From doug@cc.ysu.edu Sat Nov 03 15:41:39 2001
Subject:Clone Heaven!

Having had a disappointing trip yesterday to the local Hammond-Suzuki
dealership to check out some vintage A-100's (see my post titled "A
Visit to the Ham-Suz store" on Hamster) I want to share about a MUCH
more pleasant experience today.

I got a reference for 'Pianos & Stuff', about five miles off the PA
turnpike exit 5 in Blawnox (suburb north of Pittsburgh). I knew they
had the Nord, which I wanted to check out. I'd already seen the
CX-3 and VK-7. I was also hoping they had an XK-2.

They had all four. I didn't try the VK-7 (not interested in an
overhanging keyboard), nor the VK-77 or the XM-1 they had.
All that was missing was Voce. They had a Motion Sound 3T+Low Pro
beside the stack to play through.

I played the CX-3 and XK-2 through the Motion Sound - both stopped
to hear the simulator and "dry", and using the Motion Sound. The
Nord was elsewhere in the store, so I didn't hear it through the
Motion Sound.

Impressions:

- I am not well-enough accustomed to "real Hammonds" (I have a spinet
and an E-100, neither with a Leslie) to really tell the difference
between all of them. I would happily play any of the XK-2, Nord, or
CX-3 if it was given me. Heck, I'd even take the VK-7 if someone
wants to replace theirs (-:

- If I was buying for price, the Hammond name, and pedal support, I
would get the XK-2 ($1525) but the Nord was only $1645, VK-7 $1745, and
CX-3 $1849. The recently-described "quirky" MIDI implementation on the
XK-2 is a downer, as is the "beating" problem (which I didn't
experience).

- If I was buying for weight or for the piano voices - which I admit I
didn't try - I'd buy the Nord. The drawbuttons would take a little
getting used to.

- If I was buying to replace my E-100 (in conjunction with another
keyboard and a 2-level rack), I'd buy the CX-3, no question. The dual
drawbars are part of it - in the same place as on my E-100. The lack of
pedal support is a disappointment, but at this point I don't do much
with them. I would happily welcome getting a few square feet back in my
music, er, dining room.

- The staff was helpful without hovering over me. I was very pleased
with the experience. If nothing else, I'd consider buying the Motion
Sound from them for my church (A-100, but no Leslie) - they were
competitive with Goff. I am assuming they are authorized retailers
for all lines, but I would clarify that before I bought anything.

Doug
--
Doug S. (doug@cc.ysu.edu) (http://cc.ysu.edu/~doug/)

The shadow of a dog never bit anyone -- Kenneth Copeland
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