This is the right place if your topic concerns different Nord Keyboards, you are not sure which one is the right one for you, etc.

Is a Nord for me?

Postby Kit McCarthy » 09 Oct 2017, 22:25

My introduction to music was the French horn, which I've played now for eight years. Over that time, I've become a keen composer, and have also started to teach myself piano. Recently, I decided that I wanted to focus more on the composition and the piano than the horn, which I've been growing a little tired of.

We currently have two 'keyboards.' Firstly, we have an upright piano, which is OK - up to a point. However, it has endless problems - for example, a number of keys play only intermittently and the sustain pedal doesn't work at all in the lower third of the piano. Secondly, I have a Yamaha PSR-200 (yep, from 1993?), which, to give it credit, introduced me to the piano, despite not even being remotely touch sensitive... You'll understand then that I've decided to buy a new piano.

I'm looking for a piano that—
(a) I can better learn to play piano on;
(b) I can use for composition and music production, together with a suitable DAW;
(c) I can potentially use for gigs with other band members.

I was initially very taken with the Yamaha CVP 700s - the varied sounds and styles were extremely attractive. However, the barrier was the price. After the CVPs, I then looked at the Korg Kronos, the Yamaha Tyros5 and the Nord Piano 3. I didn't like the Kronos at all when I tried it, so that left me with the other two.

The wide range of features of the Tyros5 are certainly appealing, and I wasn't far off putting down a deposit on one. However, I have major reservations. Firstly, the idea of having only 76 keys and them being synth action is a tough one to get used to. After the flimsy plastic keys of my PSR-200, I yearn for proper weighted keys! Secondly, I'm not convinced that the features of an arranger, while impressive, are for me. Do I really want 1,200 assorted polka and American rock styles? Not sure. Finally, while this is a less rational basis for my decision, I thought that the Tyros5 really was horrifically ugly, and I feel I would never fall in love with it.

I am therefore seriously considering the Nord Piano 3, which I had initially ruled out. The advantages are obvious - trying one out at my local music store, I was addicted to its feel and sound quality. My reservation is essentially that it lacks almost all the features of the Tyros5 - on the other hand, I'm not at all convinced those are features I either need or want.

My question is whether the Nord would be a suitable keyboard for me, or whether I should be looking at other options. Further, if I instead went for the Stage 2 EX instead of a Piano 3, would I be losing anything significant by going back a a generation? I would be enormously grateful for any advice - after months of looking into this, I'm getting increasingly confused and indecisive!!
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Is a Nord for me?


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Re: Is a Nord for me?

Postby criss » 10 Oct 2017, 15:29

Hi Kit,
I don't know if the Nord keyboards are or aren't for you. If you can, I would suggest to test one before buying it.
All I can say is that Nords are made for Players. So, you have instantly access to anything you need using a specific button, not browsing through hundreds of menus. And Nord Stages and Electros have the best pianos, much better that other brands.
Last edited by criss on 10 Oct 2017, 15:30, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Is a Nord for me?

Postby Spider » 10 Oct 2017, 15:41

From your description, it doesn't sound like you need hundreds of different sounds or advanced performance features. And honestly, ANY modern weighted keyboard will be better than a broken-down upright or a 25-year-old cheap beginners keyboard.

I think even a used Nord Piano 2 would be great for you, but you can find excellent stage pianos for much less money.
Take a look at the Casio PX-160 (or PX-5s for many more features), Kawai ES-110, Yamaha P-115, Roland FP line.

If you were ready to spend $3K for a Nord Piano 3, look at the Yamaha CP4. It's over 1000$ less and it has arguably the best piano action in a portable board.

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Re: Is a Nord for me?

Postby Kit McCarthy » 12 Oct 2017, 14:13

Many thanks for your advice. I went to try both a Piano 3 and a CP4 a few days ago and was blown away by the former. I am going to be trying a few other keyboards over the following weeks, but am very attached now to the Nord.
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Re: Is a Nord for me?

Postby cphollis » 12 Oct 2017, 15:41

The good news is that you're in such a deep hole gear-wise that many things would be a good step up.

My biases: the only time I've enjoyed playing APs on a digital was when the brand said Yamaha or Nord. My other biases: great, great deals in quality used equipment if you have the time and patience.

Example: Yamaha CP-4 (used) which has been applauded in forums as having one of the best finger-ear connections, and for not much money. Good sound, light weight, reliable. Over at KC there's currently a used one being advertised, and you'll find them pop up regularly.

Example: Nord Piano 2. I own two of them, and -- while it would be theoretically nice to upgrade to the more recent Piano 3 -- I play them week after week and come away smiling each time. Why fix what isn't broken? And again, great values to be had.

There are hard-core Kawai fans aplenty out there. Once we're past acceptable keybed feel, I prioritize light weight and upgradeable sounds, which led me to the Nords.

I'll repeat the advice above: focus on what's important to you: acoustic piano sounds and feel. The rest won't matter much to you unless you get that bit right.

As far as vouching for the long-term viability of owning a Nord Piano (any vintage), they are as robust as anything out there. Since you are prioritizing AP sounds, the difference between a Nord Piano 2 and a Nord Piano 3 boils down to how much piano memory you get. Along those lines, I'm eyeing a Nord Stage 3 mostly on the basis of getting 2GB of piano memory and little else.

Best of luck

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I think I have gear issues ....

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Re: Is a Nord for me?

Postby anotherscott » 12 Oct 2017, 16:12

Kit McCarthy wrote:seriously considering the Nord Piano 3...I was addicted to its feel and sound quality. My reservation is essentially that it lacks almost all the features of the Tyros5 - on the other hand, I'm not at all convinced those are features I either need or want.

While there's a question as to whether the Nord will give you everything you want, considering your piano-priority orientation, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Tyros won't. Why get something you know you'll be instantly dissatisfied with, for features you might like to use in the future?

It's usually pretty much impossible to find everything you might want in a single keyboard, which is why so many of us have more than one. I'd say start with something that does what you most want, really well. You can always consider adding something else for other purposes in the future.

Kit McCarthy wrote:if I instead went for the Stage 2 EX instead of a Piano 3, would I be losing anything significant by going back a a generation?!

The actions are different... NP3 has three sensors vs two (allowing you to repeat a note without having to lift the key as high, and also without silencing it first if you're not holding the sustain pedal... it's helpful for gentle repetitions and trills). The NS2EX action has aftertouch, which is is useful for non-piano sounds. The Piano 3 also comes with the nice triple pedal, which is an optional (pricey) accessory for the NS2EX).

Assuming you find the action of the NS2EX as satisfying to play as the NP3, it would be a good choice that would basically give you the sound/features of the NP3 plus a whole lot of other things to play with.

Kit McCarthy wrote:I went to try both a Piano 3 and a CP4 a few days ago and was blown away by the former. I am going to be trying a few other keyboards over the following weeks, but am very attached now to the Nord.

Based on preferring the Nord to the CP4, it seems like you prefer a lighter feeling hammer action. So in your travels, the other boards I would suggest trying to get your fingers on would be a Kawai MP7 and a Kurzweil Forte. (Note that the Forte and Forte7 have the same action, so if you try one, you'll know what the other feels/sounds like as well. But not the Forte SE.)

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Re: Is a Nord for me?

Postby Dave Ferris » 14 Oct 2017, 18:16

The Tyros I don't believe isn't even a weighted keyboard. I would think that would automatically exclude it for anyone seriously looking to further their piano skills.

Perhaps you auditioned the CP4 with either - a bad mono keyboard amp, cheesy studio monitors or even bad headphones ? All of those could significantly affect your impressions of the CP4…or any keyboard for that matter.

If I were looking for something for the home to do as much serious piano practicing as can be done on an electronic keyboard and not portable for live playing, excluding the expensive Avant Grand N3 or N2 -I'd consider the Kawai MP11. And now they have updated the samples on the newest version (not out yet) on the MP11SE. The Kawai MP11 action is the best I've played on any digital - again Avant Grand aside. However their core digital piano sound I have always disliked. The little I've heard of the newest samples sound like a definite improvement to my ears.

Many top notch Pro players certainly do play Nord/Fatar actions, they still sound great and the Fatar doesn't seem to impede them in the least. Personally while liking a few of the Nord piano samples, I had a hard time getting around on the NP2 , which I owned for almost 3 years. Changing over to the CP4 was like an epiphany, at least for live playing. At home, the bulk of my practice time is still spent on acoustic piano.

The new NP3 is a significant improvement over the NP2 with regard to action concerns. Either one might be just the thing for you. However with all the noisy keybed action reports - I'd proceed with extreme caution on the NP3.
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Re: Is a Nord for me?

Postby Quai34 » 15 Oct 2017, 11:58

Tanks Dave for the info, I didn't know Kawai had updated their MP11....So, big difference is the quality of the samples? I had heard that their own Kawai grand samples were great?....
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