Yamaha Design “Synapses” CP4 STAGE/CP40 STAGE

2013 / STAGE PIANOS

The latest stage pianos to bear the renowned "CP" brand.

Timeless

Launched in 1976, the CP-70 (shown in background here) established the professional stage piano all on its own. The CP4 STAGE and CP40 STAGE carry forward the essence of the original CP-70, in a form suited to today’s music scene. The intuitive connection that players develop with these instruments through hard use is universal to fine instruments of any period.

Professional

A substantial vertical wall rises at the back of the keyboard to give the instrument a piano-like aspect, in contrast to the sloping flat surfaces of a synthesizer. This stepped surface reduces the chances of unintended contact with the control panel when playing, so the player can focus on the performance—especially important on the stage, when mistakes are unacceptable.

Tactile

A wood keyboard that is pleasant to touch, a hairline-patterned silver stripe that evokes the CP-70, and leather texture beyond the control panel. The use and placement of different materials and textures engage the performer’s visual and tactile senses, adding an extra dimension to the instrument’s expression.

Dual-View

The keyboard creates a sense of presence appropriate to the stage, with a radiused edge accentuating the sides. Viewed from the rear, that edge groups the output jacks while recalling the indentation on the CP-70. The radiused edge also reflects spotlights on stage, giving the instrument the visual appeal that a member of the CP family deserves.

Jose González: Designer; Yamaha Design Laboratory

Working to create the latest version of the legendary CP stage piano.

The CP-70 (introduced in 1976) and CP-80 (introduced in 1978) electric grand pianos are even today regarded as benchmarks by musicians worldwide. The new CPs—the CP4 STAGE and CP40 STAGE—inherit the core concept of their predecessors, and possess the timbre and functionality to stand out in today’s musical contexts.
Our design priorities were to balance the CP tradition with newness, that is, to add accents to a simple shape that conveyed the impression of a piano and of a CP. For example, a grand piano viewed from the side has a step between the keyboard and music stand—we used a two-layer design to evoke that and convey the impression of a piano. The CP-70 and CP-80 have a distinctive trapezoidal shape on their backs, and we emulated that with a C-shaped contour that surrounds the output jacks on the back.
This gives the CP4 STAGE and CP40 STAGE their characteristic form that is accentuated under stage lights without seeming forced. These instruments inherit the understated style from earlier CPs, keeping the focus on the performer while maintaining their own solid presence, and combining that with thoroughly up-to-date sound and functionality, balancing classic CP qualities with modernity in a way that we hope will establish these new models as benchmarks for a new generation.