What piano did Toto use on Hold the Line?

Toto used a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano on "Hold the Line." The CP-70 was an electric piano that used real strings and hammers with electromagnetic pickups, giving it a unique sound that bridged acoustic and electric pianos.

How to get Toto Hold the Line piano sound?

To recreate the piano sound, you need a bright piano tone (ideally CP-70 samples) processed through vintage-style chorus with moderate depth and rate. Add slight compression to even out dynamics and EQ to emphasize the high frequencies for clarity.

What effects did Toto use on the piano in Hold the Line?

The main effect used was a Roland CE-1 chorus pedal, which added the characteristic width and movement to the piano sound. Some compression was also likely used during recording to help the piano sit better in the mix.

Is the Yamaha CP-70 the same as a regular electric piano?

No, the CP-70 was unique because it used real piano strings struck by hammers, then amplified with electromagnetic pickups. This gave it more acoustic piano character compared to other electric pianos of the era that used different sound generation methods.

Can you play Hold the Line piano sound with a regular keyboard?

Yes, modern stage pianos and software plugins often include CP-70 samples that can get you very close to the original sound. Pair these with a vintage-style chorus effect to recreate the full tone from the recording.

piano from "hold the line" by toto

hold the line

toto

piano

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Tone Profile

A bright, slightly compressed piano sound with a touch of chorus, providing a solid foundation for the song's harmonic structure. It's got a clear attack and a sustained resonance that blends well with the other instruments.

Shop This Rig

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Yamaha CP-70(instrument)
Roland CE-1(processing)

The Story

The piano sound on Toto's "Hold the Line" was created using a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano processed through a Roland CE-1 chorus pedal. The CP-70 was a popular studio instrument in the late 70s that used real hammers and strings with electromagnetic pickups to capture an acoustic piano's characteristics while being more portable than a full grand piano. The Roland CE-1 chorus added width and movement to the sound.

Production Credits

Producer: Toto

Engineer: Greg Ladanyi

Recorded at: Studio 55, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Yamaha CP-70Shop on Reverb

Processing: Roland CE-1Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a bright piano sound, either acoustic or sampled.
Use a chorus effect with moderate depth and rate to add a sense of width and movement.
Slight compression can help even out the dynamics and make the piano sit better in the mix.
EQ to taste, focusing on the high frequencies for clarity and presence.

Original Gear

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Yamaha CP-70Shop on Reverb(keyboard)
Roland CE-1Shop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Nord Piano 5Shop on Reverb$3500-$4000

Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano

Includes authentic CP-70 samples and modeling that captures the original's unique hammer-and-string character with built-in effects

Boss CE-2W Waza Craft ChorusShop on Reverb$180-$220

Alternative to: Roland CE-1 chorus pedal

Modern recreation of vintage Boss chorus circuits with similar lush, wide modulation characteristics to the CE-1

Arturia V Collection CP-70 VPlugin Boutique$50-$100

Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 + Roland CE-1 combination

Detailed software emulation of the CP-70 with built-in vintage chorus effects that recreate the exact tonal characteristics

Yamaha CP88Shop on Reverb$1500-$1800

Alternative to: Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano

Modern Yamaha stage piano with dedicated CP-70 samples and the company's deep knowledge of their original instrument's sound

TC Electronic Corona ChorusShop on Reverb$80-$120