From ozmusicman88@internode.on.net Sun Mar 25 09:07:56 2012
Subject:Re: Hammond SK1 arrives at Guitar Center/ First Impression

I have a Hammond XK3c and an XK1, which sound virtually identical to me. The main difference is in the keyboard feel. I am very happy with the sound and feel of both; however, I agree that the chorus vibrato (C/V) is a large part of "The Hammond Sound" in many styles of music, and the one thing that I find disappointing with the XKs is the C/V, which to me "warbles" but should "purr".

When I saw a Hammond SK1 and SK2 at a local music store, I was keen to try them, as I had heard that the percussion, Leslie, and C/V had been improved on the SKs. I am happy with the percussion and Leslie on the XKs, and I did not notice much difference on the SKs, but I did notice a difference in the C/V. It does not warble like the XKs, but it still does not quite purr like any tonewheel Hammond that I have ever heard or played, including my old M100 and 1974 B3.

It is often pointed out that every tonewheel Hammond (being electromechanical) is different; however, the C/V on any of these sounds better to me than on the XKs or SKs. This is not a matter of authenticity for its own sake; the characteristics of the old tonewheel Hammonds, especially the A100/B3/C3 console, are the benchmark not because they are old but because they sound good.

Overall, I find the C/V too strong in the XKs and too weak in the SKs. I suspect that the key to a satisfying C/V lies in what would be the balance between the dry and vibrato signals in the original C/V, and in some taper in the depth of the effect on high and low frequencies. The Depth and Emphasis controls in the XKs and SKs tweak these parameters to some extent, but I cannot find a setting that produces a fully satisfying C/V on either series.

The C/V on the Nord, Numa and Mojo clonewheels sounds good to me. For me, the C/V on the XKs and SKs is a small but significant shortcoming in an otherwise very satisfying series of instruments.

mrk7421 wrote: > ... I would like to know other people's impressions of the C/V or leslie simulation on the SK series, or on the XK's for that matter.