From dougsloan@neo.rr.com Wed Oct 23 06:03:04 2002
Subject:Re: Electro convert

Eric,

Could the Electro Rack be the answer? I'm in a quandry with several
parallels. As 96% of my current playing is at home, after kids are in
bed, I was unable to enjoy my XK2/Leslie 142/Speakeasy, and therefore
needed a great digital simulator. 6± months ago, I anquished between
a CX3 & Electro. The epiano side of the Electro was fabulous. The
button drawbars were perfectly fine with me. The organ side was also
very good, with a very good rotary. However, the CX3's simulator was,
to my ears, better. I loved the CX3's leakage/overtone & key click
adjustability, gazillion leslie adjusments, reverbs, and overall
ability to create several Hammond and several leslie set-ups, like
having serveral Hammonds and several Leslies in one keyboard. I love
having two sets of live drawbars in addition to the upper & lower
presets. I love the overall control layout & lack of tiny buttons
that can make on-the-fly adjusments tricky. For strictly hammond
clone use, I prefer the CX3s look, action & feel. The Nord is a
perfect compromise for piano & organ, and I wouldn't change a thing.
However, IMHO its still a compromise that's a tad too stiff for organ,
and too light for piano. Therefore, I felt that if I chased the
beautiful Rhodes & Wurly of the Nord, I'd have a little remorse for
having compromised somewhat on the all important, quest for an
all-in-one Hammond simulator. I got the CX3, figuring I could then
deal with pianos at a later date.

In hindsite, the Electro organ seems to have better c/v, basic drawbar
tone (CX3 has somewhat harsh edge in the upper range) and
distortion/grunge. CX3 v 2.0 should narrow that gap in the first two
of these aspects. If I mostly used a Leslie/MS + Speakeasy, the Nord
could get the overall nod. But since I'm using only the built-in
simulator, I'm still reluctant to sell the CX3 in order to pick up
great epianos for perhaps a $400-$600 net difference (though it
remains an option).

The Electro Modular could be tha answer for both of us. For me, I
would get the Elecro's killer pianos (especially v2.0 which I've read
about & heard the samples) for about $1,350-$1,400±, and still have
what is IMHO the best all-in-one Hammond/Leslie clone out there. I
could also use both organ & piano at the same time, which is not
possible with just the Electro 73/61. For now, my Nord would mostly
be controlled by my Yamaha PSR (when not used for lower CX3
controller). Later, I could replace the PSR with a weighted
controller for what is IMHO a better piano feel that the Elecro 73/61.
Its sill a rather expensive solution, but with minimum compromise.

Another idea would be to get a really good piano, Rhodes, Wurly, &
Clav module for under $1,000. Does anyone know of such an animal that
stacks up against the Electro's pianos?

Anyhow, Eric, please let me know what your thoughs are on going with
an Electro module, and keeping your CX3 (with the Electro's organ
providing a great back-up - except in the tradjic case of Emil), and
your piano-proper RD. And to all, I would greatly appreciate any
input, comments, or suggestions on how I can get top notch all-in-one
Hammond and epianos for no more than $1,400 net cost?

Regards,

Doug

--- In CloneWheel@y..., Eric Lawson wrote:
> I have actually been eyeing the Electro 73 pretty hard from a
distance and
> it is very enticing to me as an "all-in-one" solution for rehearsals and
> smaller gigs. I have no Clavia dealers anywhere near me, so I would
need to
> buy one from a mail order place (melting $1800 worth of credit) and
then try
> it out.
>
> The quandary for me really comes down to justifying the expense,
unless I
> unload another piece of gear. Right now I am doing the RD600 for
> piano/clav/EP/other, CX-3 for organ and Nord Lead for analog sounds.
The
> Electro would cover most of the same bases that the RD600 and CX3
do, but I
> cannot see replacing these two staples entirely with the Electro. I
am very
> happy with the well-broken-in 88 note keyboard on my RD and I am a
sucker
> for those 2 sets of drawbars on the CX3. Maybe playing an Electro would
> convert me, but I'm not sure given my love for the real drawbars and the
> intuitive layout of the CX3 (although I am still not totally sold on its
> harsh sound--maybe v2.0 will help with that). Also, the keyboard on
the CX3
> could be more robust--I really miss my XK2 for that feature.
>
> If I did decide to use the Electro to replace one of my current
keyboards,
> I'm not sure which one...would I want to keep the 88 keys and go
with the
> Electro mainly as a Hammond clone? Or would I keep the CX3 and use the
> Electro for its EPs/clavs? I definitely would not want to use the
RD, CX
> and Electro all in the same rig. Too many keyboards!
>
> Anyways, I'm have trouble opening my pocketbook for an $1800
keyboard when
> it may just be for rehearsing. I cn just lug what I have for now
and maybe
> Clavia will eventually lower the MSRP or something. It also seems
that the
> Electro has a number of anomalies still being flushed out (I've done a
> little reading on the Electro group). I imagine an Electro v3.0 may
be in
> the works.
>
> I am salivating over the new MP3s on Clavia's website. The organ sounds
> smoking, and the clavs and EPs are likewise very funky. I would like to
> hear more on the usability of the drawbar interface as well as the
keyboard
> action. How does the Electro keyboard hold up in terms of
robustness and
> overall feel? Comparisons to the XK2, CX3 keyboard would be great,
since I
> do not have easy access to an Electro.
>
> I am sensing an impulse Electro purchase in my future, but am trying
to be
> happy with what I have for now. I am enjoying everyone's feedback
on this
> new instrument. Keep it going!
>
> Regards,
> Eric Lawson
> CloneWheel Support Group Moderator
> eslawson@c...
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]