From ahorne345@aol.com Sat Mar 13 11:29:12 2004
Subject:Re: CX3 or XK-2 ????

Silver_tongues2000:
I'm a CX-3 player; I love this organ! I left a posting yesterday
containing my 2 cents worth of CX-3 vs XK-2. I have an XK-2, in near-as-I-can-tell
perfect condition, sitting in its' original box in a closet; it's been there
since I bought the CX-3 (Vers. 2) back in 11/02 (ANYONE IN THE NYC AREA
INTERESTED? I'll sell it REALLY cheap, and it's in, as I say, near perfect condition; I
can't think of anything wrong with it).
AS FOR THE XK-2: Since no one apparently left much info on this clone, I'll
"2 cents" thus further... it's a fine clone. My main complaint about it is when
one uses the internal Leslie, the vibrato/chorus is AWFUL!! I CAN'T ABIDE
IT!! I don't remember exactly, but I believe the internal Leslie is also far less
tweakable than on a CX-3 and, most important, I feel this function is FAR
less authentic than on the Korg. I've owned/played the XB-2 (back when they came
out, early '90s); the XK-2 (played it a little over 3 years, got it in 9/99);
and now this amazing CX-3. This organ (and I think of it first and foremost
as AN ORGAN, though of course it's a clone-a-B) is so satisfying... every time
I turn it on and go, it's still a novel, fine B-3 experience... more than the
day I got it! The day I brought home my XK-2 I realized I'd have to
compromise, 'cause of that wretched vib/chorus. I guess what others have said about
Hammond-Suzuki hoping buyers use it with an external Leslie is true; this makes
sense. A darn shame, too. Other than this the XK-2 is a fine clone, worthy of
any of the best of today's clone-crop. But if you plan to use it with
headphones, primarily without an external Leslie speaker, DON'T GO WITH THE XK-2. It's
reverb is good; 3 or 4 levels, don't remember just now; a lot of good presets.
Regarding its' MIDI capabilites... I'm not the person to ask re this; I play
whatever organ I'm playing in and of itself. I have yet to use ANY keyboard's
MIDI applications. I guess I'm not up to today's whizz-bang technical wizardry
("whizz-bang"? No, I AIN'T 90 years old)! I'm curious about MIDI, and one 'o
these years I guess I'll get "into it", but for many years now, it's been
about my M-102/Leslie 760, and the clones I've had. If you're thinking of a clone
for road purposes, either the XK-2 OR CX-3 is fine; heck, the 395-odd less
pounds between a clone and a real B-3 speaks volumes here. One of those metal
luggage-carts and a couple of those elastic bands that come with them is all it
takes, carting around-wise. At a gig, any good Leslie will do it. I have a 760
but of course a 122 or 147 or similar is ideal. All this is to say... the
XK-2, CX-3, or most of the others will be fine in a live application. JUST STAY
AWAY FROM THE XK-2's VIBRATO when the Internal Les is on! Can't stress this
enough. THE CX-3, I FEEL, IS THE ONE! Enjoy whatever way you go - your own
personal take on it is the thing, of course. And hey - if you actually dig the
aforementioned internal Leslie>vibrato/chorus of the XK-2, go for it. What ALWAYS
matters most is your inspiration, your enjoyment. So enjoy! Best wishes - Adam

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