Nord User Forum

[danrv]

The HP action is that little bit lighter, quite floaty i find, but heavy enough to call 'weighted' for a board that is so portable.

Yes, that’s the compromise. Realistic AP action = weight.
I didn’t take to the HP action when I tried it in the store. Quite bouncy, a little noisy and there wasn’t much resistance from the keys.
HA way better and I think the Stage 2 HA76 is a great balance of good piano feel and portability/weight.

[kirsty]

You are right and I understood that the HP was a compromise when I bought it. That said, its weighty enough to feel 'weighted' for me and I still enjoy playing it lots. Lots of 'semi weight' actions feel like there is nothing there at all.

Life has changed around a bit at home and Im not getting to do the short gig stuff anymore. When you goto a jam session and play for 3 songs, its a pain dragging a heavy 88 key board. I was doing this a lot at one point but now it barely happens at all, so my ultra portable need isnt there now.
For a full gig I dont mind the effort of taking an 88 and would prefer 88 keys to 76 and thats why I have been thinking of a bit of a swap.

Anyone wanna do some kind of trade for a NS2EX 76HP for something 88?

[danrv]

Shame the CP4 had to go.
I have a Yamaha P140 with onboard speakers for teaching and practice. Don’t take it out much but if I really need the 88 keys for anything then it’s there.
My gigs have shifted solely to live band but I like to keep a few different keyboards to cover any gig or rehearsal.
If you like it, maybe hang on to the Stage 2Ex for ease of transport and variety of sounds and look at adding a Piano 3 later
for 88 keys and AP realism.

[kirsty]

Of course the desired solution is to keep the NS2EX and get a NP3 or NP4 to go along with it.

Reality is they are both £2000 + boards and thats a lot of dough to spend twice. Especially if one is sat around not getting used.

[danrv]

Yes, I see.
Sounds like the lack of 88 keys is the main issue more than the action.
If the scenario highlighted here is of no concern, a Nord Piano 3 would be ideal.

Per Murphy's law, if you get rid of the Stage and get an NP*, you will run into a new musical situation where you need an organ sound, or something else the Stage provides.

Otherwise a used Stage 2/Ex HA88 would be the best of both.

[kirsty]

Agreed. A Stage 2 HA88 I would be more than happy with.

[danrv]

Agreed. A Stage 2 HA88 I would be more than happy with.

I considered the HA88 at the time of buying the 76 as it was really compact for a full 88. Hardly any wider than the span of the keybed.
S2 HA88 with the excellent Nord soft case and your all set.

I think if most of my playing was seated piano stuff, that would have been best.
I stand for live band work and the venues we play at range from large stages where there’s ample room to small cramped spaces like pubs and small hotels.
It can be quite awkward trying to manoeuvre an 88 into a pub corner or tight stage space so for me, the 76 wins hands down. In fact my Korg Triton Extreme 61 that sits above, is wider.

[Evans The Song]

Hi Kirsty, I've recently joined the Nord Forum (don't know why it took me so long!) to see if anyone was experiencing similar problems to the one I am having with my Stage 2EX HP76. I found your post from last year and it seems our situation is very similar - like you I bought my keyboard from Gear 4 Music (in July 2017 in my case) and in the last few months some of the keys have started to make an annoying click or squeaking sound. I've been in contact with Gear 4 Music and am planning to send it back for repair before the 2 year warranty expires. I notice that it took a while for yours to be returned - I wonder if you can tell me if it was all resolved satisfactorily in your case (that is, did the clicking/tapping sounds on the keyboard disappear)? I notice you no longer own the Stage 2 76 - hope that's not a bad sign! Thanks

[Rusty Mike]

As I mentioned on page 1 of this thread, the HP noise has been chronicled multiple times in this forum, including my experiences with lubricating the action myself.

Based only on my own experiences with an Electro and Stage 2EX, both with HP actions, I've concluded:
A) The sound is from inadequate lubrication
B) (more important!) This is only a sound and there is nothing mechanically wrong with the instrument. Rest assured you are not breaking anything by playing it.

On my Electro 3HP. I had the action replaced under warranty, but then the noise came back after a while. I took it apart, did a thorough lube job on it, and it played perfectly from then on until I sold it. I had the exact same experience with the Stage. I re-did the lubrication on the about 6 months ago and it plays great.

[Evans The Song]

Thanks for the info Mike and the reassurance that there is nothing mechanically wrong with the instrument. I'd be tempted to try taking it apart if it wasn't still under a warranty. I just can't bear the thought of being without my Stage for up to two months like Kirsty was. If this is such a common fault with the HP action keyboards I'm very surprised that Nord haven't done a product recall to try to address the issue, especially as it is a premium (and not inexpensive) product. Very disappointing because, apart from this, it has so far proved to be every inch the fantastic instrument I hoped it would be.