The Yamaha Clavinova CLP 400 Series:For “Piano Purists” (Who Still Want Those Fun Digital Features!)

Yamaha’s Clavinova CLP 400 series digital pianos meets two distinct needs. On the one hand, the pianos are outfitted with very cool, cutting-edge enhanced digital technologies. On the otherhand, they provide clean, elegant piano design and craftsmanship.
The line between the traditional upright and the digital keyboard is blurring faster than ever.  A few years ago, a digital piano was obviously a digital piano and classical upright was obviously a classical upright. But pianos like Yamaha’s Clavinova CLP 400 models are hybrids, through and through. For instance, consider the panel reveal key cover, which “discreetly hides all panel buttons, removing any visible sign of technology, giving the console models a more classic, acoustic upright look.”

Yamaha itself admits it’s aiming for a classical design and appearance in its digital pianos. The manager of the company’s electronic keyboard marketing, Dane Madsen, had this to say: “in addition to its technological enhancements, [the new CLP line] has raised the bar as to just how close the digital piano can look like an acoustic piano.”

Here are some of the cool “bells and whistles” (so to speak) that distinguish the 400 models from earlier digital pianos, such the classic 1983 Clavinova (seems like eons ago, doesn’t it?):

• USB audio recorder to capture and document performances and piano lessons.
• Intelligent acoustic control function to change EQ tone control.
• 88 levels of gradations from top to bottom (CLP 470 and 480 models) through a feature called graded linear hammer – that’s a lot of subtlety and a lot of “pianoforte” – a close approximation of the dynamic capacity that true acoustic pianos can deliver.
• Weighted pianos style keys.

If you are in the market for a Clavinova CLP 400 series piano, talk to the Bay Area’s most respected authorized Yamaha piano dealer, Pianos Plus. For nearly four decades – we’ve been around since well before the original Clavinova digital piano! – we have served teachers, composers, students, and musicians of every caliber and interest level. Our staff is knowledgeable, professional, and extremely enthusiastic, and we are able to provide exceptional value because we own our own buildings and thus we can outprice our competitors easily and is worth an extra drive.

Learn more about the Pianos Plus difference at www.pianosplus.com, or call us regarding your digital, acoustic, or hybrid piano needs at 510-581-1660.