For what this info is worth: I was a keyboard tech for 38 years. Nord was by far the most reliable keyboard I worked on. The quality of hardware and construction of circuit boards was superior to all other manufacturers. They are more pricey, but if I was a gigging musician, and could have afforded one , that is what I would buy.
I’m amazed more companies haven’t caught up after all this time, I completely agree with you. They are amazing boards, love the metal build quality and the fact you can replace all the sounds on board for free indefinitely. Thank you for your comment!
Excellent review with an actual opinion at the end - something that isn't easy to come by on RU-vid. Consider doing some of the acoustic pianos as well - there's a hotbed of discussion there on which ones are the best!
There was a time when I would have agreed with you about the Rhodes over the Wurli but I came to see the light that you have to adjust how you play on the Rhodes. If you play it like a piano, you are going to find it muddy - where it will be muddy depends on how the pickups are voiced and the how you are voicing chords. I've learned you really have to adjust your playing style to suit the techniques of many of those old electromechanical pianos.
As a new owner of a Stage 4 (had Electro 3 and 4D previously), I love these videos as they give me an idea of what pianos and EPs to fill my piano bank with! Still trying to decide with the EPs but seems you only need a couple, the FX are the secret sauce.
You really do only need a couple! I personally use about 3 EP's at a given time, EP 9 and EP 2 for Rhodes and Wurli 2 for Wurli's. I also have the EP 8 just for shedding but those other two are the gigging mainstays. Thank you for your comment!
Super interesting video! I would love it if you could make more videos exploring the sounds from the Nord Stage and how you would apply them in a live setting. For example, I would love a video where you talk about the piano sounds in the Nord.
It’s my plan (as of now) to do an in depth review of each Nord sound I use routinely, in the same manner I did for the Stockholm. I suppose I can jump to the end a bit to say I usually use the White Grand with the bright EQ switch on live, for nearly everything. Thanks for watching!
@@andreberniermusic That's great to hear! I am doing exactly the same and occasionally switch to the Royal Grand if a song is without any other instruments.
Great review! 👍 I like new Stockholm very much for playing at home. I played it on several gigs and i‘m not sure, if it cuts right through the mix…? Without a doubt a nice Rhodes sample but a little bit on the thinner side.
I find the “mid” switch really helps for cutting through live! But absolutely, it’s great for shedding at home and it’s become my go to for recording as well. Thanks for watching!
@@andreberniermusic Thanks for your fast reply. I have Stage 2 and Electro 5, which both doesn’t have the piano timbre filters. Still search for the perfect setting with the EQ.
When you discuss the lack of bass, I think the reason why you can't hear the low frequencies realistically is because you have the Mid filter active. Great presentation otherwise!
That’s a really good point, that probably affected the bass rolloff! Either way, I definitely consider the lack of bass on the Stockholm a feature as opposed to a bug, it makes it far easier to use live. Thanks for watching!
Absolutely! It all has a place, for sure. Just not my bag all the time! But it’s an incredible instrument, I don’t mean to diminish its contribution to music. Thank you for your comment!
You’re absolutely right! At the end of the day every effect is basically an aesthetic, I think trends come and go but any aesthetic can be appropriate for a specific setting, it all depends on the music. Thanks for watching!
You apparently have never played a vintage Vibe adjustable voicing mechanical tine piano...does everything you talk about for wurly and rhodes...and can do it on the fly, Nordstrom in general although good are overrated, overpriced and are prone to break parts..
I have not played a vintage vibe! They seem amazing, the Cadillac of electric pianos made in this era. I would say you're correct that nothing is like the real thing, especially feel-wise, but all of my gigs require a lot of different sounds so I have to make compromises on all raw tone for versatility. I believe the Nord is the most versatile sound-wise (and adjustability on the fly) of any major manufacturer today. Thank you for your comment!
