Chris Towns

Reading about the new update reminded me that next month will be six years since I bought my Legend Live. No intentions of changing as it's a lovely bit of kit, so thank you to Elvio & Viscount for producing an organ built to last with a great sound.

Hi, @CyberGene Yes it was your Transcription I downloaded. Please send me a PM with your donation page and I'll definitely make a Contribution. It's an absolutely beautiful tune. Have a listen to this, the Guy absolutely nails the Dave/Don Grusin style of playing. You don't fancy Transcribing this do you ? LOL. Chris

Hi, Dave Grusin has been a firm favourite of mine (along with David Foster) for many years. Two very talented Composers. I managed to get a transcribed score of 'On Golden Pond' via Youtube. A beautiful Orchestral piece.

Hi, As a legend Live owner I am looking forward to the upcoming update at the end of April to bring it more in line with the new Viscount Soul model (they use the same sound engine). As far as I am aware, there will be an improvement in the C/V and also the Leslie sim. I'm not sure if that is worth taking into account when making a decision. Admittedly I have owned my Legend Live for over five years, but the keyboard resistance is not as great as it originally was. Definitely easier with regular use, and you tend to adapt to it. Whatever you get, I hope your as happy as I am with my legend Live. Chris

Hi Aiden, simply beautiful. And a huge thank you to Threadslayer for sharing this gem with the Forum Members.

Retired for around 13 years now, but worked for around 25 years as a brewery Drayman in London U.K. (think of a guy driving an urban articulated lorry and roping beer kegs into cellars). Breweries of past always looked after their staff, good salary, private pensions and free medical insurance while working. Good job as I need it to fund my GAS !! Although I'm not a great musician, I'm always glad that making music is a pleasure and not a requirement to put food on the table.

Hi, Most of my life I've been involved with home keyboards (arrangers, etc) and the sales pitch is always that a better keyboard makes a better player, (although the sales guys are clever enough not to use those actual words). Despite that, I cannot recall buying any that I regretted (perhaps with the exception of a Nord C1 organ). I concur with ABECK on his comments and have realised in my 67 years that to improve at any level requires lots of hard work and effort, not the latest greatest shiny new keyboard !! Chris

Hi, I picked up a set of used Adams T8V speakers for a great price. I've got them wired up to my Nautilus 88 and obviously they are not in the league of EB5AGV's AX7's. That said, they are still a pretty impressive set of active speakers. For me, the lack of hiss/background noise at loud volumes is really good. I am going to try them out with an active SVS sub just to dig out the low frequencies. Warning though, these speakers go very loud !! Chris

Hi Stokely, You mentioned about Korg making a better CX3. I splashed out in the Summer sale (one due up imminently for the Christmas period) on Organimation 2 for the Nautilus. Well worth it for $20 in the Korg shop. Chris

https://www.korg.co.uk/products/m1-for-nautilus

Hi, Not sure if people are aware but there appears to be some kind of announcement for the Korg Nautilus on Tuesday 1st November 2022. This is a facebook video put out by Korg U.K. but I'm not sure you'll be able to see it across the pond !! https://www.facebook.com/korguk/videos/2920097754953305/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&mibextid=bIAC9r Chris

Hi Doerfler, It's a win win for clone owners being able to control software organs like your B3X through the physical drawbars. I'm finding myself getting drawn to the GSI VB3ii. Probably due to Max Tempia's Youtube videos for Crumar. Every time I hear him play he just wows me. Chris p.s. Just listen to the first minute of this video and you might see what I'm getting at.

Hi John Doe, Apologies if you are in the USA, but Bonners of Eastbourne here in the U.K. has a used Numa 2 model for sale. I must say I regret selling mine although I did go straight to a Viscount Legend Live as I wanted the two manuals. The leslie sim to me was so good. Chris

Hi, As an owner of a Nautilus 88 I cannot believe what Members have posted about the overall build quality and keyboard action. The Nautilus 88 is built like a tank with metal construction and wooden side panels every bit as good as a Korg Kronos 2. The key action is RH3, which has been used on the majority of better quality Korg digital pianos, and also on the Kronos 2 88 note and 73 note. For me, it's a really high quality keyboard (probably the best quality of any keyboard I have previously owned, including the Roland RD2000) and for the life of me cannot understand how anybody could come to the conclusion that it's got build quality issues. If the Nautilus 88 has build quality and keyboard issues, then the Kronos 2 also has build quality and keyboard issues. I am a Member of several Keyboard Forums and have noticed a lot of negative reaction to the Korg Nautilus which is fine. there obviously are issues, e.g. no aftertouch, no Karma, and these could be a deal breaker for a lot of Forum Members. That said, it's amazing how many negative posts come from Kronos owners. The Nautilus is NOT a Kronos replacement, but I'm sure that in time a Kronos replacement will be released. I simply was unable to afford to buy a Kronos 2 (88), but with the great deals being offered here in the U.K. I was able to get a refurbished Nautilus 88 at a bargain price. At the moment on Ebay U.K. there is a pristine condition home use only Nautilus 61 for $1,000. Finally, could any Forum Members that have issues with both the build quality and keyboard action please reply to this Post. Chris

Hi Aidan, l hope you have great fun with your HX1. Many,many years ago I purchased a brand new HX1 from Roland Friday Keyboards in Bromley, Kent. I paid £7,500 for it which is the most I have ever paid for an organ/keyboard. Probably the most well known HX1 player in the U.K. is Tony Stace. He's been playing HX1's for nearly 30 years at Organ Clubs and Societies. Chris

As a PA4X owner I have been quite interested in this launch. That said, I recently became the owner of a Korg Nautilus 88. Why these Companies are so clouded in secrecy is totally beyond me. I'll give this a miss because of my recent acquisition but had I known it was coming I'd probably have held back on the Nautilus and gone for the PA5X. I've listened to around six or seven online demos and the only one that I really enjoyed was Tony at Bonners, Eastbourne, U.K. he is a wonderful player. Kudos to Korg for having all their retailers fully stocked with the instrument on launch day and also for having the video manuals posted online so quickly. When the Yamaha Genos was launched, it was hailed as a game-changer, totally different to what went before. Total tosh, it's a Tyros 6 nothing more nothing less albeit in a different casing. I don't think the PA5X makes those claims, but in the hands of some of the demo players it sounds (to me anyway) exactly the same as all the arranger keyboards that went before. give the video a watch and tell me if you agree. I hope Korg do well with the PA5X, especially in these tough times but I do think they might have to re-assess their pricing of it though.

Hi, I had keyboard lessons as a young child and due to being a very slow learner ended up plodding on under my own stream. I'm now 66, not a particularly gifted keyboard player and I'm a firm believer that if you've got that natural talent you'll progress rapidly. If you don't have it, you never will have it. It wont stop you from becoming a good player, but it just takes a lot longer. I only play by sheet music and envy people who play by ear (something you can work on and enhance). I can play reasonably difficult pieces, but only by practicing section by section endlessly until I have learned it parrot fashion. I have quite a selection of nice keyboards (Viscount Legend Live organ, Korg Nautilus 88, korg PA4X arranger keyboard, etc). The main point that I wish to make here is that whatever your level is, you can get a great deal of pleasure from playing. If I'm stressed for any reason, an hour on the keyboards takes it all away. It beats watching TV by a Country mile. I also find that the longer I play for, the more engrossed I get, and it's normally only a call for meals that prises me away. I get huge satisfaction from playing keyboards despite my very limited abilities in this respect. I used to know a young guy who had a Hammond organ & leslie who used to gig out to supplement his 9-5 wages. He was a brilliant player who had mastered drawbars and was exceptionally talented. I asked him after one of his 'gigs' where he set up his organ at home for 'pleasure' playing ? He said, 'oh no' not interested in playing at home. the organ & speaker goes into storage until my next 'gig'. All that talent but no interest in playing, he saw it as purely a method to make some extra cash. Pretty sad really. Chris

Hi, As a legend Live owner here in the U.K. Viscount have indicated a new 9 contact Legend Soul model is being launched at NAMM 2020 3rd-6th June this year. They also stated that Viscount will update/upgrade the existing Legend by KeyB line with key improvements in the rotary sim, chorus/vibrato, and several other modeling aspects. Just thought it might be of interest when making a final decision. Chris

Hi all, I have been looking at purchasing a used Korg Nano Control with the intention of using it to control the CX3 drawbars on my Korg Nautilus 88. I had a search on Ebay and spotted this controller. As it's reasonably cheap and has the required nine sliders I'm considering a purchase. I would appreciate any opinions from other Forum Members who have had some experience with midi controllers. Chris https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403508231020?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D238391%26meid%3D0392029da0174eafb2564135f9f6dd87%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D194785404900%26itm%3D403508231020%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv9PairwiseWebMskuVariantAspectsMskuPromotionAdRateBudgetRulesV1&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A4035082310200392029da0174eafb2564135f9f6dd87|enc%3AAQAGAAABIDk%2FpwJUnKQfu40xYSAM%2ByDkEPy%2F7oA4dEeD2vanSwsw%2BL%2F8Dx60FQ7HrRtiTu%2F6LQryR%2FsOkj5sx%2F1ph%2Bg9%2FpRAJrs7CPyWYNPRC8DGsZxOcVvDyeaQ%2B%2BYodbHlfTdDZpXWTY8Vq8J22ziaJ8sfAjP2%2BFjl8TDF1G4v4lOjvEc0cx80i9qpLcIMyzTqWEB7nzyY0OZFLJMjyhSX%2FnsvGSxcrX%2FaZKZDXnEOpYUp9QyPHPmwJiustd%2Fi0rSiRVZ2LTQgnKtxqmbhhocyo%2B8HqiLZ1INBI5b2Vqv8zln3zgsaH52DxKEw27orNIBuQztwG2mmcYRXAdnvTmOPTJG%2FXaG%2FaHbv22vGdWD1EZjy8ENhNFBpnaypOBmUsnSgNWR1JQ%3D%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2047675

Hi, This thread interests me and I noticed Rick Wakemans name come up more than once. I'm going to see him in December doing his one man show in London at the Cadogan Hall. Total capacity (and I guarantee it will not be a sell out) is 953 people. It does confuse me how despite his fame and talent he ends up appearing in these kind of venues. I last saw him in St Petersburgh, Florida in October 2019 and that was a similar sized venue. I'm honestly pleased that I'm seeing him in such an intimate venue as it adds to the experience. I'm also pleased that for the advert for the Concert, there is a picture of him playing twin Korg Nautilus's (a keyboard I'm thinking seriously of investing in) !!

Hi, I have a Roland RD2000 and was initially underwhelmed by the piano tones. I therefore went around purchasing different piano VST's (Pianoteq, Ravenscroft 275, N.I.Noire, etc) to use. I did not want to sell the RD2000 as for me it's such a joy to play, I also think along with the dedicated Roland stand it's a nice looking piece of hardware. Fast forward a couple of years and I rarely use the VST's. I have found a set of internal pianos that I really like and have edited them to suit me personally. I don't know if my hearing has 'adapted' to the RD2000 pianos but as far as I am concerned it's a really enjoyable piano to own. I'm not a pro player and it stays in one place permanantly, I used foam acoustic tiles in the room to improve the sound and also spent a considerable time getting the amplification and speakers set up correctly. If your prepared to put the effort in, you get the rewards.

Hi Aidan, I'm more of a home hobbyist than a pro player but I managed to get twenty minutes on a P-515 in Chappells in London last year. What stood out for me was the build quality, which I thought was exceptional. I loved the smooth lines of the casing and the feel of it. A really high quality product from Yamaha. Reading the other posts, it's a shame they did not include more high quality sounds but I have to say I was highly impressed with it. Chris

Hi, I'm trying to track down a guy named Darius who used to post music videos on Youtube. I believe he was living in Japan around ten years ago but I'm not aware if he's still there. Here is one of his arrangements which shows that you don't need thousand of dollars/ £'s of equipment to make beautiful music. Chris

Hi, Firstly I think this is a superb keyboard with excellent demo videos by Jim Alfredson (what a player) and others. Here's my problem, I'm not a pro player but a home hobbyist who loves the clone sound. My choice is to buy the 2 manual SK Pro when it's released for I guess around £2,750 U.K. (Bonners U.K. are charging between £2,100 and £2,300 for the single manual SK Pro) or stay with my Viscount Legend Live 2 manual organ which can be bought for around £1,600 U.K. Granted that the Hammond has a synth and piano sounds built in but at an additional premium of over £1,100 U.K. compared to the Viscount. I know most forum members will say that the Hammond SK Pro is a better sounding clone than the Viscount Legend Live but my Viscount Legend Live sounds pretty good to me. I would even say that the Viscount resembles the Hammonds of yester-year more so than the SK Pro does. That said, I have watched all the demo videos and the SK Pro is an amazing piece of hardware, it's just too expensive for me to consider as a realistic alternative to my Legend Live.

I do think the Roland RD2000 with it's matching stand is a nice looking stage piano.