Somebody talk me into buying an NE73!

[Nu2Keys]

My Korg CX3 died, and its at least 2 hours to the nearest possible repairman, and I've got a fairly prestigious gig coming up (at least for around here) and I've been wanting an Electro, anyway, but it's hard to pull the trigger on $1699 plus $79 for a gigbag. Help me!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eric]

I've been gigging my Electro for 6+ years and love it. Great Hammond (once you acclimate to drawbuttons - but I have MIDI drawbars too), unbelievably funky clav and wurly, super Rhodes and excellent CP80. Less than 20 lbs. Hard to find anything else like it. It captures the vibe of everything it does extremely well and is an extremely musical instrument in terms of being expressive. Great action, very pummel-worthy. Cuts like a knife through the mix.

 

Just do it!

[kanker.]

If you get the Electro, you will no longer be an outcast around here.

 

 

 

 

 

(kidding)

[Outkaster]

I can talk you out of it if you want.

[drawback]

Good grief, man! Buy it!!

 

I had a CX-3 until it needed a new motherboard, which I had replaced BTW. Meanwhile, I borrowed and then immediately ordered my NE73. The CX stayed in its case for a few years, and I just sold it.

 

The Electro is the best all-purpose gigging machine I've ever used, bar none.

 

-

 

 

[eric]

I can talk you out of it if you want.

 

It's no secret Jason loves to hate the Electro.

 

 

[Outkaster]

No actually Eric I saw with one two weeks ago at the GC in Buffalo. I liked the EP and Clavs a lot, I really did. Wurlitzer and Rhodes are spot on. I wanted to really give it a fair chance so I spent some time with it. I liked the organs ok but not the hi registers on some of it, sounded thin. The drawbar button and action thing is something I can't get around. I may get one real cheap if I can...seriously. Eric my S-90 is taking a beating and I only want to gig with it in the soul band so I am thinking Electro for everything else that requires EP. I need weighted action for the soul stuff but the Electro could compliment it. I bring the Triton I have to gigs and am not using that as much as I would an Electro for the Reggae stuff.

[B3Nut]

I gave the Electro (61 in my case) a shot because I found a deal I couldn't pass up, a friend wanted to let it go cheap. I'm gigging in the horn band with just it and a Leslie, and while I'd prefer real drawbars, this is doing an amazing job, and is a fun little instrument to play. And it does feel great to bang on. I still want an XK-3c, but the little red beauty is gonna be perched on top of it when I do get to that upgrade. The Wurly and Clav are to kill for.

 

You really can't go too far wrong with one, I'm definitely keeping mine. Yeah, I can nitpick some mistakes they made in upper-octave foldback, they range from one to two notes too soon (it doesn't hit the high F# that would be #91 on a TWG) but when the band is playing and I'm making music, it becomes insignificant. It's a huge improvement over my Triton and S80 for organ sounds!

[zahush76]

I can talk you out of it if you want.

 

Why so serious?

[JeffLearman]

I'm hoping that before too many years they come out with something far better, the prices on used ones will drop, and I'll jump. I might even have done so before now if the 73 didn't end at low F.

 

It'd be nice to:

- have a small light board I can use for practice or jams

- not have to set up the laptop to get a good hammond

- use as 2nd tier with a good piano.

 

It's just too versatile not to love. Biggest drawback is the weak grand piano sound, but even that's good enough for lots of blues and rock backline stuff including leads -- cuts through a mix nicely and musically *works* even if it doesn't quite sound like a real piano. Not up to snuff for jazz trio piano work; not so great for a piano ballad, but far better than what most keyboard players put up with for decades and the crowd doesn't really care.

 

As a replacement for CX3, though, the piano is just a bonus. I doubt you'd regret it, barring a personal economic catastrophe. (If you get a used one, you can offset that risk because you can turn it around for the same price, and you're only out the shipping costs etc.)

 

[Chris Link]

Biggest drawback is the weak grand piano sound, but even that's good enough for lots of blues and rock backline stuff including leads -- cuts through a mix nicely and musically *works* even if it doesn't quite sound like a real piano. Not up to snuff for jazz trio piano work; not so great for a piano ballad, but far better than what most keyboard players put up with for decades and the crowd doesn't really care.

 

Exactly. When we were doing the blues jam, I frequently got to go grab a beer and listen to someone else play my NE 73. It was the only board I would take for the jams.

 

The acoustic piano always sounded much better in the mix than it did sitting right next to my amp. Not sure why that is, but it's more than acceptable for 99% of what we were doing. Not only can the crowd not tell any difference, but a majority of the musicians in the house would probably not notice any difference.

 

I found when using the Electro by itself, it was handy to have one "column" or program section of presets all with the same tweaked acoustic piano sample and a second one all with a base "Jimmy Smith" Hammond sound. Another column has all of my other Hammond presets: split manual with LH bass, split manual for LH comping, gospel, reggae, "Time Is Tight" intro split manual and "Gimme Some Lovin'".

 

That way at the touch of one button (no scrolling up and down), I get back to one of my two base sounds. E.g., one "Gimme Some Lovin'", I can go from the screaming organ sound to the piano for the verses instantaneously without having to dig around. Same with going from the quiet intro on "Time Is Tight" to the main body which needs a pretty much base sound.

 

However, if you want more than one acoustic piano preset or more than seven Hammond ones, this ain't gonna work. If I want to mess around with the "drawbars", it's usually off the of the base B3 sound anyway.

[Gary75]

If you want the staple diet of any touring keyboard players sounds, then it's great. There is nothing else like it out there, as far as stage pianos go with that kind of specific vintage sound set. I gigged with mine for a few years and loved it, that was before the new samples were available. I only sold it because i got a Receptor module otherwise there is nothing that could have replaced it

[Joe Muscara]

+1000 to all the pro-Electro comments above. Killer sounds, useful, and light.

[colinio]

or you could get the stage compact which has also killer clav and a (not so killer) synth section(!)

 

actually sorry to hijack this thread but is there a big difference in EP (specifically clav) samples between the Stage and the Electro? From what I heard the Stage clav has key-off! but I might be wrong...

 

But yeah man, I'm definitely hankering for a NE! It is almost a certainty that I will be getting a Nord as my next board... the convenience (SO LIGHT! JEEZ!) is one thing and from my experiences with one.. it has killer EPs... the only thing stopping me is deciding whether I should fork out an extra grand for a Stage compact or just get the Electro.

[ITGITC]

I'm hoping that before too many years they come out with something far better, the prices on used ones will drop, and I'll jump.

 

Yup.

 

Since he owns both keyboards, I want Dave Bryce to share his experiences regarding the two: NE73 vs. Kurzweil PC3.

 

Of course, there is a huge price and weight difference:

 

NE73: $1,700 USD, 20 lbs, 7.8 kg

PC3: $2,550 USD, 37.35 lbs, 16.94 kg

 

My question is: In day-to-day use, are the additional sounds and features of the PC3 worth the extra weight and price... to the regular Joe Muso on the street?

 

Tom

 

 

 

[Dana.]

I think an Electro vs. PC3 shootout would be helpful for a lot of people, especially comparing the electric pianos and organs.

[Joe Muscara]

My question is: In day-to-day use, are the additional sounds and features of the PC3 worth the extra weight and price... to the regular Joe Muso on the street?

Thanks for asking for me, Tom.

[Garrafon]

Love the Electro...plain and simple. As for the NE73 v PC3, to me, they are apples and organs (ok, apples and oranges). The NE73 you can carry around with ease under one arm and has killer base sounds (EP, organ, clav, piano). I don't want to take anything away from the PC3, a great board in its own right, but you just can't beat the "all you get in a light package" that is the NE73. I love setting that thing up...it is virtually effortless.

[ProfD]

Nu2Keys, the time has come for you to take the NE73 plunge.

 

It covers organ and additional sound in one unit. Besides, it has been the KB on your radar for a while now. Go for it mayne.

[B3Nut]

Seconded. Just go get that puppy. You'll thank us later.

 

I really enjoy gigging with my 61...it's just a hoot to play out on. And it's refreshing to own a piece of new electronic gear that DIDN'T come from China!

[eric]

or you could get the stage compact which has also killer clav and a (not so killer) synth section(!)

 

actually sorry to hijack this thread but is there a big difference in EP (specifically clav) samples between the Stage and the Electro? From what I heard the Stage clav has key-off! but I might be wrong...

 

But yeah man, I'm definitely hankering for a NE! It is almost a certainty that I will be getting a Nord as my next board... the convenience (SO LIGHT! JEEZ!) is one thing and from my experiences with one.. it has killer EPs... the only thing stopping me is deciding whether I should fork out an extra grand for a Stage compact or just get the Electro.

 

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I've been a satisfied (make that enthusiastic) Electro user for 6+ years. I also owned the Stage Compact for a few months and have written A TON of stuff about that if you searched back to around late 2006 or thereabouts. I had intended for the Stage Compact to replace my Electro, but it did not stick for numerous reasons. I will try to dig up the old thread so I don't have to dive into the recesses of my mind recalling my thoughts

 

Regards,

Eric

[Tonysounds]

Ive had my Electro for over 6 years, and love it still, for different reasons now. I couldnt sell the thing. I prefer its Eps to those in the Stage, it makes a great controller for B4 in my Receptor, its lightweight and goes to every rehearsal, and is just a great keyboard. GET IT!

[Chris Link]

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I've been a satisfied (make that enthusiastic) Electro user for 6+ years. I also owned the Stage Compact for a few months and have written A TON of stuff about that if you searched back to around late 2006 or thereabouts. I had intended for the Stage Compact to replace my Electro, but it did not stick for numerous reasons. I will try to dig up the old thread so I don't have to dive into the recesses of my mind recalling my thoughts

 

Regards,

Eric

 

Is there a way to search back that far? I get this message: "The specified date range is too wide. The maximum date range you can search with is 4 months."

[eric]

Here is one of my earlier threads when I was selling my Stage Compact. Don't have time to search out the others right now or describe how I can find these. I'll start a separate thread on that.

 

Click here

 

[ITGITC]

...they are apples and organs (ok, apples and oranges).

 

Yeah. You are probably right.

 

I love my PC2X, but I practically have to make an appointment with my chiropracter after each gig.

 

I like the size and the weight of the NE73. And the price is easier on the wallet than the PC3.

 

But if the weight and the price were not a factor, which board would you rather be playing at the gig?

 

(That's where Dave Bryce's response comes in since he owns them both.)

 

 

 

 

[Joe Muscara]

<--- *cough cough*

My question is: In day-to-day use, are the additional sounds and features of the PC3 worth the extra weight and price... to the regular Joe Muso on the street?

Thanks for asking for me, Tom.

[JeffLearman]

...it makes a great controller for B4 in my Receptor

 

I'm curious why you use NIB4 if you have the Electro. Does the B4 sound that much better? Or just a little, and you have the receptor anyway?

 

I use NIB4, but I suspect that if I had an Electro, I usually wouldn't bother with it or my laptop, even though I really like my Rhodes soundfont.

[ITGITC]

<--- *cough cough*

My question is: In day-to-day use, are the additional sounds and features of the PC3 worth the extra weight and price... to the regular Joe Muso on the street?

Thanks for asking for me, Tom.

 

You OK Joe?

 

That's a nasty cough.

 

 

[JeffLearman]

<--- *cough cough*

My question is: In day-to-day use, are the additional sounds and features of the PC3 worth the extra weight and price... to the regular Joe Muso on the street?

Thanks for asking for me, Tom.

 

Hey Joe, you're not the regular JM on the street, you're the specific one on the forum! Cut the guy some slack, eh?

[Tonysounds]

B4 sounds a lot different than the Electro. It has more of that midrange girth that the Hammond has (and the Electro is a little light on). It doesn't get compressed in the top-end like the Electro does, and as much as I like the leslie sim on the Electro (the only sim on a clone I can stomach), the leslie sim on B4 spanks it to death. If the Receptor wasn't coming to a gig, the Electro works great. If I'm not using a leslie, it sounds way better than my XK1 (which through a leslie is excellent), and is preferable to every other clone I owned (XK2, XK3, Vk7, CX3 analog and digital).

 

Of my rigs I own presently, in order of preference, it's

#1 XK1 through my Speakeasy AMA roadboxes

#2 Receptor running B4

#3 Electro.

 

I won't use the XK1 without a leslie. But if I didn't have the other gear, I'd be quite happy with my Electro still.