From funkyhammond@yahoo.com Mon Oct 01 12:49:00 2007
Subject:Re: Which clone should I get?

Try to use the real Leslie. It will warm up the sound of any clone and
if you overdrive it even a little, it will be much more organic
sounding than any digital overdrive. Each clone has its strengths and
weaknesses, which is why you need to try them out. You have to find
the one that has the qualities that are important to you. The action
will be a bit different on all the clones, too, which is another
reason to try them out.

If you're just using this at home/in studio, then you can also
consider the B4 software clone. It's quite good. You just need to find
a good controller with 9 sliders and an action that you like.

For what it's worth, below are my impressions of hardware clones I've
tried. Note that the only ones I actually own are the Nord Electro and
the VK8M (the keyboard-less module version of the VK8).

Nord Electro/Stage Compact
------------
Action: a tiny bit stiff (to accommodate the electric pianos)
Basic Tone: nice and beefy but individual drawbars sound a little
colored (ie. not as close to sine waves as a real Hammond)
Percussion: okay but lacking some of the mallet "thunk"
Leslie Sim: very good but not adjustable
Overdrive: warm but still not 100% like a Leslie
Pedal Bass: no
Misc: no physical drawbars

Nord C1
-------
Same as above but lighter action, faster key trigger, improved
percussion, and pedal bass. Still no physical drawbars.

Roland VK8
----------
Action: a little "bouncy" (may double-trigger)
Basic Tone: good
Percussion: very good
Leslie Sim: very good and adjustable
Overdrive: good but more rock-oriented (guitar-like)
Pedal Bass: yes

Hammond XK-3
------------
Action: good (I found it a little too light)
Basic Tone: very good
Percussion: very good
Leslie Sim: good and adjustable
Overdrive: poor
Pedal Bass: yes

Korg CX-3
---------
Action: a little bouncy (may double-trigger)
Basic Tone: very good but colored (I can recognize one right away even
though I've never owned it)
Percussion: good
Leslie Sim: very good and adjustable
Overdrive: poor
Pedal Bass: yes(?)