From drjoho@swbell.net Wed Jan 19 13:47:15 2005
Subject:Re: Leslie Simulator

Jacob,

RIGHT ON!

I think the XK3 Leslie sounds fine (others also sound fine)
but they are not the real thing.

I gig with a Leslie 142 and the XK3.

The XK3 is the only "clone" (and I hesitate to use that term
with the XK3) that sounds like a Hammond (thru a leslie) and
I have compared XK3, CX3, Electro 73 and NI B4 side by
side to my great sounding Hammond A101 and Leslie 122.

The XK3 is a B3 and acts like one and sounds like one (through
a Leslie).

Forget the tubes in the XK3, I don't use them, except on the lowest
setting. Remember the AO-28 preamp in a B3 or A101 is not used
for distortion - it produces a clean drive to the leslie - if you turn up
the drive you can overdrive the leslie for more distortion. So, you don't
need to have distortion coming out of your XK3 - just good ole fat
hammond tone, with key click and woody percussion.

In fact, I just don't have much to say about this anymore. I just spend
my time playing my A101 and my XK3 and I never feel that I am not
playing a Hammond.

Bottom line - no sims for me!

Josiah

>
> 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
>
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