Product Review: Nord Electro 6 HP – Vintage Stage Piano

Swedish manufacturer Nord has just released the sixth generation of what is probably the most successful series of stage keyboards ever. The Nord Electro 6 not only expands on familiar features but also introduces several innovations that many Electro users have been asking for. Moreover, the Nord Electro 6 HP model with 73 piano keys and hammer action is suitable as a stage piano.

Electro players have been eagerly anticipating two new features: Simultaneously playing all sound groups as split and layer combinations, and seamlessly switching between sound presets. Also appreciated is the Dual Organ Mode, which makes it easier to control the upper and lower manual.

But the list of features goes on and on, with an emphasis on ease of use. You can now use move, copy, and paste functions to organize your sounds or arrange a series of sounds as a song list.

D or HP – Which Model is the Right One?

The new Nord Electro is still available in three versions: Nord Electro 6D 61 and Nord Electro 6D 73 are equipped with semi-weighted waterfall keyboards and drawbars. Waterfall keys provide a more authentic feel when playing organ sounds. The Nord Electro HP, on the other hand, has a lightweight 73-note keyboard. If piano is your primary focus, this is the model for you.

Nord Electro 6 HP vs. Stage Piano

Compared to conventional stage pianos, the Nord Electro 6 HP is much lighter and more compact. You can carry it comfortably under your arm or take the Nord Electro 6 HP with you on the bike, bus, or subway in a backpack gig bag. If you need an 88-note keyboard, the manufacturer also offers the Nord Stage, Nord Grand 2 and Nord Piano. Both options differ in concept and price from the Nord Electro.

Not only these, but many other brands of stage pianos also have a different concept than the Nord Electro 6. The structure of three independent sound sections including a drawbar organ is extremely rare, as is the extensive range of controls. Since you don’t have to navigate through different display menus, the Nord Electro is very intuitive to use once you get the hang of it.

On the other hand, the Nord Electro lacks the classic features of a stage piano, such as MIDI keyboard functions. With a focus on vintage electro-mechanical instruments, the Electro 6 HP is made to be played live in a rock/pop/jazz band: Play cool piano accompaniments, rock out on the keys, or give it your all in a front-of-stage solo. Both the keyboard and especially the sounds are well suited for this.

A True Lightweight: The HP Keyboard

The weighted hammer action keyboard makes up the majority of the weight of all stage pianos. Enter the Nord Hammer Action Portable keyboard: This special keyboard by the Italian manufacturer Fatar is designed to be as light as possible. Moreover, the playing feel is great. Since the HP keys provide a pleasant counterweight, the Nord Electro 6 HP is far from the feel of lightweight keys. However, a fine pianissimo is not its strong point either – but you don’t really need that when playing live.

Acoustic Piano Sounds

Of course, the sounds do not follow the sonic ideal of many digital pianos that bring the dream of a Steinway concert grand to your living room. Instead, you get the feeling of sitting in front of a well-used grand piano in a jazz club.

Without a doubt, the piano sounds of the Electro 6 HP are sampled cleanly and with great detail. Compared to a digital piano, the Nord Electro 6 HP has a more lively piano sound, perfected with charm and verve. This includes some rough edges that add an individual touch that really sets the Nord Electro 6 HP apart.

My favorites are definitely the upright piano sounds. These sound very realistic, especially when playing with a band or in combination with vocal accompaniment. What I like about the sound of the Nord Electro 6 in general is the powerful attack and sustain. In addition, the whole dynamic range is just great. On the one hand, you can accentuate very well, on the other hand, the sound is still perfect for playing just a few chords.

Detailed Piano Sounds and Simulation

The key-off effect and sympathetic string resonances are beautifully reproduced. These details add a lot of authenticity to solo piano pieces. However, for rhythmically accentuated piano playing in a band context, you can do without it and just turn it off – an excellent solution. Whether grand or upright, the sounds of the Electro 6 HP are great to play, and it’s fun to explore all the nuances.

Vintage Electric Pianos & Keyboards

This is the heart and soul of the entire Electro series: Keyboard instruments from the ’60s and ’70s with electro-mechanical sound generation. Most of the sound presets include different versions of the Fender Rhodes electric piano, such as the Mark I, Mark II, and Mark V. A very meticulous approach has been taken here, so these sounds are available in both a bell-like and a dry version to support more aggressive playing styles.

I am also impressed by the sound details in the attack and key-off of the Rhodes as well as the dynamic expression possibilities. Very tasteful and made with know-how and attention to this special vintage instrument. In addition, two beautiful variations of the Wurlitzer are available. You even get electric pianos from the 80s – including the DX-7, MKS-20, and the piano from the Korg M1 workstation – very handy.

Organ Section

But there are many, many more vintage sounds to discover: If you love the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s, you will get your money’s worth in the ORGAN section. It includes faithfully reproduced organs like the Hammond B3 and transistor organs from Vox and Farfisa. There’s even a church organ.

With the Nord Electro, the Organ section is not an accessory, but a central component of the stage keyboard concept. The control panel contains all the components of a Hammond B3: Rotary effect, 2nd/3rd Percussion, Vibrato/Chorus, and last but not least the nine drawbars, which are used to mix the pitch levels of the organ sound.

You can’t see it straight away, but the Nord Electro HP actually has two manuals. This allows you to connect a MIDI keyboard and use it as a lower manual. Alternatively, play piano sounds on the Electro HP while playing the organ section on a synth keyboard.

Sample Section and Sound Library

In addition to the PIANO and ORGAN sections, the third section is the SAMPLE SYNTH section. The sounds here belong in every keyboardist’s repertoire: Synthesizers, basses, guitars, vibraphones, marimba, strings, and brass. With woodwinds and brass as solo instruments in various versions and variations, there’s a bit too much orchestra pit for my taste.

Fear not, as you can make your own selection: Nord players have free access to the Nord Sample Library with numerous sounds from famous vintage synthesizers, Mellotron & Co. You can download the Nord Electro 6 sounds and the Editor software from the Nord Keyboards homepage.

Use the Nord Sound Manager to upload sounds from a computer to the Nord Electro 6. The sounds are saved in memory when the instrument is turned off, so you only need to do this once. You can also use the Nord Piano Library to customize the PIANO section.

You get to draw from a veritable treasure trove of piano sounds and store your own sound selection in the Nord Electro 6. Maximum flexibility in sound selection! The memory function puts Nord keyboards in a class of their own.

Conclusion: Made for the Stage

Compared to other stage pianos in this price range, the 73-key Hammer Action Portable keyboard does not achieve top marks. However, the weight savings make this small compromise worthwhile, especially since the keyboard offers a good playing feel.

Free access to sound libraries and the flexible memory concept underline the professional approach of Nord instruments. Technical innovations such as seamless sound switching and expanded sample memory make the Nord Electro 6 a highly attractive stage keyboard for both the stage and the home recording studio.

Despite the many improvements over its predecessor, one small wish remains unfulfilled: Using the toggle buttons to switch between effects and other functions is still a bit awkward.

Nord Electro 6 HP – Overview

Release date: 05.2018
Keyboard: 73-key Hammer Action Portable keyboard
Memory: 1 GB for Nord Piano Library, 512 MB for Nord Sample Library
Polyphony: 120 Voices (Piano), at least 30 Voices (Sample Synth), fully polyphonic Organ section
Special Features: Focus on vintage sounds of electro-mechanical instruments, Nord C2D tone wheel simulation
Manufacturer/Distributor: Nord, Sound Service

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