From silver_tongues@hotmail.com Sun Jan 02 15:17:29 2005
Subject:Re: Is the XK3 that good?


Hi Pete,
I'm over here in the UK and a few months ago I took the plunge and
bought an XK3 on reputation/feedback posted on the web.

I had a VK7 at the time, which I played through a Leslie and direct
into the PA using the leslie sim.

On the whole I'm much happier with the XK3. I also had a tonewheel
Hammond L100 (I also sold it to help pay for the XK) and the XK3
sounds much more Hammond like than the VK7 ever did.... It has much
more of that 'hammond sweetness' which for me the VK7 lacked,
especially on high notes. I hated the shrillness of the high notes
on the VK7 and was my main motivation for wanting to change. I'm
sure it made people in the audience wince when at high volume.... :)

saying that tho' the VK7 leslie I think was better, many say the Vk7
leslie sim is one of the best, it moved seemed to move the sound
more. The XK3 leslie sim is passable, but not ground breaking.

Also, the tube overdrive on the XK3, I just cant get the tone i'd
want, its seems too fuzzy rather than creamy. Its ok on lower Jon
Lord type power chords, its very good, but I cant get get it to work
for me overall.... I think I'd be going for a similiar tone to
yourself.

On a more postive note, my band noticed the difference straight
away. Because it sounds so much more like a real hammond they all
the sudden think you've learnt how to play better. All the other
features like vibrato and percussion seem like a big step
forward. ...Also, because the keyboard is more hammond like, and the
attack of the notes triggering is more hammond like its much easier
to pull off those trademark hammond techniques...

So im happy with it, but the quest continues, im still looking for a
decent overdrive and will be using a real leslie with it, which
isn't working out as well with the XK3 than it did with the VK7 but
thats another story...

hope this helps

jon