From hudakjm@mcmaster.ca Tue Oct 26 07:51:53 2004
Subject:Re: VK8/CX3/XK3 store

I have never been able to find a XK3 anywhere in Southern ON. The
local Hammond dealer here in Hamilton told me that Hammond seems to
have little interest in selling in Canada. He could not get an XK3 and
didn't expect he would ever get one in. This is from an official
authorized Hammond dealer. I can't vouch for the authenticity of his
statements, but like I say, I've yet to see an XK3 anywhere in this
neck of the woods, although I've not searched every last music store in
Southern ON.

The last time I was at Sherwood Music in Kitchener ON they had the CX-3
and VK there. I've also seen the VK and the CX periodically at Long
and McQuade in Burlington ON.

I did not care for the sound of the VK at all and wound up buying the
Korg BX-3. Maybe the XK3 is better yet, but if Hammond is not
supporting the Canadian market then there's no way I would want to own
one as there might be service/support issues down the line.

The CX3/BX3 definitely needs to go through some sort of tube amp. I
first tried putting my BX-3 through my solid state bass guitar amp.
Sounded like crap. Then I put the BX-3 through my all tube stereo
system. The difference was like night and day. Through the tubes I
don't hear any of the harshness or shrillness that people attribute to
the Korgs. When I was considering buying a keyboard the store manager
took me up to his band's practice room where he had both a CX-3 and a
real B-3/Leslie. To my ears the Korg came pretty darned close. Not
perfect, but pretty close. Obviously the Korg would be even better
through a real Leslie. The difference in weight and cost between the
Korg and the real thing was enough to sway me to buy the BX-3. I
should say that after hearing the instruments in the practice room I
immediately went back into the store and listened to the VK again, just
to be sure. I put in my order for the BX-3 right then and there.

I suspect you'll have better luck finding a store over the border in
the U.S that carries all three so you can do a comparo.

John

> Is there a music store in New York State or southern Ontario that
> would have all three of these things on the floor so I could A/B/C
> them?