From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Tue Jan 22 06:34:45 2002
Subject:Re: Units on the market

Jay/Ed,

I think we have to define a "Hammond clone" here. I'll go with whatever the group decides, but in my mind --

A Hammond clone should attempt to copy most or all of the idiosyncrasies of the Hammond organ. Also, a) it's primary purpose should be that of a Hammond organ, or b) it should have a dedicated mode where the Hammond features are called. Using this definition, organs and organ modules like the Emu B-3, Hammond XK-2, KORG CX-3, Roland VK-7, and Voce V5 clearly pass the (a) test. Products like the Nord Electro pass the (b) test, and I guess the Kurzweil products do, too.

However, that's where I would choose to draw the line. I have used a KORG DW-8000, Yamaha TX-81z, Roland D-50, and Alesis S4 to simulate a Hammond B-3, and have been successful to a greater or lesser degree in all cases, but I would hesitate to call any of them a full-fledged "Hammond clone." The same thing goes with a Roland "rompler" using the "Keyboards of the 60's and 70's" card: To me that's not a full clone. The sounds may be dead-on, but there are often only a few of them. Also, adjusting key click, vibrato, crosstalk, overdrive, and even the drawbar levels is often not a straightforward task.

Please don't take this as a slap at anyone who chooses to use a general-purpose synth, sampler, or rompler to get their Hammond sound. I just feel that there should be a fixed requirement for calling an instrument a Hammond clone. Let me use an analogy: I can sing lead to Stone Temple Pilots songs, with a fairly convincing timbre, but that does not necessarily make me a "Scott Weiland clone." To qualify for that, I would need visual cues as well: similar hairstyle, copied stage mannerisms, and such.

Perhaps we should have a second category of "Hammond simulators" or something.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Ashby Solutions™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group moderator
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com

At 02:00 P 1/22/2002 +0000, you wrote:
>On the same subject as what Ed was discussing...
>
>If we're calling the Kurzweil controller a clone, we probably have to
>call my Yamaha S-80 one as well. I wouldn't have thought so early on
>when I bought it, as the onboard B-3 presets are only fair and the
>Leslie sim is tolerable at best. But the S-80 is VERY tweakable, and
>I found the drawbar elements to be great to my surprise, and with the
>addition of the H&K Rotosphere for tube warmth and a killer Leslie
>sim, I was in business.
>
>Yes, it's weighted action but you'd be surprised what can be
>accomplished here. I use this as my only board (gigs are about 25%
>piano, 25% Rhodes, 50% organ) but after reading about the new stuff
>at NAMM, I may not be able to control myself---where's my darn Visa?
>
>Jay