Aidan Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 This afternoon I rang a UK emporium who were advertising an ex-display NS2-88 for around £400 off the normal retail. That had literally just been reserved but the guy offered me a brand new one for £300 off the usual price. I bit. Like Tony, I'm hoping the Stage is a keeper this time, although I can say that my two main reasons for offloading my Classic last time (lack of decent APs, 76-note key range) have been circumvented this time. The addition of the deep sample library now also makes the NS2 a far nicer proposition for me and I'm hoping it can be my only board for plenty of gigs, especially with the Vent in play. The Kurz and the NP1 will go to alleviate the somewhat wilting bank balance! 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...
Joe Muscara Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Time for a new avatar, eh? I hope it works out for you. The NS2 looks like a nice bit of kit! "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Aidan - WOWZA! YOU RAWK! Tom http://www.nordkeyboards.com/products/nord%20stage%202/images/mainproductimage-single4.jpg "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carter_ Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Congrats, Aidan - enjoy! U1 | NP | NS3 | NE3 HP | K10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Time for a new avatar, eh? As you wish, Joe! This'll have to do for now 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...
orangefunk Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I had a little go on this when I bought the Kronos. I felt a difference in the action between the Stage II and the Nord Piano when I went between them (they were side by side)? Did you notice that? Seemed the Nord Piano was a bit like the RD700GX. Its a great board though... loved the Rhodes sounds in particular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I'm not as prolific a NS buyer as Tony, but I've owned several and was never happy until the NS2. It's a keeper for sure. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Åslund Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I definitely think you did the right thing - I wouldn't part with my NS2 sw73 for anything (available today, that is :wink:). Congrats Aidan! 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...
RedKey Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I wouldn't part with my NS2 sw73 for anything (available today, that is :wink:). Congrats Aidan! +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Time for a new avatar, eh? As you wish, Joe! This'll have to do for now "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonysounds Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hey, the Stage 2 is a keeper!!! I've had mine now for...almost a year!!! See it? Over there, to the left? Hitting "Play" does NOT constitute live performance. -Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hey, the Stage 2 is a keeper!!! I've had mine now for...almost a year!!! I find that VERY hard to believe... A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 I had a little go on this when I bought the Kronos. I felt a difference in the action between the Stage II and the Nord Piano when I went between them (they were side by side)? Did you notice that? Seemed the Nord Piano was a bit like the RD700GX. Yeah, Neil, I did when I played them last year. The NS2 action is certainly a bit shallower (presumably because of the aftertouch sensors) and lighter (to cope with a wider range of playing). Although I didn't get to play them both on the same day, the action the NS2 most reminds me of is the RD700NX while, as you say, the NP1 is closer to the GX in weight. This difference did give me some pause in making the leap but moving to the NP made me realise that DPs are all about compromise anyway and I figure I'll adjust OK to the NS2 action. Although in my own band I'm basically playing piano, EPs and Hammond, I have two other projects imminent where I'll need some layering and splitting facilities for sure, and if I can get away with just the Stage for some lightweight organ duties that'll be a bonus. I'm definitely keeping the XK system for serious Hammond work, however. The other motive for merging the Kurz and the NP into an NS was because although I'm willing to stack keys on gigs, I don't really like that arrangement in the studio and thus rarely fired up the PC3LE7. This way, I have two immersive instruments in adjacent positions and the ability to have scores and charts right in front of me for practice, in their most natural position. Tony, Eric... I'll let you know! 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...
stillplaying Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Aidan - you've mentioned using it for one keyboard gigs (with your Vent). How do you find it for organ playing? One of the mag reviewers said the trigger point adjusts on the keys depending on the sound selected - triggers high for the organs. You've had that XK for a while - so ...? How much of a compromise is it going to be? I've still to see one up here. I'm the piano player "off of" Borrowed Books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 The answer is, until it arrives and I try it, I don't really know. Although you've got the higher trigger point, which is helpful, you're still essentially playing organ lines on a weighted keyboard. However, I do know that Darren (dazzjazz) was fairly impressed with the feel for organ in his initial gigs with an NS2 and he's a much more hardcore organist than myself. If I can get away with a single board for a lot of jobs, I will. Not only for the schlep factor but because I'm having to come forward a lot more as a personality in my own band, as the female singer is still a bit inexperienced and hesitant, and it looks better just having the one instrument than it does half-hidden behind a stacked fortress That said, if it just doesn't work, I'll still have the Hammond anyway, with the Nord organ module as a handy backup. 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...
allan_evett Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Congrats, Aidan ! I suspect that you will enjoy it, big time.... First time I played a NS2 88 was at NAMM, 2011. I put on the headphones and lost track of time, that is until Mr. Fortner finally pulled me out of the 'rabbit hole'. I'd find a way to add a Stage 2 76 to my rig, if Yamaha would do a real, full blown rack of my Motif XF.... Enjoy.... 'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo. We need a barfing cat emoticon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Sutton Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I got to play just about everything available yesterday - NS2, E3HP, NP, E3, PX330, RD300Nx, RD700, PX3, some Kurzweil's, I was surprised that my favorite action out of all of them was the Casio 130! Too bad it doesn't have MIDI or 1/4" outputs. Yamaha P22 Upright / Nord Stage 2 SW73 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageplayer Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Aidan, I've followed many of your posts for some time, especially following your adoption of the Nord Piano (now 1, nee 88). I was surprised to see that you have ordered the Nord Stage 2, as I understood that you favoured the Piano's touch over the Stage's. I am facing a dilemma. I have an Electro 3 and a Nord C1. I love them both, but the Electro comes to virtually all gigs and the C1 only very rarely. I have missed having a weighted Board since I gave up my Roland RD700 (one of the first ones out) in order to get the Electro. I have been pondering what to get for a lightweight weighted board to use on the bottom, seeing the Nord Piano as too expensive and the Casio PX-3 as lightweight, but not quite good enough. Friday, I found that my favourite music store here in Vancouver, BC had the Nord Piano discounted by about $800 (Ca.) off the previous price on their last two units. Obviously, I like the sounds, as they are (mostly) the same as my Electro's. The price is a lot more reasonable. It would cover what I need in my jazz/blues band, but in my cover band, they sometimes want strings, horns or synths, which I have been making do by using the sample library sounds from the Electro. Ideally, the Stage 2 would cover all of it, but it is $2,100 MORE than the Nord Piano (1) (discounted), which seems a long way off, financially. What do you think about an Electro on top and the Nord Piano (1) at a discount on the bottom, vs. waiting (maybe a long, long time) in order to get the Stage 2? (vs. a PX-3 or other inexpensive weighted 88, using the Electro's pianos) .Any other suggestions? I need to jump on the Piano (1) right away if I go that route or that price and availability will be gone. I thought that since you liked the Piano, but made the jump to the Stage 2, I would ask you. Nord Piano, Nord Electro 3, Nord C1, Traynor K4, QSC K8, various guitars and amps. Lurking more than posting, but here a lot. Thanks to KC!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 It's actually still the case that in an ideal world, I'd take the NP action over the NS2. It's a little heavier and the lack of the aftertouch sensor at the bottom makes the key travel slightly deeper and more natural to "dig in" to. Having said that, I had something of an epiphany when I bought the NP. I had spent several years and shitloads of money running after the DP which would feel as close to an acoustic as possible. In the end, I realised that DPs are _always_ a compromise and that choosing one is really a question of deciding where your limits are on various factors, such as weight, size, feel, sound etc. The NP made sense to me because the sound had a high level of realism, it sounded good in mono and the form factor was very compact and relatively light, while still being very well built. The downside is a relatively unremarkable keybed and some abiding issues with velocity curves compared with some of its competitors. But add in the great EPs and other voices, and it's a great package. The reason behind the upgrade is basically twofold. First, I have a duo project on the go where I want to be able to use more than just bare piano sounds in the accompaniment live. Secondly, I'm currently also touting for other gigging work and you can bet your bottom dollar that at least some of those will call for strings, horns and synths and maybe even LHB. I did think the NP2 might be the answer when it came out but all things considered, I don't think it's flexible enough for what I need and the NS2 is only costing me about £600 more. From your perspective, I'd say that an NP1 + Electro 3 would be a great rig. Relatively light weight, lots of sounds to choose from and of course a nice match-up visually. I might have thought about a similar line-up myself but I'm a lazy bugger and if I can get away with bringing just one board to a load of gigs, I will! Hope it works out for you! 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...
vintageplayer Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Thanks, Aidan! Nord Piano, Nord Electro 3, Nord C1, Traynor K4, QSC K8, various guitars and amps. Lurking more than posting, but here a lot. Thanks to KC!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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