Yamaha CLP-765GP Review

We rated the Yamaha CLP-765GP a full 10/10. From the lovely textured keys with the weight of a grand piano, spacious internal recorder, and pianoforte tones, to the cabinet (which is pure eye candy!) this professional digital piano has a lot to offer. 

Yamaha CLP-765GP Overview

The Yamaha CLP-765GP is a digital piano that is the size and shape of a baby grand. 

The Yamaha Clavinova 700 series first came out in the summer of 2020 and continues to be a popular line today. According to the maker, the CLP line of digital grands has some serious allure:

“The CLP Series of digital pianos utilizes cutting-edge technology to recreate the experience of performing on a grand piano, allowing the pianist to play the keys with many variations of speed and depth to achieve an unlimited variation in tone and create uniquely personal performances. With expressive capabilities approaching those of a grand piano, the CLP-700 Series is sure to make playing the piano so much more enjoyable than ever before.” –Usa.Yamaha

Features 

A Grand Piano’s Finesse

This piano is E-L-E-G-A-N-T. It comes in an extremely shiny white and black. When I saw it on the storefront, I was blown away by how crisp it looked. 

Internal Recorder

The 16-track recorder can hold up to 250 total songs and is easy to navigate. I love that the recorder has so many tracks because composers can layer and layer until they have an orchestral score. Oftentimes, authentic hybrid pianos like this don’t have a lot of onboard recording space or tracks. 

765GP Sounds 

The 765GO has updated grand piano samples (2) which include the Yamaha CFX tone, and the Imperial Bosendorfer. This model also includes 38 other sounds.

Other Notable Features

• IAC / Intelligent Acoustic Control
• VRM Virtual Resonance Modeling, key-off samples, etc.
• Demo songs, practice songs, piano songs
• Bluetooth MIDI and Audio
• Split, Duo, Dual
• 20 rhythms to play along to

Specifications

Specs sourced from Sweetwater.com 

• Weight: 277 pounds
• Dimensions: 
• Height: 62″
• Width: 56.3″
• Depth: 48.6″
• Pedal inputs: 1
• Song Playback: 21 voice demos, 50 classics
• Number of Lesson Songs: 303 lesson songs (SMF)

Who is it suitable for?

The CLP-765 is best suited for musicians who are looking for that baby-grand feel and sound without taking up quite so much space. This stunning instrument is unique: it fits upper intermediate and pro classical pianists who are looking to really take their playing to the next level. I think that piano composers and pro pianists will love this compact instrument. 

Yamaha CLP-765 In Action

Check out this video with Alamo to get a better feel for the CLP-765GP.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• It has the look of a grand piano 
• This digital instrument comes without the maintenance costs or hassle of an acoustic
• It costs far less than a baby grand (acoustic) 
• It’s compact compared to most baby grands (acoustic) 
• The high-end sounds beautiful and dainty
• Included grand piano samples (The upgraded Yamaha CFX, Imperial Bosendorfer) 
• The recorder has a lot of layers and space!
• The fortepiano voices allow you to recreate pianos of old

You don’t have to pay for a piano tuner to get the sound and feel of a grand piano- At least not anymore! Some of my favorite aspects of the CLP-765GP include the dainty high range, CFX and Bosendorfer samples, fortepiano tones, and its elegant grand piano look. 

Cons

• Conversely, it’s one of the biggest digital grand pianos in Yamaha’s line
• Similarly, at 277 pounds, it is extremely hard to move! 
• The low-end isn’t as good as the high end 

The first time I ever touched a CLP-765GP was this past weekend. I struck a chord in the high range and gasped! But as I worked my way down to the low register, I noticed there was a bit of a lack of power. If you want the booming lows of acoustic Yamaha’s, sadly, you won’t find it here. While this piano sounds amazing I still believe you can only get that kind of power in an acoustic instrument- At least in 2033. 

That being said, Yamaha’s hybrid digital pianos come close. 

One other, more subjective con is that the CLP-765GP is quite large. I couldn’t imagine moving it with less than 3 people.  It’s not a space-saver like some other digital grands, so keep this in mind when making your list of instruments to check out in the brick-and-mortar store. 

Comparable Instruments

• Yamaha CLPs such as the 775GP, 785GP, and 795GP
• Yamaha Acoustic Baby Grands

The most similar instruments you’re going to find are the 775, 785, and 795 models. I’d recommend the 795 if you’re looking for something a lot more professional. Yamaha CLP795 is two notches above the 765GP, and costs about 9/10 thousand dollars. In this upgraded 700 models, you get touch sensor control and 4 (versus 2) fortepiano voices, one of the new ones being a recreation of Scarlatti’s piano.

Yamaha acoustic baby can cost as much as a house down payment here in the midwest- That is to say that oftentimes, they’re $25,000. Aside from the 795, and other members of the CLP line, the only other comparable instruments are acoustic pianos by the same maker. 

Quick View 

CLP-765GP: Conclusion

In conclusion, the CLP-765GP is a lovely pro-level baby grand that suits the needs of a wide range of players. It’s a very expensive digital piano- But it plays as close to an acoustic grand piano as today’s technology allows, making it well worth it. 

Music quote of the week: “If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music.”  -Kurt Vonnegut