Electro 3 HP versus Korg SV1

[Swaintek]

I had pretty much decided to buy the NE3HP this week until I saw the current rebate on the Korg SV1. From what I can tell, out the door with discounts this weekend the NE3 would cost about $2200, with the current $500 rebate Korg is offering out the door the SV1 73 would be about $1200. That's a big price difference... as far as functionality goes, the biggest differences I can see are that the SV1 does not have the B3 drawbar modeling, only presets, and it looks like Nord does a way better job of offering samples and sound bank downloads, and the Nord is significantly lighter. I really wish I could try out the action on the HP, but it only seems to be available for order, so I can't make a comparison there. Anybody out there who's had the opportunity to play both and can give some insight would be greatly appreciated. Still leaning toward the Nord, but that $1000 price difference is a big deal for a broke musician!

[anotherscott]

You summed up the differences pretty well.

Piano: Personal taste, but I like the Nord piano sounds better... and there are far more different ones to choose from.

Elec Piano: Personal taste, but I'd probably prefer Korg's

Organ: No contest. SV1 has a handful of get-you-by-in-a-pinch organ sounds, Nord is a full tonewheel organ emulator (plus Vox and Farfisa). OTOH, if you intend to only use one board, and it has a weighted action, your organ use may be minimal anyway?

Other sounds: FAR more of them in the Nord, plus an ever expanding library of alternate sounds you can install... plus you can load your own custom samples.

Splits and layers: SV1 has minimal split/layer functionality, but it's still better than Nord, which has basically none (except dual organ) unless you create your own custom samples (and even that still has major limitations).

Portability: the Nord is much lighter

All that said, for the $1,000 difference, you could get the SV-1 *and* something else, which might alter the equation.

[cutmyearoff]

I owned a Korg SV1 for a few days then and played it desperately trying to like it more. My two biggest gripes about the piano on the Korg is that the piano sounded thin at the high registers and the keyboard action felt mushy to me.

I currently own a NS2 88 and love it but am debating about getting another keyboard and am debating on the electro 3 61 or the HP. I guess it depends on what type of music you play - plus the hauling factor is big if you move your board around a lot.

The best thing going for the Korg is the retro style and buttons are really cool. Very easy to adjust things on the fly.
Good luck with your purchase!

[dlrshort]

I just sold my Sv1 and have the Electro HP. I do not miss the weight and I sure don't miss the organ or Leslie effects. I feel the acoustic piano sounds are comparable. The only things I miss are the electric piano sounds. I would have kept it but it was too damn heavy as I also have a hammond SK1. I honestly. Think the Nord is as about as good as the Hammond on B3 sounds. I don't bother too much with Vox or Farfisa sounds as I had more than enough of those keys when I owned them back in the 60's. I have to say that they are pretty good though. Except for band jobs where I bring both keyboards I bring the Nord to practice. It is more than adequate. My biggest complaint with the Nord is the lay out of the sound banks. The layout makes no sense to me. I like the Key feel of both the sv1 and the Nord as although I was principally an organ player, in the last 25 years or so I have played mostly pianos and digital pianos.

[Hanon_CTS]

Hello all,
I thought I'd throw an opinion on this subject...
Having played the SV-1 almost as much as I have the NE3 HP.

The Korg SV-1 is a good board for less than $1000
The $1200 price tag gets it closer to that.
The SV-1 hardly compares to the NE3 though.
The NE3's every sound is light years better than the SV-1.
However, with that said, if I found myself on a gig with the SV-1 as the only working keyboard, I could still play.

As a side note the SV-1 has keyboard quality control issues and are prone to failure "not just spring squeaks and clicks".

I think the best thing to do would be continue saving until you can swing the Nord.

Cheers, Hanon

[Nordnodoubt]

I used to own SV-1(88) but sold it after six months of use. What attracted me the most was the Vintage Retro look and as for the sounds, I only like EP 1 and the German Grand..That's it!!
As for the NE3HP you can't go wrong with it. You've got best of 3 worlds (Piano, Organ, Sample) not to mentioned the light weight with hammer action for piano and does not compromise the organ playing too.The EL3HP is worth the money and you would definitely enjoy the keyboard rather than buying something for less and and might get bored after a while and starts collecting dust.

[bmcmahon]

SV-1 looks cool, plays like a piano, plays like quick-sand on the organ though. The Electro 3 definately kicks ass on organ. But the I love the fact that the SV-1 has a dial with 36 sounds...thats it folks. Electro 3 has 128, 100 of which I'm sure I'll never use. You really got to find what fits your needs. I'd love to own both of course. I agree with what people are saying. If you're going to play out, play the Nord...lighter, all-in-one sounds. If you're going to sit at home surrounded by your Memotron, Korg, sequencer and other stuff you'll never take out to the house, get the SV-1.

[designx]

Having not tried the Electro 3 HP I can't comment on it but having owned for a short time the Electro 2 I can make a distinct important call regarding the Korg SV-1. It's over hyped. Forget the classy adverts and the retro styling as it is a sheep in wolf's clothing. The styling removed and what you have is something overpriced. Ok the Nord range is way to expensive for what you would get going down the software route but it has inbuilt musicality to it's sound sources and connection with the player with it's keyboard feel. The SV-1's electric piano is not even close to the electric pianos on the Electro 2 albeit with version 3 software. It reminds me of the Yamaha P60 in feel and sound and while good in it's day is now superceded. The acoustic pianos gave no inspiration to make music and were just playable pianos to do a job. Sorry but that's how I feel.... it's a jobbers keyboard, to meet the need of a sound required. The Hammond and Leslie sounded poor to my ears and the keyboard feel was all wrong for Hammond players. It's unfortunate that keyboard stores are closing where people can try out before they buy. I hate someone to spend their money on a modern classy vintage styled, knob heavy, sounding mediocre, new axe. I own an assortment of great Korgs but do not buy SV-1 unless you have really tried it.

[jazzystu]

Very very good S/H Stage EXs are coming down in price a lot. I've seen an 88 for £1500.

Electro 3 is pretty good, but it's not a stage. An SV is a stage attempt which misses the mark by miles IMO.

Form over function.

[anotherscott]

An SV is a stage attempt which misses the mark by miles IMO.

I don't think the SV1 was an attempt to be anything like a Nord Stage. It was made to be much cheaper, and focussed just on the piano-like functionality (no aftertouch, no pitch/mod controls, no drawbar organs, no synth section, no available unweighted action). There is no direct equivalent from Nord, but the closest would probably be Nord Piano and the Electro3HP, neither of which existed when the SV1 came out.

But I agree with your "form over function" comment... I think the curved top serves no purpose except to prevent you from being able to easily stack a keyboard on it.