Organ sounds amazing, indeed, but it is far to be flexible a the leader (Nord). Hopefully will get updated soon.

Nord is not even in the same class because those cost almost double what the YC costs and the YC beats Nord in several functional ways. Sound quality I doubt is much different. I'd say as the biggest bargain nothing touches YC. SKpro is more expensive but closer to the price range of YC but you have to menu dive. If Yamaha keeps expanding the FM organ module it can only get better and better. It has a big upside, just don't know how far they will take it. Some don't agree but it needs more AWM2 voice options to cover all the bases. They should add several great combo voices since you can't create custom layers but at least I can use the new FM options to create some amazing supporting nuances. It's really addictive. IF they'd add a second organ section or AN and another "C" voice to the next generation that would be fantastic. The lit draw bars are so fun just imagine having double of them for another section. I'd buy it now.

Well, I have both, side by side... it means that I am well prepared to compare pro/cons of each. It may compete in many aspects with a Nord Electro, but it is miles (or lightyears?) away from a Nord Stage.

Having said that, I love my YC61 for small/intimate gigs, sound is great, despite the noisy keybed.

All the points you mention are valuable add-ons and could enhance the experience a lot.

Good thing? some ideas in ideascale seems to be moving, so it's great to see that Yamaha team is working on it still

Clue me in on the Nord stage. I noticed it's as expensive as flagship total stations like the Montage and Fantom but it's a stage piano. Nord had always seemed ultra expensive to me. It doesn't even have a gigantic touch screen but I assume it's one knob one function mostly. It's double the cost of a YC73 so besides loading your custom samples how does it dominate? Obviously they are not in the same class because your can't purchase it for $2,500. I bought a manufacturer refurbished Fantom for $2,100 that is "unlimited" so how could a $4,000 nord even come close to the Fantom? I guess all the interfacing is reason for the high cost too. Yamaha seems to have kept their price on YC very competitive for what you get and if you can find a deal even better.

Most seem to prefer the Nord sound of the piano and organ. The sample management is more flexible since you can remove even preset sounds if you want or choose a smaller sample to replace the stock one. This is more like a buffet than a prepared dish. There are other smaller details like supporting competitors' sustain and expression pedals. Not having owned one I can't speak to all of the smaller benefits.

I knew about the sample structure although some have said because of the memory limits it's a pain in the butt deciding which to keep and which to remove and I do not want to be fooling around with samples. For some that's probably important.

You need to add a full Nord Wave synth inside with VA, w/Sampler. Organ. Piano. Actually, you have both of all that: there are 2 panels, which make a 6 parts instruments + dedicated controllers for an extern module/ipad or synth per program. Two screens, way better keybed (but not as good as Montage for instance). Each part of each module can have their own split point. 480 programs, free sample/preset manager. The Electro is closer to the YC.

And David, you're totally right, one knob per function (or almost), more effects, and it's purely a stage synth. For me has no use in the studio.

You can build a new synth everyday. Back/up, loaded. The Nord sample lib is huge and have plenty of good quality instruments, mainly Piano, Organs and Synths. Acoustic instruments are a crap. But again, you can sample your favourite VST sound and put it into your Nord with no effort (sampling is limited too, modulations are limited, the synth section sounds great but is not as deep as a real dedicated synth)

some other Nord Stage 3 advantages... aftertouch, assignable outs, better control of external MIDI sound sources (e.g. front panel volume for them), the morph functionality. But the YC, besides being a lot cheaper, is often better sounding. I think it has the better EPs, and better non-piano acoustic instruments. Acoustic pianos and organs are at least competitive between the two, IMO.

IF you like the FM expansion built into the organ section and real-time faders like I do I'm betting nothing can touch this on Nord in this particular way? Yamaha will likely keep expanding on the concept. Nothing has ever been done like this before that I know of in an organ section. It's fantastic to experiment with in real time. I'm looking to buy another YC61 to pair with my 73 for double organ parts and double A/B parts. How would the Hammond SKpro compare to Nord in organs? Because they are organ experts I'd expect them to win in that regard. I don't really like the organ keys on any models including the SKpro. The YC73 keys are a masterpiece.

[quotePost id=118283]some other Nord Stage 3 advantages... aftertouch, assignable outs, better control of external MIDI sound sources (e.g. front panel volume for them), the morph functionality. But the YC, besides being a lot cheaper, is often better sounding. I think it has the better EPs, and better non-piano acoustic instruments. Acoustic pianos and organs are at least competitive between the two, IMO. [/quotePost]

I prefer YC on the B3 emulation, by far. But Farfisa and Vox are not quite accurate IMHO. I would choose Nord for Pianos and EPs (this is personal taste). Synth and sampler of course Nord. Any other acoustic sound, Yamaha is lightyears ahead Nord.

AnotherScott, how is your new Fantom-0 organ's and sounds sounding compared to YC and NS3?

[quotePost id=118284]IF you like the FM expansion built into the organ section and real-time faders like I do I'm betting nothing can touch this on Nord in this particular way? Yamaha will likely keep expanding on the concept. Nothing has ever been done like this before that I know of in an organ section. It's fantastic to experiment with in real time. I'm looking to buy another YC61 to pair with my 73 for double organ parts and double A/B parts. How would the Hammond SKpro compare to Nord in organs? Because they are organ experts I'd expect them to win in that regard. I don't really like the organ keys on any models including the SKpro. The YC73 keys are a masterpiece. [/quotePost]

SKpro keyboard like YC61, cheap. I had one and returned back to the store because of that. YC73 keys are indeed very pleasant.

On my side, the FM Organ is not my fav, just being using it to create 'kinda' pad or percussive sounds, but I need to spend more time on it.

[quotePost id=118285]AnotherScott, how is your new Fantom-0 organ's and sounds sounding compared to YC and NS3?[/quotePost]
While I have found some times where the Fantom-0 organ works really well for me, as a whole, I would say that the YC organ sound is far superior, more authentic. Also, operationally, the 9 drawbars (vs 8 sliders) and the LED indicators right at the controls are significant Yamaha advantages as well. Also the support for two manuals, if you need it. But it's not absolute. So for example, for one organ sound, I wanted more click than the Yamaha was capable of, and I got it on the Roland.

[quotePost id=118285] I would choose Nord for Pianos and EPs (this is personal taste).[/quotePost]
And as I mentioned, I think Yamaha's EPs are better. But I'll also mention that I come at keyboards from a rock perspective. So for example, jazz players may focus on different attributes of their EP sounds than rock players do, and that can influence their choice of which board they think sounds better. Rock players are likely to pay more attention to the bark. This applies to organ as well. For example, a rock player tends to look for a dirtier B3 sound, and will care more about the overdrive, than a jazz player typically would.

[quotePost id=118286]SKpro keyboard like YC61, cheap. I had one and returned back to the store because of that. YC73 keys are indeed very pleasant. [/quotePost]
SK Pro and YC61 actions are closer to organ actions than piano actions; YC73 is closer to a piano action than an organ action. It's not a matter of being "cheap" feeling, it's about being optimized for different purposes and different playing techniques.

[quotePost id=118287][quotePost id=118285]AnotherScott, how is your new Fantom-0 organ's and sounds sounding compared to YC and NS3?[/quotePost]
While I have found some times where the Fantom-0 organ works really well for me, as a whole, I would say that the YC organ sound is far superior, more authentic. Also, operationally, the 9 drawbars (vs 8 sliders) and the LED indicators right at the controls are significant Yamaha advantages as well. Also the support for two manuals, if you need it. But it's not absolute. So for example, for one organ sound, I wanted more click than the Yamaha was capable of, and I got it on the Roland.

[quotePost id=118285] I would choose Nord for Pianos and EPs (this is personal taste).[/quotePost]
And as I mentioned, I think Yamaha's EPs are better. But I'll also mention that I come at keyboards from a rock perspective. So for example, jazz players may focus on different attributes of their EP sounds than rock players do, and that can influence their choice of which board they think sounds better. Rock players are likely to pay more attention to the bark. This applies to organ as well. For example, a rock player tends to look for a dirtier B3 sound, and will care more about the overdrive, than a jazz player typically would.

[quotePost id=118286]SKpro keyboard like YC61, cheap. I had one and returned back to the store because of that. YC73 keys are indeed very pleasant. [/quotePost]
SK Pro and YC61 actions are closer to organ actions than piano actions; YC73 is closer to a piano action than an organ action. It's not a matter of being "cheap" feeling, it's about being optimized for different purposes and different playing techniques.

[/quotePost]

Agree on your last paragraph... but none of those can compete with NS3 compact keybed, which is also intended to organ platers. I used to have Roland Combo's and to my taste, keybed felt superior than my YC and SKPro.

By the way, I play rock too 😉

[quotePost id=118288][quotePost id=1182887]
SK Pro and YC61 actions are closer to organ actions than piano actions; YC73 is closer to a piano action than an organ action. It's not a matter of being "cheap" feeling, it's about being optimized for different purposes and different playing techniques.[/quotePost]

Agree on your last paragraph... but none of those can compete with NS3 compact keybed, which is also intended to organ platers. I used to have Roland Combo's and to my taste, keybed felt superior than my YC and SKPro.
[/quotePost]
NS3 Compact and SK Pro actions are not too different... I believe they are both Fatar TP/8O but the Nord is sprung more heavily (it pushes back more against your fingers), and has a different landing feel (probably from the aftertouch strip). Personally, I think the Hammond feels better.

Roland has used different actions on their combos. The current VR-09 combo action is unimpressive. But the earlier VR-700 combo had one of the best semi-weighted actions I'd ever played. IIRC, the VR-760 was also excellent.