Is Nord Right For Me?

[markamft]

Hello, Nord people,

I seek advice from your collective wisdom. All I really want to do is play piano for my own amusement but I have a limited budget, limited space, and my home is up a flight of narrow stairs so even an inexpensive spinet acoustic piano would be too big and heavy. I don't play seriously so I don't need 88 keys. Finally, I'm looking for a keyboard with a certain, shall we say, aesthetic quality.

I do not gig or even play with other people at home so portability is not an issue.

I loved the Clavinova CLP 525, their entry model, which runs $2,000 new, which is a bit steep but doable. But it's just too big and heavy and not that attractive when you look closely. The cheaper Yamaha, Roland, Kawai and other digital pianos I tried were okay but not great. And all of them are too ugly for me (fine for the stage, but not my home).

I think the Nords are gorgeous (especially when coupled with the EX stand) but none of them seem right; they all seem to have too many features and they all seem too expensive. However, I saw an Electro 4 HP used for under $2000 and wonder if that is the answer.

Any thoughts? I look forward to the debate!

[Leo Castro]

Try it, listen the sounds, and feel the keys. Is the only way to know if the Electro is for you. Electro 4 is very easy to use. Good luck.

[cphollis]

Agreed, the only way to know for certain is to play one for long enough that your hands become adapted, e.g. more than 5 minutes.

I'd also add the Nord Piano 2 to your list, since it's a spinet piano you're cross comparing. I find the action close enough to a real acoustic piano that it's easy for me to go back and forth. Right now, mine is loaded up with three "large" grand samples and an upright. Sounds wonderful through my speakers, almost enough to forget it's digital. I have one on Craigslist locally for $1800 as an example.

If you're into aesthetics, you might be interested in the Stay stand. Comes in a near-matching red! http://www.staymusicstands.com/products ... o/70001-2/

[harmonizer]

The Nord acoustic piano sounds are optimized for stereo amplification. If you plan to listen only on headphones, you will be fine, since you can get quality sound from a good pair of headphones for much less money than it would take to get the same sound quality from non-headphone options. But if you plan to listen on things other than headphones, you should plan to have stereo amplification if using Nord acoustic piano sounds, and you should factor that into your overall budget.

In case you have not already investigated amplification options for acoustic piano sounds, most of the favored systems today are the "powered speaker" category. There are still companies which sell "keyboard amps", with Roland being among the best known. Roland keyboard amps are reliable, and are popularly found in many music gear stores, but they do a pretty bad job with acoustic piano sounds. QSC, Electrovoice, and others make powered speakers which are preferred for acoustic piano sounds.

If you buy a Nord Electro 4 HP, part of the (high) price you pay is based on the fact that Nords are very good with organ sounds. I do think Nords have high build quality as well. But there might be other options which would satisfy you for the acoustic piano sound quality and acoustic piano feel that might be cheaper.

[kirsty]

Per the comment from harmoniser the Electro model is adding the organ section which commands extra price.. and if organ isnt required then its extra price you dont need to pay.

Simply put
Nord Piano range = Piano + Sample Synth section
Nord Electro range = Piano + Organ + Sample Synth
Nord Stage - Piano + Organ + Full Synth

If you only want Piano, id search out a Piano 2 HP (73 key) instead. It has the same keybed as the Electro 4HP but drops the organ section so should be cheaper to buy.

The HP Keybed is designed to be portable mind, so there is compromise in the action. Although its a weighted action its not quite as nice as the Hammer Action HA keybed of the 88 key variants. Some hate the HP action, but many of us (including me) are more than happy with it.

Per everyones comments above, the best thing to do is goto a shop and sit and play them. You can research all day and find perfect instruments on paper, but only sitting and playing it will you know if you connect with the instrument or not.

Good luck with your search
K

[markamft]

Thanks for the tips! Even outside of NYC it's tough to find Nords to demo. Sam Ash in Manhattan has none at present and Guitar Center in Brooklyn has only the Stage and the Electro SW.

I would use headphones exclusively so the stereo comment is very helpful.

I was able to try an older Stage Revision B HA which I assume is different from the HP. I liked the HA although it felt more like a Rhodes than an acoustic.

Looks like the Electro 4 HP on my local Craigslist already sold...22 hours later...or the buyer changed his mind. a good endorsement, I suppose!

[kirsty]

The HP action is a slight lighter weight action that the HA. Depends what you are used to and are happy to play on I guess but the HA is the heavier of the two.

Good luck in your searching

[anotherscott]

I liked the HA although it felt more like a Rhodes than an acoustic.

and I'd say the HP feels more like a Rhodes than the HA does. Of course, these comparisons are further complicated by the fact that not all acoustics feel the same, and for that matter, neither do all Rhodes.

The HP action is a slight lighter weight action that the HA. Depends what you are used to and are happy to play on I guess but the HA is the heavier of the two.

The HA is the heavier of the two in travel weight, but I think most would say it was the lighter of the two in feel.

[kirsty]

I liked the HA although it felt more like a Rhodes than an acoustic.

and I'd say the HP feels more like a Rhodes than the HA does. Of course, these comparisons are further complicated by the fact that not all acoustics feel the same, and for that matter, neither do all Rhodes.

The HP action is a slight lighter weight action that the HA. Depends what you are used to and are happy to play on I guess but the HA is the heavier of the two.

The HA is the heavier of the two in travel weight, but I think most would say it was the lighter of the two in feel.

Really would you say that? My friend has a Piano 2 with the HA keyboard and i thought it felt heavier to play. I did prefer the HA if im being honest, but happy enough with the HP for the effort it saves when transporting

[Rusty Mike]

HP is by far easier to carry, which I am very happy about. And it plays just fine. Like any keyboard action, you adjust. I learned that it’s most effective to play the HP lighter than you think you should, and it becomes very expressive.

I can play decent lead synth solos as well. Organ is a bit harder, as the keyboard does not respond fast enough for rapid repeats.