From ducativ@gmx.net Mon Mar 11 10:05:32 2002
Subject:Re: GEM Equinox 61 (was: Casio MZ-2000?)

Hi Cornelia and Zoners

At 09 Mar 2002 15:54:43 "cocohenf" , wrote:

>Subject: Re: Casio MZ-2000?

-snip-

>Chiming in, has anyone tried out a GEM Equinox keyboard ? I know it's
>not an exact tonewheel clone, sorry about that, but it looks
>interesting : it's obviously an allround synth with drawbar
>capabilities that could be considered more or less a clone to the
>same extent as the Casio MZ-2000, see
>http://gem.generalmusic.com/en/products/synth/index.html . I could
>have a new Equinox 61 at EUR 699 (approximately USD 600) instead of
>EUR 1635 list price, and I think that's a bargain for a starter's
>clone.

If you NEED a synth/workstation in your setup, this GEM product may be a good (and cheap) starting point.

>I have to point out that while I do have some keyboard experience
>(played a Korg i3 for a few years, that's BTW what made me love the
>Hammond sound, though it's just a sample synth), I'm without a
>tonewheel clone right now.

I started too with "not a real Hammond clone" but a Yamaha performance workstation PSR-740
(http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel/?gPPK00005PSR740)
today new with PSR-2000
(http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel/?gPPK00005PSR2000).

In the beginning it was great to use the "Organ Flute" parameters and slide the 8 stops with softkeys up and down (lacking the 1 3/5 stop like most non clones with only 8 stops).

After a while I realized, that I will never go close enough to a real Hammond and Leslie setup (or good clones) with this machine...

>All my wanting goes out to a Korg CX-3,
>but for the time being, I lack the necessary cash (and I'd prefer to
>wait for the key bounce issue to be resolved first, too).

Since last Xmas I got my CX-3 (and more clone stuff), so I can tell you why you should consider my way to a real clone.

Speaking again of the PSR-740 the problems comes up with the comparison of the sound I got with this keyboard and THE sound I listend to my preferred rock organ players (early Uriah Heep: Ken Hensley, Deep Purple: Jon Lord et al.).

Cons of a "not real clone":
. Not realistic chorus simulation
. Only single rotor leslie simulation
. No overdrive enhancement thru the pedal
. No way to change a few the drawbars without looking at the display
. Split works, but digital drawbars change both voices
. Not realistic percussion sound

You will go into similar problems with Technics, Roland, GEM etc. keyboards with "integrated organ flutes".

After many evenings of dazzling and screwing in the parameter menues I gave up: I need a "real" clone!

>Furthermore, I'm not a terrific player either, so acquiring some more
>playing skills first would not be useless, and why not use a rather
>cheap keyboard to do this for starters ?

But - and that's now the personal decision for any new cloner - I never would give away the not-real-clone-PSR-740. Why?

. I use it for MIDI playback of my favorite titles (e.g. look at yourself of Uriah Heep): Cut off the organ track and you have YOUR band playing with you
. I use it for accompainment functions (Styles) to learn the blues, latin music etc. Againg you have your band playing :-)
. In a gig I use it for string synths
. When I get my Pedalboard I will use one voice of the PSR-740 as an expander (CX-3 has only 2 voices)
-and-
. I don't, but you can: Use it as lower manual for a single manual clone

Very long post, sorry folks, but I tried to be comprehensive enough for the the following conclusions:

. If you will give away your synth/keyboard after getting your REAL one: better look at the used market for a real clone from the beginning.
-or-
. If you can and will use your synth/keyboard after buying your dream clone: get the best you can get! As a beginner you will work 6..12 months on the embedded organ sounds before you hear and reach the mentioned limits.

When you buy something - Cornelia - let us know your decision.

Enjoy playing!
Valentino Ducati
Switzerland