LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Roland VK-8 v. Hammond XK-2
drthunder -- 04/04/2004, 21:01:25 -- #3264
I have had trouble finding discussions outlining the pros and cons of each, relative to each other.  Does anyone have experience on either?  Is one a clearly "better" choice?

Dr. Whack -- 04/04/2004, 21:12:05 -- #3265
I A-B'd them once at a music store, and in my opinion, the Roland blew the Hammond away...I have two real Hammonds at home (you know the kind with a tone wheel and tubes)  The Roland comes much closer to the real thing...the Leslie simulator on that thing isn't bad either...of course it would be much better to play through a real Leslie:)

I once played a gospel session where I used a Korg M1 through a Pro 3 (I think that's what it was called)  It was about 6 inches high, had rotating horns and a stero LFO out..it was a nice sub for a real Leslie...the only problem was that the horns went from "off" to "fast" much too quickly...I think newer models have been fixed so they take off a little slower...

Billy -- 04/04/2004, 22:31:51 -- #3268
I had a hammond A100 (with the internal speaker cabinet and built in reverb) sittin my garage at one point. But, my dad being a piano tuner/technician/whatever else has to do with pianoes keyboards and organs, took some tubes out of it to fix my churches B3. I was distraught...Now its sitting in another garage for storage, along with the leslie...:(

Dr. Whack -- 04/04/2004, 23:11:36 -- #3270
well I negelected to mention that niether of my Hammonds (M3 & BV) are working right now...the M3 just needs a power cord and I don't have a Leslie kit for it...I think the B plays but I need some tubes for the Leslie 31h - big tall  sucker:)...but right before it went out...man...I had a carnal attraction to that beautiful distorted fat Hammond!  I would stay up all night an play it....I think my wife was getting jealous:)

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