From BenWaB3@aol.com Sun Dec 11 08:26:21 2016
Subject:Re: XK-5 warnings...!

Just weighing in with my totally unsolicited 2 cents worth: I can't really speak about the XK-5 since I've never seen/heard/played one but I did pick up a used SK-1 73 a little over a month ago & have had no problems with the quality control. It could be that it's from a later production run. I did read about Craig's problems with the earlier SK-1 on the Keyboard Corner thread so it gave me pause before picking this one up but so far my fears have been unfounded. I do have to say I like its emulation the best of any of the pieces I've picked up in my foray in to clone replacement this year. I had gotten the Roland VR-09 and while it is, like Craig, Norm and others have said, a tremendous bang for the buck ultimately the compromises they had to make to bring it in at that price point made it insufficient for my needs. I had also tried the DMC-122 with Gemini and while I think it's a really great piece it didn't fit in with the situation for the majority of gigs that I do so it is going up for sale soon (and no, I'm not counting this as my one time notification on Clonewheel :) ). I'm certainly not going to state that the SK sounds better than the Gemini since they are both extremely tweakable, the Gemini even more so. And of course the SK's have some serious design flaws too, the lack of mod & pitch bend wheels at the top of my personal list. But our personal experiences shape out opinions so that makes a legitimate reason for our feelings. So far I've had no problems with this unit out of the Hammond stable (I hope I haven't just jinxed myself by posting this) and I'm really liking the sound & overall versatility out of the 73. Now let's hope they get everything worked out on the XK - and soon!!