From ccmacdon@rogers.com Fri Dec 23 15:22:53 2005
Subject:Re: Hammond XK-1

In addition to being smaller and lighter, the XK-1 seems to have
separate upper/lower manual C/V..which is a big improvement over the
XK-3. Personally I think that the preset keys and the tubes built
into the XK-3 were entirely unecessary for the average keyboard
player who just wants access to good organ sounds and wants some
drawbars to yank on.. ;-)

To me the reverse color present keys on the XK-3 always seemed odd.
The real value of these is to the traditional Hammond B3 player who
is used to hitting the presets on "the fly".. but a traditional
Hammond B3 player isn't going to be satisfied with a single manual
or the fact that the XK-3 system doesn't have separate C/V on each
manual.. so in my opinion the XK-3 was a little "off the mark"..
especially when you consider the extra length and weight that was
added to the keyboard to accomodate these preset keys. To me the
preset keys were more of a gimmick than anything.

Same with the internal tubes.. I think that Hammond can get a good
warm growl out of their VAS III technology without the use of tubes.
The new B3 has a nice warm growl and it doesn't have any tubes (I
don't believe, someone correct me if I'm wrong).. so why does the XK-
3 need tubes? It really seems to me that the reverse color preset
keys and the tubes were unecessary features that simply added to the
cost of the keyboard.

Repackaging the VAS III sound in a smaller lighter and less
expensive keyboard, while eliminating the presets and the tubes, and
adding separate C/V along with other traditional keyboard voices (if
they're good) sounds like a real winner to me! I'll take one!

Now on the other hand, if they build a new XK3 system with reverse
color preset keys, two manuals, separate C/V on each manual, a full
set of bass pedals, AND PRICE IT RIGHT, I'll take one of those too!!

Craig

--- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, Peter Previte
>
> Peter
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pete Nalda [mailto:lpnalda@y...]
> Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 2:48 PM
> To: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [CWSG] Hammond XK-1
>
> My Holy Grail is being able to play organ and a good
> wurly sound at the same time in a split. Yeah I know
> the VK8 does that but the wurly's too tame. Nord
> stage can too but that's too much for me.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>