Nord User Forum

[fefish]

First post, please forgive any ignorance displayed.

I just bought a Stage 2 EX 76 HP days before the Stage 3 was announced! Thankfully, I bought used. This also gives me the opportunity to familiarize myself with Nord, just switched from the Montage.

Anyway, I love the size of the 76. I loathe the action of the HP. The description of the HP keybed is very misleading to me, as it states "Ultra-Lightweight.". I mistakenly thought that meant that the action AND the keyboard were both Ultra-Lightweight. I was horrified to find that the action of the HP is incredibly heavier than the HA. I really wished that this would have been described in better detail. The best way that I can describe the action is like playing underwater. Does anyone play underwater?

Anyway, my question is simply this. Can I swap a HA 76 keybed from a Stage 2 to my Stage 2EX? My next thought is, if it is possible, will I be able to swap it with my Stage 3 as well? It seems possible that everything would line up the same, even using the same connectors. However, I'm clueless. Again, I love the physical size of the 76. Thanks!

[ericL]

Very unlikely, as each keyboard has a different size. The NS2 HA76 is 4.7" tall and the NS2EX HP76 is 5" tall. There are dozens of posts about the difference in keyboard feel. Did you do the research?

[fefish]

I did indeed do research on the differences between the HA and HP. Unfortunately, I think that oftentimes opinions are given by people who have never even owned or played one or either of the actions in question. I think that this factor causes skewed results in any Internet search.

I did hear a couple guys say things like, "the HP feels clunky" and "I play the HP when I want a good workout". These words from the couple guys confused me because I still went back to the"Ultra-Lightweight" statement that haunts every post, review, or sales ad pitching the HP keybed. It's hard to talk about a "hammer-weighted" keyboard and then use the words "Ultra-Lightweight" and not confuse people as to what is being touted as lightweight.

I had already played the Piano 2 88 HA. I knew what that felt like, so.... I thought that I was buying an Ultra-Lightweight keybed and keyboard version of that.

I'm here to tell anyone who wants to know. The HA Nord feels lightweight to me to start with. If you go with the HP, the keys are a lot frigging harder to press down than the HA! I want hammer action, not hard action. My dream keyboard is going to be a Stage 3 76 HA. Sadly, Nord will not be making this. I will probably keep it until the Stage 3 comes out and get the HA 88. I really don't want or need the 88, but I have no choice. This HP is only temporary, I'm not keeping it.

Just to be clear, I'm posting all this detail not for the Nord pros, I'm just putting this out for anyone who is new to Nord and trying to decide. I guess I've become the armchair quarterback now (insert poop emoji).

Anyway, the first day I had the HP I hated the action. The second day I hated it a little less. The third day I didn't mind it and kinda liked it. Now, let me explain myself. Even though I just stated that I didn't mind it and that I kinda liked it, don't let that fool you....or me. I was simply getting used to something that isn't right. Can I get used to the action? Yeah, I can, but I'm not. I have to get used to the new president just like I had to get used to the last president. I do not have to get used to a crummy action. I also noticed my left wrist starting to ache as I was hammering out bass notes, that's not desirable or something that a piano player should get used to. It can't be good for you. What's it doing to the little bit of technique that I'm starting to develop? Is it making it better, or is it ruining it? I don't know honestly. I definitely won't do HP again for any reason, and I fully disclosed why.

Eric, thank you for your quick reply. You are probably right about the keybeds not being interchangeable, but man I wish they were. Loving the red part of my Nord, just not the white and black part.

Cheers!

[costaseglezos]

You may want to exchange it with someone who owns the NS2 HA76 and needs to be more portable and double memory.
I would offer, but the Atlantic Ocean is in the middle...

[ericL]

It is true that the HA action is better than the HP action. I've owned the NS2 HA 88 since it first hit the market and I bought the NS2EX HP 76 in early 2016. I used the HA action exclusively for ~5 years before switching to the HP for gigs, primarily to save a bit of weight when carrying it around multiple times each week between rehearsals and gigs. I still have my original HA at home and might bring it back out for some gigs.

There's a really good thread comparing the HA and HP actions here.
nord-stage-forum-f3/nord-stage-2-ha76-vs-nord-stage-2-ex-hp76-t9459.html

The summary of my thoughts can be summed up in this quote: "There is a tradeoff. Higher quality action (HA) means heavier weight."

[maxpiano]

The summary of my thoughts can be summed up in this quote: "There is a tradeoff. Higher quality action (HA) means heavier weight."

+1, long story short.

[fefish]

Thanks for the feedback.

[Rusty Mike]

I've started taking a different approach to playing the HP action. While the feel is not quite as "buttery" as the HA, it responds very well to light playing. I'm working on lightening up my touch to get more expression out of it. I've always been a bit of a harder hitter, and I've gone back to taking lessons. My teacher has me playing softer on the acoustic, encouraging me to hear the instrument sing and get a tone similar to the jazz greats. I'm starting to transfer this nuance playing to my Stage 2EX and Electro.

Developing a lighter touch helps not only get a better tone out of the piano sounds, but is also helping with synth solos and organ playing. It's going to take a while, but it really helps me inch closer to the notion that it's the carpenter, not the hammer that is the issue.

Still, it would be great if Nord did a software update that added a "-1" velocity dynamic, something less sensitive than the current values.

[fefish]

Mike, that is an amazing assessment of the HP. Thank you for explaining with minute detail your thoughts on it. If I hadn't yet played the HP, you would have just sold me one! I will keep the HP likely until the Stage 3 comes out. That should give me enough time to make a well informed decision.

Again, that was a brilliant observation of the HP. Thank you

[Rusty Mike]

Thanks for the kind words. I have to admit as well that the way the Stage 2EX plays is better than the Electro 3, despite having the same Fatar TP100 action. I think that Nord has made improvements to how the instrument electronics respond to the keys, resulting in a better overall experience. The action has also been relatively softer on the brand new Stage, although my Electro is well broken in now and plays very smoothly.

It's really like you stated above; you get accustomed to playing the instrument. This happens with acoustic pianos as well, where each one has a different action and elicits a different response. I'm still learning how to play my baby grand piano to get the right response from it.

The HP is a winner for me. You will not find a lighter instrument of this quality among the other keyboard manufacturers. The Casios match the weight, but not the features or quality of the Nord instruments. While other comparative keyboards from Kurzweil, Korg, Yamaha, Roland, Kawai, etc. are great instruments that sound wonderful, they are all too heavy for me.