by pablomastodon » 17 May 2016, 08:28
wow, step away for a couple days and see that the flood gates have opened!
for starters, the other night I submitted a post which said something really rude, insulting and just plain stupid. I went back in and edited it out within minutes, but apparently not quickly enough. As a result I sat right down and began writing a lengthy apology along with further response. My computer glitched, the whole thing was erased in an instant and I didn't have the heart/strength to try to recreate it at that time. So here I am now...
Firstly, everyone has the right to criticize, to voice their opinion(s). I apologize to emartin and to the group for having suggested otherwise.
Sometimes it seems to me that some criticism goes above and beyond and, rightly or wrongly, I sense an attitude that a poster is saying that Nord is essentially a bunch of incompentent fools (or evil money-grubbing villains) and if only they would wake up and change their designs to suit said poster's vastly superior intellect, then and only then Nord might grow to become a respectable and perhaps even successful keyboard company. Please note, emartin, I am not saying that you conveyed this attitude specifically, just that I see it here and there from time to time and am sensitive towards that.
The side of the road is littered with companies who have failed in the electronic instrument making business. Some of them are now back and it is delightful to see names like Dave Smith and Tom Oberheim and Moog and Roger Linn with new, interesting, quality products, but they each suffered some hard knocks along the way before entering their Phoenix phases. Nord is well into their 3rd decade at this and seemingly doing just fine. Considering that they do this IN Sweden at Swedish labor rates, and NOT in SE Asia (like almost everyone else) is all the more remarkable.
Boutique? I think of them as boutique in the sense that they are small and flexible and agile. This is a large part of their success, I believe. Wouldn't have it any other way. The fact that a "boutique" can go forth into the world and do battle with corporate behemoths and live to tell the tale, and thrive, and succeed is quite inspirational.
A-list artists? I rattled off tons of names in my vanished post. Now I see that others have stepped up there. Part of the reason you don't see more of them on "A-list" tours is that these tours often employ art directors whose sensibilities are offended by the red beasts, so they hire carpenters to fabricate phony cabinets to house them and shroud their view from out front.
The highest grossing artist on the planet for 2015 (and also 2014 I think) has four Nords working onstage in the band behind her. On when she sits down to play a keyboard, it's a 5th Nord. The Grammy Museum requested, and received, the gorgeous white grand she used on her 2014 tour and displayed it in the lobby of the museum for months. Anyone paying close attention would have notice the carefully constructed white vinyl fall designed to hide the Nord controls, the wooden ends covered in white duct tape. The guts of the acoustic instrument had been ripped out and replaced with an original Nord Piano. In fact, it was widely rumored that NORD was the underlying inspiration for the name of her album and tour: RED. As we speak the Grammy Museum is reaching out for the Nord Piano 2 from her latest tour, encased in her latest art director's space-themed cabinet for display.
The list of quality artists whose pockets are deep and who can afford anything available on the planet and choose Nord is very long, indeed. Lady Antebellum, Florida-Georgia Line on the country side. John Mayer, Maroon 5, Gaga (that circular thing is a controller and is midi'd to Nord, among other things), Usher. Harry Connick, Jr., Bobby McFerrin, Pete Levin (A-list player even if ticket/album sales don't agree). Madonna.
In the end, for me, it all comes down to the fact that I bought a new Fender Rhodes in 1980 and played it for four years and the current Nord Rhodes sounds take me right back. Maybe my ears aren't as finely honed as those of others, maybe my fingers aren't either. But it sure as heck works for me. This whole "no proper rhodes" thing is just wrong in my view.
Bless,
Pablo
Last edited by
pablomastodon on 17 May 2016, 08:31, edited 1 time in total.
bun fyah weh fyah fi bun
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