tonyd Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Does anybody have any comments or feelings either way? I own a vk8 and use it, my own keyboard, and a set of hammond pedals with MIDI to play jazz gigs. Is the xk3 better? I can't afford to haul a hammond or even afford a real b-3. Any help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcS Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 You might look through this thread for info on the XK-3: http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/ubb/get_topic/f/18/t/011390.html#000000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Doe Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 You might give this thread a read as well. I think you'll find that properly tweaked your Roland will be more than up to the task... http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/ubb/get_topic/f/18/t/014986.html#000000 No signature required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calumet Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Originally posted by Jon Doe: [QB] You might give this thread a read as well. I think you'll find that properly tweaked your Roland will be more than up to the task... I will offer the opposite view. I had a VK-7 for a long time and had a big test drive with the VK-8. They don't even touch the XK-3. Side by side, the Roland stuff sounds thin and weak. My band Thousand Houses: www.thousandhouses.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billdar Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 The Rolank VK-8 is very tweakable, and if you spend some time with it, you'll be amazed at how close you can come to making it sound like a real Hammond. A side by side comparison could be misleading depending on how the Roland is set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Coury Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 I owned an XK3 and a Roland V-Combo (which contains the VK-8 engine and more). I set them up on a 2-tier stand and played them through a simple keyboard amp. I was able to get identical sounds from both instruments. The tweaking was as simple as selecting a different B-3 "model" on the Roland (I believe there are 3 choices). "Oh yeah, I've got two hands here." (Viv Savage) "Mr. Blu... Mr. Blutarsky: Zero POINT zero." (Dean Vernon Wormer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdman Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Originally posted by Calumet: Originally posted by Jon Doe: [QB] You might give this thread a read as well. I think you'll find that properly tweaked your Roland will be more than up to the task... I will offer the opposite view. I had a VK-7 for a long time and had a big test drive with the VK-8. They don't even touch the XK-3. Side by side, the Roland stuff sounds thin and weak. I can't agree with this assesment at all. Thin is not a word you can use with the VK8. I in fact looked at both boards closely before going with the VK8 but its quite possible if I repeated the comparison I would go the other way - there is no doubt that the XK3 is a nice board too. Also your decision will in part depend on whether you intend to carry a real Leslie. I did not as my primary board is my piano (although my Hammond playing is getting quite decent). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyd Posted September 16, 2005 Author Share Posted September 16, 2005 I do intend to get a new Leslie 21 system. Does that make a difference? Tony D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Doe Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 I initially looked at buying a MS Pro 145 for my V-Combo. It sure sounded good as any leslie would too, but after getting a good handle on how to tweak the V-Combo I've come to the conclusion that it would be a waste of time. With a good quality keyboard amp and some quick tweaking you have a good leslie already. This way I only need one amp for everything. No signature required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Loving Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Jon Doe you are correct, sir! I found that with plenty of watts and 15" woofers, the b3 sim in an xk-3, much maligned hereabouts, stands up to a motion sound rig. I've a-b'd it and what you say is true. "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdman Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Originally posted by tonyd: I do intend to get a new Leslie 21 system. Does that make a difference? Tony D Yes - it means that the Leslie sims and quite possibly the overdrive sims will not be of interest to you in your comparison. It changes what is important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fortner Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 When I compared the VK-8 and XK-3 side by side (November 2004) I didn't think the Roland sounded thin or weak at all. With similar controls set flat or nominal (drawbars, EQ, matching rotary sim speeds as closely as possible, etc) the Roland comes off as darker and a little "softer" overall. Real Leslie, tend to smooth out some of the sound anyway, and on this score, the XK has more high end--not just treble, but detail--that won't get lost in the big wooden box. I've played the Leslie 21 system, and the rolloff is less pronounced than a vintage cabinet, for sure. Another factor is price - checking Sweetwater, the VK-8 streets around $600 less than the XK-3, making it a really good value for the money. It's a great sounding keyboard. My opinion is that drawbar for drawbar, no other hardware clonewheel comes closer to the real thing, except the five-figure "New B3" of course. The Leslie simulation is definitely the weak spot - usable, but not great. Through any kind of real rotary system, the XK is just stunning. Stephen Fortner Principal, Fortner Media Former Editor in Chief, Keyboard Magazine Digital Piano Consultant, Piano Buyer Magazine Industry affiliations: Antares, Arturia, Giles Communications, MS Media, Polyverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 Does the XK-3 have the same input options as the VK-8? One thing I really like about the VK-8 is the ability to connect a second keyboard and use it as a second manual. The drawbars can be set seperately for the second keyboard. Robert This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rinker Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 Originally posted by Rabid: Does the XK-3 have the same input options as the VK-8? One thing I really like about the VK-8 is the ability to connect a second keyboard and use it as a second manual. The drawbars can be set seperately for the second keyboard. Robert The XK-3 has two MIDI inputs - one for a 2nd keyboard and another for pedals. It also has a separate set of drawbars that can either be used as a second set for the top manual (the A# preset, like a real B3) or dedicated to the lower manual. In single manual mode, the keyboard can be split, with the lower half representing the lower manual. So it can function pretty effectively as either a single or dual manual organ. Finally, it also has 2 bass drawbars - either for real bass pedals, or the bass sounds can be "layered" on the bottom of whichever keyboard serves as the lower manual, so bass can be played without having bass pedals. Pretty versatile. Hope this helps. -Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyd Posted September 17, 2005 Author Share Posted September 17, 2005 You all have been very helpful!! More opinions would be welcome! Thanks to all for your contributions! Tony D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMcS Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 The XK-3 has tubes. And they can easily be replaced with ones that provide your personal preference regarding overdriven scream. Or just the right amount of "Tone". The Digital Tonewheels are individually very tweakable so that along with your choice of tubes and other fine tuning, there won't be another one on the planet that sounds like "your" B3. And when the time comes, you can have this: http://www.hammondorganco.com/product_set4.htm http://www.hammondorganco.com/images/XKsystem-1.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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