Nord User Forum

[TNC1968]

Im new to Nord and Im the guitar player lol, I dont know a thing about them, so please excuse the dumb question :/
our keyboard player wants one with Wurlizer electric piano, Vox and Farfisa organs and mellotron,
I assume they all have basic piano sounds. suggestions on which model he needs?
We are looking for a used model for sale and need to know what we are looking for, thanks t

[harmonizer]

The two Nord product families that are likely to be the best fit are the "Nord Electro" and "Nord Stage".
Both families are available with lighter-touch organ/synth action keyboards (also called SW or waterfall) which are optimized for organ,
or different types of heavier key actions which are closer to an acoustic piano feel.
I suggest your keyboard player try these out - they are very different.
Many keyboard players feel there is no way to get a satisfying experience for both acoustic piano and the organ from a single physical keyboard,
and some Nord users connect an external MIDI controller to their Nord to provide the other type of keyboard action.

In general, the "Stage" family is more expensive, but includes a pitch bend wheel, and includes better split and layer capabilities.
The split and layer capabilities matter if the keyboard player wants to create 2 or more sounds during the same song:
For example, on a certain song they might want to play some chords on in the left hand with organ sounds,
and play some percussive notes with acoustic piano sounds in the right hand, at the same time.

Used options in the Nord Electro family would include the Electro 3, Electro 4, and Electro 5.
The newer models have more memory to allow storing more sound programs at once, and to store larger versions of those programs.
Many of the acoustic piano sounds that you can download from Nord come in multiple sizes (XL, L, M, S).
For example with the Electro 5 you could store more acoustic piano samples, in their largest "XL" size, than with the others.
The Electro 5 is the only Electro model that has a true keyboard split function, so you can play two totally independent musical noises at once (i.e. piano and organ).
The Electo 3 and Electro 4 *seem* to have a split function, but it only allows you to have different organ settings across the split.

Used options in the Nord Stage family include several models of the Stage 2. The Stage 3 is brand new; I don't think you will find any used ones on the market.

The same "piano library" sounds are supported in the Electro 3, Electro 4. Electro 5, Stage 2, and Stage 3.
More details can be found here: http://www.nordkeyboards.com/sound-libraries
If you go with an Electro, I suggest the Electro 5, both because of its true split capability, and greater memory.

I have the Electro 3, whose piano bank memory size is limited, so I use a single acoustic piano sound (Royal Grand L), the Wurlitzer 2 Amped, the EP8 Nefertiti (a Rhodes EP), the EP7 Amped Tines (another Rhodes EP), and the D6 Clavinet. This combination *barely* fits in the constrained piano bank memory of my Electro 3. I' m not complaining - I am very happy that Nord has continued to create enhanced sounds that work in my old Electro 3.

The organ sounds (B3, Vox, Farfisa) are stored in a different place from the piano bank and other samples, so they are more of a built-in modeled sound, as opposed to a downloadable sample. The organ sounds are a strength of both the Nord Electro and Stage. The B3 organ sounds from Nord are the reason I bought my Nord Electro.

There is a mellotron sample that one can download from Nord, either for an Electro or Stage, but I don't understand the Mellotron, so I don't know if Nord's Mellotron sound is good or not.

Most of the acoustic piano sounds are optimized for stereo - in other words, where the keyboard players uses a pair of powered speakers instead of just one. I use only a single powered speaker, so I run in mono, and the Nord "Royal Grand" is the best-sounding Nord acoustic piano sound for mono which I have heard so far.
I suggest your keyboard player put as much thought into what amplification they will get, as they are putting into deciding which keyboard to buy.

[Gambold]

>our keyboard player wants one with Wurlizer electric piano, Vox and Farfisa organs and mellotron,<

Korg SV-1 emulates these well. Nord reigns with acoustic pianos and B3 emulators - if your player is *only* looking for the above, the SV-1 is cheaper.

That said, a Nord is a superior instrument all-around!

[anotherscott]

>our keyboard player wants one with Wurlizer electric piano, Vox and Farfisa organs and mellotron,<

Korg SV-1 emulates these well. Nord reigns with acoustic pianos and B3 emulators - if your player is *only* looking for the above, the SV-1 is cheaper.

IIRC, the SV1 has *one* Vox sound and *one* Farfisa, and I think the only mellotron sound it has is strings. Want the Strawberry Fields mellotron flutes? Not there. Along with many of the Vox/Farfisa variations. So while it's not impossible that this might do what he needs, its Vox/Farfisa/Mellotron abilities are pretty minimal.

In a used model, the Nord Electro 3 is the oldest, cheapest Nord that meets the criteria.

Other than Nord, Hammond SK1 might do it, if the only mellotron sounds you need are flute, violin, and choir. Kurzweil could be another possibility.

[Gambold]

Tell your pal to get a Nord and grow up to the B3. Vox and Farfisa are cute but come on - it's the Hammond, man.

As for the mellotron - whatever. Hard to imagine many successful cover bands playing strawberry fields flutes much in their sports bar setlists. Once you go down that road, you kind of sort of aren't really *playing* keyboard anymore, you're trying to be Brian Eno.

[TNC1968]

thanks for the suggestions, Im not really sure if the Nord is the way to go or not, Korg SV-1 might do it, seems simpler after youtubing, he owns several old 90-2000 synths, like I said Im not a kb player so Im just learning what to look for

[anotherscott]

Tell your pal to get a Nord and grow up to the B3. Vox and Farfisa are cute but come on - it's the Hammond, man.

As for the mellotron - whatever. Hard to imagine many successful cover bands playing strawberry fields flutes much in their sports bar setlists. Once you go down that road, you kind of sort of aren't really *playing* keyboard anymore, you're trying to be Brian Eno.

Vox and Farfisa have their place. "Light My Fire" wouldn't sound as right on a Hammond!

There are lots of songs with assorted mellotron sounds, I just mentioned Strawberry Fields as an example of a famous one that didn't use its string sound.

Old sounds have a way of coming back. There have been numerous more modern songs that have used older transistor organ or mellotron sounds, too.

We don't know if the OP is in a cover band, or if he plays sports bars. And whether someone wants to be Brian Eno, or Ray Manzarek, or Mike Pinder, or Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, or whoever, it's all good!

Im not really sure if the Nord is the way to go or not, Korg SV-1 might do it, seems simpler after youtubing,

The new Korg Grandstage would offer more in the way of Vox/Farfisa/Mellotron, but since you're looking for something you could get used, it's probably out of budget for now.

[Gambold]

Yeah, hrmm, well...the B3 is the adult's organ. Vox and Farfisa - sure, have fun with Light My Fire, if it's really something you have to play. But why not play it with a B3? Do we always have to sound just like the original player? What about OUR sound?

The OP was repping his keyboard player so we don't really know what the Actual Player wanted - thus my exhortation to his pal to provide him with the proper guidance.

The SV-1 is really heavy, btw...compared to a semi-weighted Electro with waterfall keys - which in my opinion, for anyone who wants to play organ in a band, is the ticket...cause you get the Nord library of acoustic pianos too, which is pretty damn spectacular. Plus this guy wanted a Wurli and Nord's amped version is serviceable enough there. I'm not big on Wurlis, i think if you go that route you should go Rhodes, but hey - that's why there are choices.

The samples, yeah, whatever. Avoid them if you can, because once you start using them, your band will want you to sound like everyone else but you.

[anotherscott]

Yeah, hrmm, well...the B3 is the adult's organ. Vox and Farfisa - sure, have fun with Light My Fire, if it's really something you have to play. But why not play it with a B3? Do we always have to sound just like the original player? What about OUR sound?

Depends on your goal, and what you're being hired to do. Some bands want to do covers faithfully to the original. Others want to give them their own spin. Others don't do covers at all. There's no right or wrong answer there, people have different needs. And as I mentioned, there are also lots of newer-than-60s songs that have again used transistor organs, admittedly usually for a retro vibe, though it can still be used "originally" in that context.

The SV-1 is really heavy, btw...compared to a semi-weighted Electro

Yes... and while it's a nice action for playing EP, it's not great for organ... though at least in that case, since he is using transistor organ sounds, he may not care about the traditional Hammond techniques which play so poorly from a hammer action. Then again, he might...

The samples, yeah, whatever. Avoid them if you can, because once you start using them, your band will want you to sound like everyone else but you.

Like transistor organ sounds, mellotron sounded tend to evoke retro associations, though that doesn't mean you can't still do something original wth them. Also, the Nord offers many more unusual mellotron sounds, not as instantly recognizable as the violins/flutes/choir, which give you some other textures to play with that will less likely scream retro if that's not what you're looking for.

It's interesting that Hammond organs were originally designed to emulate pipe organs in a more compact instrument; Rhodes likewise to emulate piano, and Mellotron to emulate orchestral sounds (among others)... and they all did a pretty poor job at achieving their goals, yet ended up yielding sounds that became very desirable in their own right.

[analogika]

A Hammond is a Hammond, and a VOX is a VOX. One isn't an "adult" version of another; that's ridiculous. If the job calls for a Farfisa, a Hammond is just the wrong instrument. It's not a subtle difference. Sure you can play it on a Hammond, that's like playing a Rhodes part or a Wurlitzer part on a piano - after all, that's just the "grown-up" version, right?