Chris Towns

Hi, Here in the U.K. there's a guy called Tony who works for Bonners (plenty of Youtube vids) who is an excellent player. The Piano Man mentioned Rudi at Better Music, I think he is an exceptional player. Martin Harris is an English guy who now leads the Yamaha development team and splits his year between the U.K. and Japan is probably in my top three of keyboard players. Chris

Can I just expand on a Post Outkaster made previously. If you are not at a desired level of playing ability and dexterity, then you are not going to benefit from courses like this. As much as I love organ playing (30 years+) and currently own a Legend Live, I just don't have the talent and ability these great organists have. I guess there are other Forum members like me. You wouldn't expect to take a kid, give him private soccer coaching lessons with Lionel Messi and then expect the kid to be able to play as well.

Hi, As a very happy Legend Live owner I think it's great news Mojo are releasing new products. Keeps my lot on their toes and if Crumar release a drawbar expander I might be interested. As it will be the most current tonewheel sim, I expect the leslie sim, CV and overdrive to be very good, so fingers crossed.

Hi Paul, That depends on which 'sports team' you support !! Chris

Hi, I was in Chappell's Wardour Street London at the weekend and sat down at a P515. Unfortunately the store was rammed with people playing all the instruments at stupid volumes so I did not get around to auditioning the P515 properly. What I can say is that P515 feels complete, total quality. It feels like a beautifully made instrument with a quality keybed. Even the stand looks and feels the business. I would be surprised if anybody disagreed after actually getting their hands on one. Sadly I cannot comment on the sounds and speaker system but everything else ticked the boxes (for me anyway). I have a Roland RD2000,a Korg arranger and a Viscount Legend organ, so I consider my opinion to be fairly impartial.

Hi Guys, It looks like most of the members on this thread are converts, but have a look at this for NAMM 2018. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188927408359275&set=gm.1557635360957408&type=3&theater&ifg=1 Chris

Hi guys, I have watched a couple of youtube videos and this looks a really nice piano for the price. I noticed that several Forum members are comparing it to the Casio PX5-S (which I have and is a fantastic stage piano). This January will be four years since Casio launched the PX5-S at Winter NAMM and It would not surprise me if Casio launch a replacement for it next month therefore it may be worth putting a purchase on hold at least until 25th January. Chris

Hi, My apologies to both Lars Hamre and the Forum members for my incorrect information regarding Lars input to the key B Legend organs. What I would like to emphasise here is that Viscount as a Company in conjunction with Key B are working pro-actively towards improving the sounds and features of their Legend organs for the benefit of users. As I stated in my previous post, Forums are being monitored by Lars and other staff to obtain feedback from users towards this process. Chris

Hi Mate stubb, Just a couple of small points, but the legend and Legend Live are new organs. One owner remarked on the Facebook users Forum how the keyboard action on his had softened slightly with regular use. Regarding the sounds and effects, I know Lars Hamre, Newtone Sounds (reponsible for the organ sounds in the Legend and the Live) reads all the forum posts he can and takes all suggestions on board with the result that Pat Bianchi is currently auditioning and giving feedback to Viscount on new organ sounds and effects that will be given in a free software update imminently. I think it's right to say that the Legend models soundwise (and in response to user feedback) are only going to improve in time. I would be curious to know how many software updates the Crumar Mojo has had since it's inception, the Legend organs are yet to have their first one !! Chris

Hi Mitch, Studiologic Numa 2 download page. http://studiologic-music.com/products/numa_organ2/#downloads Chris

Hi, I wanted to give my nephews two children (boy and a girl under five) an opportunity to have a keyboard in the house (their Dad had basic piano lessons when he was younger). After searching the usual sites (ebay, Gumtree, CraigsList) I managed to pick up a used Yamaha DGX660 (with the three pedals) quite cheap. Probably a bit OTT for them but hopefully it will spark a bit of interest. Chris p.s. my other nephew's getting my Casio PX5-S when the replacement arrives (hopefully Winter Namm 2018).

Hi Mitch, thanks for getting back to me and giving your views on the Numa 2. As you are a pro player (which I'm not) your requirements from the instrument would be greater than mine. I understand fully about sound getting lost in the mix (I read a lot of these comments when musicians review digital pianos). I agree with you about the keybed feel. Simply gorgeous with a beautiful ivory finish. I have a Korg PA4X arranger, and previously had a Yamaha Tyros 5, £2,200 and £2,750 U.K. respectively and neither had a keybed of the quality of the Numa 2. I know that new "Organ sets" were posted on the Studiologic website which I downloaded and loaded into the Numa 2. Did you try these, or had you already sold it on ? Not sure if they would have been enough for you to keep hold of it though. Anyway Mitch, it's good to know you have the Mojo that you are happy with. I've sold my Numa 2 on (purely as I wanted a two manual clone), and now have a Viscount Key B Live. Chris

Hi, I'm genuinely interested in reading what Mitche Towne found to criticise about the Numa 2. I'm sure he had a very valid reason as LX88 mentioned. I found owning the Numa 2 to be a very positive experience. Any links would be appreciated. Chris

FunkKeyStuff, Excellent news, hope you are having a great time with the Mojo. Fingers crossed you did not lose out trading the Key B Solo in. I look forward to hearing a video clip in the coming months. Chris

Hi, I'm a Legend Live owner of a few months. So far, I am drawn to playing it for extended periods. Hours just seem to disappear. I am getting to grips with all the controls and invariably it sounds utterly stunning which is amazing considering the short time I have owned it. Now I know I have not said anything technical above, but for me it's all about enjoyment and the playing experience. My only neutral (not negative) observation is that I could have done with more than two presets for each manual. I can live with that though. Chris

Hi, Just wanted to pick up on a couple of points Delaware Dave has mentioned. Although I cannot comment on the Voce Key 5, I did actually purchase a Studiologic Numa2 Organ from a shop in Denmark Street, London (Wunjo Guitars I think). I was happy with the sound, it was built like a tank and was reasonably priced £800ish U.K. The leslie sim was really good. I had a problem with the leslie switch and contacted the U.K. Distibutors MSL Professional in Reading (just West of London). One of their sales managers was travelling to London the following morning, and brought a brand new boxed Numa 2 organ to my home and replaced it with the one I had. He helped me unbox and set up the new organ, test it and make sure it was working o.k. before heading into London for a meeting. I downloaded some software from the studiologic website that gave me new organ clones and some general improvements to the working of the Numa 2. I have given a link to the website. http://studiologic-music.com/products/numa_organ2/#downloads I eventually sold the Numa 2 as I wanted to get a two manual organ. There is no defense of Elvio's poorly updated Website for the Key B organs, although he does have a working download page with manuals and updates for his Key B organs. http://www.keyborgan.com/support/ Viscount(an Italian Classical organ company)have signed a deal with Elvio to produce and manufacture the new range of organs. Thus the name Viscount Key B Legend and Viscount Key B Legend Live. On a personal level, I think this is a fantastic merger that finally brings the Key B organ to the world stage, at such a low price I never expected Viscount could produce them for. There is a website on Facebook for the Viscount Key B organs. https://www.facebook.com/KeyBLegend/ There is also a users group for the new organs which is very active. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1220600077994273/ I fully understand Dave's comments regarding Elvio, of which several are justified. I do think that now Viscount have taken over the manufacture and distribution side, hopefully it will allow Elvio and the Newtone team to concentrate on producing firmware updates, and research and development. Chris p.s. If there are no Firmware updates on these organs whatsoever, it would not be a great concern to me. I had to travel to Northampton to view the organs (130 mile round trip) and was so impressed I purchased one.

Hi, Just to clarify a point. The last couple of comments I made were not aimed at FunkKey Stuff. I fully understand his reasons for changing. I only hope that once he's changed to a Mojo 61, Viscount don't release new clone sounds and changes to features that would have satisfied his requirements (after all, Key B legend products are currently on version 1.0 software). Chris

Hi FunkKey Stuff, Sorry to hear you are leaving the Key B family, but at least you have found a clone that ticks all the boxes for you. I wanted to mention that I had read a post on the Key B Facebook Forum regarding the stiff keyboard action. One member posted to say that with time and regular playing, the action softened. How true that is, I cannot say but for me personally I don't have a problem with my Legend Live (although it is the two manual model). I also read posts from Lars Hamre and Tom Erik Skram (Newtone) who created the organ sounds for the Legend and legend Live and Elvio Previatti (the man who brought the Key B organs to the world) saying that free software updates would be provided in the near future to cover anything from new organ sounds to midi functions. Quote from Elvio, " Dear, we are redoing the clones inside the Legend. They will are availables on the next release very soon. Thank you. Please.. don't ask when because there are lot of modifies so we are debugging it and we need of time to be sure that everything works in good way". And another quote from Elvio, "Dear, we are modifying the MIDI In, Out and USB. these modifies will are availables on the next release very soon. About the Analog In noise I'll test it. Regards". I think this will show Forum members that the team responsible behind the Viscount Key B organs are working pro-actively to provide support to their products. Everybody's requirements are different from a keyboard. It could come down to the actual style of music they play. For me personally, I have always wanted a Hammond clone. I never wanted a real Hammond, in the same way I would never want a classic car. Too much hassle, too many complications !! I did not care what clone I bought, as long as it sounded reasonably like a Hammond. Fortunately the Viscount Key B fits the bill !! And if I'm being totally honest (I expect some crticism for my next comment) some of the posts I am reading (on both this and the Key B Forums) make we wonder why some people bought their Key B organs in the first place. Did they not try them out before purchasing them ? Although I am not a pro player,since I set up my Viscount Key B Legend Live, I have been going through the manual and trying all the features and sounds out and it's honestly been Fun with a capital 'F'. Chris

Hi, Your not talking about Peter Baartmen's that one finger chord merchant !! Chris

Hi Jimkost 2002, I took delivery of a Legend Live mid July but if I had not, then your review would have probably swayed me into getting one. I'm still not sure if I should have gone for the larger Legend model but I have seen a lot of pro players (which I'm not) opting for the smaller Legend Live version. If I may, can I add one name to the list of people you thank in your first post. That of Elvio Previati who without his vision there would be no Key B organs. I have never had the pleasure of meeting him, but we have spoke on the phone three or four times. He's a proper nice guy, speaks excellent English, and totally deserves credit (along with Viscount's production and distribution skills) for bringing these organs to the public. Chris

Hi, I bought one of these HX1 organs with a pair of KA20 speakers back in 1988. It's probably the only organ/keyboard I have ever regretted buying. I was in my 30's, married with two young kids and managed to persuade my wife to let me purchase it. I paid £7,500 for it on finance over five years. It taught me a good financial lesson and I have never squandered that kind of cash on musical instruments since. I'm not a pro-player and the HX1 was far beyond my playing abilities. So much so that it was traded in for a far more user friendly Technics organ a couple of years later. That's not to say that picking one up now for a few hundred pounds would not be a great investment and also a lot of fun. At the time, Max Takano was touring the U.K. giving concerts on the HX1 and in my foolishness thought that if I owned one I could sound like him......... How wrong I was !!! I do currently have a Tyros 5 along with a Casio PX5-S piano, thankfully trading up keyboards every three years from the previous Tyros model means the cash outlay is not so great, and if I cannot pay without finance then I don't buy. Thankfully the wife's still with me after 38 years (despite my spending habits). Chris

Hi Guy's, I found this documentary made in 2013 about Roy. 21 minutes, enjoy. Chris p.s. massive thank you Aidan.

Hi Guy's, for the record, Roy Phillip's lives in New Zealand now. Here's his website http://www.royphillips.org/ Such a shame he's across the world from the U.K. I still get the hairs stand up on the back of my kneck when I hear their rendition of 'What'll I do'. Not because it's the best song ever, but because listening to tunes like that made me take an active interest in organs, which I am still dabbling in now. Thank you for that Roy. As times have changed, I now have a couple of keyboards, but I have one above the other with a set of Roland PK5 pedals. These are all played 'organ' style. Even with my limited musical ability I still get a buzz playing like this !!! Chris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAU7PMLzjfA. 56 seconds on, Organ players heaven.

Hi all, I'm probably one of a small number of Numa 2 owners on these Forums. I'm not a pro-player and respect all those players that are. For me, the different organ models on the Numa 2 (C3, A100, B3, Vox Continental,Farfisa etc) all seem very similar to the set-up on the Key B dual manual organ. In the video demonstration that Gianni Giudici does for the the Numa 2. .He says that the Numa 2 takes the roots of the original Numa organ with many different improvements. I would be like to know from Dazzjazz who the good source is regarding the Key B engine? Perhaps they can enlighten Gianni (Official Italian Studiologic demonstrator) on the error of his comments. I sympathize with Tommybuoy as he obviously bought on spec alone. It's just a little sad that he feels such anger towards the Numa2. As for me, it fits the purpose, it sounds great to my ears, and gives me the real Hammond sound with a stunning leslie sim (in my opinion). It was also about the only Hammond clone that I could afford on my budget. I paid with delivery U.K. £760. (Hammond SK1 was £1,200 with delivery). In all the years that I have been dabbling with Organs,Keyboards and Digital pianos I have come across instruments that I liked, I did not particularly like or simply could not afford. I never once felt the need to get on a Forum and slate an instrument in the way that some people obviously need to. Quite sad really !!! Just for the record, all the Hammond clones on the market sound superbly authentic and I doubt if there is a clear winner. Making comments like 'A' blows 'B' out of the water, or 'A' is rubbish compared to 'B' tells more about the Forum member than the product.

Hi, At current exchange rates I paid $1,200 for my Numa 2 without the gig bag. Strange really, as normally things are cheaper in the States. My gut feeling is that if you battle with the seller you could get 100-150 dollars off that $1,300 price. Chris