(too) light keyboard action on Nord Stage EX

[kareldejong]

I own the Nord Stage EX for over a month now. Love the thing but I stil have to get used to the somewhat (too) light keyboard action. Before I owned a Yamaha CP300 which had a very natural piano touch. I was choosing between a Nord Piano (better piano action) and a Stage EX and I chose the last one because of it's bundle of sounds (and morphing possibilities) but I still would like to have the N P keyboard in it. Do you guys think it would be possible to let the techs at Nord change the keyboard for me (I know the're both Fatar keyboards). I understand I wouldn't have hight trigger point possibility anymore. But I just 'miss' the real piano touch (not the sounds) of the CP300 :)

[bertpeeters]

I don't know if they'll be able to change the keyboard.. Seems complicated, plus you'll lose the high trigger point for organ, as you said, but also aftertouch.
Luckily a far better solution is lurking ahaid: the upcoming Stage 2 apparently has the sabe keyboard as the Nord Piano, but with high trigger point and aftertouch. I'd try it out when it hits the stores if I were you.

[Johannes]

I find the NS 76/88 a compromise between a more Piano feel keybes such as Kawai's MP8/10, RD-700, Yammie CP's and a more Organ/Synth type. The Nord Piano is IMHO VERY different, dunno what exactly they changes, but when I played it in a store I was literally blown away by the feel, especially since I don't like the weighted Stage keys too much. But then, I play the COMPACT, even more a compromise but it is mainly for its schleppfactor! And after two years with it I now really like its feel a lot and got used to it. Now the MP8 I play occasionally feels to stiff to me. So I think its all about getting used to it!

@bertpeeters: Are you sure the new NS2 has the same keybed as the Nord Piano? They say something about improved keybed but not sure its the same as the NP. WOul dbe interesting to know though!

[anotherscott]

I own the Nord Stage EX for over a month now. Love the thing but I stil have to get used to the somewhat (too) light keyboard action.

Which Stage EX do you have? The Compact, 76, or 88?

[Cbas]

@bertpeeters: Are you sure the new NS2 has the same keybed as the Nord Piano? They say something about improved keybed but not sure its the same as the NP. WOul dbe interesting to know though!

Yes the Stage 2 does have the same keybed as the Nord Piano. Someone on another forum sent an email to clavia, and comfirmed it.
It might feel different on the Stage 2 though, as it will now also have aftertouch. I know for me the difference from my earlier Electro 2 to the stage compact was a big difference in feel because of the aftertouch. I actually liked it better.

[Johannes]

Thats good news for the NS2, so maybe its worth switching to the weighted keys?? Tough decision.
And I absolutely agree about aftertouch changing the equation. Personally, I find there is a HUGE difference between the NS Compact and the NE keybeds. Me also prefers the Compact by far, feels way more piano-ish IMHO. Plus its aftertouch is just great, nothing compared to the Roland Synths Ive played where you had to push the keys really hard to get an effect!

[Cbas]

Thats good news for the NS2, so maybe its worth switching to the weighted keys?? Tough decision.
And I absolutely agree about aftertouch changing the equation. Personally, I find there is a HUGE difference between the NS Compact and the NE keybeds. Me also prefers the Compact by far, feels way more piano-ish IMHO. Plus its aftertouch is just great, nothing compared to the Roland Synths Ive played where you had to push the keys really hard to get an effect!

Yeah I agree with you. IMO the feel-difference didn't change anything on the organ part(because of high trigger point), but it felt so much better for piano/E-piano.

I haven't really tried the Nord Piano keys, so I can't comment much on that. But I know I will still be getting the Compact.
The weight difference is just so important to me. It is so awesome to be able to carry the compact around in bus/train.
Also for me personally it is worse to play organ on weighted keys than piano on semi-weighted. And I think I play more organ/synth stuff than piano on gigs anyway.
And I save some money both on the keyboard and the gigbag.

I do miss the weighted action when I practice at home with piano sound, but the compact is definitly the right choice for me.

[kareldejong]

Thanks for all the answers guys! I just read about the upcoming Nord Stage EX 2. If I'd known before!!
Maybe if I'd sell my Stage EX88 AND my Nord C1 then I would have enough for the EX 2.
But then again, I think I'm allready getting used to this keybed in the meantime. Sometimes I play a Steinway Grand at work and of course that one has a stiffer action but I guess the trick is to hit the keys as hard as you're were used to. Then you keep the strentgh in the fingers.