From ynottnaro@yahoo.com Tue Apr 15 16:23:14 2003
Subject:Re: Review: Korg BX3

I'm always happy when a brother musician gets the
RIGHT piece of gear. Glad it worked out for you
Bruce!
And you are definitely dead on about the
ergonomics/playing techniques issues.

T
--- Bruce Wahler wrote:
> All,
>
> [I've received a few queries about how I like the
> BX3 I recently bought, so I'm posting this
> mini-review. I'll probably eventually pretty this
> up and post it on my website.]
>
> KORG BX3 REVIEW
>
> The following are subjective and objective
> information on the "new" Korg BX3 -- the digital one
> -- that I recently acquired. I've been an owner of
> the "new" CX-3 for about two years, and have been
> involved in the firmware upgrade that is now
> available for the V.1 CX-3. I play rock, R&B, and
> funk in a four-piece combo, and I also do occasional
> pickup gigs in rock, pop, GB, and country venues.
>
> This review focuses on the unique aspects of the
> BX3, since many points are similar, if not,
> identical to the CX-3.
>
> LOOK AND FEEL
>
> Korg did a great job keeping the essential look and
> feel of the Hammond B-3. In fact, in certain ways,
> the BX3 looks BETTER than the B-3 -- it's more up to
> date, yet retains the basic "brand recognition"
> factors: the sculpted wood cabinet shape, the
> control layout, the drawbar positions, etc. It's a
> bit like a brand new BMW 5-series: It clearly looks
> 2003 vintage, yet there's no mistaking the nod to
> the BMW 2002 sedan. The same is true of the BX3; it
> looks like a brand-new B-3 probably would, if
> Hammond was still the dominant market force they
> were in the '50s and '60s, turning out thousands of
> B-3s per year. The top deck is bigger than that of
> its smaller brother, the CX-3, meaning that another
> keyboard just might sit on top. The cabinet, like
> that of the CX-3, is made with real wood ends and
> vinyl (fake) wood covering over particle board on
> the top and bottom pieces. Overall, the look is
> pretty good -- at least, for now -- but the particle
> board definitely adds to the we
> ight.
>
> The included wooden stand improves the aesthetics of
> the package, and the height of the BX3 when attached
> to the stand seems right to me. I used to play a
> C-3 standing up, and the height of the organ felt
> right to my 5' 10' frame. The BX3 feels the same
> way. I'm actually considering getting a second case
> for the legs, so I can use them for gigging. The
> stand is, like the BX3 itself, a mixture of veneered
> hardwood ply (the four legs) and faux-wood covered
> particle board (the crossbars). Two complaints: 1)
> I wish the organ and stand were made of 100% wood
> veneer over plywood; and 2) I wish the legs didn't
> have metal pieces sticking out from most of the
> disassembled parts, so it would be easier to keep
> the stand safe when transporting it. I, for one,
> would have been willing to pay a couple hundred
> extra dollars for "furniture" grade cabinetry; once
> you cross into the BX3's price range, it becomes a
> relatively small price adder.
>
> The keyboard has the classic waterfall keys, which
> feel better (or more authentic) than the piano-like
> keys of the V.1 CX-3, although only slightly so.
> I've compared the BX3 keyboard to that of my V.1
> CX-3, and if you take away the subjective points, I
> don't find them to be all that different to play.
> The waterfall shape definitely adds to the authentic
> look, though.
>
> Having played jury-rigged clone setups for a number
> of years, there definitely is something to be said
> for playing a pair of identical manuals, properly
> spaced apart, all at the right height. I find it
> easier to play certain decidedly Hammond licks on
> the BX3, just because everything is where it's
> "supposed to be," and because the organ has a bit of
> bulk to push against. Bear in mind that the Hammond
> techniques we all try to learn and play were at
> least partially developed because they fit in with
> the ergonomics of the instrument.
>
> THE SOUND
>
> The BX3 sounds exactly like a CX-3 V.2 -- or more
> correctly, the CX-3 sounds like the BX3, which
> actually came first. This is a good thing for me,
> as I really like the sound and features of the CX-3
> V.2, although I recognize that some readers won't
> like the chorus vibrato as much as in V.1. The
> "mellow" drawbars and "dark" reverb are a big
> improvement over V.1, and there are a lot of subtle
> changes that add to the whole playing experience.
>
> Much discussion has already taken place about Korg's
> Leslie Speaker simulation. Suffice it to say that
> the BX3's simulation is even a little better than
> that of the CX-3 V.1, in subtle yet audible ways:
> the rotor doesn't pulse as much as in V.1, and the
> channel separation is a bit better.
>
> THE FEATURES
>
> Again, these are exactly the same as on the CX-3
> V.2, with the addition of a set of pitch bend and
> mod wheels on the upper manual end block. The only
> complaint here is that the mod wheel cannot be
> easily set up to control Amp Gain, which would allow
> it to serve as a true "overdrive/distortion"
> control. The only way to do this is to change to
> Local Off mode and patch the BX3 MIDI Out back to
> its own MIDI In, then set the Amp Gain CC# to that
> of the mod wheel (CC#1). I've ended up using it for
> the wheel brake, although some players may find
> using it as the Leslie speed control suits their
> needs well.
>
> QUALITY AND SUPPORT
>
> Here's the only real down point I've yet to see.
> The faux wood veneer on my BX3's top panel is coming
> unglued, after only a couple of days out of the
> shipping crate! One corner of the particle board is
> partly exposed -- you have to look pretty good to
> find it right now, but it definitely moves and makes
> a "sucking" sound you touch it -- and I can feel a
> bubble along another 4-6" of the same edge, which
> will probably come unglued in another month or two.
> I have to say that I'm really disappointed in the
> workmanship quality in this $3995.00 (US SRP)
> instrument. Korg has promised to rectify the
> problem; to date, though, I have heard nothing of
> any substance from their support group. I guess I
> expected that a flagship product would rate flagship
> support. Time will tell.
>
> CONCLUSION
>
> Is the BX3 for everyone? No. It's about twice the
> size of it CX-3 sibling; it weighs 70 lbs., plus
> another 40 lbs. for the legs; and it's not likely to
> fit in the back of your Mini-Cooper. It's
> definitely a two-person setup and break-down job;
> and costs almost as much as two Nord Electro 61's,
> but provides no other sounds than a good Hammond
> Organ copy. It is, however, the closest thing to
> the look, feel, and sound of a real B-3 and Leslie
> for under $4K that I'm aware of, discounting that
> once-in-a-lifetime buy of a B-3 and two 122's that
> your friend found for $1500 last year. Assuming
> that I can get the cabinet issues corrected, I'm
> very pleased with my purchase.
>
> Regards,
>
> -BW
> --
> Bruce Wahler
> Ashby Solutions™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
> 978.386.7389 voice/fax
> bruce@ashbysolutions.com
>

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo
http://search.yahoo.com