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Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby BravoJr » 24 Sep 2015, 05:08

There are some out there who aren't a big fan of bright red keyboards on stage. This Electro 4D was commissioned by a friend who would be using it mostly for Hammond tones, and will have it sitting on top of a forest green Wurly 200a. He wanted it to look as good as it sounds... For the odd gig when the Wurly wasn't around, I added Wurly legs to this E4D. I went the extra mile and had a designer friend remake the control layout. I wanted something more vintage, so we modelled it along the lines of a MiniMoog. I painted the buttons and replaced the knobs. Made from solid Black Walnut. Let me know if you want one!

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Thanks for looking!
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Custom Electro 4D Cabinet


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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby rtuckr » 24 Sep 2015, 08:01

This is sweet, Bravo Jr. Couple questions for you~

1. Is this cabinet one that the 4D (or, I'm assuming, 5D) can easily slip in/out of... or is it a relatively permanent "red exterior" replacement?
2. What does this add to the overall weight of the keyboard?
3. How much to build and ship (to U.S.)?

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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby Frantz » 24 Sep 2015, 09:57

Beautiful !!!

Thank you for sharing.

really really ... perfect :thumbup:
http://displaychord.arfntz.fr
A mobile app to display chord names while you play, using midi / bluetooth connection.

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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby PScooter63 » 24 Sep 2015, 14:34

The Electro already had a retro vibe to it... you took it to infinity!! Nicely done.
What's the weight differential with the wood, plus the Wurly legs? (Nord's standard leg accessory adds about 13 pounds.)
Did you have to change your travel case because of the expanded external dimensions?

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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby Frantz » 24 Sep 2015, 14:36

BravoJr wrote:Let me know if you want one!


It just looks fantastic, can't stop looking at it, of course I want one !
Ideally I'd like a cabinet like that to wrap around my NE5D73 :angel:
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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby BravoJr » 24 Sep 2015, 18:20

Thanks for the kind words everyone! :D

The big question I keep hearing is how much it weighs. I don't have a scale in my shop unfortunately. And I was pretty rushed at the end of this project in order to have it done in time for a number of shows my friend was playing. I'll see if he can bring it back in, or even weigh it himself. I will say though, the wurly leg brackets are pretty heavy for what they are.... I let you all know what the overall added weight is.

As for size.. It didn't really change too much. Maybe 3/4" taller, 1/2" wider, and 3/8" deeper. There was no need for a different flight case.

In order to have the wood drop down to the top of the keys, I had to cut the rounded edge off of the metal top panel. This is the one step that most people won't want to do themselves. The wooden panels were then epoxied to the top and back, while the side blocks are fastened with slightly lager threaded bolts than the originals. You can still remove the sides and the top to access the insides, should you need to.

I haven't worked out what shipping would cost quite yet, but if you're seriously interested in one of these please email me. This is something that I want to do more of. I can't tell you how satisfying it is being a musician and getting to work on these types of projects!

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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby rtuckr » 24 Sep 2015, 18:52

Would it be possible too, when your friend returns with it, to take a photo of the underside so we can see the leg brackets you mentioned? Do they still allow the unit to sit flush (on top of your friend's Wurli 200A) or are they somehow removable?

Seriously great craftsmanship! I only wish it wasn't quite so permanent... I have a hard time thinking about my new $2,500 baby getting cut into. :shock: :facepalm:
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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby Mr_-G- » 24 Sep 2015, 20:01

BravoJr wrote:In order to have the wood drop down to the top of the keys, I had to cut the rounded edge off of the metal top panel.


:facepalm:
... but it looks very classy. Maybe the top is a bit too thick, or perhaps you wanted all the controls to be just under the top surface? Does that make it awkward to reach the controls near wood?
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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby BravoJr » 24 Sep 2015, 20:19

rtuckr wrote:Would it be possible too, when your friend returns with it, to take a photo of the underside so we can see the leg brackets you mentioned? Do they still allow the unit to sit flush (on top of your friend's Wurli 200A) or are they somehow removable?

Seriously great craftsmanship! I only wish it wasn't quite so permanent... I have a hard time thinking about my new $2,500 baby getting cut into. :shock: :facepalm:



I'll try and get a shot of the underside. I added a couple of thin wooden runners for the leg bracket to fasten through in order to add stability. I have a Nord C2 and added wurly leg bracket directly to the metal underside. The problem with that is that there is too much flex in the metal, at times while playing I get a bit more wobble than I'd like. The wood runners on this 4D spread the torque out over a larger surface area, resulting in a super stable leg system. I removed the rubber feet it came with and re-used the holes for the leg brackets, however, I put the feet back on top of the bracket, (if that sounds a bit convoluted, a picture will explain it better). In the end, the original rubber feet are in their original place, just on top of the leg brackets. It sits nicely on top of the curved Wurly lid.

rtuckr wrote:Seriously great craftsmanship! I only wish it wasn't quite so permanent... I have a hard time thinking about my new $2,500 baby getting cut into.


I know the feeling. I bought a Nord Electro 3 brand new a few years back and cut it up to make myself a module. Basically I just cut the "brains" out of it. I can't tell you how freaky it was taking a grinder to it. In the picture below, you can see the NE3 module in a white box with wood side on a slide out drawer within my Mellotron cabinet. I trigger that with the Nord C2's upper manual. Giving me pianos and organ in the same unit more or less. All gear in this picture has been modded by yours truly. ;)

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And since you guys are as geeked about this stuff as I am, here's a bonus picture of a Korg MonoPoly I did a short while back out of Zebra wood.

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Nord C2, NE 3, Rhodes Mk V, Memotron, Moog Slim Phatty, Moog Little Phatty, MicroKorg XL, Hammond XK3C, Hammond M3, Leslies 860/760, Fender Deluxe Reverb.

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Re: Custom Electro 4D Cabinet

Postby BravoJr » 24 Sep 2015, 20:36

Mr_-G- wrote:
BravoJr wrote:In order to have the wood drop down to the top of the keys, I had to cut the rounded edge off of the metal top panel.


:facepalm:
... but it looks very classy. Maybe the top is a bit too thick, or perhaps you wanted all the controls to be just under the top surface? Does that make it awkward to reach the controls near wood?


It was a matter of proportion. I do like that the knobs and drawbars are protected this way. The top panel is 1/2" thick, with a thicker nosing glued on to the front edge to drop down to the keys. If it were any thinner, the small strip in from of the controls would be too weak and vulnerable. I could have stopped the wood at the start of the metal panel's round over, but I felt that would look too cheap.

It's important to add that the owner of this Electro was committed to modding this board. He has NO desire to ever return it to it's original form. I can make custom wood sides that you can put on yourself, a bit of black paint on the metal panels and BAM, you have a custom nord. But to take it this far requires you go past the point of return. From my experience with my personal keyboard rig, when the instrument "looks the part" you seem to play it with a bit more conviction and gusto. Purely psychological and completely cosmetic, I know. But there is something to it..... :wtf:
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