Here's the thing. I really love my old and trusty NE3 61. I really dig it. Done many changes in its sound set, sampled lots of VSTs and even hardware synths. I do miss a monophonic mode though. But essentially that would be the biggest drawback for me. Well, I've had NE3 since ...maybe 2011. And I still enjoy it a lot. Especially the C1 engine implemented in it. NE3 really have small sample memory, but if used wisely, you could pack it with some nice variety (only mono sounds will miss).
But no matter how much I love this keyboard, I've started to notice some wearing out of the keybed. I check regularly (maybe too often) all the keyboard related sites. So newer Electros didn't impress me so much in terms of organ sound. But at a certain moment I thought - it could be these compressed demos, or my speakers..I should give newer instruments a chance. Well, I did it. I've always thought the biggest/most important update in the Electro line was NE 3 (sample memory, organ engine...). So NE 5 seemed a nice option with increased memory and split/layering. I finally went to my local Nord distributor, left my lovely NE 3 (what a sad moment) and some money, and I got a brand new NE5.
What a massive disappointment...And its the organ sound. I did A/B testing with the same settings and the same PA. NE5 sounded significantly thinner (even when boosting its LFs), harsher and the outputs produced some crackles when I applied some hotter level - again, with the very same settings/conditions. So, ignoring all other improvements of the NE5, I decided to return it and to get again NE3 . The dealer almost laughed at me, but agreed to return my NE3, only I had to wait more then half an year to get my money back (until the NE5 got sold - this is how the things are in my country - Bulgaria).
So I stayed with my NE3 and with no backup - that was the main issue and I had to pick up something. Meanwhile Thomann decided to clear out the Nord Stage 2EX models at a fantastic price. Though almost out of my reach, I collected all the money I had and just pulled the trigger. My choice was the Compact model and I got it for 2000 euro. I thought its older than NE5/Stage3 rotary modeling would be somewhere near to C1 engine. I know Stage 2ex basically has the C2 engine (if not C2D) but with a certain rotary setting that differs it from Electro 4,5...Of course, I've been listening lots of demos over and over, but nothing is like the real touch. Anyway, I received the Stage2 EX - what can I cay..in terms of features/operation it is a fantastic machine and really shines as a stage instrument. But the organ again...not my cup of tea. But I was kind of ready to keep it just because of all the things it has superior than Electro line - memory, effect section (especially this lovely vibe), synth, slots, splits...That was before I compare the sound with E3. Minutes before I wrote all this, I did the usual A/B...That damn organ sound again...The thing is I'm not a dedicated organ player, I need many more sounds in my playing/thinking/composing music. But I love this sound much. So much that I'm considering returning Stage 2EX and maybe getting a Mojo+some mono analog desctop (to my ears Waldorf Pulse 2 has the beefier sound in its class, though this new Roland SE-02 sounds really good too - judging on demos only)....then again I will need some poly synths..what a mess. .Anyway..Long live Electro 3!
))