From hammond321@yahoo.com Mon May 20 10:40:35 2013
Subject:Re: Best used clone under $1,000?
Craig: Your VR-09 review certainly was helpful... and your "noodling" was better than just noodling...
Your sound clips didn't include any of the acoustic pianos or strings... how are those in your opinion?
This really seems to be a nice little keyboard.
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From: "ccmacdon@rogers.com"
To: "CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 9:13 AM
Subject: Re: [CWSG] Best used clone under $1,000?
Since Bob mentioned the VR-09 I will provide a bit of info it because I have one sitting beside me.. ;-)
It's a brand new keyboard from Roland that's under a grand, that has drawbar organ, sampled sounds (AP/EP/Strings/Brass etc) as well as a full Jupiter Style Virtual Analog synthezer, all for $999..
Good things about it.. it sounds better than I expected.. I never was a fan of the VK engine... but I was able to make this sound pretty good using just the tone control and a bit of added compression (which seems to bring out some of the weaker tones and makes the Hammond sound a bit fuller). The leslie sim is really quite good, not quite ventilator quality, but not so far off that you'd want to go buy one. It's pretty editable, and it supports a lower manual and bass pedals if you ever wanted to use them. It's capable of splits and layers (but there are some quirks), and it has 100 registrations in which you can save various versions of your organ sound, along with splits/layers, and modified sampled or synth sounds.. this keyboard has a great "live" interface.. with effects and tonal controls that are really easy to change in a live situation.. It's also only 12 pounds and it will run on batteries. There is a hell of a lot packed into this
little package!
Some not-so-great things about it.. from an organ players perspective, a few things are a little off.. it has diving board keys rather than waterfall keys, and it's just a bit less "authentic" sounding than the current crop of top clones (mojo/keyb).. the percussion runs through the C/V circuits (which it shouldn't).. and if I wanted to nitpick I'm sure I could find a few other things wrong with the organ sound.. HOWEVER it's much better sounding than I expected.
A couple of BAD things about it... the fundamental flaws show up in the split/layering area.. first thing that jumps out is that you cannot set the expression pedal to control only one part.. so if you want to layer strings and Hammond organ, you can but when you change the expression pedal it affects both sounds, and there is no way around it (although to be fair each sound has separate volume controls on the control panel). The other thing that drives me nuts is the fact that when you "layer" a sound together with the organ, the other sound goes through the leslie sim.. and there's no way around it. This doesn't happen in "split" mode only when layered, but this is a fundamental flaw.. Note also that "split" mode is what you use when you are employing a second keyboard so you CAN play nice acoustic piano on a lower manual and organ through a leslie speaker on the upper manual, and there are no issues with the effects.
Most of the quirks of the VR-09 center around the split/layering functions, and I'm hoping that Roland will fix these issues with a quick OS update..
The VR-09 is a viable organ, and that's what I intend to use mine for.. as a back up for my Mojo, and because it has all the other sampled sounds and the VA synth I could probably use it as a backup for my Kronos as well in a pinch.
Despite the quirks.. I quite like this VR-09, it has a lot going for it, and it's an option to consider.
If anyone is interested in hearing it, I posted a couple of clips of me noodling around on it (seriously.. just noodling!!) , on soundcloud... there are 4 clips here:
https://soundcloud.com/ccmacdon
There are 4 clips, one featuring clavinet sounds, Won't Be Fooled Again synth/organ intro (using one of the VR-09's built in effects), electric pianos and last but not least a clip of various organ sounds..
Hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Craig MacDonald
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From: Bdec
To: "CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 8:46:18 AM
Subject: Re: [CWSG] Best used clone under $1,000?
I have seen XK 3's (not C) for 900 on CL
Besides the Hammonds mentioned there is the Korg CX3.
It's subjective which are "best" but all but the XK3 (and 2?) and Korg are under 37 lbs.
and Roland VK 7 & 8's All of these need the help of either a Vent a real Leslie and possibly an Art tube preamp to sound best. There is also a brand new Roland VR-09 that is probably better than all the above that should be street value just under 1K by now.
Bob
________________________________
From: M Acantralto
To: "mailto:CloneWheel%40yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 3:39 AM
Subject: Re: [CWSG] Best used clone under $1,000?
I would love to chat with the person or place that has the $1000.00 XK3c....
Yes i would jump on that one immed...
Seems to be lots of real orig certified genuine Hammonds ....for sale every where in the Western
world ...but not a lot of used XK's in comparison ....just my observation ...
Mike
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From: j a
To: clone
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 2:56 PM
Subject: [CWSG] Best used clone under $1,000?
I know this has probably been severely beaten to death in earlier posts, but what might be the "best" used clone for under $1,000? Just interested in organ... not in ancillary sounds, piano, clav or whatever.
I've seen XK 1's, XK 2's, XK 3c's all for around $1,000 or less on eBay. I have a B3, but am thinking about something a little more portable to carry around... maybe with a 145 or Vent and small cabinet. I do lean towards the H-S brand for some reason, although a Korg or Roland wouldn't be out of the question...
Thanks as always for your thoughts!
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