cdom

Great sound, Al! And, your SS3/amp combo sounds crisp and clean, as well.

It wasn't my ability to to alter the EQ settings on the Nord that was at issue. The tone, color, and balance of the SS3 was clearly affected (especially at louder volume, using the SS3 as a multi-keyboard amp within a blues/rock band context). So, replacing the original equipment with a higher-priced (perceived, higher-quality speaker) didn't work out for me. For all you GAS-ers out there, I still have the new Faital, sitting in its original packaging, waiting for a good home. PM me and make an offer.

I agree. Aspen has designed, developed, marketed, and mass-produced an incredible product that has reignited my quest for the perfect, on-stage, keyboard amplification. Oh... and he may have broken some lame, frivolous, forum rule. He's one of us. How many other entrepreneurs go to the mat, like this guy? Let the market decide. If Aspen is no longer on this thread, then neither am I.

Ain't that the truth! Aspen, we all look froward to the results of YOUR experiment. And, even though some of us will always be searching for our own Holy Grail, let me just say, in all my years of playing live music using electric/electronic keyboards, I have never been as pleased with my stage sound as I am with the SS3. And, I get more compliments from those-in-the-know, witnessing the magic sound emanating from my little black box. Congratulations on a great product and for being there for us "little guys".

And, heres what happened I used the SS3 with the Faital 8HX200 on 2 gigs with our loud, blues-rock-fusion band and It was a fail. Obviously, installing a speaker that has different sonic characteristics would affect the overall sound SS3, and it did. Not only was the mid-range boosted exponentially, there seemed to be an adverse effect on the quality of the 3D bloom. All the time and effort I had put into my individual patches on the Nord Stage 2 (multi-instruments with individual effects, volume & EQ levels) went out the window. I had to tweak various parameters on the fly, to get my sound where I wanted it. It was like starting over. FYI.. I was also using the Behringer B1200D-PRO sub, the combo Ive been gigging with since 2015. Could it have worked? Possibly, but since I have put so much live gig experience into my patch tweaking with the SS3, I dont want to start over and ruin a good thing. Throwing a different speaker into the box was a fun experiment, but it didnt work me. Note When I played acoustic piano at low volume (in my home studio, with no sub) there was a noticeable clarity to the piano sound. There could be some potential for low-volume gigs, but thats not how I currently use the SS3. So, the Eminence is back in the hole, and Ive got a beautiful Italian speaker sitting in its original packaging. If anyone is interested in continuing this little experiment, hit me up on the private side and make me an offer. Otherwise, Ill consider it a very interesting, expensive date with a beautiful girl who couldnt put out. Ciao Bella.

Doh... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208514333443470&set=pcb.1221937504554302&type=3&theater

"Funny how? I mean, funny like I'm a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh?"... Yes (sans smiling emoji).

C'mon, davedoerfler. Don't be a Stick in the mud...

Surgery was a success I was able to swap the Eminence CX2008 with the Faital 8HX200 in about 30 minutes. As stated in an earlier post, it was necessary to drill new holes to match the Faital's footprint, and the only difficulty I had was removing and reinstalling the "tee" nuts that secure the speaker bolts. I was surprised to see that the coax driver was loose on the CX2008 (refer to Aspens post #2791634) I had never felt any vibration or heard and issue with my sound. It was a simple fix to hand-tighten the driver. The only test I performed was to make sure it actually worked, so I plugged my iPhone to the SSv3 and listened to some Chick Corea acoustic piano tracks. Not a real test, mind you, and certainly not a comparison of speakers... I simply wanted to be sure that I connected the 2 speaker and 2 driver wires correctly. My first rig test will be this weekend when I will play my Nord Stage2 with the upgraded SSv3 in a large room. The REAL rig test will be when I perform with the band at our regular joint on 1/20/17 (Inauguration Night in DC). I've had my SSv3 since June 2015 (over 75 gigs) and it has worked flawlessly for me. I still have to bring a Behringer B1200D sub to hear the acoustic piano sound I like ( http://www.nordkeyboards.com/sound-libraries/nord-piano-library/silver-grand ) with the loud band I play with. We typically bring our own PA for Vocals/Sax, so my stage sound is my only amplification in small-to-medium-size venues. It will be interesting to see if I can eliminate the sub from my rig and hear a clean acoustic piano with the Faital speaker upgrade. Ill share my experience, as it happens.

Hi jbolazzi... Not yet. I've just returned from holiday travel and I should have some time this weekend to dig in.

cphollis, Pics and step-by-step documentation... Easy-peasey. Perhaps a low-volume, A/B, controlled-environment recording using my cheap Zoom recorder (along with a biased, untrained-ears-commentary) WOULD be entertaining. What I'm really anxious to learn is if this transplant makes a significant difference to my acoustic piano sound when I perform with my LOUD rock-blues-funk-fusion band...

My Italian has arrived, and she's a beautiful piece of technology. I won't be able to perform the transplant until after the weekend, so sit tight...

"These go to eleven."

I contacted Parts Plus yesterday... The Italian is BO'd and won't arrive until the first week of December. I'll keep you posted.

Indeed, I have sprung for the Italian. I'm hoping she arrives before the holiday weekend so that I can install, post-turkey. I will report back ASAP.

Hi jbolazzi. As a Nord Stage and Casio PX-5S owner, I'm curious to know which "acoustic piano" you are using to test the Italian.

I must admit... That sure is "perty". Reminds me of the monolith from 2001 Space Odyssey.

Just as well, Bill. I'll bet people were just about fed up with this conversation and hoping we'd move this thread to another room. Meanwhile, back at the SS3 Ranch...

Actually, I WOULD choose to add a logo. You see, I'm a Graphic Designer by trade. I have this fascination for logos and their application to products and advertising. I dig them, I don't fear them.

I am a designer. The answer to your question is YES. Aren't you trying to sell and market a product?

Without getting all political on ya... My fellow instrumentalists don't go to this much trouble with their axes. Do you cover up the logos on your kitchen appliances, automobiles, toiletries, clothing, and sporting equipment, as well? I'm happy to promote the products I use and believe in, even if I'm not rewarded as an endorsed professional. Hey, Aspen... I'll take a hot-pink or fluorescent green grille with LED logo, if you've got any sitting in the back of the workshop!

Pretty rig. What's that cool, little stand?

I couldn't wait... I purchased the SA Really-Mini-Tremor and used it with a Nord Stage2 and the SS3 on 2 gigs. To my ears, it may be better at reproducing a nicer-sounding acoustic piano, compared to the SS3 matched with the B1200 (I now have both subs). When I have some free time in my home studio, I will A/B both subs and share my thoughts.

For what it's worth, Reezekeys... I played live (loud, rock/blues/soul cover band) with a Nord Stage 2 and a pair of K8s for over 2 years and believed I had reached amplification nirvana. Trouble is, just when I thought I had the perfect stage mix, my bandmates were telling me that I was too loud, and the audience was telling me they couldn't hear the keys. I still play the NS2 with the same band (40% APs, 30% organ, 20% EPs, 10% synths), but now it goes through a mixer to an SSV3 and a sub. ALL my 'instruments' sound better to me, my bandmates, and audience alike. A will tell you this, I had to completely re-EQ and tweak all my program settings, especially the pianos. Give it some time, and soon you will join us on the Dark Side. BTW, if it's truly important for you to have the best possible stage reference possible, I recommend these... http://shop.gorillaears.com/collections/gx-series/products/gx-8?variant=415230269

Hi, Reezekeys. For what's it's worth... My previous live rig was a pair of K10s, then K8s (easier on the ears AND back). I play a variety of keyboard parts using a Nord Stage 2 in a VERY loud cover band. I purchased the SSv3 sight-unseen/sound-unheard primary based on the opinions of the fine folks here on this forum. I also use a Ventilator with the B3 organ output from the NS2. Coupled with the SS3, you would swear there's a spinning horn in an old wooden box, back there. The Nord Silver Grand is stunning. The rhodes/wurlies sound authentic. And, the real surprise for me, the string/brass programs are significantly more lush and believable in the live mix. I couldn't be happier. Sound nirvana.