Stage EX: wanting to remove pitch stick and mod wheel

[FlametopFred]

Was straight forward and easy, when proper care was taken.

I followed the instructions on how to open a NORD from YouTube. There are a few vids and I watched them all.

I always proceed with care and use containers for the bolts.

NOTE that the lid opens, but catches (on the 88 Stage) on those two rubber bumpers as it opens. Just gingerly nudge the panel past those and you can open the panel up.

I removed the entire Stick/WHEEL assembly but DID NOT cut or disconnect any wires. You can just get at the bolts better.

The WHEEL seems to be made of stone! - and takes a very small Allen key wrench.
The STICK is made of wood and is held to the mechanism with two bolts.

Then I bolted the wheel/stick housing back to the lid underside.

Now the top panel is flush. I will put Velcro over the holes, which will cover them from dust and old down anything I want to put on that vast, smooth real estate.

[magic_dillitzer]

Hi Flametop,
done great, thanks for the images! One question: How did you remove the wheel from its potentiometer?
Btw: Don't think it's stone, imho it's kind of sandblasted aluminium ...
Best, magicD

[FlametopFred]

The wheel is held onto the pot with a very sturdy Allen key bolt - very small

[FlametopFred]

That is clear Velcro

You will probably shake your head at these last two photos

Yes, I am using a Roland VK8m organ with the Nord Stage

Don't get me wrong, the Stage has great organ sounds - up to a point for me

I need actual drawbars because I use those a lot, and the Roland has warmth, dirt and growl that the Nord just doesn't quite have. What I did find that the two blend very well together so I may end up using both sounds on some songs.

Yes ... I am a bit mad ...

Anyway, been playing it tonight and is going to be good for the new band I am playing in

[Duplobaustein]

This is absolutely beyond me.

[FlametopFred]

The WHEEL seems to be made of stone! - and takes a very small Allen key wrench.

It is metal, I think. Try with a tester at any two points of the wheel.

[analogika]

This is one of those things where, when you end up buying the board used ten or twenty years down the line, without the removed parts because they got lost when they were thrown out in some box cleared out of the basement a decade ago, you just shake your head and wonder what the hell the guy was thinking...

[FlametopFred]

Yes, Analogika is correct about that. Over time I have received several such emails. One person even removed his eeprom for some unknown reason, then parked his Nord in a closet for 3-4 years, then wanting to sell it, but can't find eeprom. You might wish to consider affixing those parts to the inside of the chassis with quality duct tape so that they do not get misplaced.

bless, pablo

[FlametopFred]

This is one of those things where, when you end up buying the board used ten or twenty years down the line, without the removed parts because they got lost when they were thrown out in some box cleared out of the basement a decade ago, you just shake your head and wonder what the hell the guy was thinking...

Indeeed, but not how I roll

Already inside the nord in a bag, secure.

BUT having said that, I am already schemeing how to install a Roland-style tab/joystick thing in a way that would cover both pitch and mod functions.

The Nord solution is ... inelegant and can be implemented much better. In the Stage, the pitchstick thing is ... in an awkward location. Period.

I built a custom Mininordyssey with wheels for a Nord Rack 2 and that turned out great ...so, scheming ensues

[analogika]

This is one of those things where, when you end up buying the board used ten or twenty years down the line, without the removed parts because they got lost when they were thrown out in some box cleared out of the basement a decade ago, you just shake your head and wonder what the hell the guy was thinking...

Indeeed, but not how I roll

Already inside the nord in a bag, secure.

BUT having said that, I am already schemeing how to install a Roland-style tab/joystick thing in a way that would cover both pitch and mod functions.

The Nord solution is ... inelegant and can be implemented much better. In the Stage, the pitchstick thing is ... in an awkward location. Period.

The Roland pitch bend/mod stick is a fine solution for pitch bend and spots of modulation. I like it a lot on my Roland synths, and it very much shapes the technique and influences what and how you play the instruments.

Unfortunately, it is totally boneheaded if you want to use a mod controller for anything beyond momentary modulation. If you wish to use it for continuous cutoff setting or morphing of parameters, you simply can't.

Your mileage obviously varies, but I find the mod wheel and especially the pitch stick to be part of the unique playing experience of these nord machines and wouldn't want to miss them for anything.