From bruce@ashbysolutions.com Thu May 16 12:01:40 2002
Subject:Re: Shoot outs

Guys,

Let's back up a bit. I'm not suggesting that we test a half dozen or more clones over a 2-3 day period. I think such a "test" would prove very little. As Mark said, there was no clear winner in the first test, and we really didn't set out to crown one. We just wanted to compare the clones one-on-one, and with a B-3, and learn where the strengths and weaknesses were.

Testing three clones in six tests took the better part of an afternoon. We had planned to do more testing -- things like adjusting each clone to try to get as close to a given setting on the B-3 -- but people's time, ears, and patience ran out. In fact, only about four members of the group stuck around for the Leslie simulator part. Also, the testing of three clones was relatively simple: It was play the B3, then Clone A, then the B-3 again, then Clone B, then the B-3 again, then Clone C. If we had used more models, the testing would have quickly become unmanageable. And here's the irony: We only tested three clones in the original shootout -- yet we arguably came up with two "winners" (V3 and XB-2)!

If you triple the number of clones, and increase the number of tests by 4-5x, there's no chance of ever arriving at a consensus about a "winner," particularly since every clone has strong and weak points. Also, sound being as subjective as it is, if we had picked a different group of people to do the first tests over on another day, the results might very well have been different. Increasing the number of clone models almost makes that a certainty.

None of this will really help to choose the "best" clone, or to reassure the owner of a particular model that he/she made the wisest choice. So, just enjoy the clone(s) you have, keep practicing and tweaking your sound, and forget about a contest.

Regards,

-BW

--
Bruce Wahler
Design Consultant
Ashby Solutions™ http://consult.ashbysolutions.com
CloneWheel Support Group and HiNote moderator
978.386.7389 voice/fax
bruce@ashbysolutions.com

At 05:39 P 5/16/2002 +0000, you wrote:
>--- In CloneWheel@y..., Bruce Wahler wrote:
>> tested three, but a similar shootout in 2002 would at least include
>> the V5, CX-3, VK-7, XK-2, and Electro, plus an OB-3^2, VK-8, and VK-
>> 77, if available, and perhaps a V3 and XB-2 for reference -- would
>> probably take 2-3 full days, which might be awfully hard to
>> schedule.
>
>Building on Bruce's thoughts, in an ideal world there might be the
>following in the test, although I doubt that this is an exhaustive
>list yet!!!
>
>EMU: B-3
>Hammond Suzuki: XK-2; XB-3A; New B-3
>Korg: CX-3; BX-3
>Native Instruments: B4
>Nord: Electro 61
>Oberheim/Viscount: OB3^2; OB-5 (now called DB5/25?)
>Roland: VK-7; VK-8; VK-77
>Voce: V5; Micro B2
>
>Pedalboards
>Roland: PK-5; PK-7; PK-25
>RW Designs: Consolette
>Speakeasy
>Fatar: MP-113; MP-117
>Oberheim Matching pedalboard for DB series
>
>Preamps:
>Trek II
>Speakeasy
>
>Rotary Tone Cabinets & Simulators:
>Motion Sound: Pro-3T; Low-Pro; MS-145N; R3-147
>Korg: G4
>Voce: Spin 2
>Digitech RPM-1 (discontinued)
>
>Reference: Hammond B-3; Hammond Suzuki XB-2 v2.0;
> Voce V3+MIDI Drawbar; Leslie 122
>
>Cheers
>James