ideal for capturing ideas or reviewing performances.

The P155, which replaces the P140, will be available in three colors—Black with Mahogany trim, Silver with Cherry trim, and Black with Ebony trim—and is expected to ship in April 2009.

For more information on the P155, visit Yamaha Corporation of America at Winter NAMM 2009 in the Marquis Ballroom at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel; write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Digital Pianos, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit http://www.yamaha.com/digitalpianos.