From mlongo@highmarkdesign.com Wed Apr 16 14:03:31 2003
Subject:CX-3 vs. Electro


As Ken so said so well, we all like different things about the
Hammond sound and the clones are each variations on that so
reviews/opinions are mixed. Yet I just can't resist weighing in with
my own biased subjective unsolicited opinions!

I own both the CX-3 v1 and the Electro 2. My own opinion is I prefer
CX-3's overall tone a little better, and I LOVE that it has TWO sets
of real drawbars and the percussion and chorus controls are all in
the "right" places. A+ for player ergonomics. The chorus is a
little too phasey and deep (v1 anyway) to my ear, but not bad. The
double-triggering of the CX-3 is enough to drive me nuts, though
depending on playing style all players aren't effected and it's been
fixed with a parameter in V2.

The Electro organ is too clean and tight sounding for my taste, and
lacks the personality of an older B-3 or even the CX-3. Though one
expects some people prefer that sort of clean tight sound. The
attack sound of the Electro notes is very good, a little bit better
than the CX-3, IMO. The click and the percussion are lame, just like
the CX-3 and every other clone, IMO. BUT the Electro has a low
frequency "grunt" heard in the attack section of the note that gives
the Electro note attack sound more beef than the CX-3, and that makes
the Electro's click and percussion sound better than they really are.

The Electro chorus is only slightly phasey and perhaps a bit too deep
(like an A-100) but C2 is very close to the B-3's ever popular C3
chorus setting. Not perfect, but very good, quite usable, and ahead
of the CX-3 IMO.

I feel that the CX-3 and Electro Leslie imulators are different
sounding but both good, as simulators go. I use my 145 about 90% of
the time, but I also gig with the simulators of both organs on
occasion and I think they're both quite servicable as such things go.

The Electro organ top octave is not at all screechy like the V1 CX-3,
a big win. BUT, they say that's been fixed in the CX-3 v2 software
though. In view of the V2 software (which I still need to get) a few
of my main beefs about the CX-3 disappear, and I suppose that would
make me prefer it over the Electro organ a little more than I do now.

I like that the Electro has killer EP's and killer Clav to go with
it's very good organ. It allows me to gig with only one keyboard(!)
when I choose, something the CX-3 can never do. And I LOVE that the
Electro is almost half the weight of the CX-3.

In the best world I guess I'd have the V2 CX-3 organ packaged in the
Electro box with those great EPs and Clav and have (and add few sets
of real drawbars for good measure). But with Clavia's constant
improvement plan with free downloads (and more competition on the way
from Roland et. al.), I may hope for the best of both worlds yet.

Mark Longo

A happy CX-3 & Electro owner.