Hammond XK-5 hardware logistics

[artdob]

Considering the XK5 to add to my rig. Trying to understand how travelling and setting up this instrument works. For those of you with the instrument and both upper/lower manuals, do you leave the wood panels off the top keyboard all the time? And if so, then does set up just involve simply sliding it into the bottom board or does every setup need additional screws or connectors to keep the bottom and top boards connected? Having an integrated unit (as in Mojo or Legend) does seem to have some logistics appeal, but I want the multiple sets of drawbars (not available on Mojo) and keybed of the Hammond. Assessing the pros/cons. Appreciate related input.

 

[JohnnyB3]

The upper manual is not really designed to be repeatedly taken apart from the lower manual, then reassembled. You have to remove the wood panels from each end of the upper manual to slide it into the lower manual assembly. (and reverse that when you remove the upper manual by reattaching the wooden side blocks.) The lower manual has wood sides that the upper manual slides into:

see video at 2:48

[video:youtube]

 

You could take the whole XK-5 (upper and lower manual) and place it in a case - you might need to have a custom case made for that, I've only seen cases for the upper manual alone.

 

The XK-5 upper and lower unit would still be lighter than a vintage B3 of course, but its still relatively bulky and harder to travel with than a mojo or viscount legend live or even viscount legend.

 

If you are looking for an organ with full drawbars that is easier to take to a gig check out the viscount legend live:

 

[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPpa5PKpauQ

 

 

 

 

[retrokeys]

I have the 2 manual xk5 system and travel with the unit assembled. Yes it is a bit heavy that way, a shade over 60 lbs but a portable dolly helps. I just think it is more hassle than it is worth to do the constant disassembly/reassembly. As to cases for the assembled unit, I use one that was built for me by Studio Slips. I suspect that by now maybe a greater variety may be available. I haven't heard of any flight cases made for this unit but I suspect one made for an audio board could be repurposed. With the limited work I do a well padded soft case is sufficient.

 

[Lou_NC]

Just some food for thought.....you may want to consider finding a used XK-3 system (including the XLK-3 "pro" lower keyboard). Setup is MUCH simpler and quicker than the XK-5, the XK-3 basically "sits" right on top of the XLK-3. Granted, the XK-3 "only" has one set of drawbars per manual, but it still might work for you. I own the XK-3 dual manual setup and plan to hold onto it, it works great for my needs. I've never seen or played a Legend Live, but if I were starting from scratch, I might consider one of those (or a Mojo) in place of the XK-3.

 

Lou

[DenCV]

I have and gig somewhat regularly with the XK5/XLK5 system. The plan was to get a case for the upper, and another case for the lower (studio slips mentioned above by retrokeys)which also can house them together, same size with the upper in the lower as just the lower. That was the plan. I have both cases. I use both manuals, so I don't see myself taking just the upper, which might be different in your case. SInce getting the lower, they haven't been separated even once! THere's a little piece of plastic you slide between the wood of the lower and the upper with the sideblocks off to keep it from scratching. Then once you slide it down into the lower, there's 4 thumbscrews, more like hand screws like on a Z stand that you screw in, and plug one XLR type connector with more conductors. It's not a quick thing, because you have to be kind of careful. For me, even though it's heavy, and because of the depth awkward to haul together that's the way I've done it, and it involves getting up a flight of basement steps. THat's still less of a pain to me than taking apart/putting together at this point. My back is gonna pay for it though. I do construction, and am 56, so I'm not a wimp, but not superman either. I'm gonna post a vid to the end of this where this little female lugs it around by herself. Until I find out it was styrofoam in her case it's gonna make me feel guilty everytime I want to complain, but it is heavy. I have an SK2 which I was extremely happy with before I got the XK5. Nothing sounds as good as the XK5 to me, that's why unless the gig is a real small room, the XK5 goes out, and the nice light, cover a ton of other stuff instead of just organ sk2 stays home. I've played the XK3c, XK5, and SK2 in a matter of two days, not next to each other, but our rehearsal studio has an XK3 in it. To me the difference between the XK3c and SK2 was pretty big, the difference between the XK5 and the SK2 is even bigger. As much as I like the Suzuki stuff, however I can see a day coming if it's not already here where the mojo with updates pulls ahead of the SK2 (haven't tried the newest update yet), and I think the mojo has the best docking system out there. There's something about the sound of them that I don't care for though, and that's purely a matter of taste. If I didn't have the XK5 I'd be running with either a legend or a mag I think. But as heavy and awkward as the XK5 is, I'm totally sold on the multicontact sim in it, and it just has the perfect sound that I am looking for. I've had guys try to tell me all the latest clones have something similar, and it's a gimmick, but when I play it, I definitely notice it. When I got it, I tried everything out there except the mag, and that's what I have, in spite of the fact that it's expensive. I'd try it if you can, that's a huge chunk of change. Hope this helps. Here's the vid of superwoman https://www.facebook.com/yuko.ichizuka/videos/1784561238320304/

[Delaware Dave]

It pains me to see that she makes less trips to the car than I do. If Guido would just create that 73 key DMC (the Electro killer) that would simply my rig all the way around ..... I'll guarantee you that her setup time is half of mine as well.