Product: Clavia Nord Stage 88 EX
Price Paid: 2175
Submitted
06/09/2009
at
07:23am
by
Alan Colman
Ease of Use
:
9
Using OS 4.01 I think , the presets are very good , editing is very straightforward once you get to grips with how its done and that does not take very long. No deep menus here there is a knob in your face for nearly everything you need. The concept is refreshingly european as oppossed to typical Yamaha Roland etc Who make great products, but this board is like a living thing. It seems to me that Jap stuff is all about the technology with the Stage your just to busy playing it to worry about how its done! Very readable manual in spot on english , you can tell it was written by a muso not a translator.
Features
:
8
NO sequencer and I dont care , but this board has amazing effects which can be layered, very easy to use and adjust whilst playing, expansion is via newvoices from Clavia's webstite download through a suplied app and USB connection. Keyboard is a medium hammer action and has a great balanced feel, it works well for me on Organ piano and wurly roahdes stuff I really like it.However on one or two keys I am getting a clicky srping noise on the return my dealer is sorting this with an exchange and clavia think somethong has slipped during shipping, it's livable though.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
There is nothing soundwise on this that I dont like , the electric pianos are simply the best and in my opinion as good as the real thing if not better when you condider the really useful effects and amp sims. Organ is so good the B3 is such fun to play, it all so tweekable and you can re create with ease any vintage sound.
These boards are great for Rock+ Jazz and at a gig last week I had a classical pianist playing in between although I reckon any piano is not going to sound its best through a stage amp . Soem how the pianos find space in the mix and stand out unlike my Yamaha stuff
Reliability
:
10
Looks very solid with a metal body and gorgeous red colour ..it really is the Ferrari of the keyboard world.
I think it will go the distance with ease
Customer Support
:
9
Got back to me within 24 hours
Overall Rating
:
9
This is the most expensive intrument I have ever purchased and hell they are pricey, the concept the sounds the feel the look and the sheer playablity place this in a league of its own. So its hard to make a comparison I would be heartbroken to loose them and when I had saved up would buy another set if lost. I did get a very good deal though and overall I am very content, I was looking at the RD700GX and Yamaha CP300and though they are both good boards they dont touch the Nord. I hear nord emply 20 people in design and prodcution..I am happy to pay their wage bill its a fair exchange
When you consider the big multinational corps they compete with.
It should come with at least a gig bag and a Nord stand included
