Nord User Forum

Hi fellow nord players!

I've recently been working on a custom overlay for my Roland System-8, and the I thought "why not try this with my Nord?"
So the idea would not be new, I've seen a few Nord keyboards on the forum with a partially black skin and walnut wood side panels.

So I decided opening a poll who of you would want a (black) skin on their nord and ditch the red?

from to Let me know what you guys think

Nice for refreshing the looks, but maybe it wouldn't combine so well with the rest of the red chassis and red wooden sides?

Also, a black panel with red accents and red side cheeks screams "Roland" to me

One of the backline company here in France is renting a custom "non-red" Stage 3.
Sharing some pictures here so you can better make up your mind ! Fred

cookie wrote: ↑11 Feb 2025, 11:15 One of the backline company here in France is renting a custom "non-red" Stage 3.

Fred

That's very interesting-looking, not bad at all. The black panel is probably just a black vinyl wrap, it's a simple job that can be done quickly and easily. The hard part is building new wood end blocks...or sanding and refinishing the red ones.

Anyway, I'm afraid that the overlay Martin is proposing would have the opposite effect: the control panel would be black, while the rest of the chassis would still be red. Not such a drastic change.

There are some aspects of the view I got fed up with during the years of use, but this is not only the colour:
1. I don't understand why security notes need to be placed on the side the crowd will face;
2. I don't like the "nord stage 3" lettering any more - it doesn't fit my musical approach which isn't mainly into synths (I think it looks too much 'synth');
3. I don't like the obtrusiveness of the colour;
These are points concerning appearance. But what about usability?
4. I have no idea which design would have the best user experience - this would be more important to me than modern appearance or brand recognition factor. Drawbars as much as knobs, faders and buttons need to be discernible on stage.

I think Nord should definitely offer the Nord Grand in black and/or brown wood grain - that's an instrument that could sit in living rooms and be the "family piano," and the red is a bit glaring. Ditto the Nord speakers, also not something one is taking on the road.

That looks amazing. If the wood panels could also be stained black that would be perfect for me.

Is it easily done?