Nord User Forum

Hi,

it’s me again after some long and detailed contacts with a korg D1, a Roland FP30 (to remain in the same price area), a studiologic 88 studio, a studiologic 88 grand, a nord Grand - and, to have an excellent reference, a Bechstein Grand D (appr. 175.000 euro). My only aim is a good keybed feeling, I don‘t need master functions like multi MIDI things etc. Some months ago I liked the korg, today I didn‘t.

korg in details:
The keys move a bit too heavy, they don‘t feel like a weighted piano mechanics but just „braked“.
Their way from top to bottom is shorter than I‘m used to.
The surface of the keys is too slippery, it feels like the plastic of my korg X50.
The sounds are mid quality, I wouldn‘t use neither of them.

Roland in details:
The keys move too heavy as at the korg, same feel.
Also here shorter way from top to bottom than I expected.
The surface of the keys surprised me, far better grip than the korg. The material is structured like my old piano teacher‘s instrument.
Among the sounds there are some which I would use: I love Roland‘s Jazz Scat, and the concert piano and the B3 surprised me.

Studiologic SL88 studio in details:
The weighted feel is better than with the two of above, but: If playing hard, the keys always vibrate three times when reaching their bottom, as if they land on elastic rubber. This is nothing for me. Sidenote: I have a good Sauter piano with Renner mechanics at home.

Studiologic SL88 grand in details:
Good, weighted feel, good movement.
Smooth, accurate landing of the keys.

nord Grand in details:
Good, weighted feel, good movement. I‘ve expected it far better than the SL88 grand, but this was not the case. It’s good, but by far still no „real piano“ substitute, I‘m afraid. Once again: I only looked at the keybed feel.

The Bechstein - okay, this is out of comparison and no fair competitor - this was very good. This company seems to have done a lot in the past 20 years, even if I compare with the last Steinway I happened to play.

If I had to choose a master today, it would be the SL88 grand.

Cheers from Germany

Great that you still managed to play a FP30; its successor FP30X doesn't have DIN-MIDI anymore. Interesting you liked the SL88-Grand more than the Nord Grand; it should have a keybed close to the NP4, but probably gradually weighted. And it has aftertouch.

FZiegler wrote:Great that you still managed to play a FP30; its successor FP30X doesn't have DIN-MIDI anymore.

Also FP30 has USB MIDI only (no DIN)

maxpiano wrote:Also FP30 has USB MIDI only (no DIN)

Thanks! I didn't know that - had the FP30 in my list of possible MIDI controller keyboards for the Stage 3. The DIN socket I had seen is for a pedal unit!

For home use, the best piano-type action keyboard I've found is the Studiologic SL88 Grand. It's strictly a MIDI keyboard, does NOT contain onboard sounds, but it will play the piano sounds on your electro beautifully. It's too heavy for me to want to take it to gigs, but it's a workhorse in my home studio.

BTW, only the SL88 Grand has this action; the other SL-series keyboards have a different and less ideal action.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... controller

Lots of good suggestions here.

One that hasn't been mentioned is the Kawai ES110.

Also, the same action that's in the PX-5S is in the lower cost PX-360. (Though the PX-5S has other advantages as a MIDI controller and otherwise.)

Yamaha CP4 used is a good board to consider for a posh keybed. Not sure about the US but there are quite a few CP4's kicking around on eBay etc under £1000 lately