Nord User Forum

[huw1952]

The time has come for me to make a big decision. Do I buy a Nord 3 piano or not? My main reason for buying is to play sampled pianos - proper ones!! I have always had in the past Roland, Yamaha or Kurzweil pianos which I have found to be ok, but not what I'd call inspiring. I would leap at the N3 but for 2 things. It's price ( doesn't actually come with a lot for over £2,000) and the keybed. I have had bad experiences with Fatar in the Kurzweils so a bit wary. I have had it suggested to me I get an 88 midi controller board and use piano/synth software instead. I know nothing about this route so any tips would be welcome. Do I buy or do I not buy, that is the question? (as some poet said!)
Thanks all

[Gambold]

>I would leap at the N3 but for 2 things. It's price ( doesn't actually come with a lot for over £2,000) and the keybed. I<

"Comes with a lot" - I'm not sure what that means. To my view, anyone who is buying a digital piano is looking for basically one thing - the best recreation of an acoustic piano possible. The Nord would seem to have that, especially with its very large and ongoing library of acoustic and electric pianos to choose from.

It also provides two effects controls, equalization, delay, modeled amps, and reverb. There is even a sample section that will allow you to load from Nord's collection of about a million samples, none of which you should be using anyway because you are a PIANO player, not a sound effects machine. If your band wants a horn section, tell them to hire one.

I'm not sure what anyone else would want on a digital piano. Since (as is probably obvious from the previous paragraph) I don't do synth, I would own one myself, except I need the Hammond that the Electro provides.

[harmonizer]

If it is possible for you to play test the Nord Piano 3 in a retail store, I would strongly recommend this. It could be worth a long trip.

[huw1952]

Hi - Yes I have already tested it twice. Unfortunatley through a cheap speaker system in store and my KOSS headphones.

[SteveNordP3]

The time has come for me to make a big decision. Do I buy a Nord 3 piano or not? My main reason for buying is to play sampled pianos - proper ones!! I have always had in the past Roland, Yamaha or Kurzweil pianos which I have found to be ok, but not what I'd call inspiring. I would leap at the N3 but for 2 things. It's price ( doesn't actually come with a lot for over £2,000) and the keybed. I have had bad experiences with Fatar in the Kurzweils so a bit wary. I have had it suggested to me I get an 88 midi controller board and use piano/synth software instead. I know nothing about this route so any tips would be welcome. Do I buy or do I not buy, that is the question? (as some poet said!)
Thanks all

You do.

I share the same desires and concerns. I wrote this a while back after having the 3 for 3 months.

I hope this is helpful in our decision:

nord-piano-forum-f10/piano-3-3-months-in-t12937.html

[Fedex]

You should.

I've played exstensively some of the biggest competitors, Cp4, rd800, mp11...

The Nord Piano 3 is a world apart, is inspirational cause the pianos are wonderfully sampled and rich in details and , most important, the connection between keys and sound is phenomenal. That keyboard responds really well, is very reactive and dynamic, resulting in a joy to play.

Forget about fatar, of course in a forum you read only about the complaints of few people who had problems.

[Quai34]

Hi Fedex,
My understanding was that the best keybed was the Kawai MP11 but connected via midi to the Nord Piano samples. You didn't find he Kawai MP11 better than the Nord Piano 3?

[Fedex]

Hi Quai,

it's difficult to say which DP has the best keybed. It depends on a lot of factors, linked together.
Definitely mp11's keybed is a good one: nice weight and fairly responsive. I find that the NP3's keybed is a bit lighter than it but is better in responsiveness, I can play fast repetitions easily and overall I feel a better connection sound-keys.
I won't midi anything, cause when midying you loose the refinements and fine tuning that the manufacturer puts when linking its keybed to the sound.

[Macsaint777]

Greeting follow Nord lovers! I had a Nord Piano 2 in the past, and currently own a Nord Electro 5D. After having key action issues with two brand new Roland RD-2000 stage pianos, I have just sent the second RD-2000 back, and a Nord Piano 3 is now on the way! I am praying I don't have any action issues with the Nord Piano 3. I know some of you have, and if I do, I'll simply get it taken care of, but having gone through two brand new RD-2000s in less than 6 months, I REALLY need this Nord to wow me. I always played extremely well on the Nord Piano 2 HA 88 I had, so I'm hoping the new action in the Piano 3 will be icing on the cake. I've got plenty of software to make up for the sounds I lose with the RD being sent back, and I bought a nano-Kontrol from Korg, so alleviate the Nord's lack of controls. It is funny.. I went from a Nord Piano 2, to an RD-800, to an RD-2000, and now full circle, back to Sweden I go!



Cheers!

[kaljo]

Greeting follow Nord lovers! I had a Nord Piano 2 in the past, and currently own a Nord Electro 5D. After having key action issues with two brand new Roland RD-2000 stage pianos, I have just sent the second RD-2000 back, and a Nord Piano 3 is now on the way! I am praying I don't have any action issues with the Nord Piano 3. I know some of you have, and if I do, I'll simply get it taken care of, but having gone through two brand new RD-2000s in less than 6 months, I REALLY need this Nord to wow me. I always played extremely well on the Nord Piano 2 HA 88 I had, so I'm hoping the new action in the Piano 3 will be icing on the cake. I've got plenty of software to make up for the sounds I lose with the RD being sent back, and I bought a nano-Kontrol from Korg, so alleviate the Nord's lack of controls. It is funny.. I went from a Nord Piano 2, to an RD-800, to an RD-2000, and now full circle, back to Sweden I go!



Cheers!

Welcome back to Sweden (from a Nord Piano 3 owner from Sweden)