From djacques@csulb.edu Thu Jun 30 07:52:38 2005
Subject:RE: To Speak or not to Speak?

I have an old Stereo preamp and I don't have these issues. There is a
definite treble and bass "range" throughout the entire adjustment
travel. Yes, the dials are somewhat "loose", but not like you are
describing. I like the travel... sort of like a vintage MacIntosh amp.
Everyone who checks it out thinks it's a really cool vintage look. I
like it too.

Regarding clones needing it, Hammond came out with all this hoopla about
how their new tube preamp warms up the sound. Well, I have run the XK3
both with and without the Speakeasy, and there is a huge difference. The
XK3 tube does very little (IMHO) except add some crappy distortion and
light up the back of the keyboard. The Speakeasy really does the trick
as a pre to my Leslie 2101. believe me, if I didn't think it would make
a difference I would sell it for around $700 and have one less piece of
gear to drag around.

Just stop by a Raging Sun concert and you will hear it for yourself. But
better hurry. 'cause Steve has announced his retirement (due to his
stroke) and we are breaking up after the summer tour ( www.ragingsun.com
).

-----Original Message-----
From: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of jake92028
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 7:30 AM
To: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CWSG] To Speak or not to Speak?

Per Speakeasy in general, I think Steve is one of the greatest nice
guys in the world. If I needed anything Hammond, Clone, or Leslie
related I would call/go/send nowhere else. That being said... I like
the way my two favoritie clones - the Roland VK-8M and Nord Electro
2 - sound already, and don't want to change the sound by putting a
Speakeasy preamp in the chain. The distortion and amp types and
overall range of sound on the VK-8M is exactly what I like and want
to hear, and the extra grind from both the Swell effect of the NE2
Expression and its Overdrive are perfect. I think the Speakeasy is a
necessity if you have a clone that's not quite making the grade -
case in point, my previous Korg CX3. The Speakeasy I got from Steve
made a huge difference, the Korg went from kind of "blah" to full-on
Hammond B3. I had a stereo model and it was wonderful - I even hooked
it up to my stereo when I wasn't using it with the keyboard and I had
the phattest stereo on the block! But I don't need it with the clones
I'm using now, the preamp changes the sound too much for me.

There are a couple of things about the Speakeasy Preamp that bug me
and I wish Steve would "fix." I would really like it to have knobs
that are "tight" almost to the point of having click/detent positions
with each adjustment. One little bump or touch and your settings are
changed. Plus the bass and treble don't seem to do anything unless
you crank them way up. It would almost work as well to have a bass
switch, ON/OFF, and a treble switch, ON/OFF, because that's close to
the effect: You have to crank them way over before you really
hear "bass" or "treble." Next item would be the output/gain knobs,
the same thing. It's All or None at one specific "sweet" spot setting
of the knob. The slightest bump or touch and your setting is gone,
either way too soft or WAAAY too loud/too much. A tight knob, again
even with click/detent points, where you could actually hear the
gain/volume come up in little increments and stay where you put it,
instead of WHOA - Okay right there and don't touch it! (maybe I
better tape it down) would be a huge improvement. At some point I may
really want to try another Speakeasy, in the meantime I really wish
Steve would upgrade the basic design - which is all about the
controls - with what I've written in mind.

*Disclaimer: If these changes have already been made in a newer model
since I sold my stereo rack about 18 months ago... never mind : )

In any case, all the clones that don't quite make the grade in
Hammondesque sound both did and do need a Speakeasy. I'm happy with
the way my two favorites sound already and don't want to change their
sound at all. It's curious to me that the XK3 - which I won't be
buying, no HS for me - "needs" the Speakeasy just like my CX3 did.
Hmm... interesting.

Walter j

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