From jake92028@yahoo.com Wed May 12 09:43:49 2004
Subject:to XK3 or not to XK3

I'm so glad. You're so glad. We're glad, we're glad, we're glad :^)
Hey.. cool song idea(?) For you joyful XK3 players who've found the
dream organ and keyboard, oh happy day! It's a great feeling to be
playing a great set of keys into a set of tones you're totally happy
with. With due respect for HS apparently finally getting it right,
I'm still going to take a pass on the XK3 vs my own choices.

For me the keys are my slightly vintage Roland A-33 controllers (just
picked up another on eBay a few weeks ago for a total of three).
There is nothing I've ever played that I feel as comfortable and
connected to my playing as this particular semi-weighted piano style
key Roland cornerstone. For piano and organ played together the
action and keys are the perfect mid-point for me to play both
instruments at their best. I'm playing an A-33 midi'ed to a Roland VK-
8M and gritting my teeth playing an Electro 2 '73 for its ep's for
just a little longer. I ordered an Electro 2 Rack from Tony at BTP
and will sell the '73 and play the rack unit with another A-33.

After reading some of the posts per members most playable keyboard
favorites, I don't think it's too off the wall to say: I don't want
to compromise my 'artistic talent' by fighting a keyboard that
doesn't feel right, to make the sound I want - in this case the
Electro. I wind up thinking more about battling the feel and trying
for a good sound in spite of it, versus not having to think about 'my
instrument' and simply playing and letting creativity flow with the
music. The guitarist I play with most often is an accomplished rhythm
(acoustic!) guitar player and has played the same lovely old '45
Gibson for over 30 years, doing his own maintenance. Except for the
minor handiwork needed for its upkeep, he never 'thinks' about
playing it - he just PLAYS it. That's what I want.

For my B3(s), I'm convinced that Roland has nailed the best overall
Hammond B3 sound family, with 2 vintage and 1 clean tonewheel sets;
upper, lower and discrete pedal tones; editable percussion, V/C,
keyclick, leakage; 4 amp cabinets - 3 Leslie, 1 Marshall-type -
overdrive without volume increase for Amp 4, tone control from Fat to
Bright, 4 reverbs; AND with a carefully edited leslie sim that I now
think 'as good as' - just different from the Electro's - with all its
rotary parameters variable.

So, no XK3 for me this round - I've got all the Hammonds I could ask
for and keys I love to play. Enjoy 'em cloners.. ain't we a lucky
bunch to be around for the arrival of such musical marvels? Walter j