"...the E4D deserves to be at the top of your list at this price point as its features, playability, portability and, more importantly, sounds are still right up there". 10/10
The latest incarnation of the Nord Electro now features real drawbars and a new organ engine. Future Music award the Nord Electro 4D a Platinum award and a 10 out of 10 rating.
"The most obvious (change) is the addition of real drawbars, something that for a while now players have been lobbying Nord for. The first Nord to feature real drawbars was the new C2D. When we reviewed this powerful Hammond clone in FM253 we concluded that the real drawbars transformed the C2 into a real players instrument - and the same can be said for the 4D...you just cannot beat real drawbars when playing live; there is just something more involving about grabbing some drawbars and getting suck in".
"The organ engine has also been upgraded - it is the same as the C2D, the Nord flagship organ and the sonics are absolutely spot on and very much like a real B3".
"The new B3 model sounds subtly chunkier and more-in-your-face somehow when compared with the old E3 and the new key click and drive is superb, the key bounce feature (triggers the click when the key bounces) is a subtle yet important improvement, adding greatly to the overall playing experience, and the new Leslie 122 emulation, extends the sonic palette nicely".
"...the piano engine remans largely the same but there is now a long release function which adds a more realistic long decay to the acoustic piano sounds. Like the organ improvements, this is a subtle addition but one that adds much again to the overall authenticity".
"To sum up, the biggest reason to grab the E4D over the E3 is the upgraded organ engine rotary/drive simulation, the delay (which the E3HP also has) and of course the eagerly anticipated real drawbars, which will massively increase the Electro series appeal to organ players and non organists alike. Not to mention the addition of the long release function for the pianos and the very handy MIDI-over-USB as well".
The full review can be found in the September issue (FM256) of Future Music magazine on sale now. The Nord Electro 4D is also available now at £1649 inc vat.
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