From lonnie@organjazz.net Tue Apr 15 21:26:28 2003
Subject:Re: Review: Korg BX3

I went to the Korg dealer in Long Island and liked the BX3, but they still
didnt have the pedals option Why is it that Roland came out with a VK77
which accomadated pedals which you could plug right in to the VK77 and the
pedalboard they offered with volume pedal was pretty nice also. I dont get
it. It seems like Korg doesnt create combo organs with a pedal option for
the organists that play pedals. Not to mention it would be a plus for church
sales. Lonnie

> 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 SolutionsT http://music.ashbysolutions.com
> > 978.386.7389 voice/fax
> > bruce@ashbysolutions.com
> >
>
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