This 'unofficial' Forum is dedicated to the Clavia Nord Keyboards, including the Nord Stage, Nord Electro and Nord Piano. Discuss any issues around Nord's keyboards, share your favorite patches, samples, and music. We are not affiliated with Clavia!
Ecaroh wrote: 17 Jan 2026, 09:08
I am curious about the new HP action marketed as Kawai made.
How good it is and how will it last? I have very bad experiences about previous HP models. I first bought NS3 with HP keys and in a week it started to have horrible mechanical noises. Luckily I managed to return it. And to my experience it was not anomaly, HP keyboard is a nightmare, at least the first generation(s) of it. I have tested some old HPs, keyboards are rubbish nowadays, time really isn't treating them well.
So does ”Kawai” somehow change this equation?
We will see, considering the weight I guess it is probably derived by the Kawai RHC = Responsive Hammer Compact, used on models like the ES110/120 (you can find details about the RHC other Kawai actions at this page Kawai Keyboard Actions
As a general consideration, lightweight Hammer Action keyboards imply some compromise in terms of mechanism and materials, so a faster degradation in time compared to the more sophisticated (nd heavier) HAs should anyway be expected (but not the way it was with the old Nord HP = Fatar TP/100)
—Nordine
Jazz pianist & co-author of "Jazzology: The Encyclopaedia of Jazz Theory for All Musicians" Nord Piano 5 (88)
Roland RD-88
Korg Triton Extreme
M-Audio Keys 49 MK3
Yamaha HS5 Monitors
Audient Evo 4
Rusty Mike wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 23:37
I've owned a YC73 for a while now and have had a very difficult time with it. Although the keyboard action is good for piano, there is no piano in the library that suits my ear and I find them all slightly irritating.
I found that the pianos/EPs really benefit from adjustments to the Velocity Depth and Velocity Offset parameters (these settings ae save within each Live Set, not globally). Also, they need EQ, a midrange dip. (Or you can leave midrange and boost bass and treble to achieve similar.)
Rusty Mike wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 23:37
It also does not have multiple drawbar presets per patch, so you have to switch patches to jump drawbar presets.
It stores upper and lower organ settings per patch, which at least gives you two. Unless you are using the board to simultaneously play upper and lower manual organ sounds (either via a keyboard split or by attaching another board to use as a second manual), you can switch the organ sound you're playing from the "upper" sound to the "lower" sound, to essentially give you two switchable drawbar settings per patch without having to switch patches. At least IIRC.
Rusty Mike wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 23:37
I've owned a YC73 for a while now and have had a very difficult time with it. Although the keyboard action is good for piano, there is no piano in the library that suits my ear and I find them all slightly irritating.
I found that the pianos/EPs really benefit from adjustments to the Velocity Depth and Velocity Offset parameters (these settings ae save within each Live Set, not globally). Also, they need EQ, a midrange dip. (Or you can leave midrange and boost bass and treble to achieve similar.)
Been there done that over and over again ad nauseam since I bought the instrument. I'm tired of trying. Nothing works for my ear.
Now I take the YC out only when the schlep calls for a lighter haul. I'll just be happy to sell it. It's not a bad instrument; we just don't get along.
I'm #2 on Sweetwater's pre-order list for the new HP. They said July.
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Mike from Central NJ, USA
Tools: Ten fingers, two feet, middle-age brain, questionable judgement and taste Current Nords: Piano 5 73, Electro 6D 73
Ownership History: Electro 2, Electro 3-73 SW, Electro 3HP, Electro 4D, Stage 2EX 76HP
Gambold wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 23:46
USA pricing, from Kraft Music. I didn't bother looking up the 61-key version:
Electro 7 73 HP - $4000. (Nord 6 HP currently $3200, so a 25% increase)
Wow. It's pretty much exactly US$2900 this side of the pond, at today's exchange rate (2500€), excluding VAT.
Thomann price.
The US price is really high compared to Europe, even considering minimum tariffs of 15% on imports from Sweden. Tariffs could be more if they look at the aluminum used for the Nords which would add another 50% for these parts from what I know, but that still should not be the reason for the high price level in the US I think?
Gambold wrote: 16 Jan 2026, 23:46
USA pricing, from Kraft Music. I didn't bother looking up the 61-key version:
Electro 7 73 HP - $4000. (Nord 6 HP currently $3200, so a 25% increase)
Wow. It's pretty much exactly US$2900 this side of the pond, at today's exchange rate (2500€), excluding VAT.
Thomann price.
The US price is really high compared to Europe, even considering minimum tariffs of 15% on imports from Sweden. Tariffs could be more if they look at the aluminum used for the Nords which would add another 50% for these parts from what I know, but that still should not be the reason for the high price level in the US I think?
Or, as we're just seeing, if he throws a toilet-tweeting tantrum over not being allowed to invade Greenland…
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Schorsch wrote: 17 Jan 2026, 20:45
Let's leave politics aside here and instead make sure that this remains a nice place with nice people and nice topics
NB: That literally puts speculation over U.S. pricing off-limits.
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