Yamaha CP-80

The Yamaha CP-80 is an electric piano used by Prince in the mid-1980s. It features a full piano frame with strings and hammers but uses a pickup to amplify the sound. Prince used a purple CP-80 on the 1999 and Purple Rain tours. Dr Fink discussed Prince's use of this CP-80 in the January 1991 issue of Keyboard magazine.

Unlike other electric pianos, the CP-80 is notable for having actual strings, amplified by a pickup. This proved to be a problem on tour as Prince liked to jump and dance on the piano. It was replaced on the Parade tour by a shell of a grand piano that contained a Yamaha KX88 controller and MKS-20 sound module. This set up proved successful and a variation of this prop appeared on most subsequent tours, including Sign O The Times tour and the Act I & II tours.