If you are watching this in mid-2020, apparently the prices have changed. All three versions of the Stage 3 (73, 76, 88) retail higher (by $100, $700, and $1000) than the Grand (at $3500 brand new).
The Nord Grand is the first digital instrument in my music-career (+30 years), that feels like a real instrument. Absolutely fantastic, the way they calibrated the velocity to the great Nord sounds. I now own three Nord Grand's... that's how blown away I am about it :)
Got mine last weekend complete with stand and nord monitors. I am basically an acoustic pianist with occasional needs for gigs and keyboards but moving into a flat. All the stuff said is true the action us very convincing, the sounds too but as with every new piano it takes a little getting used before it becomes your norm. One thing not said enough about the North Grand is the quality of the upright sounds. I find them more realistic than the grands. Another thing not said enough is how good it looks in a room. Finally the angled panel is a bit of a problem as it is very easy to hit a button by mistake. Perfect for my needs and with the Grand 2 on the way now is a good time to find good deals on the Grand 1.
The Kawai action really does feel fantastic compared to previous Nord actions. Nord pianos are well future-proofed with updates + a great investment, just wish they could be more portable. Have you seen the made-for-Netflix animation, Carol And Tuesday? It's sponsored by Nord and Gibson, and features a non-existent Nord keyboard with a hinge in the middle so it that can be folded in half
I went to a music shop and I saw tried to play every single keyboward over 30 keyboards and when I tried this I played for over 20min non stop The way it feels iv never played anything that feels so premium yet not heavy but expensive feel and easy to play and not to mention the sound quality Btw is there any other keyboard that has similar feel? Like a different nord or Roland or any more portable or cheaper one? And how much does this weigh? Cos if it’s not super heavy this might be the ultimate keyboard of all time
superb review, really enjoyed it thanks! can't help thinking,though, if that kawai action is important to you, then you could just get a kawai with the same keys for a third of the price. gotta love the nord piano library though, but the kawai samples are pretty sweet.
Hi 👋🏻 Thank you for watching. I really appreciate your feedback. I definitely agree with the Kawai action though. Buy a Nord Electro and MIDI it to an MP7SE. I guess it’s the overall finish of the Nord Grand that had me really impressed
I really liked the simple and yet so useful review of the product .. actually I am thinking of buying a portable digital piano for myself and I am considering Yamaha p-125 so I have a few things to ask .. 1. Would it be better to wait for some time expecting Yamaha to launch the successor of this model (2018)in the near future looking at their trend in timeline ( every 3 years ) and also because ‘summer NAMM 2020’ is just around the corner ? 2. Although I am not much experienced in this but from all what I could research I understood that ‘Action of the keys’ and ‘sound quality’ are the two most important things .. so I would be so thankful if you share your experience a little more elaborately .. is the ‘GHS action’ and those ‘7 watt amplifiers’ and 4 speakers sufficient enough to give that ‘FEEL’ ? .. are there some other options in the same price range which I should consider ? .. Is it better than Roland fp 30 ?
I'm not sure what you're talking about with the Grand being more expensive than the Stage. The stage three is here in the US is around $4500.00 for an 88 key. The Grand is $3499.00 and the Piano 4 is 2999.00. The difference for me between the Grand and the piano for was $500.00 and the improvement in the action was well worth that extra $500.00. So I'm not sure about why you think the Grand is so expensive compared to other Nords. It's a piano and meant to be as close to a piano as possible. I know you know that so I was a bit confused by your harping on the price. To me, the Stage three 88 is the over priced keyboard from Nord. The A1 engine in that keyboard does not justify being so out of whack with the pianos and the Electro. Just my opinion and I enjoyed your review and your playing immensely.
That action… played one for a few minutes yesterday and wow, really liked it. My .02, great product but $$. The Grand may be a great option for the piano-only musician who needs a no compromise digital instrument for studio/apartment/home use (never gets moved).
@@KeyboardTalks Cool! But you should compare them next to each other, they are totally different! There is even more difference between the piano 3 and 4 than there is between the stage 3 and piano 3, which is already pretty huge! I'd love to hear what you find
Arjuna The piano 4 is nice but what made me buy the grand sample memory is more you can load the XL samples a lot of them and I like the feel of the grand
@@jeffreyreid6981 I can see the advantage of the keybed over the Stage 3 but as far as piano sample memory capacity, I believe they’re equal at 2GB. I considered the Grand and Piano 4 at the time but those products are for a more specific mission. I needed the versatility of the Stage 3 -at the very least controllers like pitch and mod wheels etc etc. I don’t only play piano. If I did, it probably wouldn’t be a digital one. There’s tons of good used uprights out there for great savings. The Stage 3 HA88 gives just the the right amount of piano I need. In fact, I get that doubled via the A and B panel feature. I can do things like cross fade two different pianos where panel A can have one register of the piano that I want and panel B can have another creating a kind of hybrid type affair.
Nord Piano 4 action is also a good Fatar-made action indeed with 3 sensors. I think that both action is nearly at the same level and a matter of preference. Fatar used to be trashed by people but these days manufacturers tend to state that brand as a quality option since the majority of current actions are really sad...
The only problem I find is when you are playing the keys your most likely are going to be pressing buttons by accident. So they put a LOCK BUTTON which I find not the right thing to do. I would have raised the buttons at least 2-4 inches maybe even 5 inches above the keys. I do not like the LOCK button. They could have also made the TOP a bit wider for MacBook Pro because for one apple is making the NEW MacBook Pro 16" and will most likely bring back the 17" or even 18" MacBook Pro in the near future.
Oh my goodness it's got the same keys at my Kawai MP11SE! It's the first model Kawai had those keys in. But, now it's on a Nord! Oh I'm totally getting one of these. I always wanted the Nord stage, but this!! Now I'll get both!! 😃🤓❤️🎹🎶
A nice new channel! I am enjoying your content. Truly it can help someone make a buying decision in regards to these professional keyboards. Keep up the good work. And yes I subscribed.
Hey Josh. I see that you didn’t purchase the Nord monitors. What are you playing through in this demo? And did you reject the Nord monitors for some reason other than that you already have good keyboard speakers?
Very interesting. Was expecting a beefier sound, but can't get full impression through camera. Nord doesn't get in any hurry, but since the very first Lead the sound quality has always been excellent. I'm a fan of highest quality action then MIDI into best sound source. Nord is always premium boutique sound in whatever they do.
Want a Kawai action? Go the CA99 ultimate GF3 action plus super sound and full cabinet with a powerful and custom designed sound system (soundboard included).. For same price almost
I've tried this piano and wanted to love it. It sounds like a lovely piano. It doesn't feel expressionlessly like playing an acoustic piano, whereas the Kawai and Yamaha instruments do. Then there is the fact that the Kawai MP7SE has the same action, equally good sounds, and better functionality. No contest. The only place the Nord wins out is the aesthetics and the weight.
Interesting; I bought the MP7SE sight unseen (they don't sell it new in my country), and was bitterly disappointed with both the feel and the sound. It was a bit on the bright sounding side for me. It looked very classy though, for sure. I sold it 2 months later. I actually preferred the feel and tone of my old Korg SP250, which is really saying something, as it is very old, and granted, doesn't present the finesse of current keyboards. But it was very even across the range, bass to treble. And I liked the RH3 set up. The bottom and top of the Kawai was good, but the middle just didn't feel right. I really wanted to love it, but just couldn't live with it. I know I'm probably in the minority here with my take on it, for sure. I played the NP4 for 1/2 an hour with phones, and loved it. The one thing I do love is the changable sounds of the Nord, I think that it is where it wins out for me the most. But I do have to say, it is expensive, and that is the one thing that bugs me the most.
I love my mp7 se, same keys... lovely kawai piano sounds.. the Nord has more diversity in piano choice, but for sound quallity.. the €1300 mp 7 comes close..
Hi there! Great video to convince me into buying one! Thank you! Just a quick question: upon getting mine out of the box, I noticed at the both corners on the keybed side are slightly bent, leaving small gaps between the keybed and the side wood panel parallel to it. I am wondering if that is normal or did I get a defective product? thank you!
You said about the Kawai RH3 action that it "never jumped out as a particular awesome action" and then Nord put that action in the Grand and now it's great? I don't understand the logic. Are you saying that Nord/Kawai tweaked it to be better, or that now that you try it in a box with the rest of the Nord technology you changed your mind and now like the action? Or is just that this is the best action you can get in a Nord product?
RH3 action is better than grand wooden action of Kawai... That action has some design flow around key-hammer connection points. They were partially improved with the introduction of Grand action II but even MP11se does have the first edition but CA99 has that improved action but it is still not that great. Kawai's new NV5 action is the one for go for serious action, otherwise better to have this RH3 action which is similar to Roland's PA4 action on FP10/30 series and both actions are quite smooth.
HI! I have a question what is that piano stand you are using with the piano? What recomendation would you give on those for maximum stabiliuty for Nord pianos?
I'm using a pretty generic heavy duty double braced stand. But I would use any double-X stand that has good tubing and a locking mechanism, as they are really easy to transport. If you are setting up a studio an On Stage KS7365EJ of Hercules KS400B Z-Stands are pretty nice options. They are pretty sturdy and look more stylish than an X-braced stand.
Ich kenne das Instrument sehr gut. Es ist wie alle NORDs recht gut für virtuoses und schnelles Spiel. Könntest du eigentlich verraten, was der Preis war? Thanks.
I really believe that Nord Was Aiming at people who are who are real pianist I would say is close although I’m not a great pianist I do love the piano and the feel of the Nord grand
The complete keys (action) of a Steinway D from Hamburg (the action is made by Renner), after it is balanced and voiced, could easily do 10,000 currency ($€£). Kawai's own VPC1, a bit more than just a keyboard action in a box has a version where all the keys have been tuned (weighted to grand piano standard) by Ravenworks and this adds some 3,000 currency to the regular price - it is just a lot of manual labor. Between Kawai, the MP11SE has a better keyboard than that VPC1 (and more advanced pedals). IMO Kawai needs to make a VPC 2 with even better keys and with MP11SE pedals and maybe a VPC 2SE with weighted, tuned keys (from a real grand piano?) You don't need all the virtual instruments and knobs in the keyboard, just a computer. The physical knobs, sliders and whatnot make it very expensive and impact reliability. The virtual instruments delivered with the computer built-in into a keyboard, IMO just a way to make the thing more expensive, not better.
I played a Nord Grand. There's no question that the action is a big step up from the awful Fatar actions that they've been using. But it's still very light and artificial feeling. A Roland RD-2000, Yamaha CP-88 or Korg Grandstage are all as good or better, at $1000 less. Moreover, you could get a Kawai MP11SE with Kawai's best action, the full-length wooden Grandfeel action, for $1000 less than the Nord. So the only reason to consider the Nord is to get the Nord piano samples and sample library. That will be reason enough for some players, but I don't think that it's worth the premium that Nord is charging.
@@livingproof9927 That's why so many different companies sell pianos. For me, the Roland, Yamaha or Kawai sound fine, and the better action (and cheaper price) are important to me. For you, the Nord sound is worth the money, even if the action is inferior. It's your money and your choice, but I just can't agree with it, personally.
I personally favour the Nord sound over any other big brand I have had the pleasure of trying over the years, though I think these days almost every brand offers pleasing piano samples. As for the Nord action: yes, I do not like it. I tried the Nord Grand at a store. While it certainly is a step up from previous Nord products, it simply is not there yet for me. So I went with a Kawai CA-78 instead. I do not care about all the features this piano has, but I do like the action and the initial piano sound which uses all the processing. The other sounds can be nice, but they simply do not come close to Nord for me. However, since I play the organ and pianos in a band I needed something portable anyway, so I opted for the Nord Electro 6D, which by far is my most treasured possession out of all the instruments I own. This also means that I can play the Nord sounds at home at any given time via my Kawai via Midi. Granted, that is a costly solution, but one that works just right for me because it combines the best of both worlds. I would love to have the MP11SE's action in a Nord, but I doubt we will see that since Kawai would like to make some sales as well. I neither like the interface nor the looks of the MP11SE. And while the main piano is beautiful, the other sounds are not, at least to my ears. The only alternative would be a VPC1, but I have a couple of reasons why that is not a viable solution for me.
@@samnixon6198 The RD-2000 has a very solid and heavy feel--in fact, some players think that it's too heavy. I don't think it's mushy or rubbery at all and I've never heard any other player call it that either. As for the Nord, as I said above, it's a mid-quality Kawai action. It's not Kawai's best (that's in the MP11SE) and feels a bit light and artificial to me, Actions are very personal though, so if you like the Nord Grand and think that it's worth the money, than, well, it's your money.
In your opinion the Kawai mp 11 se compared to the Nord grand I know the feel is better on the Kawai what about the sound wise which one you think is better
I have the RH3 action (IIRC) in my Kawai MP11, and my question is this: Do the sensors that Nord use allow you to do RAPID single note trills/single note repetition as a real Grand Piano does?
Kawai MP11 has wooden action, not RH3... JFYI, this action is better than the action in MP11, that action is not suitable for fast playing and quite sluggish and does not behave like a real piano. I advise you to get new ES8, MP7se, ES520 or 920 even ES110 would be fine.
Well actually, although those digital piano actions are good, you're definitely taking a step back when it comes to how real it feels. If you're referring to how those models have lighter actions Thus helping you move faster, than I guess so. 🤷 But the mp11 would definitely be better in terms of a authentic piano feel. IMHO
I played on nord grand and stage 3... I dont kbow what to buy, beacuse of synths... but I love piano, I wany to do sounds like worship music. Is it possible with nord grand??
Hi Andrew. Kawai and Korg both have different actions but they are both called RH3. Their respective full names are Kawai Responsive Hammer Action 3 and Korg Real Weighted Hammer Action 3.
A guy named CHUCK said this is not the NEW UPGRADE of The Nord 4 stage. This is a new member of the family. You should watch his review. He really lays it all out.
i would love to see a close up demo on setting all these sound and close up on the key transpose. All the features spend a little bit more time on it. It is hard to see in flash action. lol
Kawai defo gave them a poor action. I played it a few months ago and thought it worse than my RD800! I'd go for the Piano 5, or if 'action' is key the CLP 775 or Kawai CA99. Trouble is, NORD have the sounds nailed!
I don’t know where you get your information from but the stage is more than the grand I got for 3499 with tax the stage 3699 plus tax some place it’s 4000
The keybed is good it’s not great but good it’s better than any Nord piano out they compare it to Kawai my 7se they are about the same the only difference if you turn the sound down on the Nord Keybed sounds noisy on the Kawai if you turn the sound down keybed is not noisy .that’s the only difference
Hi Jeffrey. Your right, the action on the MP7 is not the best on the market, but it is certain a step up on the Nord Grand, and combined with the Nord sound engine it works really well. I would definitely prefer the MP11SE action, but that would make it really heavy, and Nord don’t really make heavy products
Great review! Personally, I'm not fussed about how the keys "Feel". I'm a Keyboard player & can control non-weighted keys, no problem. I recently bought a Nord Electro 6D & I love it to bits! Lots of amazing features. The keys are semi-weighted.
I do not personally know anything about Nord Key action. I have read several reviews of people who did not care for the action of previous Nord keyboards in general. My comment here is based on several videos I have seen here, on the new Nord Grand. I must say I have been extremely underwhelmed at the acoustic piano sounds in this new unit! They sound farther away from an acoustic piano sound than Nord’s previous offerings. Very electronic sounding.
Having owned quality stage pianos from Roland, Yamaha and now Nord, i find zero fault in the sound of the pianos at all.. The RD2000 may well be a better buy as a stage piano given its versatility and premium key action, but for just a piano?..i cant fault this grand...and a better bit of furniture also
I have an Nord Stage 3 and thinking of buying a mp7SE and use the sounds in the NS3 via midi, because I love the action from in the Nord Grand! Is the action in the mp7SE the same as in the Nord Grand?
I like it, but it looks actually like a square version of a Korg SV1 but then with the power of the Nord sounds! (Note, I recently bought a NS3 to replace my Korg SV1)
AndyCmus no issues so far. I have it for almost 3 months and I love it. The hardware is solid, operating software works very easy. Due to the Corona virus the NS3 hasn’t left my house yet but I rented a NS2 in 2018 from a rental company, and the guy was very enthusiastic about the NS2 hardware for on the road. So I believe the NS3 is the same quality, but with some more features. If you want to know more opinions from users you can join the norduserform or ask Marc Larochelle from mykeystomusic (on RU-vid), he does a lot of reviews on Nord pianos.
Kaal012 thanks for replying man, glad you like it. Just have seen a few instances online of buttons breaking and some other hardware issues with them that have cooled my enthusiasm to drop the chunk of change required to own one. I think it is a small minority of individual boards though as they are still individually hand made or at least hand assembled. Anyways, thanks again for your feedback, cheers 👍🏻
VPC1 if your gonna use vst and an amazing real wood action, Nord if you want a above average action but amazing sounds. I feel like the mp11se is not worth it at the moment, the sound doesn’t compare to the Nord and they Keybed action of the VPC1 is 97% the same as the mp11se and it’s $1000 cheaper.
@@ezlo3390 I'm shopping to replace my VPC1 ;). It's nice, but the weight (65lbs) and limited functionality have made it a poor tool for my needs. YMMV.