Clavia Nord Electro 2

Let me confess that I am not a pro keyboard player; I simply play for my church and am not very good. The Hammond organ gave up the ghost years ago and I have had a few synth boards since then. I finally made up my mind to buy some instructional video's and to help fire my passion for music, and because I miss the old Hammond, I went for the Nord Electro 2. This thing is very easy to operate just like everyone else is saying. There doesn't seem to be many posts lately on this product. I guess it's now and then a traveler these days.

Polyphony, if I know what that means, seems to work fine. Keyboard action seems fine, but what do I know.

The Leslie effect is good and the Nord sounds a lot like the old church organ, although it never came with a Leslie cabinet. I think the Leslie effect works better when ising two amplifiers, since the stereo effect seems to enhance it. I think some of the reviewers here may not have tried this and have judged the unit without using it at it's full potential. I am just getting into the other sounds, since this is my first evening with the Nord. Not a very good time for a review I guess, but I can always write another huh? Piano with version 2 seems good but could be better. Will look forward to the next version, perhaps it will have a bit more sparkle. I have not even checked the site for any other piano sounds though.

When I received my NORD ELECTRO 2 from Musiciansfriend.com the package arrived damaged. It had been opened by someone, obviously to inspect the damage and then it was taped up and sent to me anyway. My new Nord Electro keyboard had damage to the wooden panel on the right side of the unit but the keyboard does operate fine. Looks like it may have been dropped judging from the creased inpact area of the box. This says a lot for Clavia quality but very little from Musician's Friend. Although the wood damage is not extensive from the possible drop it makes me very dissatisfied. I like my new products to look new. Looks like somone hit the side with a sledge hammer, but not really hard; enough to dent it up though.
The way the unit was sent was not right to begin with. Every product I have received from other companies in the past had the manufacturer's box packaged inside a shipping cardboard box. This unit was sent only in the manufacturer's box, with the picture and labeling of the keyboard visible for all to see. This not only leaves the unit more vulnerable but it let's everyone know what is inside. I am lucky no one walked off with it once it arrived at my job. Because it was shipped that way I am easily compelled to believe it was damaged even before musiciansfriend.com shipped it.

I may or may not decide to return the product. I have already bought an American flag sticker and it covers the dent impressions quite nicely. I would not buy another product from Musician's Friend. Since someone banged the BEJESUS out of my keyboard, leaving a permanent impression of impact on the side, I feel like even though I have only had it a day that it is pretty much bullet proof. 'Nuff said.

I may just live with the damage. The American flag decal covers the indentations quite nicely and makes the Swedish Nord look very USA, nice. So I will say little about customer support. Why haggle with people who don't care enough to pack the thing correctly. Besides, the way I am reading their return policy looks like I will have to pay for the postage to get it back to them.

If it were lost or stolen I would run to every pawn shop looking for it, and then be torn to get a Motif, since they are now about even in price, but let's not be to premature, I haven't even gotten used to the keyboard yet. My last keyboard had more than 61 keys, so this baby may take getting used to. I was pleasantly surprised about it's weight and size. I can carry it under my arm since it is only about a foot wide and three feet in length. It fits in my car trunk quite nicely. And no wall wart to plug in; a big plus. Appearance wise it was not all that impressive to me when I opened the damaged box, but as far as I am concerned it's the sound that counts. It certainly sounds like a Hammond to me. I know it will widen the eyes of those in the other churches I may visit. I hardly EVER hear a Hammond Leslie any more; The steel guitar is the usual lead instrument in our churches. I really feel like I will enjoy this keyboard and I am already enthused about learning more likes due to it's wonderful sounds. I do think it needs a reverb control though.