Nord Electro 5HP + Moog or Nord Stage 2EX?

[mattp7394]

Hey everyone,

Recently i've been thinking about upgrading my rig, so i'm hoping for any opinions out there; I know that it's very subjective so i'm just keen to hear what any of you think.

First of all, i'm mostly a jazz pianist, but I delve into RnB/Rock/Acid Jazz.. etc from time to time, hence the need for a synth.

My first option is to get a Nord Stage 2 EX 76, the sounds will be top notch i'm sure and the synths too, but with my Nord Electro 3 I loved being able to fit it into the soft case to carry it on my back on the train to gigs etc, and sadly due to the extra 3 keys on the Stage 2 ex, that is not possible, at least from the Nord cases anyway (and I haven't seen any other cases for 76 key keyboards that has backstraps).

My other option is to get a Nord Electro 5HP, and some day (when i've financially recovered ) I can buy a Moog, something like a Little Phatty, that will serve as my synth and I can mount it on a two tier keyboard stand. With the Nord Electro 5HP, I can fit it in the soft case so I can carry it around easy, and then if I ever needed to bring the synth to a gig I could just bring that too. When doing solo jazz gigs i've often been able to carry my whole rig, including my keyboard on my back, bag with leads on my shoulder, amp in one hand and keyboard stand in the other. If I went for the Stage 2 EX76 and had to get the bigger Nord case with wheels, this would be much harder to do I would think.

I live in Berlin, so I don't have a car and have to rely on public transport to get around.

So I guess one of my questions is, can you see an advantage to having an external synth (moog or something like that) and an electro, or is having it all on one board like the Nord Stage just too good to pass up? Have any of you seen a keyboard soft case with backstraps that fits a 76 key keyboard?

Cheers

Matt

[RedLeo]

Generally the advice would be "get a Stage" as it's far more powerful - but you know that already. In your case, I think it may be overkill. Clearly keeping your gear light and portable is important, and two separate keyboards will give you more flexibility. There is also that point that if you want a synth to solo on, it's easier with two separate instruments. Splitting the Stage's keyboard for accompaniment and solo parts will work - but it's clumsy.

So my vote would be for Electro 5 and adding a synth later. From your description, I simply don't think you need all the stuff a Stage has. Want - maybe. Need? I doubt it

[ericL]

I'm having trouble differentiating the portability improvement between the NS2 EX 76 and the NE5 HP. They are barely 2 lbs different in weight and 2" different in width. I have both and they feel pretty much the same to me. Neither is what I'd consider good for carrying on a train - for this, the NS2 EX Compact would work well, or the NE5 73D. But then you get waterfall keys and it sounds like you want the hammer action portable action if you're mostly playing piano. I can't picture carrying the NE5 HP on one's back.

Based on your use case, it does sound like the NE5 HP would be fine for you if you're mostly doing piano. The sample and organ portions of the NE5 are quite capable.

[mattp7394]

Thanks RedLeo, I understand what you mean about finding the splitting function on the stage between soloing and accompanying a bit clumsy, but i'm sure there are many people out there who have it down to an art!

ericL, thanks for your reply too, thats cool that you have both, so i'm sure you can compare them quite well. I've been using a Nord Electro 3 73 for the past couple of years, it's a great little board, I was able to carry it on my back to gigs no problem, it was when I used the handle for a while that it got tiresome, if I ever did that then i'd find it affected my playing when I actually got to the gig.

The electro 3 73 is 18.2lbs and the electro 5hp is 20.28 lbs, so i'm confident that it would still be quite portable. The one annoying thing which I don't understand is that the Stage 2 ex hp doesn't have it's own soft case with backstraps, I borrowed a stage 2 with the soft case with wheels and I found it very awkward to wheel around.

Whichever board I choose, the big upgrade for me is going from waterfall to hammer portable action. I do a lot of solo jazz piano gigs where i'm playing for 2 to 3 hours at a time every week, so i'd look forward to getting to play the HP action for that sort of thing. Just wondering whether my upgrade should extend to the Stage 2 ex, or just to the electro 5!

[maurus]

I do a lot of solo jazz piano gigs where i'm playing for 2 to 3 hours at a time every week, so i'd look forward to getting to play the HP action for that sort of thing.

I admit that for that sort of thing I'd probably choose a different action than a Fatar TP100. I own a Nord Electro 3HP and never found its action satisfying from a piano point of view. It's OK, sort of, but...

[RedLeo]

The one annoying thing which I don't understand is that the Stage 2 ex hp doesn't have it's own soft case with backstraps, I borrowed a stage 2 with the soft case with wheels and I found it very awkward to wheel around.

I haven't looked specifically, but there are plenty of third party case manufacturers around, and I think you should be able to find the sort of case you're looking for.

[ericL]

ericL, thanks for your reply too, thats cool that you have both, so i'm sure you can compare them quite well. I've been using a Nord Electro 3 73 for the past couple of years, it's a great little board, I was able to carry it on my back to gigs no problem, it was when I used the handle for a while that it got tiresome, if I ever did that then i'd find it affected my playing when I actually got to the gig.

The electro 3 73 is 18.2lbs and the electro 5hp is 20.28 lbs, so i'm confident that it would still be quite portable. The one annoying thing which I don't understand is that the Stage 2 ex hp doesn't have it's own soft case with backstraps, I borrowed a stage 2 with the soft case with wheels and I found it very awkward to wheel around.

Whichever board I choose, the big upgrade for me is going from waterfall to hammer portable action. I do a lot of solo jazz piano gigs where i'm playing for 2 to 3 hours at a time every week, so i'd look forward to getting to play the HP action for that sort of thing. Just wondering whether my upgrade should extend to the Stage 2 ex, or just to the electro 5!

The NE5 HP is actually a little heavier, from my own hands-on experience and the specs as well.
- Nord Electro 5 HP: 11.4 kg (25.13 lbs)
- Nord Electro 5 HP: 1074 mm (42.3") x 121 mm (4.8") x 344 mm (13.5")

- Nord Stage 2 EX HP76: 12,4 kg (27,3 lb)
- Nord Stage 2 EX HP76: 1122 mm (44"), 127 mm (5"), 347 mm (13,6")

Regarding the Nord cases, the backpack case that you're accustomed to using with your waterfall Electro will not fit the NE5 HP or the NS2 EX 76. The only case that works for either of these is the Nord 76 case with wheels. I have all of these versions of keyboards and their cases (Nord 88, 76, 73, 61). Only the 73 and 61 cases have backpack straps and you can't fit the HP keyboards into these. That's why I was curious about your portability comments...it's pretty much a wash between these keyboards.

[maurus]

Eric, I am surprised that you say the Electro 5HP won't fit in the Nord softcase (with straps). It does.
I use to carry my Electro 3HP in that softcase without any problems, and as far as I can tell the E5HP is of the same size.

Edit: It seems the Clavia softcase I got is a case specially for the E3HP that is no longer offered ?!?

[mattp7394]

Hey Eric, I wouldn't like to question you since as the owner of the instrument you would know the most about this, but I am surprised that the 5HP wouldn't fit in the smaller soft case, since it's the same number of keys as the waterfall 73, how would it be different? Is it just the weight difference? That being said I've just looked on the specs on Clavia's website and it doesn't list the 5HP as being compatible with the soft case, so now I'm really confused! They have the case at my local music store I think so I guess I can try it for myself.

I've also looked into 'Fusion' bags, they seem to offer good quality bags with back straps and without, but annoyingly they are out of stock and won't have any more till later this month!

[ericL]

Hey Eric, I wouldn't like to question you since as the owner of the instrument you would know the most about this, but I am surprised that the 5HP wouldn't fit in the smaller soft case, since it's the same number of keys as the waterfall 73, how would it be different? Is it just the weight difference? That being said I've just looked on the specs on Clavia's website and it doesn't list the 5HP as being compatible with the soft case, so now I'm really confused! They have the case at my local music store I think so I guess I can try it for myself.

I've also looked into 'Fusion' bags, they seem to offer good quality bags with back straps and without, but annoyingly they are out of stock and won't have any more till later this month!

Hey Matt, based on what Maurus said, it seems like Nord did make a backpack-style case for the NE3 HP at one point...but it does not appear to be available as an accessory any longer. Perhaps still in stock at some places. So yeah, if there was one that fit the NE3 HP and you can find the case, the NE5 HP should logically fit into it. By the time I got the NE5 HP, there was no such case that I could find. I was actually carting it around in an old Gator black PVC case (similar to SKB), which was pretty compact and easy to move with wheels. After I got the NS2 EX 76, I also got the Nord 76 bag with wheels. With my NS2 88 that I've been gigging hard since 2011, I have the Nord 88 bag, which has held up remarkably well other than one of the zippers broke...but I can still close it just with one zipper.

To elaborate on your question about why the 5HP would not fit into the waterfall 73 case, I can confirm this is not possible. I tried it! The 73 waterfall case is pretty tight for even the NE5 73D. Look at a comparison of the dimensions:

Nord Electro 5D 73: 1066 mm (42") x 97 mm (3.8") x 296 mm (11.7")
Nord Electro 5 HP: 1074 mm (42.3") x 121 mm (4.8") x 344 mm (13.5")

Width difference of .3" might be acceptable, but the depth difference of almost 2" is where it breaks down. Plus, the 5HP is an inch thicker...it simply won't squeeze into that smaller 73 case.