From whroberts@iquest.net Thu Jul 15 07:01:32 2004
Subject:Re: Digest Number 1808

Quoting Bruce Wahler :

> Hi All,
>
> >> If memory serves (it usually doesn't), I think that just about *was*
> >> the price then. I have seen convincing evidence that a brand-new B-
> >> 3, including now, has always cost roughly the same as a new mid-
> >> priced Buick.
>
> Probably an oversimplification, Rick, but remarkably accurate! IIRC, the
> cost of a B-3 and a Leslie in 1965 was around $3K (US). My father left the
> car sales business in late 1965 and bought a brand new Chevy Impala at a
> "friends and family" discount of about $2950. So yes, the cost of a B-3 +
> 122 has always been about the cost of a nice US car.
>
> The problem with the comparison -- at least in keyboard buyers' minds -- is
> that some other comparable MI products have dropped considerably. Expressed
> in 1975 dollars, my Access Virus C is an incredible bargain, compared to say,
> the number of Minimoogs/Oddesseys required to do what it can do. So are my
> digital delay (TC Electronics M300 @ $190) or my "Mellotron" -- technically,
> a licensed sampling of a vintage instrument, loaded onto a $65 linear flash
> card. But that doesn't mean that Hammond organs can automatically follow
> suit. Certain necessary parts of the design (woodworking, mechanical
> keybeds) have not benefited from the electronics revolution. And niche
> products don't benefit as much as mainstream ones do.
>

Therein lies the rub. The new B-3 doesn't use tonewheels, it uses sampling,
which has been around since the 1970's.