Real Rhodes / Wurlitzer OR Nord Stage for Recording Only?

[cl516]

In strictly a studio recording situation,
would you ever choose a Nord Stage over a real Rhodes and Wurlitzer 200A?

Maintenance issues are very much a reality for both of the older pieces.

[cl516]

8 votes so far

[Lipps]

This is kinda tricky for me. I voted for the real thing as I have a rhodes 54. I got it about 4 months ago and love it. BUT, sometimes (3 out of 10 times) I still like the sound of some of my motif patches(I know it's not the nord). maybe I'm just so use to the sound of the sample. Overall the rhodes goes with my full on approach of a more natural, organic sound and feel. I enjoy playing my rhodes a whole hell of a lot more than the motif patches though>

My 2 cents

[into the white]

I would say definitely no to the Nord. I don't think its Rhodes sounds measure up to the real thing (I have a mk1 stage 88). On the other hand, I have the Scarbee wurlitzer, and I think it sounds fantastic through an amp. Of course, I could just have a blind appreciation because I've never played a real Wurly. I will say though that it sounds on par with wurly sounds I've heard on real albums, so it's worth a shot. I'd say if you have the $$, go with the real things, but if you'd like to do it on the cheap get the Scarbee sample sets for both the Wurly and Rhodes, a decent controller, and call it a day. The only real advantage to the Nord is that in a live setting it is much, much lighter than the real things and it lacks the wires/laptop necessary to run samples. For solely studio purposes I'd put it a distant third choice.

[dbbubba]

Nuthin' sounds like a real Wurli!

I have my wife's Wurli in my studio and I need top re-build the amp section, but it still sounds great.
She bought it by saving up her paychecks when she worked at IHOP!
I think that she bought it in 1980, but it will probably be buried with her!
She is visciously protective over it.
I guess she served a lot of Rutti-Tutti Fresh n' Fruity's to get the dough to buy it, so...
I have a tap off of the pickups that allows me to D.I. it.

The thing about a Wurli is the tuning issues.
It isn't perfectly in tune EVER!
Even when it was new!
It also has a nice distortion sound.

[Steffmo]

I have a rhodes and a wurli.....forget about anything beating them.

But if you have no choice I've have pretty ggod luck with the Motif Wurli.

Still, aside from just the sound of the thing....the feel of it makes you play a certain way that fits the instrument.

One of my artists refurbs Wurli, btw, if you need something PM me. He somehow got the very first modwl.....100 I think...the yellow pressboard things. He has it looking like he just walked out of Guitar Center with it new. Has a bit more acoustic sound than the 200, which is what I have.

Great stuff......irreplaceable.

[RCM - Ronan]

A real Fender Rhodes is something magic. I have never heard anything that can beat it.

[Steffmo]

Yeah...I think its easier to get a decent fake Wurli than a Rhodes. Every time I turn my Rhodes on my heart just melts.

Some of the substitutes sound ok when you turn them on. Until you AB it to the real deal.

[roger]

nothin like the real thing!......maybe live i would opt for the nord (i used to lug my rhodes to gigs...gone are those days!).....but NEVER in the studio......fake rhodes/wurly sounds on records make me wanna vomit profusely!

[dbbubba]

Just think about the sound of Ray Charles' Wurli on "What I Say?"

What imitation is gonna' do THAT?

[Roy Harter]

If you want the closest thing to a real deal get the Nord Stage 88. I put my money where my mouth is, and sold my mint Rhodes Suitcase 88, Wurlie 200, Farfisa Duo, AND Vox Super Continental, once I heard it. Once I run it through a twin or a motion sound, it does everything in the studio, and live that I need it too. Your fingers have a lot to do with it. I'm sorry, it is my opinion that anyone who tells you different, has never heard a good keyboardist play one. Nord actually does a good job in replicating the "flaws". Somebody really thought this thing out. It even has the best sounding upright piano I've ever heard, bar none.
I've become so attached to my Nord Stage, that I have a second one that I only use for live gigs. The other one stays in the studio.
I used the proceeds from selling the keyboards, and put it towards my Bosendorfer.
I've had some issues with the quality control of the Fatar action they install on these things, but once you get a good one your set. I've had to return my two previous synths until I found a good one. I've even borrowed the Stage 88 from "The Levellers", when I did some English festivals with them last year, and they had the same issues with the action.
I've owned and played the real ones, and the Nord Stage 88 is the only substitute.

[HeavyG]

The only reason you might consider the Nord is it's versatility with patches and it's weight advantage...but most keyboard players use a Rhodes/Wurli patch half the time anyways...and from what I can gather you won't be moving it from the Studio. I just recorded a keyboard player / songwriter who used my Motif ES Rhodes sound for almost every track and the Yamaha patch is decent...but I said to myself "Man, I gotta get me a Rhodes..."

[alcohol]

The Nord through a tube guitar amp sounds pretty good.

[Mike Brown]

Originally Posted by alcohol

The Nord through a tube guitar amp sounds pretty good.

Very true, I like to get a small tube amp and really crank it and patch a nord through it....

But if you have access to the real thing.. then why not?

If the performer is intimidated by the real thing though, you may get a better performance on a synth.. but I would say this is rare....

[philosi]

I have a Rhodes, Wurli, CP-70, Pianet-t, and Clavinet to cover the electric piano family of sounds... I also have a nord electro which I have used for gigs, only because of its portability.

For recording I wouldn't even consider the nord. The main reason is not even the sound, its the feel. Play any one of the above mentioned instruments, then play the nord... its pretty obvious.



But each to his/her own....

[Surfkat]

I have a Rhodes MKI and a Wurli 200A in my studio. Why would I want a substitute for the real thing? Only if I had to carry it to a gig. That's the only reason I can think of. I have learned how to keep my Wurli in tune and replace tines if they break. It's not that hard. Like all vintage gear, some amount of maintainance is inevitable. That would be the only other reason to go with a modern replacement.

I guess some folks would like to have the midi capabilties of the Nord too. I use a Roland RD700 for midi electric piano when I am composing and doing quick demos. It does the job. But when I want the real sound and feel for a finished product, there's nothing like the originals I say.

[phillysoulman]

If you want a plug in,the PT Velvet is the best,imho.

[cl516]

So in terms of the sound/tone and "playability",
it seems most people believe the Nord Stage won't hold up for recordings?

[lakeshorephatty]

How many of you that have voted have both?

I do, and although i'll never sell the real deals, I don't use them for recording now that i have the stage, just no need.

The difference is now down to taste, rather than being inadequate.

I keep my old keyboards because they are more fun, and i deserve fun, but what gets the job done? Either or.. main difference:

I don't have to tune and maintain the action and timbre of the stage.
It has a bunch of useable effects built in
It has very clean high headroom gain but of course fire it through an amp if you want grit.

Either way, i can still hear the wood : )

[lakeshorephatty]

Originally Posted by roger

nothin like the real thing!......maybe live i would opt for the nord (i used to lug my rhodes to gigs...gone are those days!).....but NEVER in the studio......fake rhodes/wurly sounds on records make me wanna vomit profusely!

I'll say it again.. try a nord or don't comment.

Fake sounds on records make all vintage keys addicts vomit, including myself.

We're talking specifically about the nord here, which i defend because it really is that good.

[Roy Harter]

Originally Posted by lakeshorephatty

I'll say it again.. try a nord or don't comment.

Fake sounds on records make all vintage keys addicts vomit, including myself.

We're talking specifically about the nord here, which i defend because it really is that good.

He's 100% right. The Nord is that good. I didn't want to believe it either. It's not your typical modeling VST plug-in. It has a real character.
I love seeing the look on the engineers face, when they bring up the faders. I'm just waiting for some famous keyboardists, and producers to endorse it, so it will gain some credibility. You will need to crank it through a nice amp to understand it. Don't expect the magic, listening to the headphone output at Guitar Center...
I'm totally shocked that it doesn't get more love here! Looks like I got another "sleeper-synth" in my arsenal. I'll set it up next to the Moog Source.

[lakeshorephatty]

Originally Posted by Roy Harter

He's 100% right. The Nord is that good. I didn't want to believe it either. It's not your typical modeling VST plug-in. It has a real character.
I love seeing the look on the engineers face, when they bring up the faders. I'm just waiting for some famous keyboardists, and producers to endorse it, so it will gain some credibility. You will need to crank it through a nice amp to understand it. Don't expect the magic, listening to the headphone output at Guitar Center...
I'm totally shocked that it doesn't get more love here! Looks like I got another "sleeper-synth" in my arsenal. I'll set it up next to the Moog Source.

You've got it. I used to plug my rhodes in direct all the time.. Sounded pretty lifeless to me without an amp, the nord is no different.

Has a little amp sim section, but don't expect that to make it sound like a real amp, thats more of an effect.

[cl516]

see, this is what i'm starting to suspect,
lakeshorephatty and Roy Harter.
i don't own the nord, but i do have a rhodes and wurlie.
i've only spent real time with the electro, but the few times i played the stage,
i'm starting to have second thoughts...

[cl516]

I wonder:

to those who voted NO,

do you have 1st hand experience specifically with the Nord Stage?

[eric maltz]

the nord electro is a pretty incredible keyboard (especially througha good guitar amp with some verb). i've loved it ever since i got one. but playing a real rhodes of wurlie cant be beat. the sounds, the feel, its the fabric of our lives

[tone delux]

Originally Posted by cl516

In strictly a studio recording situation,
would you ever choose a Nord Stage over a real Rhodes and Wurlitzer 200A?

Maintenance issues are very much a reality for both of the older pieces.

The wurlitzer is nice on the rhodes. i have preferred a motif XS8 to a real fender rhodes. there's also a free fender rhodes plug-in available on the net for PC only that had me fooled once. and i own 2 rhodes suitcase pianos.

[ProducerBoy]

The Nord is, IMHO, the BEST for what it does. Saw Bob Dylan in concert recently and his keys guy was playing a Nord. It sounded awesome! However, if I am in a studio, and I have the option to use the real thing, I would only go to the Nord if I were under a real time crunch. Additionally, having an old rhodes or wurlitzer could be more attractive to clients.

That said, I really don't think anyone who chooses the Nord has compromised on anything. I chose the originals for my personal aesthetic.
To each his/her own.

[TheRealRoach]

I love the Nord Electro. And +1 for the tube amp. I absolutely love this keyboard for studio use.

For writing, I will tend to patch it in D.I. when I just need a quick sound. I'll patch it through an analog delay stomp box with a quick and quiet repeat just to create some space. And even D.I. I like the sound enough to get inspired every time i play it.

[fross]

So subjective at best.
If you're REALLY on that vintage tip, well then go for it.
Is it neccessary?
No, in my opinion.

I've had all those keyboards at one time or another.
And I've had multiple Rhodes over the years.
It seems as if the feeding frenzy of vintage gear just gets crazier and crazier.

Maintenance on those instruments is an issue.
They're analog with mechanical mechanisms and they go out of tune and break.

An 88 key S90ES or Roland may not have the retro jizz-factor, but they sound just as nice, are more versatile, ALWAYS stay in tune, are more reliable and have better action on the keys.
I wouldn't buy one of those old moldy outdated 1960s or 1970s beasts, if you paid me.
But again, it's all subjective.
Oh, and the new breed record better as well.

And the Nord Electro/Stage sounds aren't anything special.
They're good.
It's real claim to fame is it's red color and it's light weight.
The action is nothing to write home about.
Now the analog synth sounds on the Lead 2 and 3, that's another story.

Just consider this:
You put a top notch keyboardist behind an 88 key synth and it'll be the best sound you've ever heard.
Put that same keyboardist behind a ragedy-ass whatever and it'll be the best sound you've ever heard.
You hear some shitty sounding Rhodes or Wurlitzer in an amazing song that moves you and..........it'll be the best sound you've ever heard.

[cl516]

interesting reply fross thank you
how do you feel specifically about the Nord Stage?

i have to say, i actually demoed it today in a store. just with headphones and i gotta say it was pretty sweet compared even to the rhodes and wurlitzer in my studio.