Change from Electro 5D to Stage 2 or 3?

[erleichda]

1. Main use currently is Electric Piano. I have a '76 Fender Rhodes, but gig/travel with the Nord for this sound. It's one of my main sounds.
2. I use a Moog LP for monosynth solos frequently. My E5D has no pitch bend/mod wheel. Even with only my E5D, I need my LP. So a travel 2 keys setup currently.
3. I loaded as many samples of vintage polysynths as I could find. None replace my Prophet6 or JX8P in the studio, but sorta suffice on a few songs. Lack of full resonance/filter/ADSR controls is a huge problem on the E5D. I'd rather not be stuck with this setup for synths.
4. I play a Hammond A100 but can't travel with it. I use the E5D live for this which is OK with my Motion Pro Leslie.

We are contemplating a short tour next year. I'm wondering if the Stage3 could be my only keyboard. I'll also probably want to stick with SW keys for organ. But read through 50 pages of folks not happy with the C2D hammond compared to the Stage 2. But, I'm not sure I can pull off the synths I want without the A1. The 4 zone splits and addressable effects per split are really important to the success of going with just one keyboard.

I appreciate anyone taking time to weigh in, if you have experience with any of the 3 models.

[cgrafx]

My progression has been Electro 2, 3, 5d, NS3.

The 5d is fine for some basic sample stuff, but as you clearly have discovered is not a Synth.

Over all I'm happy with my NS3. There are a few places that I find lacking
1. Limited to single-layer samples
2. The keybed is not as fast as I would like for some synth/horn parts. (I'm using the semi-weighted waterfall compact version)
3. I wish Nord would implement Poly glide.

Otherwise its an extremely flexible keyboard.

The B3 is not perfect, but not unusable, particularly in a live band context. If you continue to use your Motion Pro Leslie, I don't think you will notice much difference from the 5D.

The RAW B3 engine between the 5D and NS3 is essentially the same. When I first received my NS3 I walked through all the drawbars one at a time with the chorus and Leslie turned off and I couldn't hear a difference between the 5D and the NS3.

The distortion/overdrive is better on the NS3 as is the chorus.

The A1 style synth engine sounds great and is very capable. It would have been nice if Nord had implemented full ADSR rather than ADR, but its definitely not a show stopper.

Having two panels plus splits provides a lot of options.

[ericL]

I have most all of the same gear as you, interestingly enough! I've been using NS2 and NS3 as a single board for quite a while and can do the things you mention quite well. NS3 in particular is a VERY deep instrument.

The complaints about various Nord organ sounds are outdated, in my opinion. I've owned just about every model of NS and NE (and still own several variations). I am very content with the organs in the NS2 and NS3, which get even better when paired with something like a Vent or a real Leslie.

The multiple sound engines and dual slots on the NS3 create tremendous flexibility and even a single synth panel with the NS3 synth architecture can create some pretty incredible sounds.

[baekgaard]

The A1 style synth engine sounds great and is very capable. It would have been nice if Nord had implemented full ADSR rather than ADR, but its definitely not a show stopper.

Having two panels plus splits provides a lot of options.

The new Wave 2 has full ADSR - as an alternative to an A1. But it does not have the piano not the organ engines, of course, so it alone cannot replace the E5.

[LeftyBass68]

Bigger menu on the Electro for organs.These Stage 3's are acting up.Gotta tell ya......don't buy a Stage 3.That is unless you want to buy into problems.
Every negative post now includes unwanted inappropriate advertising too.Obvious to this player that the Nord Forum doesn't like my opinion.
Save your money and get the Electro5D. Anything they have built since is the 'profit taking' model.
Earlier models were 'development' models that HAD to be good so they could get into our wallets.
Now they peddle shite IMO.

[analogika]

Used a Stage 2 for years. Had a Stage 3 Compact since it came out. Single issue was the loose pitch bend connector. Got that fixed and have been extremely happy ever since. It’s my go-to keyboard whenever I can get away with just that. Use it whenever the ’68 B3 is not an option, and use it for Wurlis, Rhodes, Clavinets and a bunch of synth stuff.

This has been your obligatory „unwanted inappropriate advertising“ to counterbalance the vague claim that buying a Stage 3 is „buying into problems“.

Get the Stage 3 — it seems like it will suit your needs pretty much perfectly.

[analogika]

Obvious to this player that the Nord Forum doesn't like my opinion.

vs.

Earlier models were 'development' models that HAD to be good so they could get into our wallets.
Now they peddle shite IMO.

Well done.

[lucascastro]

Bigger menu on the Electro for organs.These Stage 3's are acting up.Gotta tell ya......don't buy a Stage 3.That is unless you want to buy into problems.
Every negative post now includes unwanted inappropriate advertising too.Obvious to this player that the Nord Forum doesn't like my opinion.
Save your money and get the Electro5D. Anything they have built since is the 'profit taking' model.
Earlier models were 'development' models that HAD to be good so they could get into our wallets.
Now they peddle shite IMO.

I Agree hahaha

[baekgaard]

I too am very happy with my NS3, which is a great and very versatile board! Mine is from the very first production run (serial in range less that 50 or so) and I've never had any major issues after the first couple of months of bug fixing (which Clavia addressed very diligently). No hardware issues at all even after very intense use and gigging on a weekly basis.

Obviously some (possibly a few?) are not happy with their boards, and it's easy to claim that there are yes-sayers that deny problems, making it difficult as a new member to judge what is correct and what isn't, what are objective facts and what are subjective opinions - which everyone is entitled to hold, obviously.

Thus, you'd be advised to consider the specifics of what is being discussed. Some may dislike eg the (default) organ sound, or the way MIDI is implemented, etc - but whether it matters to you or if you share the same preference should then also be considered.

My subjective evaluation, in case you'd ask: Based on my understanding of what is reported here and in my own experience, the NS3 is not a(n unusually) problem ridden board, but is the best overall that Clavia has released so far.

[baekgaard]

+1 to both Analogika and Baekgaard

Haven’t had any issues with not my NS3C and NS3-88. I don’t think that having a problem with a device justifies to call the NS3 crap in general