From rjacobsen@rushmore.com Wed Jan 19 11:35:31 2005
Subject:Re: Leslie Simulator


Thanks for all the replies on Leslie Simulators, I certainly
appreciate all the feedback. The XK3 has 5 different Leslie Cabinet
simulations, I've found that the 760 cabinet is the most vivid
simulation of them all, stock. I've checked all the parameters and
the difference in the cabinets is mainly the rotor RISE/FALL
settings and the MIC ANGLE/DISTANCE settings. With tweaking the
XK3's Lelie simulation can sound really good.

I've setup my XK3 with an amp and my 1955 B3/122 Leslie side by side
and got the XK3 to sound very close. I think playing live it can
sound extremely close. I haven't recorded the two yet, I'm sure I
will be able to tell a difference then, in a studio. Heck it's the
real thing intead of a simulation.

Another issue I noticed when A/B ing the 2 is the key click. The old
Hammonds like my 1955 B3 have alot of key click, it's very throaty
sounding. I need to clean the key contacts and drawbars which will
make it a little cleaner but bottom line it's the nature of the
beast. The Hammonds from the early 60's on up were cleaner and had
less key click than the earlier models. They also had less tonewheel
leakage because of the Mylar capacitors. You don't want to take the
key click totally off if you want to be authentic! I know it's too
much when run through a stereo or some amps but it should be there
to be real sounding. I believe Hammond Suzuki has it that way in
order to be like the real Hammonds. You can turn it down but you
can't totally turn it off.

I believe some people can only compare the XK3 with other clones or
recordings of Hammonds. If you mic a Leslie from a futher distance
use reverb and EQ ing , it will definitely smooth out the key click
and make it less noticeable. Also it depends on the years of the
Hammonds that are used. The XK3 has great capabilities of tayloring
the sound to your tastes. As stated many times on this forum,
Hammonds can vary alot in how they sound. Bottom line, it's what you
like to hear that matters.

I agree with most of you about it's tube preamp, it's fine for
subtle distortion but is not good for that grunge or grind sound.
The XK3 can get that sound easy with my 122 Leslie but it's the
Leslie that's producing that sound! Especially the 6550 output tubes
when there fully driven. I posted earlier about running it through
my 122 Leslie, how I had the XK3 and Leslie both on 1/2 volume, it
growls like a Tiger. I'm going to try my POD and see how that works
because in has amp simulatin besides distortion. A friend has it and
I'm getting it back Friday. I'll let you all know how or if it works.

I think the XK3 is the most realistic clone I've ever heard and
that's why I bought it.
Rick