From sysricky@ymail.com Wed Oct 30 06:58:02 2013
Subject:Mainstage Vintage B3 -- Long version

Hi guys.
First of all i follow you often in this group and I appreciate all the suggestions you post.
I'm always looking at best solution for a portable,cheap and sounding good hammond shack.
So, as you suggest and what I've found, I've made a custom case in wood with 2 edirol pcr800 with sliders and so on..
This is my midi controller, but the generator/sound ??
I'm a big fan of Guido and his work. So I purhased a VB3 1.4 some years ago, and I appreciate the sound, the easy setup (learn button) and overall sounding,
but with the new release of VB3 (maybe 2.0 or upper) is only "playable" in mojo,hamichord, money that I don't want to spend in this moment.
For my ears there is a big difference from the 2 version including the sim.
So I decided to try with a few amount (about 30 bucks) the new mainstage 3 with a organ simulator called Vintage b3, as I have a macbookpro and 2 midi controller.
The first impression was , .. another clone.. but ..
Vintage b3 comes with many preset and, I really don't know why, it sound very very different between a configuration to another. I mean in terms of global EQ and Leslie sims.
So there are a lot of configurations/combinations depending on what you have in mind.
I started from the ground to build my own Vintage B3. I used from begginning a preset called tonewheel organ and modify all the parameter.
I've mapped all the controls, including drawbars,knobs,buttons necessary et voila'.
IT SOUND AMAZING!!
I really upgrade all my sound(.. and leslie sim what beautiful!!).
One suggestion: I use leslie sim with close cabinet.For me is more "realistic" rather then put the mics on rear.

PRO:
- sure the leslie sim for me and the tone generator
- the possibility to decide mapping control on the leslie to brake and fast (including bypass in brake) and not only to slow/fast
- real good chorus c3
- adjustable leakage and crosstalk very goooooood

CONS
- difficult to configure mainstage, mapping all the parameter and understand how it works
- not understand the preset

So i wrote this because I'm so happy for the real upgrade (always in my opinion), also because I'm not a professional musician, and I always take care of all possible variables involving.
I promise to put a demo on soundcloud as soon as possible but I became a dad 20 days ago so, you know...