Do you prefer weighted or semiweighted keys at Nord Stage 2?

[Octopus]

Hi

 

Im updating my liverig and Im considering to buy a Nord Stage 2. I have ordered a Hammond Sk2 and i need a second keyboard for the rest of the sounds.

 

In the band i play more EP (rhodes and wurly) than AP.

 

So as the subject says: Do you prefer weighted or semiweighted keys at Nord Stage 2?

 

Sec question: Do you prefer 76 or 88 keys on stage?

 

Third question: Is the pads, strings, synth, hard and soft leads good on the NS2? Warm Jupitersounds?

 

 

[sakari lindhen]

I prefer a weighted 88 ...but I play mostly AP and classical...

[Octopus]

Thnx and fun with more swedes but your name sounds finnish ;-)

 

At home i mostly play AP but i have a yamaha cp300 for that and a real AK piano in the livingroom.

 

This is for playing in the band.

 

Playing EP on my cp300 is not a optimal feeling ...but for the AP SUPER (can it be better?)

 

Maybe (I hope so) that NS2 is more softly than cp300 in its keyfeeling. You cant play organ, synthleads at weighted...

 

The question is: Weighted or not for Rhodes and Wurly.

 

 

[AnotherScott]

Maybe (I hope so) that NS2 is more softly than cp300 in its keyfeeling. You cant play organ, synthleads at weighted...

The weighted NS2 action feels lighter than the CP300, and I would say, yes, it is more suitable than the CP300 for organ/synths, though still certainly not ideal. It also has a high-trigger-point option for its organ sounds, which helps. But if the NS2 is going to be an adjunct to your SK2, not only do you have organ sounds there, but even if you wanted to use the Nord organ sounds too, you can trigger them from the SK2 easily enough.

 

The question is: Weighted or not for Rhodes and Wurly.

I would choose weighted for EP, though playing EP from unweighted isn't as bad as playing acoustic from unweighted.

 

In general, I think Nord's weighted action (compared to other weighted actions) is better than their unweighted action (compared to other unweighted actions), I find their unweighted too springy. But there is always some amount of personal taste in these things.

 

Sec question: Do you prefer 76 or 88 keys on stage?

Like all boards, it's just a matter of what you need, there's nothing Nord-specific about that choice. Either you need the extra keys (whether for splits or for extended keyboard range), or you don't. But of course, if you can get away with it, the 76 is smaller and lighter. Since you're using it primarily for Wurli and Rhodes, even the 76 covers the full range of an actual Wurli, but of course, the Rhodes itself was available in both 73 and 88 key versions.

 

Is the pads, strings, synth, hard and soft leads good on the NS2? Warm Jupitersounds?

"Good" is always a matter of opinion on synths, even more so than other instruments, since realism is not the goal. It's just a matter of what you like. The Nord has its own synth sound, but it also has sampled sounds from many synths (including Roland Jupiter 4 and JX-3P), which you can further process through the Nord's own synth section. You can hear some of the sounds at

http://www.nordkeyboards.com/main.asp?tm=Sound%20Libraries&cllibr=Nord_Sample_Library&clslib=Synth

[sakari lindhen]

Thnx and fun with more swedes but your name sounds finnish ;-)

 

I am Finnish, just live in Sweden

[Tonysounds]

You've already got the non-weighted in the SK2...get the weighted for the pianos, etc.

 

But to answer your question, I prefer the weigthed keys for the Stage 2 because I am playing pianos from it.

 

Playing organ on this keyboard is easy too.

[ITGITC]

 

Gentlemen, GeekGurl, and Forceman...

 

Did we ever come to a definite conclusion that the Nord Electro 3 HP has similar action to the Nord Piano and/or the Nord Stage 2 HA76 (with weighted keys)?

 

Mom wants to know.

 

Tom

 

[AnotherScott]

Nord Piano and weighted NS2 use the same Fatar action, but tweaked slightly differently. NE3HP uses an entirely different Fatar action.

[ITGITC]

Nord Piano and weighted NS2 use the same Fatar action, but tweaked slightly differently. NE3HP uses an entirely different Fatar action.

 

Thanks. I thought that's what we decided; just wanted confirmation.

 

As I mentioned in another post, I wanted a hammer-action keyboard for piano, electric piano, clavinet, etc. The action in my NE3HP doesn't get in my way. In fact, I like it a lot. I have not tried the Stage and the Nord Piano... yet.

 

Tom

 

 

[drawback]

I played the NS2HA76 and NE3HP side by side and the HP action is stiffer. Aside from having different action, the balance could be affected by the slightly longer keys on the HP.

 

Congrats on your purchase, Tom! You made the right call.

 

 

[theGman]

Slightly OT, but just curious. I have an E3 and am thinking of getting a Stage 2 mostly for the fact (I believe) that I can incorporate an organ/piano split unlike the E3.

 

I like the light E3 touch, an am wondering how different is the Stage 2 touch? Or, to maybe put it a better way, is there somewhere a listing of the Nord's relative keyboards touch feel, from light to firm, etc?

 

I have only played the E2 and E3, so this would be helpful.

 

Thanks, Paul

[AnotherScott]

The E3 (non HP) and the unweighted NS2-73 action are the same as far as I can tell, though the latter adds aftertouch. And yes, it will let you do an organ/piano split.

[Tobias Åslund]

I played the NS2HA76 and NE3HP side by side and the HP action is stiffer.

I got the same feeling when comparing the Piano and NE3HP side by side. The HP's keyboard is really nice!

 

The E3 (non HP) and the unweighted NS2-73 action are the same as far as I can tell, though the latter adds aftertouch. And yes, it will let you do an organ/piano split.

Yes - they feel very alike - I had both of the a couple of months before selling the NE3. The aftertouch, though, make the keys of the Stage 2 feel a bit "mushier" than the NE3's. Still - it's a really nice keybed!

[JeffLearman]

I find the semi-weighted action great for playing Wurlitzer but bad for playing Rhodes, especially the Nord Rhodes (oddly enough). It's far too easy to accidentally punch into the top velocity layers that have more bark than many Rhodes I've played. I like the bark, but I need better control of it than I get with the Nord semi-weighted action. Of course, for acoustic piano it's no contest.

 

Scarbee Rhodes works better than the Nord Rhodes from my NE2 keyboard, but Scarbee doesn't bark as much as I'd like.

 

To to along with an SK2 I'd definitely want a weighted Stage. You can use the SK2's keyboard for playing parts on the Stage where you'd prefer an unweighted action, whenever it's not already in use for Hammond.

 

The main reason I'd want the semi-weighted action on a Stage would be for Hammond. I've played synth & string parts on a weighted board for years now and it's fine for me. Yes, there are some fast lead synth parts that don't quite work on a hammer-action board.

[Octopus]

Thnx for all answers!!

 

I really want to buy a Nord Stage 2 with weight keys :-)

 

Expensive yes... but only live once... im 37 years old and played piano in 36 years ;-)

 

Is NS2 and SK2 a nice live rig or is it overkill? (like 2 stagekeyboard).

 

 

[Nillerbabs]

Is NS2 and SK2 a nice live rig or is it overkill? (like 2 stagekeyboard).

 

Just to pop into this thread; it's a perfectly sensible choice, given that the Hammond gives you a different organ sound that you may prefer, plus it has drawbars. However, the Stage 2 coupled with a MIDI controller like this will probably do the same thing, unless you require extreme amounts of different sounds and voices, or just plain don't like the Nord organ sound compared to the SK.

 

Just an option.

[analogholic]

Wonder if the http://www.thomann.de/dk/fatar_vmk161_plus_organ.htm

has the same action/keybed as the NE3?

 

As someone above stated, the NE3 is way too springy.

I find it ok for Rhodes/wurly, but don´t like it for AP OR for organplaying.

 

Even thought of experimenting with changing springs in it.

[Dana.]

Wonder if the http://www.thomann.de/dk/fatar_vmk161_plus_organ.htm

has the same action/keybed as the NE3?

It doesn't. The keys are inexplicably longer, making them unlike any traditional Hammond-style keys; they feel cheap; and the springs are audible.

[JeffLearman]

Is NS2 and SK2 a nice live rig or is it overkill? (like 2 stagekeyboard).

It's a lot of overlap. As mentioned above, you could save a lot of money by using a second keyboard and MIDI to the Stage.

 

One option is a semi-weighted or unweighted shorter keyboard above the Stage. But I'd get the Compact version and an inexpensive digital piano like Casio CDP-100 or Yamaha P95 to sit below it. That way the drawbars and all controls are easy to reach even if the keyboards are set up very close together.

 

In either case, you could use the Stage by itself for practice. I do this with an NE2, and have a DP below it for gigs.

[Octopus]

Yes, it's a lot of overlap.

 

...but I think I am in love in them both :-)

 

I have already ordered the SK2, I really looking forward to this organ. I have never owned an organ with drawbars and two manuals before.

 

Maybe I can buy another keyboard than NS2 as compliment to SK2. I want good AP and EP with weighted keys. (Korg sv, Electro 3 hp?)

 

I just bought a Roland Junostage (for fun, it was that cheap). Nice pads, fx, strings, soft leads(it has a nice geork duke sound) and hard leads etc ...but not good for organ, EP and AP. Very easy to split and layer sounds.

 

1. SK2 + NS2

 

or

 

2. SK2 (for organ) + NE3 HP (AP and EP) + Junostage (for synthsounds) ....but this is THREE keyboard to take to gigs.

 

 

 

 

[AnotherScott]

Yes, one of the limitations of stacking the NS2 with another keyboard as a complete replacement for an SK2 is the difficulty of getting the two manuals as close together as an organist would prefer. Also, the limitation, from a dual-manual organ player's perspective, of having a weighted action for one of the manuals (at least in the combinations that have been suggested). An SK2 plus a weighted board is preferable, if budget and shlep-factor are not an issue.

 

(edit: that said, an unweighted NS2 plus PX3 that Jeff suggested would be an extremely capable yet very lightweight rig! It would barely be heavier than the 88 key NS2 by itself, and give you the 88 weighted and unweighted 73 actions.)

[JeffLearman]

If I already had an SK, I'd get a weighted Stage -- no question.

 

Going back to a Stage Compact plus inexpensive DP, the Privia PX3 Scott mentions has the advantage of zones, over the CDP-100 I'd mentioned. Good point.

[AnotherScott]

Ah yes, I got sloppy in the writing there, sorry! Any of the mentioned 88s would serve the purpose well, including the CDP-100, but yes, the PX3 has zones. The other thing about the PX3, is that you can program its patch change buttons to change sounds on the Stage.

[Dana.]

Ah yes, I got sloppy in the writing there, sorry!

Slipping!

[JeffLearman]

yeah, an accidental improvement!

[Lord_Nord]

I think an advantage that I have as a young musician in modern music times is that I bought a Nord Electro 2 before I actually ever played a hammond B3 or wurli or rhodes... but I listened to classic rock my entire life...so when I got the Nord, I got used to it's feel for the tones I wanted without having to make an adjustment from real vintage keyboards.