Problems to look for with Nord Stage 3 88-key?

[DankeDante]

Hi, I’ve just received my Nord Stage 3 HA-88 today, and upon unboxing, I saw there was what appeared to be lube in between a couple of the keys. I wiped it away.

But, aside from that, everything seemed perfectly fine, but this is my first ever Nord keyboard so if there are problems I might not realize from this product. The keys all felt fine, all of them perfectly aligned, and knobs worked perfectly. One thing I did notice was just the black keys had this very faint clicks sound, inaudible when playing though - not sure if it’s normal, but I don’t mind it at all.

[Schorsch]

Which of the three Nord Stage 3 have you bought? The keyboard action is significantly different between the 3 types

[DankeDante]

Which of the three Nord Stage 3 have you bought? The keyboard action is significantly different between the 3 types

Oh, my bad my bad!

It is the 88-key Hammer Action.

Do you believe the lube that was there before I opened it to be a red flag?

[DankeDante]

Also, I’d like to add that it is new and not used.

[ajstan]

Welcome! Here are a few thoughts and questions:

1. Pictures and/or video would help.
2. You should call your dealer and ask them about the two issues you described.
3. Can you describe the click on the black keys? Also, does it occur upon pressing down or release? Is it every black key or just a certain range of keys? With hammer action there is going to be some noise.
4. I don't recall anyone here posting about any type of lube or foreign substance being on their unit.
5. Are you sure you have a factory-sealed unit?

[DankeDante]

Welcome! Here are a few thoughts and questions:

1. Pictures and/or video would help.
2. You should call your dealer and ask them about the two issues you described.
3. Can you describe the click on the black keys? Also, does it occur upon pressing down or release? Is it every black key or just a certain range of keys? With hammer action there is going to be some noise.
4. I don't recall anyone here posting about any type of lube or foreign substance being on their unit.
5. Are you sure you have a factory-sealed unit?

Pictures of keyboard, possible defects, and grease:

The clicks happen on all black keys, but it’s very faint and makes me think that’s its normal. Occurs with release.

I bought it from American Musical Supply, so I’m guessing it was from a customer who returned it back.

[LeftyBass68]

Congratulations on your new Stage3 HA88! I obtained one used,new,'floor model',and no tube of lube in that open box.I add this is the older version and I swept it off the floor for the retailer at a discount price!Fortunately the arp buttons are farther away from the keybed on the older 88 than the compact.
Actually prefer the close buttons of the older UI for arp use with rythmic sampling live on the compact.
The same can't be said for the arp button proximity on the 88; which allows a small distance to safely avoid engaging the 160BPM banjos over your piano ballad intro.Fail safe fix?
Zero bpm your master clock at least.These instruments are very 'deep on the fly' and the 5 live buffers are your new best friend!As you design your panels and A/B them they move comfortably
into programs.Had a compact now for 18 months and an 88 for 7 months.Very deep instruments for live work.
After three months of daily setups or about 100 the 88; organ volume potentiometer cap cover fell off.The build quality was in fact better on these rotary encoders on older models IMO.
I simply popped it back on with a very little Lok-Tite.The compact left end wood block developed the same 'nick' in that a little block would pop out on the back lower side.Tapped it back in with a rubber mallet and the repair is invisible.These have been moved a lot and are worth the money IMO.Install those newer EP's and White Grand if it's the older model!
Have fun!

[DankeDante]

Pictures of keyboard, possible defects, and grease:

The clicks happen on all black keys, but it’s very faint and makes me think that’s its normal. Occurs with release.

I bought it from American Musical Supply, so I’m guessing it was from a customer who returned it back.

The pics were helpful. Here are some additional thoughts:

- If it was an open box or return, then it's not technically new. If you purchased a new unit, you should receive an unopened box. If you understood you were purchasing an open box/return for a discount, you should weigh the value of the extra discount vs. the likely 10-15% off you could get for a new, unopened unit. Also, if you keep it, make sure you have any warranty in writing that acknowledges it's an open box/return.

- I wouldn't want a board that had a substance with an unknown purpose on the keys. Even if it wiped off, I wouldn't know what may have seeped down inside and its effect on operation now or in the future.

- Not sure how a black mark would get on the vertical side of a white key, or how the scratches on the other keys got there. I would guess that it would be due to a force applied by an object other than fingers playing the keys.

From what I've seen, this would be a return/exchange for me.

[DankeDante]

Pictures of keyboard, possible defects, and grease:

The clicks happen on all black keys, but it’s very faint and makes me think that’s its normal. Occurs with release.

I bought it from American Musical Supply, so I’m guessing it was from a customer who returned it back.

The pics were helpful. Here are some additional thoughts:

- If it was an open box or return, then it's not technically new. If you purchased a new unit, you should receive an unopened box. If you understood you were purchasing an open box/return for a discount, you should weigh the value of the extra discount vs. the likely 10-15% off you could get for a new, unopened unit. Also, if you keep it, make sure you have any warranty in writing that acknowledges it's an open box/return.

- I wouldn't want a board that had a substance with an unknown purpose on the keys. Even if it wiped off, I wouldn't know what may have seeped down inside and its effect on operation now or in the future.

- Not sure how a black mark would get on the vertical side of a white key, or how the scratches on the other keys got there. I would guess that it would be due to a force applied by an object other than fingers playing the keys.

From what I've seen, this would be a return/exchange for me.

I messaged them, and they said it wasn’t a return, and that it came directly from
the manufacturer.

[ajstan]

I messaged them, and they said it wasn’t a return, and that it came directly from the manufacturer.

Did they offer to do anything about it? It's your decision of course, but If I received a new, unopened unit in the condition you've described, the reps at the companies from whom I regularly buy would be good enough to send me a return label and offer to ship me a new, replacement unit as soon as they received the confirmation that I dropped off the original unit at the shipper.