Korg Grandstage X: The Flagship Stage Piano gets a big Upgrade
4,3 / 5,0 | 
The Korg Grandstage X marks the next generation of the manufacturer’s top-of-the-line stage piano. Featuring a refreshed design, seven sound engines, and a redesigned user interface, does the Grandstage X have what gigging musicians need?
Korg Grandstage X
The striking design of the Korg Grandstage X is without a doubt the most visible departure from the previous generation. While the old Grandstage featured a more traditional, keyboard-style design, the Grandstage X has a more rounded appearance with an angled panel – similar, but not identical, to the successful Korg SV-2.
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The Grandstage X offers no less than seven sound engines, covering everything from acoustic and electric pianos to organs and even virtual-analog synthesizer sounds. Not surprisingly, the acoustic pianos received the most attention with the SGX-2 engine, which uses loop-less samples of all 88 keys and up to 12 velocity layers to reproduce acoustic pianos in great detail. All in all, 13 pianos are included, from renowned concert grands to the ubiquitous M1 piano.
The electric pianos are no less sophisticated. Korg says that the MDS technology (Multi-Dimensional Synthesis) ensures that there are no audible breaks between the velocity layers. In addition to this, the Korg Grandstage X offers three organ engines (CX-3, VOX, FC-1), the virtual-analog AL-1 engine, and sample-based synthesis with the HD-1 engine. That should cover pretty much any sound that gigging keyboard players need on a regular basis. For further sound shaping, the Grandstage X features a built-in effects section with reverb, delay, and a Nutube-based saturation stage (Analog Tone).
New user interface
According to Korg, the RH3 keybed with a scaled hammer action is manufactured in Japan and offers an authentic playing feel. The user interface has also been updated with a Key Touch slider that allows you to easily adjust the dynamic response of the sounds. Splits and layers are also easy to set up with three buttons and three sliders for adjusting the volume balance. You can even use the split and layer features simultaneously.
What’s more, Korg has even equipped the Grandstage X with a rhythm section that can churn out drum grooves and bass lines for you to play along to. The accompaniment follows the chords you play, or you can create predefined chord patterns.
I think the Korg Grandstage X is a very nice upgrade to the original Grandstage. With a huge selection of sounds, you can probably do without a second instrument for most gigs. Personally, I could’ve done without the rhythm feature, but then again, it sounds like a lot of fun for practicing.
Price and availability
You can now order the Korg Grandstage X from Thomann* for $2444. As of now, we don’t have any information about the shipping date.
More about the Korg Grandstage X
- NAMM 2024 sponsors: REMISE 3
- The Grandstage X offers seven sound engines: Korg
- The Grandstage X features a redesigned user interface: Korg
- Korg Grandstage X: Korg
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3 responses to “Korg Grandstage X: The Flagship Stage Piano gets a big Upgrade”
Wow
I’m not a big fan of playing organ parts on a fully weighted 88, the sharp key end overhangs and stiff weight make my fingers a bloody mess after a hard playing gig.
Just as playing piano on a lightweight waterfall keybed is…. Strokes for folks. The action is part of the sound – the way the keybed works dictates what you can play comfortably on it.
I wish it had a flat top to put another keyboard on. Why waste the opportunity. Vpc1 just the same miss.