Solo Piano - Cocktail Hour - Best Sound?

[Nordmutt2]

I would love to get some opinions and advice on solo piano sounds.

I use my Nord Piano 2 for solo piano gigs - Cocktail Hours: mostly Jazz Standards.

I want to hear the left hand bass, but don't want it to over power the melody.

What Piano Sample does everyone like for this?
Also - what effects and EQ settings?

Long Release?
String Resonance?

Thanks

[Quai34]

For me, especially for jazz and cocktail, the Grand Imperial Bosendorfer in XL...Yes, long release and Stirng resonance plus pedal noise...like the real thing, no EQ, I like it flat...

[Nordmutt2]

Thanks Quai34

What Amp or Speaker do you use live.

I am using QSC-k10.

[Quai34]

I was close to buy QSC-k10 two years ago but I had a good deal on Yorkville PS-10P at Long and Mac Quade, they are very good, the same quality, maybe a little bit better than the QSC, I never done any A/B comparaison...They are 1100$ each, like the QSC I think? Two just for me, towards me, left and right on each side of my Stage 2...I don't use any EQ on it...So, the QSC are good, Cphollis (Member on this forum...) posted a link to go to his blog where he explains his experiences with several pairs of monitors and the QSC are one of them....Have a look at it...

[Nordmutt2]

Thanks again- I will check it out!

I am hoping more people share their Favorite Piano samples / settings for this situation.

[SteveNordP3]

I'm partial to the Studio 1 but that may be because I have had an actual Yamaha C7 for almost 2 decades and just live that sound. Grand Lady D would be next and I wouldn't be afraid to try something like Queen or Blue Swede in the upright family...

[cphollis]

There's going to be some interaction between your choice of amplification and your choice of piano voices. For example, Velvet Grand is usually too muted on lower-end units, but has decent sparkle and woodiness on higher-end kit.

Also, when I'm playing solo, I'm usually changing up the voices to create different moods and avoid ear fatigue.

[De fursaK NE5]

For jazz solo, I used to play with studio 1 or lady D. Sometimes velvet but not too much.
But now that the grand 3D is there ... I can't play another one.

Cheers

[stefanstage]

The Grand 3d is the way to go, I´m a professional pop and Jazz piano player in Iceland and that sound is in my opinion the best natural sounding for pop, Jazz and Solo piano.

Stefan Henrysson

[Nordmutt2]

I'm partial to the Studio 1 but that may be because I have had an actual Yamaha C7 for almost 2 decades and just live that sound. Grand Lady D would be next and I wouldn't be afraid to try something like Queen or Blue Swede in the upright family...

Thanks - I usually go to the Studio 2 or the Grand Lady. I should try some of the uprights.