Decision Made, It's a Nord based new rig, Thank you--

[gpalmer]

It's a new NS2!
I recently posted a request for opinions on which boards to buy for my new rig. Eight fellow Forum users responded, and I thank each of you for the input and help. I considered all of your opinions carefully and I have decided to go with a NS2-88 for my bottom board, and a Roland Jupiter 80 for my top board. I will join the Forum as a proud owner of these beautiful instruments, and as I learn the new red "beast", I will be on this forum reading and researching topics and techniques.

It's a hard and difficult decision picking new axes and not making an expensive mistake. As a working jazz and blues player, I've got to have the best for gigging. I was leaning towards a Yamaha CP1 and a Kronos X73, however, in following the advise of one of the gentleman who responded in this post, I drove 3.5 hours to St. Louis to check out the Kronos and Jupiter 80, In addition I got to check out a Nord C2 organ.

I eliminated the CP1 because of cost ($5000), and weight (60lb.), and I felt that the Nord wasn't a big drop off in terms of the quality of piano and electric piano sounds. The Nord certainly holds it's own against the CP1 and Roland V-Piano heavyweights, and offers many more options with the organ and synth engines and it's portability. All of these issues were pointed out by Forum members.

After spending a couple of hours playing the Kronos, I came away not impressed. The build quality is awful; the sliders, buttons and dials felt cheap and flimsy. For every great sound there were 10 you would never use. It's a large cumbersome board that's difficult to navigate in my opinion. In fact, I felt the Motif XF was more intuitive than the Kronos. I also felt the Kronos piano sounds were average at best.

On the other hand, I loved the Roland Jupiter 80. I had a Jupiter 8 back in the 80's, and I cut my teeth on analog synthesis. This board does not disappoint, and it has a fantastic build quality. The piano, organ and solo instrument sounds are all quite good, and the synth stuff is off the charts. The board has an intuitive and easy layout to navigate, and with some tweaking and work you can set up stellar registrations which are combinations or various sounds. Hugh sound possibilities, and with version 2 released, this board should be a perfect compliment to the NS2.

I also got to try out a Nord C2, it was awesome. The C2d is on my wish list!

Again, I would like to thank each of the respondents for their thoughtful opinions. I'm like a kid at Christmas waiting for my new NS2 to arrive.
Best wishes--
GPalmer

[Nordfan]

Congratulations!!! You won't regret your purchase, I can assure you that

Please let us know when you have received your NS2.

[Johannes]

Hi GPalmer and congrats you finally managed to get the rig you want!
And very wise to go take the effort to play them all in reality before deciding!!
Post back once you get your gear and welcome to participate here and for sure also over at http://forums.rolandclan.com/
Cheers!
Johannes

[mjbrands]

Regarding the Jupiter 80: there's also the smaller/cheaper Jupiter 50. Pretty much the same sound engine (less 'voices') and no aftertouch; also a bit lighter (and because of this a bit less sturdy). Too bad they had to cripple the Jupiter 50 by leaving out aftertouch.

[Gustavo]

Congrats on the new acquisitions!!

You will not regret the choice

Also, keep in mind what mjbrands says. Maybe you do not need a full-out Jupiter 80 and could do with the much cheaper Jupiter 50 (its about 1500 USD difference), your wallet might thank you

PS: I still want to try out a Jupiter 80, that along with a PC3 are the only keyboards I have yet to play!

[mjbrands]

...along with a PC3 are the only keyboards I have yet to play!

*mjbrands* shakes fist at Kurzweil

The Kurzweil K3000 is years overdue. The PC3(K) is just a more polished version of the K2600.

[organut]

...along with a PC3 are the only keyboards I have yet to play!

The PC3(K) is just a more polished version of the K2600.

The PC3(K) is one of the finest keyboards/synthesizers available. I have a NS2 and a PC3X. I love this combo. It has everything I ever dreamed of. And I have to say that soundwise the PC3 smokes the NS2 in many many aspects. If I could only keep one of them, chances are that the NS2 would have to go.

I also still have my good old fully equipped K2500R/KDFX. The PC3X is much more than just a 'polished' version of it.

[mjbrands]

I also still have my good old fully equipped K2500R/KDFX. The PC3X is much more than just a 'polished' version of it.

Uh oh, I'm in trouble now. Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards Kurzweil players, for they are subtle and quick to anger.

Just kidding of course.

[anotherscott]

I eliminated the CP1 because of cost ($5000), and weight (60lb.)

The CP5 sounds almost the same (and uses the same action), and is a lot less money... but still weighs 55 lbs. For gigging musicians, that's the problem with most companies' best piano sounds, they only come in their heaviest packages. The Kawai MP10 sounds great, but it's 70 lbs, and the lighter MP6 does not sound as good. Even short of the V-Piano, Roland's best piano sounds are in the RD-700NX, which is again, 55 lbs (and the FP-7F, which has a subset of those sounds in a less expensive package with speakers, weighs almost as much). If you want an 88-weighted board with the strongest pianos under 50 lbs, IMO, Nord is it. (edit: I forgot, Roland also does offer the lighter weight RD-300NX/FP-4F... though I really don't like the feel of the action on those.)

I also felt the Kronos piano sounds were average at best.

Although there's a lot I really like about the Kronos (and some things I don't), I happen to also be in the camp that isn't impressed by its pianos, despite their 4.7 gb size. I'd take the Nord, too. And again, the Kronos 88 tops 50 lbs. If I wanted a Kronos in my rig, the only one I'd get would be the 61. I do think their EPs are particularly strong, so if I had a Nord 88 and a Kronos 61, I'd probably use MIDI to trigger the Kronos EPs from the Nord action.

I also got to try out a Nord C2, it was awesome. The C2d is on my wish list!

If you want to add a dual manual organ to your rig in the future, I would take a serious look at the Crumar Mojo. By all reports, it seems to be better all around, except for only having 2 sets of drawbars instead of 4.

[Dave Ferris]

If I'm not mistaken, Glenn returned his NS2 and purchased the CP1.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CP1/reviews

If you ever read this, how's that working out for you Glenn ?