Nord User Forum

Hi,
What is the most compact Nord for piano type sounds? In compact: the lightest and the easiest way to travel by plane?
Also are their any differences in weight with Nord Electro 3, 2, or 1 vs 4?

Many thanks!

Hi Patrick.

For real piano sounds, NE 1 and 2 are not that good. I would go NE3 61. The pianos are the ones you can listen to on the Clavia's website right now.
The NE3 is 7.6 kg heavy, I think. There is no big difference with the NE4.

Thanks! Does the NE3 or 4 61 comes with a backpack style gig bag from Clavia? Or shoulder only?

They don't come with them but such Clavia bags do exist: backpack + shoulder + hand. Great accesory.

The gigbag is indeed awesome. Enough space for a couple of cables and a pedal, strap the thing onto your back and you're off to a gig on your bicycle. I'd consider the 73, because having at least that range is nice. It's ten kilos.

I have the 88-key soft case for my Stage EX, and I honestly have to say I don't like the build quality for the price you pay. I'm always handling my gear with caution, but within 2 months of fairly intensive gigging I had the handlebar at the top torn in two halves, worn out wheels and as a result of that worn out/torn fabric at the bottom of the gig bag. A friend of mine has the smaller soft case for the Electro 3 73 and that one is holding up a bit better (presumably because the weight is also a bit less demanding).

Still, for the same price or perhaps a bit more you can get better bags for your gear. Mono has excellent gig bags, and they recently launched a keyboard line (link) that I use for my Lead 4 (and misc gear like my laptop, audio interface, etc.). It's more expensive than some other bags, but I'm very happy with it. It's very light, yet very sturdy and it looks great.

They don't have one that would fit a 73-key keyboard yet, but they have said they will expand their keyboard bag line if they find that the first model is a succes, and they do have a booth at the coming NAMM (two booths actually, #3495 and #5962 ).

Anyhow, that's some of my rambling regarding a bag. Haha. Don't know what my point would be, but there you go.

I really like the look of their bags, but would that small handle be enough to lift a 88 key instrument? It looks like one might end up with the handle in the hand and the rest on the floor.
The surrounding handle in the nord bag for the NS88 goes all around seems to me more secure (yet I see from your comment that it broke). I hope they come up with a different design for heavier keys.

edit: grammar

I have an 88 with a soft case. I would not trust people to handle it without destroying it.

I had a clavinet D6 (with pretty serious built in case) and UPS managed to SMASH it.

I would get it insured and use a soft case. They are pretty good. INSURED. Don't trust people with your stuff.

thanks all for the replies. The reason I asked this is because I am bringing back a Nord Stage 2 SW, because I don't think it's compact enough. I am considering an Electro 3 61 with a complementary compact synth like a Mopho X4. I don't know if an Electro 3 will fit in a airplane hand luggage overhead department though. but I can always try.

I would be very surprised if you can get a kbd of that size as "hand luggage". Usually airlines advertise the luggage size allowed on board, so you should check. Also consider that at the hand luggage scan they might make a problem with it.