Nord User Forum

[dkernohan]

Hello (first post here, long time nord user)!

After selling several items of gear we no longer use, my partner and I are ready to make the leap to a high-quality 88-key weighted stage piano. As I own (and still gig) the original Electro my first thought was "try a Nord" so we've been looking at the Nord Piano 2 for a while.

We both play (and have both done some fairly serious semi-pro gigging, though not as much these days). My partner is a classical/jazz piano player with all the proper technique, I'm more of a self-taught blues/jazz/rock/gospel player with what has been kindly described as an "heavy, unorthodox" technique. Her ideal keyboard action would be a Bluthner upright, mine would actually be a Rhodes or a Wurlitzer piano (yes - I know - but just what suits my technique)

I love the feel of the Nord Piano 2 keybed, she likes it but kind of wishes it was a bit of a heavier and more "upright-like" action. We also tried out some of the newer Roland stage pianos with the ivory-feel keys, she liked that feel & I wasn't so sure. We're both sold on the sounds, interface and aesthetic of the Nord so it is definitely between the 2 and the 3. Both of us feel that the extra memory on the 3 would be nice, but not a deal breaker for either of us.

Sharing a keyboard is all about compromise, so I'm after advice from people who have played both the 2 and the 3 as to which would be the best fit to our combined preferences and needs.

(to forestall the obvious answer, we don't have room for two stage pianos)

[orcoaffamato]

If she's a classical trained player avoid Fatar keybeds.
Maybe if you ask on Pianoworld forum they will help you: http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthre ... hs_&a.html

[dkernohan]

Thanks orcoaffamato! She tried the RD-800, she did like the feel of it though not in a "we must buy this and take it home now" way. But neither of us were sold on the sounds all that much (I know, such a personal thing). Our previous stage piano was a Korg SV-1 - both are a huge improvement from that (which she - and I - never really got on with).

Have you played the Nord Piano 3? Judging by some of the comments from NAMM it has impressed a lot of piano players.

I'm guessing at this (mid-upper) price level so much is going to be down to personal preference... but a "player" perspective on the feel of the 3 would help al lot.

[maurus]

Get a Kawai VPC1 and put your Electro (or even better, a new one with the present piano Library) on top if it - problem solved, and you have the best of both worlds.

[dkernohan]

Get a Kawai VPC1 and put your Electro (or even better, a new one with the present piano Library) on top if it - problem solved, and you have the best of both worlds.

Heh - nice idea! But not really very portable,

[maurus]

Well not the lower part. The upper part is extremely portable - that's what I do.
The VPC remains at home, the Electro comes along

[dkernohan]

Just to mark this as resolved - gone for the Electro 5D 61 and the Kawai VPC1. Thanks Maurus - great solution!

[dkernohan]

(update: just because it is unlikely anyone will ever try this again - the "parlour" upright piano on an NE2, played via a VPC1, sounds absolutely amazing.)

[pauleway]

I have the Yamaha CP-4, and the action is as good as it gets IMHO! If it is not too late, check one out, great feel and great piano sound!

[Dave Ferris]

I have the Yamaha CP-4, and the action is as good as it gets IMHO! If it is not too late, check one out, great feel and great piano sound!

Agree. I'm at 20 months with the CP4 and haven't found anything better for me…at least for Jazz and to play out with. And I came from 4 years with the Nords- NP88 & NP2.

I think if you did get the Kawai controller, and played the Nord pianos with it, that's a great solution for the home.

I played the NP3 at NAMM fairly briefly. I became discouraged and didn't spend that much time on it, because of the terrible quality of headphones and the extreme background sonic assault.

The new keybed did feel more substantial then the NP2, but more of a tweak then an entire new action. I don't think you could go wrong with it , if you are fan of Nord pianos, and if you feel the steep price is justified. With the little time I spent with it, personally I'd still be ok with the NP2 if money was an issue.

I'm guessing I'll probably feel more enthusiastic about the NP3 under more ideal listening conditions.