Nord Stage 4 vs. Yamaha YC88 - Organ Sounds and Features

It's a battle between two powerful stage pianos with powerful organ sections! The Nord Stage 4 and the Yamaha YC series both have excellent setups for organs including physical drawbars, different organ models, layering features, and beautiful organ sounds! In this video I play the different organ sounds on these awesome keyboards and give you a comparison of the differences - both of sound and features. The Nord Stage 4 and the Yamaha YC88 have many similarities and put up a real fight when it comes to the organ department.
What do you think? Which organ section is better, the Nord Stage 4 or the Yamaha YC series?
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Thanks for watching and comment below with any questions you have and I will answer them as soon as I can!

[@ianperesmusic]

Very thorough, thanks for the video! I have a Yamaha YC73, and I'm so happy with it. I was initially disappointed with the original leslie speaker sound, but the firmware update took it to another level. Hearing these two keyboards side by side; I feel even more assured that I have the right keyboard; that Nord organ does absolutely nothing (possible even less) for me.

[@Resounded]

I love my nord stage 4 ! Great Video ! Thanks for sharing and, God Bless you !

[@MrAndy91486]

Wow very similar. I love my YC. The Nord is a beast though

[@Adam_Mokanszki]

I have got the Yamaha YC88. Honestly both keyboards are excellent. I love them. :)

[@midiexpert]

Great demo, both ortgans sound very good. As a Stage 3 owner, I am partial to Nord sounds over Yamaha--but this is certainly a closer comparison than I imagined it would be. I was puzzled a bit by the Vox/Farfisa/Transistor sounds--on my Stage 3 the vox/farfisa sounds are exactly as I remember them from my days performing in the 60's. In this demo, they sounded too much like a B3--I'm guessing that the drive was set, and on my Stage 3 when you switch to farfisa, for example, the drive is off and it has that characteristic 60's transistor organ sound. Very authentic.

[@danielcolfer4671]

Both sound good. The updated rotary effect on the Yamaha vastly improved its sound. I almost like it better now than the Nord. So close really. The rotor effect on my SKX pro is also quite good. Again very close in quality. I own all three and have gotten feedback from band members stating they’re so close it’s hard to say which is “best”. I do like the organ feel the best on the Hammond. Wether or not it’s actually a different keybed it somehow feels easier to play organ on than my stage 4 compact. Although the stage 4 compact with its updated triple sensor action is certainly a noticeable improvement over the stage 3 compact. I like the Rhodes and the Wurly a bit better on the YC. But now we’re getting off topic. The price of the Nord is quite frankly painful. If they would of kept it close to the stage 3 it would be a much better value. Expanding the memory and polyphony and adding in a midi/audio interface like the Yamaha would also have been nice and justifying the price increase a bit more. Anyway long post. I love ‘em all and am fortunate to be able to own and play them etc. Great video. Keep up the great presentations.

[@bluzg1rl]

As a female, the weighted keys are a deal breaker for me. I've played organ since I was young and my brain says "organ light keys" piano heavy. I've performed piano on a non Weighted keyboard but found it hard to do the opposite on a Weighted action heavier key board. The overall weight, setup, outputs, and inputs are also factors. If I settled on the nord, I would just have to wait longer to save up for it. Loved this comparison! Thanks!

[@marcusstrymon693]

So i am happy with the ck 88 but unhappy woth organ Question for me is if I shall sell the ck and get a yc or if a hammond xk1c will blow me aeay for organs more than yamaha But i guess I allready know since my bandmate 5 yrs ago had an sk1 and fuck this thing rocked

[@marcusstrymon693]

​@@bluzg1rlYou could just boy a masterkeyvoard with unweigbted keys... not expensive and will do

[@aderemyfav]

More comparison please. I bought a YC88 already, waiting for its delivery. But still I would like to know more about their differences. NS4 is ridiculously expensive... Just curious whether its functions justify the price. To me, the price of YC88 is much more reasonable.

[@itsmaistro]

For anyone wanting the same warmth or close to what the Nord has. Add a narrow band EQ around 2k hz and takeout about 2-3db then take the tone knob and bring down to about 35-45%.

[@tuttrupmusic]

I am a very happy YC 88 player. Just out of curiosity, I will try your suggestion. Making even a small adjustment to a patch can make a big sound difference.

[@itsmaistro]

Can you do a video on all the nord stage 4 organ settings ? I've heard that Nord removed the horn/rotor balance on the stage 4

[@user-nj3dw1mv6j]

just listening to both of them being an organist myself you would not be able to tell, unless you are in the same room with each of them, that is being able to see that they are not the actual B2 and B3 organs. Good sounding keyboard organs, great for traveling and carrying around. Can not wait to own one in the future sometime. Like is an understatement !

[@richardpenrose1968]

I own a YC61 and have played the Nord Stage 3. Both are great boards but I personally prefer the YC for organs (and some other sounds). I feel the YC sounds a little more mechanical and closer to the Hammonds I've owned and played. I also prefer the rotary.

[@marcusstrymon693]

Question: Hammond xk1 c organs vs yamaha yc61 organs??? This is what it will come down for me

[@richardpenrose1968]

@@marcusstrymon693 I previously had an XK1 and I prefer the YC61 organs. I would recommend trying before buying though as personal taste will play a big part.

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@richardpenrose1968 Ok very surprising I will buy used bc them muaic stores dont have these where I live Got a yamaha ck88 recently but these organs arent right. Could you pinpoint what you enjoy more on the yc?

[@richardpenrose1968]

@@marcusstrymon693 I prefer the rotary and all the other tone characteristics such as vibrato/chorus/key click and other aspects of the sound However, I prefer the Viscount Legend and Hammond SK Pro to all of these if I purely wanted organ.

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@richardpenrose1968 oh ok awesome... I mean the viscount used would be a good option. Sk pro is too expensive for me it offers too little in terms of piano etc... either I get a yc 88 with a master key for organ or I get a cheaper unit used (xk1, yc61 or viscount or crumar)

[@chrisj777]

Love all your videos on the comparison between the YC88 and the Stage 4. Just to confirm there aren't a Pipe Organ on the YC88? I saw you demo the Pipes on the Nord but not the YC.

[@marcusstrymon693]

nope. It is weired bc on my cp 88 there is a shit ton of pipe organs which i will jever use lol

[@truthmanifestingtruth]

Both organs are decent! Yamaha’s audio over usb is a sweet deal though, because iOS and MacOS allows you to control B3X which is a superior organ to both. Yamaha’s drawbars should send midi ccs for drawbar controls for the software too. Yet both instrument are good standalone. So, in that case, Nord has the 7 layers of stacking and their own sweet signature sounds vs Yamaha’s sounds and the YC capabilities.

[@dpslivinski]

Both are pretty good. For live use, no one in the audience will ever know the difference lol! Actually, my Nord Stage 2EX as a gigging keyboard is fantastic! Still do not have a reason to change and upgrade.

[@germanshepherdlover2613]

I love my YC-73, prefer the B3 sounds over the Nord. But a Pipe organ engine and synth engine would have been great...I would have paid the extra for them. But in saying that, The YC series was more targeted towards the Electro rather than the stage. If Yamaha go after the stage series their product will be a beast!

[@lbamusic]

Since the organs are so close, the differences in touch and price would be the determinants for me! $3,150 for the YC88, and Nord stage 4 $5,699. Quite a big difference in price!!

[@Sloimer]

Which one has better touch in your opinion?

[@lbamusic]

@@Sloimer most of my friends prefer the Yamaha for overall better touch...

[@Sloimer]

@@lbamusic interesting. That’s the impression I’ve been getting - thank you

[@ItsThatJahncke2]

I had the Yamaha yc88 and I'm returning it. The pianos on it don't have the dynamic punch I was expecting. Almost sounded compressed, like a fresh coating of muddiness. The organs were nice. The rotary effect was good. Maybe better than nords, but I personally like Nords flavors better. I'll be purchasing a Nord stage 4. A long time coming. Went through Casio, Roland, kawai and Yamaha to finally arrive here. Also if you are a piano player that wants an amazing piano get the kawai mp11se over the Yamaha yc88. You'll thank yourself in the long run

[@padyck]

Is it the perspective, or is the Nord keybed larger than the YC?

[@h88sixtyone38]

I have the Nord stage 3 compact. I’m trying to decide if I want to trade in my stage 3 for a Nord stage 4 88 or just add the Yamaha Yc 88 with the stage 3 compact??

[@DSoundman]

Oooh that’s a tough one. I will say that I used the Yamaha YC88 and the Nord Stage 3 love at my church and it was a great combo!

[@danielcolfer4671]

Having the yc and the stage 3 is a great combo for sure. The stage 4 (other than price) is certainly a nice keyboard too. Tough call for sure. Boils down to $.

[@abwdoc]

Great review on both the organs, for the most part. One minor complaint, however…as a player that grew up in the 60’s/70’s playing a number of transistor (“combo”) organs, rarely did you ever hear anyone play through a Leslie…they always used the vibrato built into the organ (The Doors, The Animals, Iron Butterfly, etc)…and hauling a Leslie would have defeated the propose of a small light combo organ anyway. I did try running my Vox Continental thru a Leslie…and it took away a bit of the character of the bright, tinny attack characteristic of the instrument…making it sound a little more Hammond like. I think therefor, a better comparison would have been to use one of the guitar amp setups (ex…Twin Reverb). That being said, I have the NS4 88…and the combo organs seem to be a little more accurate than they were on the NS3 88, which I sold to get the NS4. That’s my $.02 worth…keep up the reviews !!

[@RayyMusik]

Thanks for pointing this out. I‘ve never owned a Connie or Farfisa, but their sound is quite unfamiliar with a rotary effect.

[@marcusstrymon693]

brilliantly said. Allthough I gotta say, throwing farfisas through leslies.... My favourite organ sound of all time. That squeeky sound ... Man in my band (left 2 yrs ago), ourborgan player had a sk1 BUT he also had an original farfisa with a real leslie... So funny, we would always carry that heavy thing around to any gig, even the studio in vienna. Little did we know that this would be available in modern day boards Though I gotta say, bought a ck88 recently and super pissed about the farfisa sound. Very distorted, not like our real farfisa at all. And even my freeware vst sounds better

[@danieldion8825]

I have a NS3 88 and if something happens to it, I will buy the YC88. They both sounds great but there is too much a price difference in Canada (yamaha 4100, clavia 7700, diff of 3600$). I have a 76 kurzweil PC3 so I’m cover on the synth area…😊

[@edo0302]

Is the yamaha yc88 worth for the Hammond gliassato?

[@marcusstrymon693]

I think its absolutely awesome. Though if you are in exclusively for hammond, I heard a lot of good things on viscount legend, crumar mojo and I know from my band that the hammond xk1c is a monster BUT I love the yc88 organs, not gonna lie

[@itsmaistro]

Nord sounds a bit warmer than the yc88. I have the yc61 and I love the background leslie noise feature it has. It pretty much simulates the noise of a real leslie that can be heard through your speakers. But I really love the warmth of the Nords organ, this is what the YC is missing

[@Russsssss]

Nord = cold

[@vertigo0105]

I think if you compared an actual B3 Hammond with a Leslie Tone cabinet to the Nord, you would find that the Nord is far too warm and doesn't sound like an authentic B3. My first thought after watching this comparison video is that the YC sound more like an an actual B3 that hasn't been EQ'd and warmed by studio engineers on recordings. Just IMO

[@itsmaistro]

@vertigo0105 good point. You can tweak the sound very well with the YC. I have the YC61 and was able to tweak everything to my liking

[@marcusstrymon693]

​@@vertigo01058 really wiuld like to know hiw the yc stacks up against a sk1 or an xk1c

[@vertigo0105]

I find that the Nord organs are too smooth and buttery compared to an actual Hammond B3, whereas the YC is much closer/authentic to a B3 sound. I would think a B3 purist would favour the sound of the YC more. Also, the Nord's 5 layers are not worth double the cost. I think you're paying about $2000 just for the Nord 'name' alone!! I would go with the YC myself without a doubt...

[@marcusstrymon693]

nice

[@richhillbass]

Thanks !! -wow , though I love my stage 4 it sounds a bit tepid where the Yamaha sounds overly aggressive, and too fast on Leslie hi speed - just gotta say the menu dive on Yamaha turns me off , fast ! The Nord is so easy so tactile so analog , so visual - both nice

[@Sloimer]

Does the YC88 have any convincing pipe organ sounds?

[@marcusstrymon693]

not even 1 pipe

[@Sloimer]

@@marcusstrymon693what the hell is that all about? Lol.

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@Sloimer Its weired right? I have the ck88 that costs half and it has a shit ton of pipes (10 ton12 ish) which I never use. Then some shit combo organs and one mediocre hammond God I would trade for the YC any day..

[@marcusstrymon693]

@@Sloimer I agree tho, like WHAT THE HECK YAMAHA, pushing out an organ centered instrument for allmost 3k with NO PIPES 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Sloimer]

@@marcusstrymon693lol it’s very strange to put out an “organ focused keyboard” without a proper pipe organ lol

[@MrDlnggorton]

I think the yc 61 keys would feel much better for this play style.

[@--Kwinto--]

IMHO better Yamaha model to compare would be YC 61.

[@oleandersrberg8061]

The Leslie is better on the Yamaha YC. Nord sounds a little plastic-like.

[@erinsung3618]

Nord is great l think yamaha's touch is bed for organ.

[@GizzyDillespee]

For organ technique specifically, you'd want to get either Nord Stage 4 Compact or Yamaha YC61. The other Stage and YC models have keys with thin lips on the front, and sharper edges/angles on the sides of the keys. The black keys on the piano-style keyboards are swipe-able, but the white keys, oooo...

[@GizzyDillespee]

The YC73 has relatively light responsive keys, for piano-style keys that is... but it's still a piano-style keyboard, like the YC88, even though it has a nice organ simulation, and drawbars.

[@andrewie4]

The yc is indeed solid. But I prefer the yc 73 ( personally) cos of its superiority key touch over the yc88. Wondering if anyone agrees with me

[@gauravarorapianist]

I'm actually considering YC 73. Could you let me know about the action if you've played it yourself? I can't find many videos for YC 73, only for the 88

[@lars1588]

The different keybeds have different intended uses. The YC61 keybed is waterfall-type, like an organ, and is meant for organs and synths primarily. The YC73 keybed is semi-weighted-- more like an electric piano and is intended for that application. The YC88 keybed is a fully-weighted, graded, hammer-action keybed like that of a grand piano, which is what it's best suited for. I would't say one is better than the other, but that they are merely _different._

[@niellseen]

The 73 key-bed is a excellent middle ground between piano and organ , and it’s still very portable and it also has the usb audio MIDI , just plugin your iPad Pro and Logic and the possibility’s are near endless, you can of course do the same with MacBook , though only at 41 kHz 😊

[@marcusstrymon693]

​@@gauravarorapianistBut beware, the 73 BHS action is the same as on the cheaper p125, just none graded. I was writing with xamaha on this, I find it annoying that they still sell this at such a price point

[@JamesWilson-jt9gf]

Nord.

[@Roger.T]

Is horrible, returned my stage 4 after a week and a half, super disappointed with the instrument

[@JamesWilson-jt9gf]

@Roger.T, I have the Nord C2D and wouldn't trade it for a thing 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@planetdog1641]

@@Roger.T Is it the way the rotary makes the sound really muddy?

[@FernandoRamirezFR]

Nord is better, tone and leslie. Yamaha is good, yet inferior.

[@Roger.T]

Lol i sold my nord stage 4 after a week with being extremely disappointed in the piano especially, unrealistic plastic sound. The YC88 is alot closer to a real hammond B3 which i have had the pleasure of playing on for 35 years. Nord is overpriced & they do a much better job at marketing than yamaha. B3 sound goes to yamaha, pianos & rhodes go to yamaha also.

[@neuron05]

What are you talking about? The Nord totally blows the Yamaha out of the water.

[@Roger.T]

Yeah with price, nothing else. Yamaha has much more realistic piano sounds & certainly the B3 organ sound.