Nord Electro 3/4D vs. Hammond SK1 vs. Korg SV1

[Polarelch]

Looking for a stage piano, the Nord Electro already wins in terms of size, weight and fitting into my beloved Nord Bag.
However, do you think I'd miss anything about the others?

Where's the best acoustic piano sound? e-pianos? clav?
What's the best overall instrument for band use?

[tomorrowstops]

Speaking only from owning an Electro 2 and 3 - Nord absolutely OWNS. Super lightweight, reliable, stupid easy to use, and definitely fantastic sounding. I toured a bunch with one, sometimes in a flight case, sometimes in a bag - ZERO complaints.

The past year I've just been using it exclusively in the studio - absolutely amazing. The electric piano sounds are cool, (well, not as cool as my Rhodes!). The clav sounds great, and the Mellotron samples are absolutely the best I've heard and I've used them extensively (especially the flutes). In fact, I wrote and recorded a movie score (feature length) featuring the upright 'Rain' piano and Mellotron flutes from the Nord library. People were amazed when I told them they were samples! My only beef with this board is that it doesn't have a basic envelope generator to control the Mellotron stuff. Of course, the Nord Piano does, but that's a bigger and simpler (no organ section) board.

That all being said, I just sold my Electro 3 73 in favor of the weighted key version (which I haven't bought it yet), so I'll have to get back to you with a review of the hammer weighted keys (which I'm sure will be awesome!)

[b3groover]

I'm a bit confused because of the three keyboards you listed in the thread title, only the SV1 is an actual stage piano. Are you looking for a stage piano, with a full weighted 88 keys that also does some other sounds or are you looking for an organ simulator that also does piano sounds? Those are two separate needs and will have two separate answers as to which is the best option.

[Polarelch]

I am looking for a fun, compact, portable (i.e. not 88 keys) keyboard *instrument* that's more restricted than the overloaded Workstations, that has basic keys sounds like piano, e-piano, organ, clav, strings, mallets but also a few other stuff (and be good at that, not cheapish like a Roland).

One question about the 3 I mentioned: Do you miss a split or layer possibility?

[b3groover]

Thanks for the clarification. Here's my opinion: The SK1 is a better organ simulator (clonewheel). The drawbars are a necessity for my playing; that might not be important to you. And the 4D has drawbars now, too. But I still think, personally, the SK1 is the better Hammond sound.

The electric pianos in the SK1 are a subject of taste. I've always liked the Nord Wurli sound but I think the SK1 is more unique; it sounds like a tube Wurli (think Ray Charles "What'd I Say") rather than the solid-state 200a sound of the Nord. The Rhodes is better on the SK1, imo. The clavinets are far superior on the SK1. The piano is better on the Nord but the SK1 piano cuts nicely in a live mix. The Nord has a better overall downloadable library. I don't think the SK1 has any Mellotron-esque strings yet. I like the action on the SK1 better as well; it's more Hammond B3 like. And yes, the SK1 has limited multitimbrality; you can play organ and one non-organ sound simultaneously. You can only play one sound at a time on the Nord.

So, if it were me, I'd pick the SK1. However, the Nord is certainly a nice instrument. You really can't go wrong with either unless you need one specific function over another.

[meatballfulton]

The Korg SV1 is very limited once you get past the piano sounds. The organs in particular were really weak...my Motif does much better organs. Actually I was reminded of other stage pianos that have "extra" sounds most of which are pathetic.