Dave Ferris Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Yeah, someone over on Piano World posted that B&H and Kraft were showing discontinued. And sure enough.. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/675401-REG/Nord_NORD_PIANO_Nord_Piano_88_Dedicated.html http://www.kraftmusic.com/catalog/keyboards/88keykeyboards/8038 A big WOW !!! I just picked mine up 2 months ago... It's only been 2 years since the NP was released ! They usually give these things at least 3 years before turning over. I guess I'll find out for sure in about 4 days here. In any case the NP2 would have to be a huge improvement for me to dump mine. https://soundcloud.com/dave-ferris 2005 NY Steinway D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Well, if it's true maybe they've decided to release a version 2, OR replace it with an 88 key Electro..? Time will tell What would be cool for a Piano 2, if there ever will be one is a sample player section for splits/layers, another piano section to be able to layer pianos, and maybe also an external section. This would make the Piano 2 be about half a Stage 2 and a perfect complement to a clonewheel. Well, well, I'm only guessing, but an updated Piano 2 would be nice! Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzwee Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Geez -- I've used mine for the first time in a gig. Not even a month yet. But I still see it is available elsewhere. Hamburg Steinway O, Crumar Mojo, Nord Electro 4 HP 73, EV ZXA1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Rumor has it the NP2 is on its way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Towne Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I would want totally revamped Rhodes sounds that competed with the offerings from the Korg Kronos. Endorsing Artist/Ambassador for MAG Organs and Motion Sound Amplifiers, Organ player for SRT - www.srtgroove.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Rumor has it the NP2 is on its way. Damit! That would probably mean that the Stage 2 no longer is the best piano they have to offer! I don't want to be second best! Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 It would also mean that the people at Nord have been really busy lately! Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Maybe it just wasn't a big seller. Moe --- "I keep wanting to like it's sound, but every demo seems to demonstrate that it has the earth-shaking punch and peerless sonics of the Roland Gaia. " - Tusker http://www.hotrodmotm.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 You're probably right. I'm guessing that the Electro 3 HP has stole some of it's potential buyers. Also - compared to other manufacturers' offerings in the same price range, it misses many features, like other types of sounds and split/layering capability. Being red and offering user replaceable samples will only get you so far... Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Ferris Posted January 15, 2012 Author Share Posted January 15, 2012 I don't think it was a huge seller overall. The list was pretty high for just piano and ep. At least the comparable CP5/700NX had arguably useable other sounds. If you look on the Nord forum most people are into the Stage or Electro. Basically the market has more keyboard players that want synth & organ then pianists looking for just piano and rhodes. I hope the NP2 is about layers, splits and organs. That'll make my decision easy... https://soundcloud.com/dave-ferris 2005 NY Steinway D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicaL Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I'm in the market for a new board to replace my Nord Stage classic and Electro 3. I'm looking at the NS2, and waiting for NAMM to see if the NP2 will materialize. I would be interested in the NP2 especially if they added some split and layer functionality along a synth engine. I could also use the Organ but, I don't see that happening with the NP2. That's more in the Electro vein. But I do see Nord adding either the ability to load samples or a rudimentary synth engine for pads, strings, etc. That way, they'll be on par with the other DP offerings from the big 3. aL Gear: Yamaha MODX8, Mojo 61, NS2 73, C. Bechstein baby grand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Basically the market has more keyboard players that want synth & organ then pianists looking for just piano and rhodes. Speaking of which - I wonder when there will be a new Nord Lead? It has been many years now since the Wave hit the market. I hope the NP2 is about layers, splits and organs. That'll make my decision easy... Sounds a lot like a NS2 and I think the "problem" for Nord lies somewhere here. The Piano series need to be cheaper than let's say a Stage, to compete with other manufacturers piano's and maybe need to offer something pianistic that the Electro and Stage don't - and at the same time it can't have to many features that those two series have, cause then why would anyone buy a Stage instead? Also it can't be a much better piano than the Stage, since it's their "top of the line" - Stage users might feel disappointed then. And finally, the Stage cannot do everything that the other series do, cause then you wouldn't be interested in buying a cheaper Nord as well. I think Nord wants to see more multi-Nord keyboard rigs in the future, so there cannot be to much overlapping between the different series. As of today you see a lot of red in keyboard rigs anywhere, so they must have kept this balance quite good over the years. Now if they where to release a new Lead as well as a Piano together with the NordDrum and the C2D at NAMM, I would be really impressed of their productivity! Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I would want totally revamped Rhodes sounds that competed with the offerings from the Korg Kronos. I agree that the Nord EPs are a weak point (though I know some people love them)... but new improved EP sounds wouldn't require a new keyboard from Nord, just new samples for the Piano Library. Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I agree that the Nord EPs are a weak point (though I know some people love them)... Weak how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I hope the NP2 is about layers, splits and organs. That'll make my decision easy... Sounds a lot like a NS2 and I think the "problem" for Nord lies somewhere here. I think there is room between the current NE3 and the NS2, whether seen as an improved Electro and/or as a NP replacement. The NE3 is mono-timbral, the NS2 is 6-voice multi-timbral, so they could offer something 2-voice multi-timbral (allowing a single split or layer) that would be an improvement on the NE3/NEP architecture, without encroaching too much on the marketability of the NS2 which would still offer the extra 4-voices of split/layer functionality, the full synth section, more RAM, aftertouch, pitch stick and mod wheel. Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 I agree that the Nord EPs are a weak point (though I know some people love them)... Weak how? I just don't find the EPs to be as authentic sounding as what you can get on various other boards, including cheaper ones. Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 I just don't find the EPs to be as authentic sounding as what you can get on various other boards, including cheaper ones. I wouldn't call them inauthentic. I think it's more a matter of preference. As a point of reference, I find the Mark I in the Kronos to be too glassy. I've never heard a Rhodes sound that way. If anything, it's time for Nord to offer new Mark I Stage and Suitcase models that are on par with the Sparkle Top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 I think it's more a matter of preference. As a point of reference, I find the Mark I in the Kronos to be too glassy. I've never heard a Rhodes sound that way. Kronos has numerous EPs, some of which I find more authentic than others. And there's nothing wrong with "inauthentic" options, they can certainly still be musically useful. (Heck, people got an awful lot of mileage out of the inauthentic Rhodes emulation of the DX7.) But to my ears, Nord doesn't have a single Rhodes that gets the bark right, for example. (Same on the Wurli, for that matter.) Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 In the 80's and 90's I used to have to save forever to afford a $2000 axe. Are gigs paying that much more today that so many keyboard players can afford $4000+ boards. I saw my friend play the other night and he asked me why I don't buy the red boards like keyboard player on his gig. I said I didn't have $6000 to shell out. Don't get me wrong, I think Nord's boards are great but I never put them on my radar cause of their expense and now who'd want to spend all this money, only to see new and better versions coming out so quickly. I am considering a Kronos sometime soon since I just sold my Extreme but with that board you get sequencing, sampling, and every sound imaginable and it's still cheaper than a Stage. AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Golly Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 In the 80's and 90's I used to have to save forever to afford a $2000 axe. Are gigs paying that much more today that so many keyboard players can afford $4000+ boards. No, but the players that were saving up in the 80's and 90's now have day jobs that give them the disposable income to buy the $4000 boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 But to my ears, Nord doesn't have a single Rhodes that gets the bark right, for example. Have you played the Sparkle Top or Bright Tines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 No, but the players that were saving up in the 80's and 90's now have day jobs that give them the disposable income to buy the $4000 boards. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Have you played the Sparkle Top or Bright Tines? I've played whatever comes stock in the NS2, but as for any other EPs that are downloadable, I'm not sure... I played versions of all of them on an E3, but that was a while back and might not have included all the most current samples. But I don't think there have been any entirely new samples since then. Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Ferris Posted January 16, 2012 Author Share Posted January 16, 2012 But to my ears, Nord doesn't have a single Rhodes that gets the bark right, for example. Have you played the Sparkle Top or Bright Tines? Man I did a gig a New years day where the bass player is a big rhodes guy. He has a Stage something and has been on the fence about selling it. Like a lot of rhodes it just sits and only occasionally he records it at his studio. I was playing some solos with the sparkletop and he about fell over regarding the sound and realism. He said "man I'm definitely selling my rhodes now, I wonder what I can get for it" ! The only problem with the Suitcase and Mark I is like Dana said, they need to be at the same level as the sparkeltop. They lack that thick , full quality, something that a larger sample I would think rectify. The sound is there in spades, they just need to refine it imo. https://soundcloud.com/dave-ferris 2005 NY Steinway D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Wow, everyone has their own taste - for me, the e-pianos is one of the things that made me choose Nord in the first place. I haven't heard much complain about the EPs at all until now. There's a constant bashing about the acoustic ones, which I can understand, since they don't sound like RolaYamaKorg's pianos. Also the Leslie sim is a bit strange - it compresses the sound way too much. Anyway - the only wish I have for the EP's is amp simulations with more bottom end. Engaging any of the three amps takes away a lot of the bass. You don't find this problem for instance with the Korg SV1. I don't know which simulation is more true to a real guitar amp, but I would prefer a sim with more bass response. Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
non ce futuro Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 If they improve the poliphony it would be good, just 60 notes of poliphony seems too close to drop notes when playing heavily. My 14 year-old home DP has 64-notes, so 60 for a 2010 instrument seems like very little to me. But nobody seems to worry about it, so it's probably me With 64, my old DP drops notes (okay, you have to play rachmaninov etudes to hear it clearly, but it happens) I really liked the nord piano sounds when trying the NP88 at a store, but the lack of other sounds (some strings&pads to layer, at least) and the poliphony kept me away from it - and therefore still searching for a good stage piano - Let's see what they put on the NP2, some more things on it w the same weight will be almost irresistible to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 We've been over the NP polyphony before but believe me, in real life, it doesn't seem to be an issue. I hope we do see a v2 - the keybeds on the HP and the NS2 do NOT feel the same - but I fear we could be seeing a bit of rationalisation going on in the Nord product line. Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 I have a Nord Stage 2 and I don't find any problems with note dropping out. Ok, I can't play Rachmaninoff either... but there's more to it then just a simple number. Kurzweil as well as Nord seem to have very clever note sharing algorithms, making the polyphony in reality seem to be more than what's on paper. Then I'm with Aidan on the keybeds - Nord Stage 2, Piano and Electro 3 HP all have different keys! The Piano has a Fatar TP40 keybed. The Stage 2 also has a TP40, but it has aftertouch, which makes it feel a bit "spongier" when it bottoms out. I also believe this one sligtly lighter touch than the Piano. Bare in mind the TP40 is available with three different key weights, as well as a graded one with lighter touch in the upper keys, heavier for the bass. Then the Electro 3 has the new, lightweight TP100LR keybed which feels entirely differnt. It also has shallower travel. Fatar TP40: http://www.fatar.com/pages/TP_40_GH_ES.htm Fatar TP100: http://www.fatar.com/pages/TP100LR.html So - if you haven't played them all, you don't know how the other two feel, so please stop making assumptions. I also believe that the keybed differs between Nord Stage 1 and 2. Too much stuff, too little time, too few gigs, should spend more time practicing...! 🙄 main instruments: Nord Stage 3 compact, Yamaha CP88, Kurzweil PC4, Viscount KeyB Legend Live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 The problems I have with Nord Rhodes are that the dynamics are hard to control well on the NE2 keyboard, and that at low volumes it doesn't cut through a mix as well as either a real Rhodes or my soundfont. But other than that, the sound seems very authentic to me. The dynamics are inauthentic, being way to easy to hit the top velocity layers -- but I've never found *any* electronic keyboard that one whacks as hard as a real Rhodes to get the max bark! Mr Tobbe: in addition to those variables in actions, Nord does proprietary mods to the actions after receiving them from Fatar. Those mods may be different in NS2 versus NP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Just an update from this side of the pond. Thomann site says: "This item has unfortunately sold out CLAVIA NORD PIANO 88 (expected delivery date is unfortunately unknown)." Studio: Yamaha P515 | Yamaha Tyros 5 | Yamaha HX1 | Moog Sub 37 Road: Yamaha YC88 | Nord Electro 5D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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