From groovecake@yahoo.com Tue Jan 22 09:05:55 2002
Subject:VK7 vs. CX3

<< Interesting... now, I've had my VK-7 for 3 years so
I may be biased, but I can't tell you how many people
come up to me at a gig and ask me where my B-3 is
hiding. >>

My experience has been the exact same. Plus, on my
band's CD, we ran it into a 147. It has fooled many an
educated ear. Plus we mic'ed it right. When we went to
master it, the guy mastering it was also mastering
another album I had guest-played on where I played a
real B-3. The Vk-7/147 sounded WAY better than the
real B-3 did because the real B had been so poorly
set-up, recording wise.

And a lot of how a clone sounds is in your hands.
(This statement is not meant to sound cocky.)
Listeners, both Hammond educated and not, are familiar
with how the B-3 sounds on all their records.
Depending on the setting, I think they tend to know
what sounds "right". For instance, someone who has
really listened to John Lord would probably sound more
"real" playing a clone in a Deep Purple cover band
than I would. However, the same guy might not sound as
"real" on a clone in a Tower of Power cover band than
I would. Why? Because I have tweaked my Vk-7 to my
taste, which is as close to the "Chester Thompson"
sound as I can get. Therefore, when I go to play those
licks and such, the combination of my tweaks to the
VK-7, the licks I play and the expression pedal
technique all lead to a more "real" sound.

> *not* like the CX-3, but I thought it sounded
horrible when I tried one, so shrill. >

I felt the exact same way. I couldn't believe how
terrible the Leslie sim sounded to me. I thought it
sounded much better with the leslie bypassed. From
reading this list, however, I have to believe that it
just takes some tweaking because everyone raves about
the Leslie sim. Also, I have a feeling it would sound
fabulous through a real leslie.

> Anyway, I'd definitely recommend the VK-7 at $999.

As would I. As someone else said, the CX-3 is probably
feature for feature, sound for sound, the better
instrument...but only if you are a total purist (which
I am, unfortunately!). However, in my opinion, it's
not $800 better.

When I finally went to play one, I was hoping the CX-3
would be then end all be all of Hammond clones...and
at the same time hoping it wouldn't be. I was hoping
it wouldn't be because I had just paid off my truck
and didn't want to have to go back into debt (I get
gear-envy something fierce)! But part of me wanted it
to be that great because, being a picky bastard, I
wanted it to solve any clone issues I had with the
Vk-7. I was sorry to find out it wasn't the end-all
be-all. Not for me anyway.

Regarding the VK-8, I was sorry to hear the
preliminary reports that the top octive was still
somewhat shrill. That's my biggest complaint with my
Vk-7. Oh well.

Mitch
www.the9s.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail!
http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/