Nord User Forum

anotherscott wrote:

maxpiano wrote:Yamahas and Rolands you refer to have Synth-action keybeds, which are designed in a different way and of course are lighter than a semi-weighted waterfall Hammond-like one as the Fatar TP8O used on the Nord Electros and Nord Stages SW models is...

The Nord is more heavily sprung than other boards that use the Fatar TP8O action.

Are you 100% sure? Any side by side comparson made? Also usage is a factor, I remember my former NS Compact becoming "softer" the more I used it (or maybe were my fingers becoming stronger, which is not bad btw?)

maxpiano wrote:

anotherscott wrote:The Nord is more heavily sprung than other boards that use the Fatar TP8O action.

Are you 100% sure? Any side by side comparson made?

Yes.

The Numa Organ and Hammond SK1 are less highly sprung than the Nord SW boards. The Numa Organ 2 is even less highly sprung than either of those.

Sure , in the past I owned the Xb1, Xk1 & 2 and Roland Vk7 , there keybed is much lighter to play .
On a real B3 is it also much lighter action , it's a real " Bummer" for me
Just like the no receiving pitch bend command you have to do with a " low budget " Nord .

A'

Soryt D5 wrote:Sure , in the past I owned the Xb1, Xk1 & 2 and Roland Vk7 , there keybed is much lighter to play .

Yes, though Roland uses their own (very nice) actions in their organs, and not Fatar. Hammond has used a mix of actions. IIRC, XK1 is the Fatar, I don't know what's in the others you mentioned.

The Mojo uses TP80 as well and is much less tightly sprung. The Mojo action is closer to my Hammond A100 action. The Electro 4D is much more tightly sprung and does not resemble my A100 action.

Glad to see other with the same problems/opinions as me. I have a NE5D and the action is awful. I have recently had a Mojo (Great action) and a Hammond XK-3c (about the same as the NE5D). I'm old so have played/owned many real Hammonds. The Mojo is the closest. I too have contacted Pablo M. and written to Fatar with no results. A big question to me is: Nord must know about our dissatisfaction, so, why don't they take action and/or offer a solution? We're talking about replaceable springs here!

I have tried (halfheartedly) an alternate solution. I got a length of aluminum stripping and clamped it gently (with felt) on the keys to leave overnight and weaken the springs. I probably pulled the plug too soon as the results were basically nil.

I have also considered adding weight to the underside of the keys. (Desperate huh...) I think it might work to offset the spring effect.

Or just sell it. Too bad 'cause it has a lot going for it but that action ruins the experience. Nord, are you listening???

I am not disputing the perception for some the action on the 5D is not ideal for them, but I really like the action on my E5D and hope the action is similar when I upgrade to a 6D....or 7. I guess Nord will never be able to satisfy everybody, but perhaps an easier way to alter the action would be an improvement.
+Full disclosure, I am much more concerned with appropriate action for EP, which I use WAY more than organ. The E5 action is very good IMO for EP. I got my first Rhodes in 77 or maybe 78, a 73 Mk 1. Lighter action would not be ideal with that in mind, if it had B3 type action, no good for EP IMO.

JayDee wrote:I am not disputing the perception for some the action on the 5D is not ideal for them, but I really like the action on my E5D and hope the action is similar when I upgrade to a 6D....or 7. I guess Nord will never be able to satisfy everybody, but perhaps an easier way to alter the action would be an improvement.
+Full disclosure, I am much more concerned with appropriate action for EP, which I use WAY more than organ. The E5 action is very good IMO for EP. I got my first Rhodes in 77 or maybe 78, a 73 Mk 1. I'm so old to have played many real Rhodes. Lighter action would not be ideal with that in mind, if it had B3 type action, no good for EP IMO.

*Sorry double post.

Based on my experience with the NE2, I would recommend heavily gigging the board (with a very heavy - some would say "painfully unorthodox" - technique) for about 15 years. The action will then be every bit as light as anyone might want.

My NE 5D action was downright painful to play more than 10 minutes, the action was so stiff. I was ready to sell it but then I tried replacing the springs instead, and problem solved. Now it's a keeper.

I used part KYSP27 from Syntaur, which they apparently only sometimes carry since it's used, so depends what they find.