Life expectancy of Nord Stage 3

[eliasl]

Hello, I am about to purchase a Nord Stage 3, which will be my first Nord Product.

I am wondering if anybody knows how long I can expect it to last for?

[cphollis]

My opinion would be "a relatively long time". There are people out there who are still happy with their Electro 2, Lead or Stage Classic. We're talking 10-15-20 years or more. I think they are classics, and they continue to sound great to my ears.

Mechanically, they are built to last. Nord keeps adding more features and more memory to the newer models, which of course sucks me into an upgrade cycle vs. some sort of inadequacy with the older models. Some of the newer samples require a more recent Nord model to play them. I'm thinking about the newer EP dyno filters in particular which I find very useful.

If the cost of a brand new one is causing you some heartburn, consider buying a current model slightly used, which is what I do these days. I expect I'll be playing my Stage 3 Compact a very, very long time.

[DJKeys]

The Clavia products (I have owned 6 of them) last many years. My Stage 2 was more than 5 years old when I sold it and had been to many gigs. Plus, in my experience, Nord keyboards also have the highest resale value when it is time to sell.

-dj

[harmonizer]

Nord has historically added new sounds (AP and EP) which can be used on Nord models made a few years in the past. I bought an Electro 3 in December 2012, and a few years later, Nord released the Nefertiti EP and Royal Grand AP sounds,and these worked on my Electro 3 even though newer Electros had replaced it in Nord's lineup. This has made my Electro 3 more viable for me to continue using for a longer period of time.

There is the possibility for any keyboard to fail mechanically after a number of years. I think the Nord boards have relatively good mechanical quality. There are other choices out there. A Nord Stage is not cheap, but it has very good for use in live gig playing.

[ericL]

40 years plus

[Elias]

40 years plus

Well I've seen ones that are half way there and still going strong.

[alex78]

Nords are built like tanks and they are supposed to last long, as the other fellows above have mentioned. However this doesn't mean that no care should be taken. If you keep the keyboard in it's case when not using it, or cover it with a dust cover to prevent dust and humidity coming inside, then you will be having fun for many years to come.

[analogika]

I bought my Electro 2 in early 2005, and though I've temporarily retired it from active duty about three years ago (after several hundred gigs), it's still going fine. Lost the screws keeping the wood sidepieces on at some point, so the top is just wobbling around, but the machine has not ever failed me a single time.

[Hobster]

Almost EXACTLY ditto Analogika with my Electro 2 except I've only lost one screw!!
Still prefer the Hammond sound that beauty generates to my Stage 3 but as I'm now controlling a KeyboardPartner HX3 Plexi from the Stage 3, it's no longer an issue

[Hlaalu]

Nords are built like tanks and they are supposed to last long, as the other fellows above have mentioned. However this doesn't mean that no care should be taken. If you keep the keyboard in it's case when not using it, or cover it with a dust cover to prevent dust and humidity coming inside, then you will be having fun for many years to come.

This is easier said than done though... as far as humidity is concerned, I don't think a dust cover, nor a case, can do much. Humidity is in the air and unless you absolutely insulate the keyboard, it will still be subjected to whatever the climate is in that moment.

On the dust side, again simply covering it with a cloth (to the OP: the Stage 3 comes with a dust cover) I am not sure is enough. I haven't owned dozens of keyboards but the few I have owned, after some years, despite religiously covering it every single time after use, they still got dust inside. So, so far I have been defeated on this side.

My NS3 is 9 month old and I wouldn't want to make it end up like the others. I was looking at one of those PC mini vacuum cleaners...

Has anyone some experience with those? Can recommend?