Yamaha YPG525 88-Key Portable Grand Keyboard
88 piano-style keys and 6-track sequencer.
Overall User Ratings (based on 69 ratings)
Submitted August 31, 2007 by a customer from cwnet.com
"THE PERFECT ALL AROUND 'BOARD FOR ME!"
Verified Purchaser
zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.
I researched for quite awhile before settling on the YPG-525. I'm not really a piano player, but I do play piano, strings, horn stuff, and other sounds as needed. They all seem to be there, and sound very good. I gave up the B-3 years ago for polyphonic synths, and graduated to workstation stuff while doing a single or duo for many years. Now I am back in a band and went back to my roots with the organist thing. I'm enjoying that very much, but my old workstation's sounds were pale in quality stacked with the Korg CX-3. The old board also wasn't weighted at all and made uneven sound with pianos and other sounds. The 525 is perfect for me and should be around for years. I had one old analog ARP for more than 25 years. We'll see if this makes it that long!
Sound
Most of the sounds are really good, especially the piano. The organs are just ok, but I have a Korg CX-3, so no worries.
Features
Would be nice to have a modulation wheel, and some programability in the sounds, but otherwise easy to access and use the features. I don't understand the USB/MIDI. Do I need an adapter? How do I hook it up to my old MIDI sequencer? If you want real piano weighted action buy the YPG-625. Otherwise they are identical except for that and the wood trim. As an organist vs. pianist I like the action. I played a 625 and it made my arms and hands hurt after awhile. I like the lightly weighted action. It works for me!
Ease of Use
The majority of the sounds are great just as they came. Programming my own presets was easy. I had an old PSR keyboard for many years so many things were intuitive. Very easily playable. I'll never use the Educational stuff though.
Quality
Really seems to be well built, very solid. It's not at heavy as I thought for an 88 note keyboard. I ordered a hardshell case, so it will be well cared for.
Value
I got a blem, so it is a 10. The only thing that showed blem was the box it came in. Everything was there and most of it looked like it had never been unpacked. For the price/sounds/features this is a 10!
Manufacturer Support
Haven't needed any help with this keyboard, but their website was a great help in making my decision what to buy. In the past Yamaha has been fairly good with support.
The Wow Factor
This is a very clean professional looking unit. The wood trim on the 625 would have been nice in pairing with my CX-3, but I didn't want the heavier weighted action. I never had an 88 key board before. I like it, especially when it comes to using splits. The sounds will more than replace the sounds from the board it replaced. It looks good on stage on my keyboard stand and most people who see and hear it think I paid four times as much!
Musical Background:
41 years Pro keyboards, sound and recording engineer
Musical Style:
60's Rock roots, Blues, Jazz, Variety
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