From NJmm973@aol.com Fri Aug 03 08:39:36 2007
Subject:Re: Best clone w/o Leslie

Actually I second this notion.? I have always lusted after the B3 sound with the grit, the drive and overdrive, etc.? I've had very rare opportunities to actually play a B3 in my life.? Recently, a good friend told me that he had a friend who had a B3 and 122 and that I could come over and play it.? So I did.

Honestly, I was extremely disappointed.? I spent a couple of hours on it, trying to get that sound, and the Hammond mystique.? And it just wasn't happening.? I could get some of it by playing really loud, but then for a small venue, I can't drive it like that.? Overall, I was not impressed and was much happier with?my Roland V Combo when I left.? I think if I put a Speakeasy AMA after my preamp, I'll get a much closer sound to the ideal in my head than I can with the real deal.

Maybe it was just this B3.? Maybe it was my inexperience on HOW to make the classic sounds I enjoy.? Maybe it was unrealistic expectations on my part, since the classic sound on recordings is a sound captured from loud playing in controlled circumstances.? Whichever it was, I realized that I am much closer to getting that "sound" at reasonable volume levels with today's gear than I am lusting after vintage gear.? And, without the vintage problems that come along with vintage gear, in this case a real B3.

My opinion.? YMMV.

Gene

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