If I can't afford the Stage 3 88, which would you recommend?

[Johnny Morales]

I'm primarily a guitarist but have been getting back into piano/keyboards lately. I've tried every Nord model and while I love the Stage 3 88, my current budget is ~$3.5K and even that is pushing it according to my wife . I play approx 50% piano, 25% EPs, and 25% organ and other synth sounds. Of the Nord models in my budget, I much prefer the action on the Nord Piano 5 to the SW action on the Electro 6D or S3C but I'm not sure if I will miss the organ features on the compact boards. Assuming I can purchase any of these 3 models for around the same price, which would you recommend I get?

Also - If I decide to upgrade to the S3 88 or even S4 88 at some point will either the Nord Piano, Electro 6, or S3C hold their value better than the other models from a trade up or sale perspective?

Note: I don't really like the weighted Electro 6 or Stage 3 76 actions so those are not options.

[WannitBBBad]

Hello, I sent you a PM. Good luck to you!

[Schorsch]

Hi Johnny,

would you be willing to consider buying a 2nd hand Nord? If so, and according to your playing profile, you could probably also consider buying a Nord Stage 2EX 88 which is a great board as well and will cost around 1k less than the Stage 3 88 - I see 2nd hand offers here in Germany at around 2.5k Euros.

Nord hold their value quite well in general, no matter which models you look at

[DanielD71]

With the NS4, you will be able to find used NS3 88 in this price range.
Just have to wait for the right one
Regards

[Johnny Morales]

Thanks for the advice. Would you avoid the NP5?

[taxman]

Great for piano, but ..no organ...

[anotherscott]

If @AnotherScott sees this, he can give you some good recommendations. In the interim, two boards that cover AP/EP/Organ/Synth all-in-one are the Yamaha YC88 ($3,149) and new Yamaha CK88 ($1,499). The CK88 is battery-powered and has built-in speakers. I don't know how good the sounds are and I'm not sure to what degree the sounds can be modified, layered, and split, so you'll need to do some work there.

[Qagan]

If @AnotherScott sees this, he can give you some good recommendations. In the interim, two boards that cover AP/EP/Organ/Synth all-in-one are the Yamaha YC88 ($3,149) and new Yamaha CK88 ($1,499). The CK88 is battery-powered and has built-in speakers. I don't know how good the sounds are and I'm not sure to what degree the sounds can be modified, layered, and split, so you'll need to do some work there.

Actually the CK seems to hit the spot quite well, on Top you're not stuck with fixed sections it seems, you can mix and match, layer and split all three of 'em however you like.
Real interesting entry for that Pricepoint.

[Tasten-Bert]

Hi Johnny,

it may depend on how „good“ you want the organ and how „rocking“ you want to play it. I was thinking about a combination of a nord Piano 5 - perhaps the 73 is just enough - paired with an iPad and one of the Hammond apps. I have Galileo I and II and must say that they are more than enough for the bread and butter things, organ parts in Santana or Boston or Kansas songs for example.

If it has to be a Jon Lord like sound and playing, a sample based organ section can never make that. And with a hammer action keybed it’s by far too hard to play. In that case I would not see that Piano and organ together is possible with one keyboard only.

Curious to follow up your plans. Cheers from Germany

[cphollis]

The least expensive NS3 is the Compact, so I'd aim for that. In the US, figure ~$2800 used (at present) if you shop smart. Add a weighted keybed of your choice, and you're all set. Actually, I prefer that setup, as the Compact has a nice feel for organ and synth work.