From jggillingham@yahoo.com Thu Feb 02 15:39:06 2012
Subject:Re: The top reasons why a choose my brand X of clone - lets hear everyones reasons


My type of clone:
* Korg CX-3
* Roland VK-7
* Casio WK-3700
My top priorities in selecting a clone:
* I chose the Roland for price, sound (even a few of the orchestral)
* I chose the CX-3 over a very nice Hammond M3 (more like a B3 layout- Organ Sound better IMHO than VK-7 although OD & Les.Sim may not be)
* Like Simon; I bought the Casio second-hand as a general-purpose keyboard, but the Drawbar Organ facility clinched the deal.
Price, weight, sound etc:
* Roland VK-7 Great Price. Very sturdy. Sound: very good
* Korg CX-3 - Looks, feel - play-ability. Reasonable price. Just got this wonderful instrument, but sure it will be Organ of Choice for quite some time.
* Casio WK-3700 - Cheap ($150.00), Fairly light and 73 note. Sound: OK for the price & improved with a lot of tweaking - EP's great as well. And I don't worry when my grandsons play it - I hope to teach them to appreciate the Hammond sound as well as the EPs on it.
Leslie yes/no
* Use the internal sim for all three and Digi-Tech RPM (Best Sim next to a Vent IMHO, uses a tube for OD, mono, stereo or 3 way with "Sub output" for rotor and rotor can be stopped for Memphis sound)
Gigs out:
* Not for pay - Jam with friends / usually use Yamaha PSR S700 - full arranger with virtual drawbars ("Organ Flutes")
Pedals:
* Just Expression & Controller for Sim, Midi, Arranger functions, etc.
Don't kick no bass (Can't on a CX-3)
Transport solution
* Dodge Grand Caravan
Hammond real deal owner:
* 1957 Cherry M3 (2nd owner from 1979-83/sold for down payment on first home/chance to buy it back a few weeks ago - bought CX-3 instead!)

There is nothing that can compare to "the Hammond Sound", however you like it - live with a fast Leslie + the shimmer of C3 chorus; Slow rotation & growling OD, Memphis style(lower rotor off); OD through a Marshall Stack, or smooth percussive Jazz; and so on.....
I think we would all agree that every real Hammond sounds different at the source and also within the playing/listening environment. Technology has reached or is close to a point where an I-Pad can sound like a Hammond, but it sure don't play like one.
I'm positive my playing skills are near the bottom of most on this forum, but I enjoy the looks and feel almost as much as the sound. Admittedly a one-man-band most the time, I also appreciate technology; but feel more comfortable with a tactile analogue interface, especially for live play.

Just my 2 cents worth.