Review: Yamaha YC88 – Stage Keyboard with Drawbars and Weighted Keys

A hybrid of drawbar organ and stage piano, the Yamaha YC88 s is a strong competitor to the Nord Stage, widely regarded as the benchmark for live keyboards. While Yamaha’s stage keyboard shares many core features with its competitor, it sets itself apart with unique touches—and a more affordable price tag.

However, it’s important not to underestimate that the term ‘lower price’ still places the Yamaha YC88 well above the €3,000 mark. Let’s be clear: This instrument is firmly in the professional league. Anyone considering the Yamaha YC88 is looking for an uncompromisingly high-quality instrument.

Stage Keyboard vs. Stage Piano

With its 88-key Natural Wood Graded Hammer (NW-GH3) keyboard, the Yamaha YC88 plays just like the Yamaha CP88 stage piano. In addition, Yamaha offers a technically identical 73-key version known as the Yamaha YC73. Both “stage piano” models were preceded by a 61-key variant featuring a waterfall keyboard typical of organs.

While this sums up the technical differences between the instruments, the YC88 distinguishes itself with a playing feel akin to a high-end stage piano. There are significant conceptual differences, making it an attractive option for those who want an all-in-one instrument. However, the question of how to justify the substantial price difference of over €1,200 remains.

Yamaha YC88: A Stage Keyboard for Every Situation

The Yamaha YC88 is the ideal all-in-one solution for musicians who prefer a streamlined stage keyboard setup. With its sophisticated drawbar organ section, the YC Series is the perfect choice for live performances. Whether you’re playing organ, piano, or synthesizer, all YC models are designed to deliver the right sound for any moment. Each of the three YC models combines three different sound engines:

• VCM: Yamaha’s Virtual Circuit Modeling technology produces realistic vintage organ sounds.
• FM: Since groundbreaking synthesizers like the legendary DX7, FM synthesis has served as an endless source of unique sounds, including iconic organs that the YC models excel at reproducing.
• AWM2: Yamaha’s AWM2 sampling technology is synonymous with clear and powerful stage piano sounds, ranging from acoustic grand pianos to classic vintage electric pianos.

The impressive polyphony of the YC stage keyboards adds to their versatility: There are 128 voices for both VCM and AWM2, with an additional 128 voices for the FM sound generation.

In total, this results in 140 sounds–ample variety for live performances. Numerous effects further enrich the selection for an authentic sound. In addition to insert effects such as chorus, phaser, flanger, drive, and rotary, there are also reverb and master EQ settings.

Live Use and Portability

When live performances are a priority, the weight of the instrument becomes crucial. Naturally, the 61-key version is the most portable, weighing in at only 7 kg. At just under 19 kg, the YC88 isn’t the lightest option available, but don’t underestimate its 88-key hammer action keyboard. It plays exceptionally well, even though it comes at a considerable weight.

Made for Performers: Play with Joy

From the moment I first played the Yamaha YC88, I was struck by the outstanding quality of its sounds. Whether playing single notes or layering multiple sounds, the sound remains consistently transparent, clear, and powerful—always motivating and inspiring.

You can both layer sound groups or split them across the keyboard. In addition, you can configure external MIDI keyboards as upper or lower manuals. This flexibility makes the YC88 a versatile option for studio setups and lets you further expand the all-in-one concept when needed. After all, playing piano sounds on a waterfall keyboard feels just as inauthentic as playing organ sounds on a weighted hammer action.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the organ sounds play on the 88 keys. Still, I prefer to avoid highly expressive vintage organ techniques on this keybed.

Master Keyboard Functions of the Yamaha YC88

The YC88’s stage-focused design is further highlighted by its master keyboard functions. These features make it easy to integrate external MIDI devices into your own Live Sets. Recalling a Live Set not only restores the sounds and effects on the YC88 but also sends corresponding MIDI commands to external devices. This seamlessly integrates their sound programs, volumes, and effects into your split and layer configurations.

The Master Keyboard functions are also handy for connecting external keyboards. For instance, this allows you to play organ sounds on a standard MIDI keyboard. If you’re considering one of the many MIDI controller keyboards available, you’ll want to choose one with nine sliders. This is especially useful for controlling the drawbars via MIDI controller numbers (#CC102-110 for the upper manual, #CC111-119 for the lower manual). Additionally, a master keyboard controller that supports reverse mode (drawbar mode) would be beneficial in this setup.

Splitting and Layering

Sound groups operate differently than the four master keyboard zones, which allow you to define any custom keyboard zone. The sound groups, on the other hand, are controlled by an adjustable split point. You can assign it to either the left or right side (split) or to both sides (layer) using the “L-R” key. The concept is intuitive and easy to grasp, as is the entire user interface of the YC88.

One detail worth mentioning is that the “Settings” menu includes options for assigning the organ section to external MIDI keyboards. While you can, for instance, route only the upper manual of the organ to an external keyboard, this can create conflicts with other sound groups. This is because the lower manual is now automatically assigned to the entire keyboard range of the YC88. This behavior is probably due to the fact that Yamaha wants to support different keyboard configurations with the YC61 than with the YC88 or YC73. As with many features, compromises are sometimes necessary.

Live Sets and Handling

With all the available features, the Yamaha YC88 offers a lot of functionality. The master keyboard functions alone require an advanced storage solution, which is where Live Sets come in. Live Sets store all the settings from the display menus and control panel, ensuring everything is ready at the push of a button during a live performance.

One thing I’ve noticed in this regard: It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the sound group settings and carefully check whether you’ve selected either the upper or lower sound group or Key A or Key B. In the heat of the moment, it’s all too easy to accidentally activate an effect when you don’t need it. While this takes a little practice to get used to, it’s still very manageable and the overall interface is quite user-friendly. Still, it’s advisable to thoroughly study the manual to learn handy shortcuts for quickly accessing key functions– an invaluable asset during live shows.

A Wide Range of Organ Sounds

If you’re a fan of vintage organs like the Hammond B3 or the iconic transistor organs of the ’60s, the Yamaha YC88 is the instrument for you. These organ sounds are reproduced using advanced modeling technology, capturing the dynamic behavior of the originals—a significant upgrade over simple sampled organ presets. You’ll get all the beloved quirks of authentic vintage sounds, with details such as vibrato/chorus, percussion, and key clicks. You can even fine-tune them to your liking!

Of course, organ sounds really come alive when using drawbars to mix the footages. The drawbars on the YC88 feel correspondingly solid and responsive. Yamaha has truly gone the extra mile here, especially considering existing drawbar systems: Each drawbar is complemented by an LED light that indicates the current configuration.

Very clever and quite stylish: Thanks to a transparent section in the drawbars, you can always clearly see the LED light. The drawbars operate with a capture function; only when the LED configuration and the physical drawbar position match do the drawbars control the footages. Finally, a drawbar system without compromises – simply top-notch!

The YC88’s organ section delivers exceptional sound quality. With a touch of drive, the rotary effect, and amp simulations, the Hammond sounds become wonderfully rich. The vintage sound, complete with leakage and key click, is also very well executed. Both organ types—electromagnetic and transistor—offer three distinct settings with slightly different characters for a versatile range of organ sounds.

The Keys Section: Pianos & More

The YC88 distinguishes between the ORGAN and KEYS sections, with the latter containing two independent sound groups: Key A and Key B. You can adjust all key settings directly from the control panel. This effectively eliminates the need to navigate using extensive display menus. In addition, you can apply up to two insert effects to each sound group in the Keys section.

Combining sounds during rehearsals, adjusting split points, volumes, and effect intensities–it’s all quick and straightforward. Simply select the desired sound group with “Keys A/B” and make adjustments using the illuminated knobs and buttons.

The sound selection remains consistent for each sound group. Accessible via the selector switch, the sounds are divided into four categories: Piano, Electric Piano, Synth, and Other– in short, everything needed for high-quality keyboard sounds. As a brilliant, powerful concert grand sound, the CFX Grand stands out among the acoustic pianos. It offers both the dynamics and expressiveness needed for live performances. The S700 and C7 are further essential variations, while the Yamaha U1 Upright Piano represents an expressive, characterful option.

While the acoustic piano sounds may not have the same level of intricate details as Yamaha’s Clavinova series, such subtleties—like damper noise—aren’t always necessary or may even be distracting in live settings. However, the lack of sympathetic resonance is a noticeable omission, as this is typically expected in modern stage pianos. However, the YC88 highlights other sonic details. A true highlight is the additional sounds, comparable to Yamaha’s Montage workstation. Whether you’re creating split combinations with a bass sound or layering pads, strings, and more, all sounds are well-balanced, offering a powerful yet transparent mix.

Easy Connectivity: Yamaha YC88/73/61

Yamaha’s YC Series makes it easy to connect audio computers or tablets via USB. These stage keyboards communicate bi-directionally with recording software without the need for extra audio cables. If you’re using an audio computer or music app on an iPad alongside the YC88 on stage, you can connect them via USB.

This allows all virtual sound sources to merge into one central instrument–all possible thanks to Yamaha YC88’s built-in audio/MIDI interface. With 44.1 kHz/24-bit sampling rates, the YC models easily integrate into recording environments. For recording purposes, they can even send their own sounds via USB to the audio tracks of a DAW.

When it comes to connectivity, the Yamaha YC88 has you covered: Unbalanced jack and balanced XLR audio outputs, stereo inputs, two footswitch jacks, separate inputs for a sustain pedal and assignable switch, plus USB-to-host and USB-to-device ports.

Yamaha YC88 in Comparison

YC88 vs. YC73: The main difference between these two models lies in the keyboard, and it’s not just about the number of keys. The YC73 features a Balanced Hammer Standard keyboard, which differs from the YC88 in that it lacks synthetic ebony/ivory keytops and wooden elements on the white keys.

YC88 vs. YC61: As with the YC73, the technical features are largely the same as the YC88. However, the YC61 has a 61-key waterfall-style keyboard, typical for organ playing. If your primary focus is on organ performance, the YC61 is a solid option. Pairing it with an external keyboard, such as a piano master keyboard, could make for an ideal setup.

Yamaha CP88 vs. YC88: At first glance, the price difference of around €1,200 may seem high, especially since the organ section seems to be the only major difference. In fact, the feature set is quite similar, with master keyboard functions, connectivity options, and more.

But let’s take a quick look at what we actually have. While both the YC88 and CP88 use Yamaha’s proven AWM2 sound engine for piano sounds, the YC88 also incorporates two additional sound engines: FM and Physical Modeling. This combination results in a completely different polyphony performance. The YC88 also features an advanced drawbar system. In combination, these features absolutely justify the higher price.

Conclusion: Made for (More Than) the Stage

Not only does the YC88 have a vintage design, but it also delivers an authentic sound. Vintage organs and electric pianos capture a truly dynamic expressiveness. However, there’s much more here, including modern sounds that rival the Montage workstations. Not to mention, the acoustic piano sounds are on par with the CP88 stage piano.

While Clavia’s Nord Stage series offers more specialized features and excels in certain details, the top-tier stage keyboards now face strong competition from the YC models. Yamaha takes a different approach, offering a superior keyboard and practical features like an integrated audio/MIDI interface. All in all, the YC88 is an ideal companion for audio computers or mobile devices.

Yamaha YC88 – Overview

Release date: 01.2021
Polyphony: 128 voices (VCM / AWM2) + 128 voices (FM)
Keyboard: 88-key Natural Wood Graded Hammer (NW-GH, YC88); 73-key Balanced Hammer Standard (BHS, YC73), 61-key Waterfall keyboard (YC61)
Manufacturer/Distributor: Yamaha