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PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby Rusty Mike » 31 May 2017, 22:23

I purchased a Nord Stage 2EX 76 in November 2016 as an update to my Nord Electro 3HP. Weight and portability are very important to me, and the Nord keyboards with the HP actions provide great light weight with a very playable piano action. I carry the Electro in Nord’s older 73 keyboard bag, which keeps the weight down and still provides a decent (but not great) level of protection. My thought was that I could find a similar light weight gig bag for the Stage, which lead to a lot of disappointment.

As many of you know, the Nord 76 Key Stage is an odd size compared to competitors products. Nord keyboards are generally shorter than their competitors’ products, as Nord does not use an end cheek block for modulation and pitch controls. Finding a gig bag with an appropriate width (a tad over 44” in this case), is very difficult, as the selection is extremely limited. I had settled on Nord’s own 76 wheels cased, which expensive, heavy and cumbersome for my use. As a result, I’m reluctant to take the Stage out of the house, and have kept the Electro for rehearsals and gigs, despite wanting to sell it to offset the cost of the Stage purchase.

I found Fusion Bags in my research, and discovered that their Keyboard 07 gig bag the is the perfect size for the Stage. The bag is light, protective and has enough clever features to make it appealing. The only problem was that I could not find a dealer here in the U.S. with it in stock. It turns out that U.S. retailers keep only a few models from Fusion’s keyboard line available, and the 07 model is not one of them. I decided to take a chance and called Fusion Bags in the UK order directly from them. They were very nice, the bag was affordable even with the shipping and arrived in only a few days.

This was a smart purchase! The Stage fits in the bag very well. Fusion provides small foam blocks to modify the interior of the bag, and two blocks at the lower end of the back made the fit perfect. The padding is not super thick, but it’s a denser foam than in Nord’s bag, so I feel confident that the Stage will not suffer from any dings as I make my way through doors and up the stairs. There is a great backpack setup on it, and the straps tuck away when not in use. The carry handle lengthens to a shoulder strap, so no extra latch-on strap is required. A clever trick is that the carry/shoulder strap tucks away under a flap if you decided to use the backpack feature.

There are multiple “handles” at the ends and other convenient places on the outside of the bag. The handles are actually sewn into the fabric and then re-enforced for strength; there are no external hardware handles to stress and break off. Very neat design thinking here.

There are two external pockets for your stuff. The larger pocket is long and wide enough to accommodate Nord’s music rest, while the other can take things like cables and such. My only criticism is that I wish the larger pocket expanded outward just a bit more, as the fit for the music rest is just a tad tight.

There are other thoughtful touches such as re-enforced beading on the corners, a rugged material on the bottom to help against water damage and scrapes and a nice plush lining with a protective blanket that straps the instrument in place for transport. Best of all, it’s super light! I can get in and out of gigs quickly with my Nord Stage safely tucked inside.

Time will tell, but I hope this bag lasts a good long time. It’s much sturdier than Nord’s soft bag, and I’ve gotten several years of use out of that, so I’m looking forward to a long relationship with the Fusion Keyboard bag. I’ve used the bag on a couple of gigs now, and am very happy with it. I will be taking the Stage out a lot more now, and it looks like I have a Nord wheeled keyboard bag to sell!
Mike from Central NJ, USA
Tools: Ten fingers, two feet, middle-age brain, questionable judgement and taste
Nords: Piano 5 73, Stage 2EX 76 HP, Electro 6D 73
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag


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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby cphollis » 01 Jun 2017, 02:59

Thanks for the review. Amazing what's out there when you go looking abroad. That being said, I have Nord's bag for my NS2 76, and I haven't had as much hate for it as you have. Yes, it was expensive (relatively speaking) but it's doing the job with no complaints from me.

And I do like red :)
I think I have gear issues ....
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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby Quai34 » 01 Jun 2017, 08:02

S..T, I was almost sold on a Gator gig bag after reading bad reviews about the Nord Gig bag and now, I will have to postpone the purchase and look again about another option....Just kidding, thanks a lot for the info.
Sincerely
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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby danrv » 01 Jun 2017, 12:26

I have the Nord soft case for my NS2 76 and it's holding up very well. Only the mid grab handle rubber tube on the underside has broken in half but can still use it.
I think they're made pretty well, offer excellent protection and are model specific. Don't really want to using foam blocks
to make up extra space.
I got the case thrown in when I bought the NS2 but would have bought one anyway.
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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby Rusty Mike » 01 Jun 2017, 13:49

I have no love at all for the Nord 76 case. It's not related to the quality discussion currently going on in another thread. It's all about the bulk. The quality of the bag seems to be no better or worse than other gig bags I've seen.

I play big band and small combo jazz. Quick in and out is very important to me. It's only the rarest of occasions that I ever bring more then one keyboard.

One of the big bands rehearses in a banquet room upstairs from a bar, and it's a pretty long long staircase. The Electro has been great since the total weight with the bag is less than 30 pounds. I use the K&M 18880 keyboard stand, which is only 4 pounds. I have a way to nestle the stand over the handle of the keyboard bag so I can carry it with one hand. Accessories go in a backpack, and I carry my QSC K8 in the other hand. It's literally one trip.

The Stage 2EX 76 is only 3 pounds heavier than the Electro, and with the additional capability, it seemed the perfect upgrade. But that bulky case has been a huge deterrent to me; I didn't even want to take it out of the house and feel like I wasted a lot of money on the Stage. The combined weight is 43 pounds, and I've lost the ability to nestle the stand over the case. I now have to either do some kludgey bungee strapping or make a separate trip. It has really killed the light weight, quick in and out of the old setup. Because of the wheels, the weight distribution of the bag is awful, and it's impossible to stand it on end.

Maybe for those of you with different load in/out techniques, it makes more sense. It just doesn't work for me.

This Fusion bag is a savior. I can now take the Stage out to the house, and still have the quick in and out that is so important to me.

PM me if you're interested in buying my Nord case. I'm willing to make a deal.
Mike from Central NJ, USA
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Nords: Piano 5 73, Stage 2EX 76 HP, Electro 6D 73
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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby danrv » 01 Jun 2017, 15:13

Rusty Mike wrote:One of the big bands rehearses in a banquet room upstairs from a bar, and it's a pretty long long staircase.


I see. Hassle for any band members with heavy gear.
We've played a couple of small hotels in the past where we've had to use the stairs. Normally we know in advance though.
As you have the lighter NS2 EX76 HP then a lightweight case without wheels sounds like a good idea.
Total weight probably close to the Stage 2 HA76 which I have.
I'd love to have the portability of the lighter Nords but I need the HA action for piano and the HA76 is the lightest.

I find the carrying the NS2 76 case by the main handles a bit too heavy and use the wheels all the time. Only use the handles to lift in and out of the car.
Last edited by danrv on 01 Jun 2017, 15:14, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby Rusty Mike » 01 Jun 2017, 16:29

I have no issues with the HP action. The light weight more than makes up for any adjustment I've made to my playing style. I have found that playing with a lighter touch on the HP is incredibly effective. That works out well because my teacher is working with me on developing a lighter touch anyway, so practicing on the HP is a great thing.
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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby DJKeys » 01 Jun 2017, 16:57

Quai34 wrote:S..T, I was almost sold on a Gator gig bag after reading bad reviews about the Nord Gig bag and now, I will have to postpone the purchase and look again about another option....Just kidding, thanks a lot for the info.
Sincerely


I have used my Nord gig bag for 5 years without issue for my NS2SW73.

That being said, I have two of the Pro Go series gator gig bags (one for the Prophet and one for my guitar) and my opinion is that they are the most protective, full featured and rugged bags I have ever used. Available everywhere-

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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby danrv » 02 Jun 2017, 14:04

Rusty Mike wrote:I have no issues with the HP action. The light weight more than makes up for any adjustment I've made to my playing style. I have found that playing with a lighter touch on the HP is incredibly effective. That works out well because my teacher is working with me on developing a lighter touch anyway, so practicing on the HP is a great thing.


Good to know, thanks.
It looks like Nord have done away with the HA keybed on 76 key models ☹️️so should I upgrade, it'll have to be HP.
Last edited by danrv on 02 Jun 2017, 23:26, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: PRODUCT REVIEW: Fusion Bags Keyboard 07 Gig Bag

Postby mishka » 31 Dec 2018, 00:27

I'm sorry to hijack an old thread but.....!

Has anyone tried a fusion gig bag for the Nord Stage Compact (either 2 or 3 should be fairly similar dimensions)?

If there is a little bit of "give" in the material, I'd be willing to try and fit it in the Fusion Bag 04 size (even though the length looks a tiny bit short...).
I want to go as tight-fitting as possible, as I'm schlepping on the train/bus all the time, and their next size up (size 06) looks like it has a bit too much slack on all sides.

If anyone can weigh in on whether or not they think a fusion gig bag could fit something a little longer than stated on the website (NS3 length: 1070cm, Fusion 04 interior length: 1045cm), please let me know!
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