Advice on new piano

[richardp]

Well I really appreciate the replies. With hindsight, by posting on a Nord forum I suppose I was expecting confirmation bias, i.e. yeah get the Nord! Which isn't what I got!

Given that for me, portability isn't an issue, I'm now really leaning towards the Kronos, perhaps supplemented my an Electro 6D for organ work. If the organ on the Korg sounds great, I can either get an unweighted controller for organ playing or some other synth rather than the 6D which is pricey. But I understand that Nord is still the leader in organ sounds...?

Not found anywhere close by which has a decent range to try before buying, and buying them both sounds like a plan but then there is the risk I won't want to send either back!

So, can anyone offer an opinion if I would be dissapointed by the Kronos? It certainly seems to have a lot more to offer than the Nord in terms of what it can do....! Thanks.

[anotherscott]

But I understand that Nord is still the leader in organ sounds...?

As I said earlier, leader in organ is probably the Crumar Mojo 61. And my favorite board for Rhodes is Korg SV1, though the Mojo has a strong Rhodes sound, too.

Nord Electro or Stage are probably the best choices for piano+organ in one (synth too, in the NS3).

So, can anyone offer an opinion if I would be dissapointed by the Kronos? It certainly seems to have a lot more to offer than the Nord in terms of what it can do....

Yes, Kronos does much more than Nord. But operating a Nord is a very different experience from operating a Kronos. It does less, but a lot of what it does, it does more easily, with a greater sense of immediacy and hands-on control.

[cphollis]

Those of us who play Nords often have spent time with a bunch of other boards, so we can contrast and compare. Very few players start out on Nords, for example.

We also are usually quite cognizant of what makes them different than other choices, and that our choice may not be everyone's choice. And, of course, if something better comes along, we'd be all over that.

[maxpiano]

But I understand that Nord is still the leader in organ sounds...?

As I said earlier, leader in organ is probably the Crumar Mojo 61. And my favorite board for Rhodes is Korg SV1, though the Mojo has a strong Rhodes sound, too.

Nord Electro or Stage are probably the best choices for piano+organ in one (synth too, in the NS3).

So, can anyone offer an opinion if I would be dissapointed by the Kronos? It certainly seems to have a lot more to offer than the Nord in terms of what it can do....

Yes, Kronos does much more than Nord. But operating a Nord is a very different experience from operating a Kronos. It does less, but a lot of what it does, it does more easily, with a greater sense of immediacy and hands-on control.

Quoting every single word, same opinion.

[Gambold]

I have a Mojo 61 and I think the B3 organ is superior to my Electro 4. However, the Nord is better built and has more preset features, so is better suited for touring. The Mojo has a flimsy power jack that feels like it's going to break any minute, and it's controls are a little sketchy too. The keyboard is really nice though, for organ playing.

The Mojo also has some console organs, Rhodes, Wurli, and acoustic keyboard. They are all pretty bad compared to the Nord, especially the acoustic piano, which is frankly an atrocity. I only use the Mojo for B3 emulation, and the Nord for everything else. My biggest gripe about the Nord is that their Rhodes samples suck. I have an SV-1 which blows Nord away on Rhodes - I don't know why Clavia can't get this right.

Nord's acoustic pianos are really good - I wish they'd add some newer grands, esp XLs of their classics like the Steinway. My SV-1 can't touch Nord on acoustic piano, although it works in a pinch. The SV-1 really is a Rhodes emulator with added features, IMHO. It's really heavy though, and hard to tour with at my age

[anotherscott]

The Mojo also has some console organs, Rhodes, Wurli, and acoustic keyboard. They are all pretty bad compared to the Nord, ...
My biggest gripe about the Nord is that their Rhodes samples suck.

Nord Rhodes suck, and Mojo Rhodes... is worse?

My SV-1 can't touch Nord on acoustic piano, although it works in a pinch. The SV-1 really is a Rhodes emulator with added features, IMHO. It's really heavy though, and hard to tour with at my age

Yeah, it's too heavy, but I treated myself and used it on a few gigs lately where I knew there would be an easy load-in. It helps that I found it fit into my old Yamaha YBNP76 bag (just barely), which is SO much lighter than the standard SV1 case. It doesn't provide as much protection, but it's enough for me, carefully handling/transporting it myself. For live gig rock/pop stuff, I've actually found that its "Korg SG1" piano sound can work well, even though it's not one of its "better" piano sounds.

[Gambold]

I have a rolling bag - it's just tedious getting up on a rack, and I always play standing. It is a great beast though, and you can wail away on it, unlike the Mojo which needs a lighter touch. I have the SG-1 in my presets, I'll check it out!

[anotherscott]

I have a rolling bag - it's just tedious getting up on a rack

Yes.... and even the rolling bag (i.e. Korg's own bag, which I also have) can create as many problems as it solves, because it adds significant weight of its own, which you'll feel getting it into and out of your vehicle, and carrying it where wheels may not help (up and down steps, across soft lawns or bad pavement). That's why I was glad to discover I could knock off some pounds with the more minimal bag. But yeah, unless I'm pretty confident of an easy load, if I'm going to bring a weighted action, it will probably be a Casio which is 10+ lbs lighter.

[JayDee]

I'm surprised to hear so much dislike of the Nord Rhodes samples. I am 67, I had a 1973 Mk 1 for many many years. If anyone knows what a Rhodes should sound like, it would be me. Have you guys actually owned a Rhodes, not to 'try one out, but owned for like 25 years? I'm not questioning if your ears don't like it, but as I say, as more than a generation Rhodes owner, the Nord samples are good IMHO. I will say, it'd be boring if everyone had the exact same criteria, so I understand and not discounting your opinion. My experience, and there is a lot of it, is the Nord Rhodes are good, However, I'm not comparing them to a Kronos, or an SV1, just a generation, actually more than a generation with a real rhodes. other opinions are valid.

* do note I used the word 'good' not fantastic or 'it's an exact match'. Nothing exactly replaces a real Rhodes. I do get the feeling that some folks are comparing Nord samples to SV 1 samples or Kronos samples rather than a real Rhodes. The Nord is a pretty decent match

**sorry, had to edit this a number of times as I gathered my thoughts, but EQ IS YOUR FRIEND on the Rhodes samples.

[Gambold]

RE the Nord Rhodes samples - yes, they are ok. But I think given Nord's pricing, and how good their other samples are, the Rhodes ones are a disappointment. Esp when other companies seem to produce better ones without a problem.

As for EQ - any sample that requires a lot of fiddling with the EQ to make it decent is not, to my mind, a good sample. I'm not a big fan of EQ for anything, and I've found the most of Nord's pianos and the organs need very little, if any, to sound great.