SOUND ON SOUND

[Eddy Deegan]

How about the bloomin' promised DS80! :protest:

+1 :thumbup:

That and a Jupiter 8 clone are topping my 'want' list by a significant margin!

[desmond]

*cough*somethingplanetywithan8init*cough*

[BJG145]

The MonoPoly isn't top of my wishlist either. It does look quite tidy though.

[N i g e l]

Its definitely the PPG next * so please wait your turn patiently.






*based on gut feeling, personal bias and lacking in any concrete facts

[Folderol]

All I want is a polyAT keyboard controller :shh:

[DGL.]

$699 it be,

We’re proud to announce that we have managed to offer the MonoPoly for US$ 699.
We’re now expecting large back orders, but we promise to work hard to ship your unit as fast as we possibly can.
Thank you for all your patience and support. You guys are the reason why we do what we do:-)

[Arpangel]

*cough*somethingplanetywithan8init*cough*

I agree, but come on, it "has" to be the right size, and god forbid, definitely not a rack mount.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Plenty of other people are already making those...

[Arpangel]

Plenty of other people are already making those...

Are they? :think:
I’m still waiting for an affordable growling grunting Hammond, that doesn’t require a furniture van to move it.

[Hugh Robjohns]

None of the clones require a furniture van.

But none have the enclosed base woodwork of a C3 either. However, lots of them look more or less exactly like the B3 with the spindle legs, and they all have the same (and more) sounds and facilities as the vintage B3/C3/A100 console organs.

I can't comment on 'affordable' because that's entirely subjective...

Many of the clones will cost a lot more than a real B3/C3/A100... but you don't have the weight or unreliability.

The range is from about £20k down to about £1k -- and the core sound is actually pretty consistently good across the range. The differences are mostly in the keyboard action and construction, the woodwork, the number of physical drawbars and so forth...

Knowing your preference for things that look like the originals, the most likely options would be the Hammond B3 mk2 -- available in traditional wooden chassis for about £20k:



....or a portable model for £14k:



These both have digital Leslie simulators, but if you want the proper mechanical whirling box to partner them you'll need to stump up another £3.5k

A slightly more affordable alternative is the the newer XK5 'classic' System which still looks like a regular B3 but costs £13.5k and that comes with the full size mechanical Leslie box.


However, if you don't need or want the big mechanical Leslie or the pedals the XK5 with a lower keyboard would set you back about £4.8k, or just the single keyboard XK5 itself would be £3.3k.

All of those models have superb keyboard actions that are virtually indistinguishable from a 1960s original, plus full sets of drawbars and excellent digital Leslie emulations.

If you're willing to compromise slightly on the keyboard feel and the drawbar counts, there are several less costly Hammond options, such as the two-manual SKX (£2.3k),


...or single manual XK1-c (£1.1k),


I have both, and they're very good!. There are also three SK1 variants that add other keyboard sounds to the Hammond and have 61, 73, or 88 note keyboards.

And then there are all the two-manual /drawbar clones from other manufacturers like the Viscount Legend Live (£1.6k)
,

Crumar Mojo (£1.5k),


....and there are still a few Nord C2Ds around for about £2.3k.


And then lots of Hammond-esque emulations available on all manner of electronic keyboards....

Plenty of choice depending on requirements...

[The Elf]

Plenty of Hammond emulations, as Hugh says.

And don't overlook the humble Yamaha reface YC at your peril. As long as you have a decent keyboard to drive it, it's capable of a passable growling Hammond for very modest outlay. Coupled with the MIDI Designer panels I've created to let me store presets it really is far better than it has any right to be.

Only an XK5 (yes, I'm considering it) will now supplant the YC here.

[Hugh Robjohns]

...overlook the humble Yamaha reface YC at your peril.

I nearly added it to my clones list, but thought Tony would think it flippant! :lol:

Only an XK5 (yes, I'm considering it) will now supplant the YC here.

I was mightily impressed with the XK5 for many reasons, but I've really struggled to justify buying one.

If you want the full B3 style and functionality then the XK5 system has the same looks but is much more affordable, saving £10k over the B3 Mk2+Leslie.

The only theoretical compromise is the triple contact key system (each with three digital virtual contacts) per note in place of the ten physical contacts in the B3 Mk2. But it is very much a theoretical compromise because it is irrelevant in practice to even the most finicky of experienced players.

The keyboard in the XK5 really is lovely, matching that in the B3 mk2 and indistinguishable from a vintage Console Hammond. It is outstanding and nothing else on the market comes that close to a experience of playing a vintage organ.

But would that actually make enough of a difference in 'performance satisfaction' to warrant paying nearly £5k for a two manual organ. The SKX comes in at almost half that and has a very playable keyboard which is better than most other clones anyway -- and the XK1c/SK/XK/B3 all have the same sound engine at heart....

[Folderol]

... and not one of them remotely within my affordable grasp {sigh}

P.S. Mind you, I wouldn't have the space for them anyway :lol:

[Agharta]

On sale - https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/hammondb3x/

[Arpangel]

....or a portable model for £14k:

OH MY GOD!!!!!! :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

Hugh, you’ve just ruined my morning, that’s thee most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, it reminds me of a book I found as a child, it was called "Electric and Electronic Keyboard Instruments" or something like that, and it had pictures of all sorts of exotic stuff in it, this looks like it could have been in that book, it really does look amazing, even by today’s standards.
They had a picture of the Yamaha GX1in this book too..... :beamup:
Right, I’m making plans for Nigel, how on earth am I going to sneak this one in?.....:think: :D