Nord User Forum

Hello.After a lot of search in stage pianos i ve made my desision.
I ve ordered a nord piano 4 mainly for stage use and secondly for some recordings.
A)Did anyone had already bought it and can describe his/her experience?
B)Did i made the right decision? What about the other models?

I am primarily an acoustic piano player who gigs out frequently. I have been playing Nords for a while: Electro 3, Electro 4D, Stage 2, Stage 3 and now a relatively new Piano 4. I also routinely survey all the alternatives -- just in case, right?

To answer "A", my experience has been wonderful with the Piano 4, as it has with all my Nords. Any problems I've had over the many years have been my own fault and easily fixed. With the right amplification, it sounds GREAT on stage (as do all Nords), and recording is a breeze.

If you plan to use the board for primarily pianos mixed in with the sample library, you picked the right Nord. If you plan to lean heavily on organ and synth -- or do complex layering/splits -- the Stage 3 is the better bet.

Or use both. My go-to rig these days is an older Piano 2 that drives a Stage 3 Compact on top. I can manage the entire gig from the NS3C's control panel, and there is now a lot less stress in my life.

The NP4 is the best Nord Piano out there yet. I like it a lot.

You probably made the right decision if you're primarily a piano player

@ Cphollis:
Your have your piano 4 and you are still using the piano 2 under the Stage 3? Why?

The most important spec for me was keybed action. After search i understood that piano 4 dont have the greatest action and there are other pianos with better action. But im not impressed with any piano sound in other companies and nord is perfect in that. Also it seems very useful in stage.
A)What about the other companies ?
B)What about the nord keybed? (For those who already use it)

Action alone is relatively important, apart maybe for technical studies; when playing live imho the "hand-to-sound connection" is what matters more.

I have a Kawai VPC1 (RM3 Grand 2 action) at home/studio, but I enjoy playing my Nord Stage 2 (Fatar TP40) live.

Having said that, good actions may be found on Kawai (MP7SE or MP11SE, but this one is quite heavy), Roland RD2000 (or previous models) and on Yamaha CP5/CP4 (and the newly announced CP 73/88, to be tested...)

Very helpful explication. Thats why all keyboard players want a keyboard with a great feel . So its not always the weight of the hammer action and how it reminds the classical piano!!! Thanks that help me a lot.

Action is important, but IMHO you also quickly adjust to the feel of a particular keyboard...

I have also a Roland RD-700NX (previous model in the now RD2000 line). I much prefer the Nord Piano 4 action to the Roland action, which was surprising to me. My initial plan was to use the RD700NX for more "critical" acoustic piano, but I like the different feel of the Nords better. In particular, the NP4 is really nice to play acoustic piano on. My RD700NX now mainly collects dust.

Great to hear that.The only thing that made me thought if i picked the right one was the keybed. Now i just cant wait to play with my nord piano 4

Quai34 wrote:@ Cphollis:
Your have your piano 4 and you are still using the piano 2 under the Stage 3? Why?

Multiple gigs, multiple rigs

Electric band: NP2 with NS3C. Beefy stage amplification. A freaking arsenal of sound.

Acoustic trio: NP4 only. Subtle stage amplification. No need to bring out the sonic fireworks.

Although the electric rig could do the acoustic gig, I'm basically playing piano all night long on the acoustic gig. So bring a piano, right/

I've gotten myself a shorter STAY stand (red, of course), we dress up a bit, and are trying to capture a different vibe. The NP4's action (and deeper samples) make it much more fun.

Hope this helps?

-- Chuck