Nord User Forum

[cphollis]

I would like to be among the first consumers of the Nord Piano 3, but -- alas! -- it is not to be. I have to live vicariously through others.

[Rhodie73]

Well I received mine yesterday and I like it a lot more than I initially liked my NP2. The action is certainly quieter than the NP2 and more responsive. Like some have said here, I'm not sure if the action is better than the CP4 or RD800 but certainly better than other actions Nord has used in their products. The virtual hammer technology is light years better than the NP2, but in terms of responsiveness not night and day compared to a CP4 or RD800. The display is very nice and really justifies (or at least makes me feel better) a $3k instrument. The NP2's display just did not sit well with me. The expanded memory is a must because of all the great sounds Nord continues to release. Honestly if you are satisfied with the NP2 you may not want to upgrade, but I had to because I wanted the upgrades that the NP3 offers. In my opinion the NP3 is a strong stage piano that will retain its valuable (of course because of Nord's sound libraries) over time especially with the upgraded hardware features.

[Dave Ferris]

Hello I'm new here, but have lurked for awhile before finally pulling the trigger on a Nord Piano 3. I pulled the trigger blindly because I used to own the NP2 and knew I would love the sound. The reason I sold the NP2 was because of the action. It was loud and not as responsive as I would hope a $3K instrument to be. I read a brief review (on this forum) about the NP3 and how the action was improved in both responsiveness and audible noise. Can any users that currently have the NP3 describe the action a little more? I'm particularly interested in how smooth and "relatively" quiet it is. I know all actions make noise, but my NP2 had such a loud clunking sound that it was distracting while using headphones. Thanks everyone in advance!

In the months before I sold my NP2 , in Sept. of '14, the keyboard had really developed a loud clunking sound on mine as well. Didn't notice it the first year or so as bad. I question the build quality and long term durability of Fatar keyboards in general.

But hey congrats on your NP3 ! Hopefully being a more substantial action, that will transfer over to being a more long term, noise free keybed.

You've gone through more keyboards then me I think ... If you come from a serious acoustic piano background, it's difficult to be happy, long term, with any of them really. They all are more or less just gigging tools for me.

But we keep buying the next one and hope…

[Rhodie73]

Hey Dave its Kahlil over from Piano World! Yes I've been through quite a few!! Like you income from an acoustic piano background and every digital piano is a compromise in that sense. Yes like you I use them for gigging but also for late night practice when I can't play my upright. Because I can't help it, I've already opened and relubed every key because I've realized over the years most digital pianos simply don't come out of the factory with much lube on the major contact points. I did that with my Korg SV-1 and it has been night and day with no more clacking! Anyway the action of the NP3 is certainly a major improvement for Nord, but if I had to choose I would take the CP4 or RD800 for action. Nord simply wins in flexibility of sounds. So a couple a months down the road you know Nord will release new sounds and I will be ready to try them.

[Dave Ferris]

Hi Kahill. Yes I knew it was you.

Looking forward to your report on it. Enjoy.

[bluemonk]

Well I’ve had the Piano 3 for a few weeks now and have spent a great deal of time playing and customizing it at home as well as carting it out for a few gigs (the attached photo is from last night). I’m quite happy with it. I did not own the Piano 2 so I’d be curious to hear some more comparisons from those who’ve owned both. But I find the action quite appealing and pianistic, and more than capable of handling the technical and dynamic demands of classical pieces. I’m quite amused by the pedal noise (the sound of the ‘dampers’ being raised and lowered)! Nice touch, that. I’m perhaps most fond of the Italian Grand XL amongst the grands and the Blue Swede Lrg for the uprights. Loads of character with both. Coming from a Roland RD-700 I may miss some of the programming bells and whistles and deeper library of realistic orchestral sounds when doing some musical theater gigs but I knew there would be trade-offs and I think the Piano 3 fits the bill nicely for me at this stage. Whether it is worth the hefty price tag will, of course, be up to each individual but the action and piano samples for its size and weight would be tough to beat IMO.

[De fursaK NE5]

Hi Bluemonk
If you did practice the NP3 for hours, could you tell us what you feel about it ?
Does it come close to a real upright piano in terms of touch, considering that this is very difficult to achieve... ?
Did you compare with other instruments like the yam cp4, roland rd800 or kawai mp7 ?
Does the keybed make too much noise when you play with headphones ?
Thanks for your answer, i am looking for impressions of np3 owners such as you.

Cheers
De fursaK

[bluemonk]

Hey De fursaK,

It does feels different from a real upright (or grand) which isn’t surprising given the mechanics so I think one truly needs to try it out first to decide if it’s a comfortable fit. For me it is. I find it quite responsive and musical. The ‘hardest’ action setting allows me to get very close to the control and fluidity I’d expect from a higher end upright - or even some grands. As the saying goes, “your milage may vary”.

No, I don’t find the keybed noise to be excessive or distracting at all.

I have not yet auditioned those other boards. (Yes, you can think of my purchase as being somewhat impulsive!) But I definitely will over the course of the next few months. I’m curious to see how they compare.

[De fursaK NE5]

Hi bluemonk
Thank you for your answer.
In fact I am trying to determinate if this NP3 could be used to be a satisfaying keyboard to be my principal keyboard during a few month, before buying again a real acoustic piano.
And then to keep it to play at night ...

Unfortunatly impossible to try it or to try the kawai mp11 or mp7 (i am looking for a new keyboard).

I tried the yam cp4 and the roland rd800 and i was surprised with the roland rd800. Very nice organic feeling, you will see if you try.
I guess the cp4 is not for me, only a question of taste.

I like Nord sounds. So I prefer to buy Nord. But buying without trying .... , no one has here a NP3 to try.

I had an Electro 5 hp, very good sounds, but I found the keybed was not my cup of tea.

So I hope NP3 will match. Same pianos sounds but other keybed ... if someone has tried the Nord Electro 5 hp and the Nord Piano 3, could he tell me how much their keybed are different ?

Thanks to u all

Cheers
De fursaK

[De fursaK NE5]

Hi everyone,
Nobody tried the Electro 5 HP and the Piano 3 to tell me if the keybed feeling is very different ?

Thanks to u aĺl

Cheers
De fursaK