Nord Electro 5D61 - Should I keep it?

[cEgws]

I got a used 4D (61) this past year. I really agonized over it because of the known limitations — especially the lack of layering on the 4D. But I have been using it to gig at a local jam every week (songs range from '70s to the present) and I have been totally happy with the flexibility, portability and sound. For my amp I'm using a CPS Spacestation v3.
The synth section is fine for my purposes -- for instance I have loaded up shaku & horn sounds for "Sledgehammer" and a simple string for "The Way You Make Me Feel" or good-enough sounds for "Burning Down the House." I use mostly the EP or B3. Obviously your mileage may vary!

[Gambold]

It's not a synth. It is the best B3 emulator out there, bar none. For that alone it's worth most of its cost. The acoustic pianos are rich and there are many to choose from. Load the XL of the Yamaha Bright and you won't look back. That and the quality of construction rounds out the value.

Don't sell it. You will end up buying some synth-toy that you will get sick of, or will get rapidly outdated, within a year or two. The Electro will last you for as long as you want it.

And it's the best B3 emulator out there, did I say that already? Forget synth sounds and recreating fake guitars and make your band incorporate a HAMMOND, baby.

[Nymitch1]

If you do decided to get rid of it, replace it with a NS2EX. It has better synth capabilities even though it is also not a pure synth. Has great piano and organ sounds and more flexibility with what you can play simultaneously.

[Leroy]

Yippee ! My Electro 5D 61 came this morning. Very nice indeed, I am impressed. Can't wait to try it out at a gig. Can't see me sending this back -you would have to pry it from my cold, dead hands, It's a keeper !

[jfenton]

Have fun!

[Nymitch1]

I'm still on the fence with my decision, and to be honest, I'm getting a little crazy. I compared the NE5D piano patches last night to my Yamaha Montage, and to my ears, the Nord was lightyears better. MY concern was that the Waterfall keybed makes it difficult for me to play the piano. I feel like I am fighting the keys. On thought I had was to connect the Nord to the Yamaha via MIDI to see what it would feel like. I followed the manual to a T, but I was unable to get it working (page 14 scenario 1). I don't want to carry two keyboards when I play out, but this could be a solution at home. Any thoughts? Thanks, Mitch

[Nymitch1]

Nymitch1 -
Can you answer these three questions?
1) Do you mainly play piano? (then Hammer Actions is way better)
2) How often do you take your board out of your house - for rehersal and gisgs? (the Electro5D61 is a dream taking out compared to NordStageHA 76 and 88)
3) Do you need to play lead synths - then the Electro is not good enough. - for synth pads it's perfectly good...

I think these are the main question you should ask yourself...

Good luck

[Nymitch1]

Thanks NoDirection. I'm not a classically trained piano player, but I do want to do a fair amount of piano.
I don't know if the HP would be too hard for me to play. Synth is not so important to me. Last night I connected the NE5D to my Yamaha Montage and it was a joy to use those keys to play the Nord piano patches. I do plan on gigging with the keyboard, so weight is important to me.

[Gambold]

>'m still on the fence with my decision, and to be honest, I'm getting a little crazy. I compared the NE5D piano patches last night to my Yamaha Montage, and to my ears, the Nord was lightyears better.<

Yes, it is. So why on the fence?

> MY concern was that the Waterfall keybed makes it difficult for me to play the piano<

When you start rocking on the Hammond with those waterfalls, you'll put the Beethoven to bed and go Jimmy Smith all the way, baby.

Get the Nord. Anyone can buy a Yamaha, at anytime, for anything...keyboard, clarinet, motorcycle...they make golf carts and archery equipment too.

But there's only one Nord...you won't regret it.

[Nymitch1]

But there's only one Nord...you won't regret it.

@Gambold, you sound like a Nord Salesman

But I agree, once you get use to the semi-weighted waterfall action it is hard to go back. If you want Hammer Action keyboard, you can always get a HA midi keyboard or use an existing HA keyboard that i midi enabled.