Nord Electro 4 HP : Don't buy it!!

[rmcpiano]

I bought it a few months ago , and despite having used very little and almost always at home, 2 keys already present problem, they silenced. Therefore I repeat: Do not buy this keyboard!

[Leo Castro]

I think this is not the right place to put something like that.... Hand made keyboards must fail once in a lifetime.
Maybe in a forum from Korg or Yamaha or any other brand....
We all love our Nord's, and sorry if I'm talking by the whole forum !

[pablomastodon]

Hi RMC,

Your two silent keys problem is caused by dirt. Someone who knows what they are doing can open your instrument, take it apart, clean it and put it back together in less than an hour -- it takes me 40 leisurely minutes to complete that job. When rushed I can do it in 30.

Buying (or making) a dust cover for your instrument can help to prevent this dirt from getting in there, and there are various herbal remedies available for your temper problem.

Bless,

Pablo

[pterm]

I think rmcpiano's disappointment is understandable: Had I experienced two key failures in my first months of ownership I too would question my purchase.

rmcpiano raises a valid point about what seems (to me) to be the Achilles Heel of Nord Keyboards: Dirt Ingress into the Fatar Keybed. This seems to be the most common hardware issue raised on this forum. Pablo's depth of experience correcting the problem speaks to its prevalence.

I have a Roland keyboard that I never used dust cover on (for 15 years) and never had a keybed problem. --My experience with my Roland leads me to think that its keybed design is less susceptible to dirt ingress. My Nord, I always keep covered when not in use.

I think Fatar ought to look at improving this... or Nord needs to reconsider their supplier choice.

[Horacio]

I always put the dust cover on my Nord Stage after using it. I had a Korg keyboard before, and had problems with silent keys, because of dirt. So I learnt that lesson.

[pterm]

I always put the dust cover on my Nord Stage after using it. I had a Korg keyboard before, and had problems with silent keys, because of dirt. So I learnt that lesson.

A quick google search seems to show at least some Korg boards using Fatar keybeds... Do you know the make of the keybed in your old Korg?

[RedLeo]

The problem is not limited to Fatar keyboards, it exists in all keyboards that use the same basic type of switch contact - the rubber membrane type. Although pterm has had a good experience with his Roland keyboard, the Rolands that use this type of contact system are just as problematic. I have cleaned key contacts countless times on any number of Roland synths, both my own and other people's. It's basically just a flawed idea. It's as bad an idea as rubber cambelts on cars- a child of five could see how that was going to turn out...

[pterm]

We're back to this...
general-nord-forum-f29/dust-causing-mal ... tml#p32962

[cphollis]

Long time Nord user here. Never, ever a problem. Even a tiny one. All of my Nords have worked flawlessly, all the time. I have the Nord cases for them, and use them religiously. Other people may have different experiences, but that's mine.

[AlQuinn]

I've been playing electric keyboards for 40 years. Owned and did thousands of gigs with Yamaha (DX7, CP33), Moog (MiniMoog, Liberation), Roland (JV90, Synth Axe), and Korg (Poly 61, CX3) keyboards. Also own several midi controllers (M-Audio). Never once had a bad key issue. Bought an a Electro 4D and had a key go bad in less than a year. Pablo walked me through the fix over the phone. I'm grateful for his extreme skill, dedication, and patience. My Electro was subjected to much less dirt and dust than my previous keyboards because I do fewer gigs now. So, I'm disappointed that this happened and feel that my Electro is less reliable than the keyboards previously owned. This has caused me to consider non-Nord keyboard options for the future -- I'm leaning toward a Receptor running Ivory and othe plugins with a midi controller. Having said that I love the sound so I wish Nord would address this issue. I've heard the explanations about how Nord bad key problems are no worse than the other manufacturers but based on my experience I don't buy it.