Nord User Forum

[Winds]

When I bought a NS3 it was kind of a gamble because I tried it years ago recalling I liked it the best but I didn't really remember how the grand or piano felt like.

After owning an NS3 for awhile I had the luxury to try again the NP5 and NG. I really thought maybe I would appreciate the feel of the NP5 at least because I thought that was more for piano players. But after trying it I thought the feel of the keys just... suck???? Does anyone else feel this way with the NP5 compared to NS3? Like I now see I kinda like the NS3 that it feels lighter but hard enough to feel like a proper piano (if that makes sense). The NP5 just felt a bit ick to me.

Also had the luxury to a and B a CP88 and NG. Both of their feels for me are slightly similar ??? (Maybe it's just me) but I feel the Nord Grand sounds... slightly better. There is a definite "lightness" feel in the NG that emulates the feel of grands I guess but Idk... maybe I've gotten to used to the NS3. I can imagine though if you are a true classical piano player.. the NG should feel better for those performers.

I didn't compare functions at all tho but for me factory sound setting wise untouched, NG sounds slightly better than CP88. I feel the CP88 is maybe lacking just a bit of... depth. Very slight though. YMMV.

Anyway.. any1 else have any thoughts about this between the NP5 and NS3? (I'm still a bit shocked cuz I thought I see myself more as a "piano" player.. I guess I've "evolved" )

Additionally was also able to try the Nord Electro. The feel of the keys tho.. THAT for me was a big YUCK.

[FZiegler]

I didn't buy a NS3-88 because it didn't feel like anything useful for me. Got a NS3C instead which has about the same keybed as the NE6D (besides aftertouch) - which you didn't like at all. I mostly use it in a 2-KB setup for organ and synth sounds and I'm happy with it. Recently tested the NP5 for piano playing and liked it to some extent. Finally decided against the Grand because of its lightness - maybe feels too much like a grand piano, interestingly.

So you see, people are different but partially have the same impression - just censing them in a different way.

As of the CP88: I don't get on with the surface texture of the keys - especially the black ones. It's some sort of hate in it, nothing rational. I even wasn't able to listen to the sounds.

I recently got a used Kawai VPC-1 and loved the touch and feel. A little less light than the Grand, but very fine, too. And indeed, I found out that it may not be my favorite piano controller for on stage when playing in a band - it feels a little too sophisticated. If someone gave me an NS3-88 for stage use, now that I have more experience in my big band, I would probably get on better with it than I did originally when testing.

Do you actually think, as I do, that the NP5 has the much better piano keybed than the NS3?

[docbop]

You didn't say which S3 you have all three 88, 76, 73, all have different keybeds. Nords in general have different keybeds based on the focus of the keyboard. Electro are targeted for organists so a keybed suited for them. Piano 5 for more acoustic piano-like and Grand with the Kawai keybed closest to acoustic piano keybed. The Stage is all over from what I hear. I have a S3 HP76 and didn't like it at first, but have grown to like it a lot. Others more gearhead than me said the HP76 has a Rhodes like keybed. I hope to try a S3 88 and P5 88 one day.

[Winds]

Do you actually think, as I do, that the NP5 has the much better piano keybed than the NS3?

I figured it'd be better because after reading a lot through forums it seems sone piano players do prefer the NP5 as it has more of a piano feel.. I guess I've gotten to used to my NS3-88

[Winds]

You didn't say which S3 you have all three 88, 76, 73, all have different keybeds.

My bad for not mentioning. I've edited the topic thread for more context. I'm referring to an NS3-88. Thank you!

[Normski]

I love threads like these. They can open so many cans of worms but actually address nothing.

Many forums have in the past slated the Nord Piano and Stage lineup for being a top priced stage board but furnished with an 'inferior' FATAR action which according to some individuals was unsatisfactory and un authentic compared to a real acoustic grand. I bet half of these keyboard warriors have never actually played a real grand.
The new Nord Grand with its fancy Kawai action which many praise was presumably offered to address this criticism, however personally I really didnt like the feel of it at all, I couldn't connect with it.

The HP actions many complain about, I love playing on these, they feel weighted still, but light and responsive and my fingers fly without issues.
I have a NP 5 now which does feel more authentic with key weight than the HP and have no problem moving between this and my Yamaha C6 grand in the living room.

Don't get me started on acoustic grands as they also have massive variance in how they feel to play. Three Yamaha C3's which were next to each other in my local dealer played and felt totally different to each other. In a shop of 50 pianos you get a flavour of all sorts of actions from very heavy which felt like hard effort to very light like a butterfly action, so light you got little feedback.
When you do this it does make you wonder, What is this 'authentic piano' feel that stage board players seek when so many pianos feel completely different. Which piano exactly am I trying to get a keyboard to feel like?

IMO the answer to your questions is Its all down to YOUR opinion of what you like and what you feel connects that action to the way you play, and the sound you expect that input to produce. Noone else can tell you the answer to that.

[docbop]

I love threads like these. They can open so many cans of worms but actually address nothing.

IMO the answer to your questions is Its all down to YOUR opinion of what you like and what you feel connects that action to the way you play, and the sound you expect that input to produce. No one else can tell you the answer to that.

Yup it's just like fingering questions the only right answer is one I've received from many name musicians..... "Do what works for you!"

Same with deciding on keybeds play what works for you!

[Winds]

I love threads like these. They can open so many cans of worms but actually address nothing.

Many forums have in the past slated the Nord Piano and Stage lineup for being a top priced stage board but furnished with an 'inferior' FATAR action which according to some individuals was unsatisfactory and un authentic compared to a real acoustic grand. I bet half of these keyboard warriors have never actually played a real grand.
The new Nord Grand with its fancy Kawai action which many praise was presumably offered to address this criticism, however personally I really didnt like the feel of it at all, I couldn't connect with it.

The HP actions many complain about, I love playing on these, they feel weighted still, but light and responsive and my fingers fly without issues.
I have a NP 5 now which does feel more authentic with key weight than the HP and have no problem moving between this and my Yamaha C6 grand in the living room.

Don't get me started on acoustic grands as they also have massive variance in how they feel to play. Three Yamaha C3's which were next to each other in my local dealer played and felt totally different to each other. In a shop of 50 pianos you get a flavour of all sorts of actions from very heavy which felt like hard effort to very light like a butterfly action, so light you got little feedback.
When you do this it does make you wonder, What is this 'authentic piano' feel that stage board players seek when so many pianos feel completely different. Which piano exactly am I trying to get a keyboard to feel like?

IMO the answer to your questions is Its all down to YOUR opinion of what you like and what you feel connects that action to the way you play, and the sound you expect that input to produce. Noone else can tell you the answer to that.

Of course at the end of the day it's all about preference. Perhaps my personal issue was I read many good things that the NP5 is superior over the NG3 especially in terms of the feel or action which is more suited for piano players. Personally I thought I identified myself more as a piano players but perhaps I've changed over the years and once I tried the NP5 I felt it was... lacking. The NG is not bad for me which definitely has that... 'silky' feel of a grand but maybe I've gotten to used to playing more modern styles and the NS3 feel now just suits me best.

On another note, the amplification could have been a factor (the speaker wasn't directly at me and slightly faced further away) which may have influenced my opinion on the overall feel when trying out the NP5. Perhaps if the amplification was better, I may have felt that the NP5 does feel better than the NS3. Unfortunately, that would be a test for who knows when I go to a nearby dealer that offers Nords again...

[muzicman0]

I 'identify' as a piano player, but I love the feel of my NS3 88. I haven't tried the NP or NG, but I don't feel that I am missing anything. I just hope the keybed can hold up under my pounding! I previously used a 1st gen Roland A-88 and I loved that feel as well. The 1st gen 88 key Motif I have played was not great for me. Felt too mushy.

[Winds]

I 'identify' as a piano player, but I love the feel of my NS3 88. I haven't tried the NP or NG, but I don't feel that I am missing anything. I just hope the keybed can hold up under my pounding! I previously used a 1st gen Roland A-88 and I loved that feel as well. The 1st gen 88 key Motif I have played was not great for me. Felt too mushy.

When you have a chance you should try the NG. With the right amplification personally it feels and sounds really good.