From rohanbaker@rabbit.com.au Thu Oct 11 00:17:10 2001
Subject:Re: Hammond XB-1

Håkon Møller Wrote:
>Hi,
>
>correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's pretty much the keyboard version
>of the xm-1 module. I think the keys are standard synth keys, probably the
>same as on the XB-2.

Correct Håkon, I have the XB-1 (nearly 3 years now), and it is essentially the XM-1/XK-2 engine in keyboard form. It has a higher level of user editable peramaters , and has a better Leslie sim than the XM-1, with the inclusion of the Leslie brake, which the XM-1 doesn't support. It's keyboard is essentially the same layout as the XK-2 but with the unweighted synth keys instead of the waterfall type. The other cosmetic difference to the XK-2 is the lack of immitation wood paneling above the lcd and buttons/knobs, the XB-1 only has the wooden endbells. I actually prefer this, as the imitation wood is rather poor in quality, and the metal paneling is holding up better than the endbells. The Leslie interface is the new 11pin digital like the XM-1, so requires the correct H-S converter kit for an old Leslie.

>> The XB-1 was never (yet) released in the US? How does it compare to
>> VK7, CX3, XB2, XK2 and Nord Electro?

I believe that the XB-1 was released only to Asia/Australasia, and Europe.

When I was looking at getting a clone nearly 3 years ago, the VK-7 and XB-1 where the only real choices available in Melbourne at the time. No one stocked Voce, and the XK-2 was 12 months away from being available in Australia. I was lucky that when I went to the H-S dealer, that he had a second hand VK-7 and XB-2 next to the XB-1, and there was also a C-3 with 760 out the back so I could A/B/C3 'em all. IMO (humble or otherwise :-} ), I felt that the XB-1 was more natural in tone than the VK-7. The COSM modeling didn't sound right to my ear, adding overtones qualities that were not present in the C3. The top register was shrill and weak. The XB-1 sounded close to the C-3 with 760 all over the board, and I felt that the leslie sim was better than the VK-7. In fact, I reckon that the XB-1 was a good replica of the C3 with the solid state 760. Oh, it also sounded better than the XB-2, and its layout was much more user friendly.

I haven't had the chance yet to play the V3, V5, XK-2, CX-3 or Electro, so I'm not going to make a comparison.

Interestingly, for those who dislike the phase continuity problem with the H-S sound engine, the XB-1 has an edit page with an option of having all the oscillator phase continuity either on or off. Now I have yet to play the thing through a Leslie or Pro 3T (Any donations to the charitable "Rohan needs a 122 Foundation" can be made out to Rohan Baker, Care of........ All donations fully tax deductible!), but I do get a strident sound on certain chords and intervals played, but hear no difference with this on or off, irrespective of how many times I play the same chord. I have yet to determine if this effect is active, effectual or ineffectual.........

Cheers

Rohan

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