What piano should I buy similar to Chris's one?

 

I have like 2000€ for a piano, would like one similar to Chris's.

Well, it depends on what you want. Chris used a Yamaha GT-20 hybrid piano (discontinued now though) from AROBTTH thru MX. Considering you defined the currency as Euros, you might be able to find a used Yamaha GT-20 around Europe -- check ebay or any other auction sites. Yamaha has recently released a similar/updated version of the hybrid piano -- the Yamaha NU1, it has all the same features such as a real upright acoustic action, digital piano samples, however the physical appearance is a bit different than the GT-20. I own a NU1 and I have been very pleased with it.

 

Chris is now using a Disklavier/Silent U1 from Ghost Stories onward (to the most recent show at Itunes Festival, he is still using it). This is an actual 48" Acoustic Upright with the ability to play digital samples.

 

So really there are two you can choose from if you want to get as close to what he is playing as possible. I'm not sure if 2k Euros would be enough for either - I live in North America so I can't help you there, but those are the models you should be looking at if you want similarity.

Whatever you choose, don't forget to draw/stick an MTF sign on it ! ;)

You can get the "Giant," from Native Instruments for a lot less. Kidding but also seriously. In a live setting, his piano is really just a very expensive midi keyboard. Although I admit, the visual with the one he's using lately is really beautiful. But it's not as if they're using mic's on it or anything.

Whatever you choose, don't forget to draw/stick an MTF sign on it ! ;)

 

I read this and was like, why would it make sense to put a Monday Night Football sticker on it? Sometimes I get tired of being stupid hah

I read this and was like, why would it make sense to put a Monday Night Football sticker on it? Sometimes I get tired of being stupid hah

 

LOL

Well, it depends on what you want. Chris used a Yamaha GT-20 hybrid piano (discontinued now though) from AROBTTH thru MX. Considering you defined the currency as Euros, you might be able to find a used Yamaha GT-20 around Europe -- check ebay or any other auction sites. Yamaha has recently released a similar/updated version of the hybrid piano -- the Yamaha NU1, it has all the same features such as a real upright acoustic action, digital piano samples, however the physical appearance is a bit different than the GT-20. I own a NU1 and I have been very pleased with it.

 

Chris is now using a Disklavier/Silent U1 from Ghost Stories onward (to the most recent show at Itunes Festival, he is still using it). This is an actual 48" Acoustic Upright with the ability to play digital samples.

 

So really there are two you can choose from if you want to get as close to what he is playing as possible. I'm not sure if 2k Euros would be enough for either - I live in North America so I can't help you there, but those are the models you should be looking at if you want similarity.

 

Thanks for the advice, the NU1 looks nice. What are the differences between the NU1 and the GT-20? Is it just comestic? Also, it's not as recent as you made it out to be in your reply, since this piano has been out since 2012.

Is this the piano? http://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_nu_1_hybrid_piano.htm

 

The Disklavier/Silent U1 is more than $15000, so that's a bit on the expensive side.

You can get the "Giant," from Native Instruments for a lot less. Kidding but also seriously. In a live setting, his piano is really just a very expensive midi keyboard. Although I admit, the visual with the one he's using lately is really beautiful. But it's not as if they're using mic's on it or anything.

 

Speaking of plugins, are there any plugins out there that emulate the sound from the Kawai Chris had? I know there was someone here that was putting it together with the sounds for Trouble, The Hardest Part, Fix You, etc, but never got around to see it.

 

Is there anything public yet?

Whatever you choose, don't forget to draw/stick an MTF sign on it ! ;)

 

Do you think I would forget about that? :D

Thanks for the advice, the NU1 looks nice. What are the differences between the NU1 and the GT-20? Is it just comestic? Also, it's not as recent as you made it out to be in your reply, since this piano has been out since 2012.

Is this the piano? http://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_nu_1_hybrid_piano.htm

 

The Disklavier/Silent U1 is more than $15000, so that's a bit on the expensive side.

 

It isn't just cosmetic, it has Yamaha's CFX Concert Grand piano samples, and 256 polyphony compared to 32 polyphony of the GT20 -- that's irrelevant if you plan on using soundbanks via midi though.

 

What you're paying for with a hybrid is the actual acoustic action in a case that doesn't weigh over 400 lbs. I've owned an acoustic console upright in the past, and there is virtually no difference in feel between the two, which is amazing. I don't think I could go back to playing a middle of the road digital piano -- I've been spoiled. I also like being able to play with headphones on, which is a very important feature for me. I am younger as well, and potentially on the move. Moving the NU1 to a different location wouldn't be as much of a hassle as it would be with an acoustic upright. Not to mention, no tuning necessary as far as pitch goes, the action needs tuning I believe every five years or so.

 

Those are some of the advantages to the NU1/hybrid technology, but there are some disadvantages, mainly, that no matter what, you can't replicate the sound of an acoustic piano. You can get extremely close, but digitally created sound blasting from a speaker doesn't wrap and envelope you like the sound of a true acoustic does. You also don't get the vibrations in the keys like you do on an upright. I really do miss the encompassing sound from my upright -- there's nothing like it, but it depends on what factors you find most valuable for your set of circumstances.

 

And yes, the link you posted is the NU1.