Virtual1

The HP76 (Hammer Portable) is Fatar's TP100. You'll want lighter action than that. The Nord Stage 2's HA76 (Hammer Action) has the TP40L ("light") keybed. I found it just a little bit lighter than the Forte 7's TP40 action. The great thing on the Stage 2 is that you also have 3 more Dynamics level choices -- each one making it progressively easier to hit max velocity. Normal Dynamics 1 - slightly easier to hit max velocity Dynamics 2 - even easier to hit max Dynamics 3 - easiest to hit max In other words, for your left hand, you can set the response to Dynamics 3 to play lightly and still hit the loudest piano notes. Gradually, as your left hand gets stronger, you can ease down to Dyn 2, then Dyn 1, then back to normal, until your hand regains full strength. Even then at Normal the keybed is a joy to play. And that's separate for the velocity curves you can set for its 2 External channels. The Organ section also has a low / high trigger option. And the Stage 2 can download the latest pianos as Nord offers more upgrades. The latest is the White Grand, and I've got the Large versions of it and the Silver, as well as a couple other Medium grands. I got lucky and found a Nord Stage 2 HA76 for just around $2k last year, soft case included. Maybe you could get lucky if you're a little patient. I have to say the Stage 2 is a great match for the Kronos 61. I hooked up all my pianos so I could test play them from the Stage 2 keybed. Of the various pianos on a Kronos, PX5S, Integra, Forte, and MODX7 (tested stock pianos only), I liked the Stage 2 pianos best by far. The Stage 2's synth is pretty strong sounding as well.... a nice addition to the K's VA engines. It took quite a bit of research and a couple near misses to finally land on a great 76 key action board to pair with my 61 key Kronos. The Forte 7 was a close runner-up, but the Stage 2 won out due to being lighter, smaller, same or better action, and much cheaper to boot. HTH The Nord Stage 2 HA76 sounds like a good fit for me. I will start looking to find one. Like you said, the sameTP40L keybed, as in the highly recommended Forte 7, sounds good to me. Thanks for your help in finding another board with a light hammer action I am looking for. Still going to look for a new or used Forte 7 as well, and try the GrandStage 73 as others recommended.

I"ve played for about an hour on the Grandstage 88; it"s not the heaviest out there. A little plasticky for my liking if I recall correctly, but on the lighter side. I"m a fan of the Kawai ES8 action, but that"s only an 88. There really isn"t a whole lot in the hammer 73/76 category that I know of aside from the previously mentioned Forte 7, Kronos 73, Grandstage 73, Electro and Stage variants, and CP73 models. The P121 isn"t as good as the CP73 even. If you could do with an 88 there are a lot more options. I wanted to stay in the 73 key size format, but the Forte 7 is pricey. The GrandStage 73 looks good. If I go with a 88, what can you recommend with a light action? What didn"t you like about the CP"s sounds? The Cp's AP's sounded dull and mid compressed, lacking dynamics, when comparing with the Kronos 61.

Biggles, Which Nord are you thinking about? The Nord Stage 3 HP76 ? I heard the action was heavy. Love the Kronos sounds, I have a 61.

or a balanced action bottom board. Wanting a 73/6 format. Budget around 3k. Sold my CP73, I liked the action on, but couldn't live with the sounds. Left hand injury/surgery made heavy hammer weighted keys painful. I have read good things here about the Vox Continental and the Kurzweil Forte7. There are no stores nearby to try so I hope others can help with some ideas.

Thanks....Been looking at both of your suggestions. The "T" style stand would be just like a desk with a good solid slab of wood, and might go with it, but I really wanted to find a "Z" style that is deep enough to fit both the CP and the iMac together, utilizing a wood slab for the iMac. Thanks, Bob

Hi MotiDave.....Your'e right but I want to put the iMac right behind the CP73 for a home workstation.

Hi Mighty Motif Max, I want the CP73 on the stand with the iMac, but its the 27" version. I don't know if it would fit well on a second tier. Its kinda big. Bob

Hi all, First time posting. I am looking for a new Z style stand that is deep, so I can put an iMac behind my keyboard. Been using a laptop, mounted on a stand, but I need my iMac size and capabilities now. I thought of just some plywood on my stand, but its not going to be sturdy enough. Does anyone know of a good strong stand with enough depth to hold the iMac and a couple of monitors? Thanks for your help, Bob