XK-3c vs. XK-5 ..... tone, Leslie sim, nothing else

[MrVegas]

I would like to hear your expert opinions on how the tone and the Leslie sim compares between these two Hammonds.  Don't really care about keybed, action, features, percussion, etc.  Just tone and Leslie sim quality.  I heard an XK-5 in person yesterday and LOVED the tone, very rich and ballsy and I thought the Leslie sim was decent.  Not great, but good enough especially in a band setting (worship service with vocals drums and guitars all through the mix).

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[The Real MC]

Hammond player with Leslie since 1981.  XK-3c owner for 9 years, played the XK-5 at NAMM 2023.  Hammond-Suzuki keeps improving the Leslie sim with each model.  The XK-3c animation and tone is very good, the XK-5 animation is more accurate but missing the tube overdrive of the XK-3c (digital overdrive of XK-5 sounds too ratty).

[Baldwin Funster]

The xk3c is a couple of generations behind. The leslie sim is passable but not at a  "leave the vent at home" level. The later HamSuz stuff is almost "sell the vent" . But the other stuff that really separates isn't the tonewheel sound so much but it's if you like the CV and percussion.  

[RABid]

I really hate the distortion on my XK-3c. So much that I immediately ordered a Vent 2. 

[AnotherScott]

The multi-contact simulation of the XK5 is arguably part of its tone, to the extent that it makes an audible difference.

[JoJoB3]

1 hour ago, The Real MC said:

Hammond player with Leslie since 1981.  XK-3c owner for 9 years, played the XK-5 at NAMM 2023.  Hammond-Suzuki keeps improving the Leslie sim with each model.  The XK-3c animation and tone is very good, the XK-5 animation is more accurate but missing the tube overdrive of the XK-3c (digital overdrive of XK-5 sounds too ratty).

Can concur with the above. Also I'm one of the odd one's that desires the mod wheels of the XK3c. Plus - it's paid for. I pref the real rig as often as possible anyway.
The percussion and keyclick on the 3c aren't the latest and greatest imho but still usable espec with a vintage 122  (internal sim, or Gsi Burn otherwise).

I may update to the XK5 soon if not for the multi-contact sim alone.   I do NOT dig the "updated" H-bus nor the setup and format now involved with the XK5 lower manual.  Looks like an even tougher load and setup (Hello? This is supposed to be made better/easier in cloneland, no?).
The XK3c w XLK for example uses standard midi cables, packs up slimmer and sets up easier/better. At a show is not a great time to find a damaged H-bus cable - but a midi cable? Way more survivable.

The original XK3 leslie sim was pretty bad and I think that's what most refer to. The updated leslie sim on the XK3c can be made to sound quite decent however (still just a sim).
Example
 

 

[drawback]

Why aren’t you considering the XK4? 

[The Real MC]

2 hours ago, Baldwin Funster said:

The xk3c is a couple of generations behind. The leslie sim is passable but not at a  "leave the vent at home" level. The later HamSuz stuff is almost "sell the vent" . But the other stuff that really separates isn't the tonewheel sound so much but it's if you like the CV and percussion.  

 

I think the HK XK-3c/5 emulate my 760 pretty well, but not a 122.  I got a Vent II pedal and I agree it does a very good 122 simulation.

[Delaware Dave]

10 hours ago, drawback said:

Why aren’t you considering the XK4? 

 

This.  Its cheaper than an XK5 and has the latest tonewheel modeling engine and an excellent leslie.  At this point if you are considering an xk5 you should be seriously considering the xk4.

[dfcas]

As I stated in the other XK-5 thread, its starting to show up at the big retailers heavily discounted so a change may be coming.

[Chummy]

Personally I think non of the Hammond Suzuki organs worth the money. But if I could make the case for one it would definitely the XK-4 (I'd still prefer to buy a Mojo 61 or a Viscount Soul in their comparative categories though over the H-S stuff).  Between the XK-5 and the XK-3c I see 0 reason to get the older gen model. Not to mention even the XK-5 has been aging quite quickly in comparison to newer hardware and software.

[Outkaster]

Mojo's build quality isn't great. I returned two of them.

[M_G]

1 hour ago, Chummy said:

Not to mention even the XK-5 has been aging quite quickly in comparison to newer hardware

 

Which one ?

I don't see any hardware clonewheel on the market sounding better.....

 

It's expensive, yes, but.....

[Chummy]

@M_G Even just from hammond, you have the XK-4 with MTW2 tonewheel engine which is an improvement on the XK-5's according to Hammond themselves. Better leslie, etc. This is an apples to apples comparison. For apples vs. oranges - You also have the Viscount Soul with 9 points of contact which are more "juicy" than the 3 Hammond offers. Obviously there's a lot of subjectivety involved when comparing such parameters but one thing's for sure - The XK-5 is not a good value for money proposition taking into account what else is on the market. 

 

P.S also the HX-3 IMHO sounds better than the XK-5

[Iconoclast]

Longtime XK3c user here. Just about to put mine up for sale in fact.

I wasn't a fan of the Leslie sim but always used it with a Motion Sound KBR3d so I really didn't care!

I did have one gig where the sound guy ripped the control TRS jack out of the Motion Sound amp so I had to use the XK3c's leslie sim and it was just fine and I doubt anyone noticed but me, including my band mates.

I use a Nord Stage now so I'm not bringing two organs to the gig. The Nord is better for some things and definitely has a better leslie, but there were certain tones that XK3c+KBR3d just nailed. Had a really nice top end sizzle when you had all the drawbars out.

I've never tried the XK5.