Nord Piano 3 (HA88) Action

[pianokid1]

I am interested in buying a Nord keyboard for casual home use, and have been considering the Piano 3. I was able to try out a Stage 3 and thought it was just about perfect. However, I definitely don't need all the extras that the NS3 brings over the NP3, as I will generally just be using acoustic piano sounds anyway. In order to feel comfortable buying a NP3, I would ideally like to know what it feels like to play one. I'm interested in hearing about comparisons between the NS3 and NP3 actions and how it feels to play the keys, since I know what it feels like to play a NS3 and, as I said, it feels pretty much exactly what I would want my keyboard to feel like. I have read that the NP3 has a heavier action than the NS3, which concerns me. Any observations on this topic would be much appreciated.

As another reference, I tried the Roland RD-2000 and thought that it was a bit heavy for my tastes.

As a side note, why are there so few Nords on display in the NYC area? Every store that does carry Nords only has the NS3 on display and maybe an electro.

[anotherscott]

I have not played the NP3. But I thought that the NP2 felt better for piano than the NS2, and I suspect the same would hold true for comparing the NP3 to the NS3 (88). I also found the RD2000 to be too heavy feeling.

[pianokid1]

I have not played the NP3. But I thought that the NP2 felt better for piano than the NS2, and I suspect the same would hold true for comparing the NP3 to the NS3 (88). I also found the RD2000 to be too heavy feeling.

Can you elaborate on what about the NP2 "felt better for piano" than the NS2?

[cphollis]

The Nord Stage 2 and 3 have an aftertouch strip below the keybed. When you fully depress a key, it can feel a little squishy. The Nord Piano 2 and 3 have no aftertouch strip below the keybed, so when you fully depress a key, you get a hard stop, just like on a real piano.

I had both the Nord Piano 2 and Stage 2 for a while. While both were acceptable for AP work, I did prefer the Nord Piano 2. Still have it.

[baekgaard]

The NS and NP series are optimized a bit differently. The actions are quite similar (rumor has it that they are both Fatar TP/40), but they are NOT identical. The NS series has aftertouch (as pointed out by @cphollis), whereas the NP series (3 and 4, at least) have a triple-sensor (instead of dual-sensor) configuration for each key. This makes for a change when you play repeated notes without lifting your finger fully.

Some of us perceive the NP series to be slightly heavier; it requires a slightly stronger touch to get the same sound out. This is good for piano playing; there is good control of the softer end of the scale, and if you really dig into it, it also responds well. But it isn't excessively hard to play at all.

Nord does not publish specs of the components used, but some have claimed here the NS has the medium-weighted version and the NP the heavy weighed version of the TP/40. But the perceived differences could also be caused by slightly different curves (which you can adjust also on both).

I like both actions, and you generally adjust rather quickly to them and learn how they respond to your playing. My guess is that if you like the NS, you will also like the NP. If you only played the NS once, it may be that you don't even think about/notice any major difference to the NP series. And if you choose KBD TOUCH 2 instead of 1 on the NP, they are in reality probably very similar to play.

I'm not familar with the RD2000, but I have also a RD-700NX. I used to like it a lot, but now I like the Nord keyboards (NS and NP) better. They are less tiresome to play for extended periods, and they offer at least equally good control (and of course much better a- and e-piano sounds). The RD-700NX has a hard landing and even if it is meant to mimic a grand (with the escapement), I find it a bit too "hard" to play. And for e-pianos, there is no competition; the RD-700NX looses by a large margin.

[pianokid1]

Great, it sounds like I have nothing to worry about then

Thanks!

[kirsty]

The FATAR action on the NS models is a lot nicer to play than the Roland stuff which is definitely on the heavy side and used to give me hand fatigue. Never had such problems on the Nord boards or my previous Kurzweil which was also a FATAR keybed.

If you liked the Stage 3 then i think you will find the NP is not that much different