From jake92028@yahoo.com Tue Nov 15 11:15:55 2005
Subject:Re: Hammond vs. Korg vs. Roland vs. ...

I honestly don't think there is any better Hammond clone than the
often dismissed ? taken too lightly Roland VK8 and VK8M module.

The Electro for me gets the 2nd place nod for portability, overall
EP's and unbelievable effects at your fingertips w/almost perfect
Leslie - it should ramp up about a half second to a second slower for
my taste. A VK8 with Electro on top - 98% perfect, wish it was the
VK7.

The CX3 is my next closest choice, not only because of its great
sound, but the fantastic editing possibilities and Leslie sim.
Editing second place would be, I think, the older Roland VK7 but the
sound's not quite up to the newer clones - I like it anyway, and it's
just EXACTLY the right size for me, with the VK8 a whole inch higher
top to bottom (Yes, it matters!) and editing a little trickier plus
global for rotary!

In retrospect I'm sorry I sold my CX3 without realizing the MIDI
potential of that second set of "silly" higher pitched
drawbars/percussion with 127 programs that could so easily run, for
instance, an NE2 rack, or the best Yamaha Motif rack, maybe even
sitting on top. I did have one other personal negative about the CX3
= I didn't like the console design (and still don't) because I felt
the ergonomics incorporated extra and unnecessary height, about an
inch and a half too thick, top to bottom to add "touchy-feely" I'm-
sitting-behind-a-Hammond vibe - IMO, but if I still had it I'd keep
it.

The XK3 just doesn't do it for me, although it sounds fine if players
are up to editing it which I know some members are, too bad about the
Lesie sim.

Per the Nord Stage, I read enough posts, info, feedback, etc.. that I
decided to buy another Electro 2 '73.. : )

I'm still looking for that small but perfect piano module to stick on
somewhere, has to be "the best," maybe the ME-1, but buying something
with 200+ other sounds just to use the one piano.. Yeesh.

Walter j