From organize@colba.net Wed Jan 23 21:29:55 2002
Subject:NAMM report

Hi Clonewheelers,

I sent this the other day but it didn't deem yot get on
so here it is again it's Monday late into the night Jet lagged.

Just got back from the NAMM show but had to read the
emails.

My preliminary review re: new clones:

VK-8
1-Didn't like the sound seemed flat not much dynamic range
2-Rotary fast still weak IMO
3-V/C knob better than CX3's
4-Perc. too loud in "Soft" mode and couldn't find a way to 'Edit' it.
5-Didn't even bother checking other sounds
becauase I didn't like the basic organ sound
6-Seems to be a cheap repackage of Vk-7 with
Waterfall keys. Overall an uninspired effort IMO

BX3

1-Looks great
2-New features
3-New waterfall keys felt pretty good
4-Collapse-able wood legs/stand included(wish I could do that with my old B3)
5-Substantal feeling of playing a Mini B. Shagadelic!
6-Improved presets

Percieved Cons:

No Leslie connector: Not a problem the 11 pin variety still requires a H-S
adaptor
(Approx:$200.00)
as well as what it would cost for Korg to add a Leslie conector for
Leslies that most of us don't own, 11 Pin?? $200-300 additional cost would
be prohobitive. I am curious as to how many of us own 11 pin Lelsie's and
this question always seems comes up when the CX3 and now the BX3 is
mentioned.

My solution: Take a leslie premp pedal(remove fast/slow footswtich)) insert
a 1/4" female TRS jack,
then install Leslie switch(with 1/4" male) into the pedal, finally install
the half moon Leslie switch onto the rail near the lower keyboard and there
you go leslie connected with B3 style control. We don't need no stinkin'
11 pin connector! at least I don't

Pedals/Shmedals: Left hand bass rules! Of course it would be nice to kick
pedals and get some
additional punch/thump.

http://www.rwdesigns.org/index.htm

If you want/need pedals check out this link it might solve the problem
even though BX3 does not have pedal tones.
A lot of B3 players used to wire the 16' drawbar of the lower keyboard into
the bass pedals
because it sounded better than the original B3 pedal tones. The MIDI
pedalboard could trigger
the bottom part of the lower keybd.(BX3) and be a reasonable compromise for
Jazz/R&B/blues players to have portable dual manual rig w/pedals and
Leslie. It probably won't satisfy
church/gospel players but let's face it they usually play the "real thing"
or an XB3 from H-S
and are generally not the mainstream 'Clone' customer.
So that's it for those 2 issues AFAIC.

GK