Korg Grandstage NAMM 2020
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
- The Korg Grandstage is a keyboard many people wanted me to review, but it's difficult for me to get a hold of instruments for review, so I never took a look at this one before. Until now. I found one at the 2020 NAMM show and decided to check it out, so here it is!
- Hudba
THIS DEMONSTRATION IS JUST INCREDIBLE....
Thanks for the quick review!
I recently bought a Korg Grandstage for home use. It's been a blast to play. I like the variety of sounds. I love the interface. And the keybed feels great to me. I'm not used to playing grand pianos, so it doesn't really matter to me how much it resembles that type of action.. What matters is that it feels responsive and solid. (By the way the RH3 is Korg's own keybed, not to be confused with the similarly named RHIII from Kawai.)
I think of the Grandstage as a powerful "preset" machine. The recent 2.0 update included several new sounds, bringing the total number of sounds to 564. Those sounds can be tweaked somewhat, but that's not the strength of the Grandstage. Its strength is being able to easily select any one of those preset sounds and then layer or split it with any of the other presets - even if they're from the same category.
As far as the keyboard stand, you're right. It's unique. I didn't really care for it when I saw it in the marketing photos, but in practice I love it. First off, it's really well made. Nothing cheap about it. Secondly, it comes "free" with the keyboard. (I suppose you could argue that you're paying for it whether you really want it or not.) Thirdly, it's adjustable. I like to stand when I play, and when the keyboard is at the height that's most comfortable for me, those two end poles don't even show above the keyboard. It's practically perfect. There's even a little place for me to hang my headphones when I'm not wearing them. (I'm not sure that's what it's for, but it works!) If I were sitting, maybe those end poles might bother me more. It also makes me wonder if it's possible to add another "deck" to that stand for a second keyboard. If that's possible, then I like the design even more.
The main drawback for me (certainly not for everyone) with the Grandstage is that it doesn't have built-in speakers. Since I bought the keyboard mostly for home use, having built-in speakers would have been more convenient for me than having to fire up and adjust my external monitors every time I want to play. In that regard, I like what Korg has done with their new SV2. They offer it in two sizes, both with and without built-in speakers. (Thanks for your 2020 NAMM overview of that keyboard, as well.)
thank you for your comment, constantly get questions about digital pianos from my students, will recommend it to them!
Hi Paul. Thanks for posting your comments on the Grandstage. I currently have a Yamaha P-250 stage piano which I bought when it first came out around 2003. It's been great, particularly as it has a decent pair of on-board speakers. However, it's now beginning to show its age with occasional sticking keys and notes not playing. I've been doing a bit of research for a replacement and keep coming back to the Grandstage. The problem is I really like the stage piano style of keyboard although I also use it mostly at home, but very few have on-board speakers. I think if the Grandstage had speakers it would be pretty much the perfect keyboard for me. However, I do really like the look of the Grandstage so if I do finally buy it I'll just have to accept that and make other arrangements.. Can I ask you what kind of monitors you use? Also, how do you find the piano key action on the Grandstage?
Hi Alan. Regarding the monitors, let me recommend you NOT do what I did. I bought a pair of highly rated but reasonably priced JBL 305P MkII 5" powered monitors. I don't really have anything negative to say about those monitors other than I wish I had gone with the next size up. I'm not sure why, but mine can't seem to handle some of the electric piano sounds on the Grandstage without occasionally buzzing. I talked through the issue with one of the audio techs at Sweetwater, and his best guess was that these particular monitors were underpowered for this use. (Sweetwater had originally recommended the JBL 306P monitors, but I tried to save a few dollars, and bought the slightly smaller monitors.) The easiest thing for me to do would be to return these monitors for slightly larger ones. However, I'm seriously thinking of returning the monitors and the Grandstage and replacing it with a version of the Korg SV-2 that has built-in speakers. Hopefully, that would solve the problem, and save me some space at the same time. The SV-2 has the same keybed, and I'm really happy with the feel of it on the Grandstage. So if I make that move, I would be giving up a keyboard that has 550+ preset sounds for a keyboard that has (from what I understand) about 70 good sounds that would be considerably more tweakable. I really don't have a strong preference either way. I just want to be able to enjoy some nice-sounding electric pianos without the occasional buzzing!
@@sandscribbler Hi Paul. Thanks so much for your reply. Interesting comment about the monitors. I'll certainly keep that in mind. The SV-2 with the speakers is a possibility for me too. Also considering the Roland RD-2000 and the Nord Stage 3, although the Nord is much more expensive here in the UK. I think, now that I've done some research, I now need to visit the music shops and try out some of these keyboards. Thanks again Paul for taking the time to answer my queries. Much appreciated!!
I've always liked the Korg Grandstage, it isn't always mentioned in most of the reviews though
I just love the sound of this keyboard
What's also nice about the Grandstage is that it comes in a 73-key version, perfect for non-classical gigs. The Roland RD-2000 is an amazing & somewhat more complex competitor to this, but it only comes in a 88-key version. Less weight & shorter length is something to consider if you have to lift your stage piano in & out of your vehicle regularly.
Korg GS was the only true contended against the Nord stage pianoes, IMHO. I am waiting on the edge of my seat for the inevitable SV1 versus SV2S video.
SV1 VS SV2S video will uploaded as soon as we receive our SV2S.
The Korg stand has rods on the two sides so that you can add another tier of keyboard instrument on top of it.
oh that's great to know!
How can you add another on top? Do they sell another bracket?
What is the key action like on this model? And do you happen to know if the keys are clicky or noisy sounding with the volume turned down? I’m sure in that environment you wouldn’t know. Clicky keys drive me nuts.
Can you do a review on the Korg Kronos 2?
Great. Have you recorded also D1 and SV2 quick review?
SV2S quick review already done with a full review in my studio as soon as they will ship me one.
Interesting machine! Very nice piano voice! Familiar with a Roland FP30? Was wondering what your opinion was on it. Thanks!
yes, I would be interested as well...
The dark German piano sounds much better than the regular or bright one. All of the other pianos sound best with the regular configuration. The dark German piano is probably my favorite overall. Although, I use a variety of pianos depending on the song.
if not for the NW-GH keybed on the CP88, Korg Grandstage would definitely win. I'd take the 73-key version for my jazz gigs for sure and more things.
I LOVE the look of the CP88! If Yamaha produced a version that had built-in speakers, I'd be in line to buy one!
@@sandscribbler now that you mention that, there's Korg SV-2, but only the white one has builtin speakers... what's up with that!!!
Between this and the kawai mp11se, which do you think feels more like a realistic piano?
The MP11SE feels and sounds more like a realistic piano. The RH3 action in this is nice, but the Grand Feel action in the MP11SE is more like a piano IMO.
@@ThePianoforever Okay, great. Is there any other digital piano that you feel is comparable, or is the MP11SE the most realistic in your opinion?
Does either Korg or Yamaha, (anyone other than Roland) have "ivory feel" keytops?
Kawai does. Or they say they do, that's what they advertise. But James says they feel like plastic. I have an MP11, I like the way the keys feel, but I haven't spent enough time with ivory to be able to make a proper comparison personally.
James,
That looks like a fun piano. Would it be good for composing ?
Can it jack into quality speakers?
Cheers,
Rik Spector
I like the stand cool techie
Maybe it’s me but the piano sound of the Yamaha p515 looks just that little more my taste surely the bösendorfer sound of it. Strange because the korg is really good. They got both a lot of sounds and possibilities but there is a huge price difference. Interesting review. Thank you for sharing.
The Yamaha P515 was on my short list of potential keyboards. When I had a chance to actually sit down and play one, though, I was disappointed in how it felt. That being said, I was most familiar with the action on my very old acoustic upright. So the difference between that and the P515 was particularly dramatic. I wonder how long it would take to get used to a different kind of feel in a keyboard. I mean the feel of a keyboard is both personal and relative. Nor is any one action best for all types of music. Some actions are obviously better for a "grand piano" experience. Others are better for organ techniques. Or synths. I do agree with you that the Bösendorfer sound on the P515 is stunning. Plus, the P515 has some nice features (particularly recording and drum rhythms) that home users (like me) find attractive.
Interesting, was the action on the p515 lighter than your upright? Or was there something else. But it is indeed very personal of course. Also what kind of instruments someone is looking for. Thank you for your response.
@@moldenburg909 Not surprisingly, the action on the P515 required a stronger touch than my old acoustic. The action on the Grandstage is somewhere between my old acoustic and the P515.
That "german" piano is way brighter than any German acoustic I've had the pleasure of hearing. I rather like the sound of the default piano. I find that Korg is good at avoiding that super shiny-bright Japanese sound that you get from things like the Yamaha grand, unless you specifically want it. Many competitors have a nasty habit of giving you the broad choice range from "Oh, goodness, that's rather bright" all way to "so-bright that it feels like a rushed FM-synth piano" And to be sure, that bright sound can work fantastically for things like jazz, but it's a complete disaster if you're trying to do something like Rachmaninoff....imho.
The Japanese voice sounds perfect to me as far as what it's going for.
The Berlin voice sounds like it is EQ'd weird. I cannot imagine why that would be the case.
The Austrian voice also comes off as curiously bright, but I confess, I know nothing about austrian pianos.
Is Korg a German company ?
Made in Japan.
@@ThePianoforever Its a Japanese brand founded in 1962!
No! Is TUBORG!!! (Denmark)
Personally, I still think the Roland RD2000 is much better.
I can tell he’s not really digging the sound of those pianos. Everything lately is toned so bright in order to cut through a mix… And doesn’t sound natural
There are "dark" and mono variants of the main piano voices, per the patch list at Korg's site.