Tom,

You got all the response whatever the time of year, anyone who was ever connected to a Hammond Tone Wheel is either dead or nearly dead, you have a nice Christmas Tom and all the very best wishes.

Skip the light fandango
Turn Cartwheels across the floor

Tony

As Doony would say Nuf said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8jJ1ORIOes

A Hammond is a Hammond is a Hammond and a clone is a clone is a clone ... and if the clone sounds so good I can't tell the difference, that's fine ...

BTW ... the Beatles were GREAT .., and Jazz on a Hammond is GREAT also !!!
JMHO ...

Nuf said Tony, IYO...

Have a Happy Beatle Jazzy Christmas Tony...

Put two keyboards in front of any of you guys... A B3 into a 147 and a clone into a 147, I'm pretty sure I know which one you would all sit down at!

And that, when there are no other considerations (moving it, having enough room on stage, ease of getting at your arranger at the same time, etc.) is the bottom line. You walk into a club, and there's a Nord and a Leslie, and a B3 and a Leslie...

Be honest. You'd go sit at the Hammond every day and twice on Sundays!

Well, those of us that don't need a transpose button would.

chas

You don't "play" a Hammond B-3...you "ride" it. Nothing "feels" or plays like a Hammond...the closest I've used is a double manual Hammond XK3c that allegedly uses the identical keybed and multiple contacts.

However, my back thanks me every time I use the Tyros4...my old 1958 B-3 (all 425 lbs. of it) is still going, as are the two Leslie 147RV...it's now in a buddy's living room and still sounds as sweet and soulful as ever.

Speaking of transpose buttons...best things they ever put on a keyboard. There was more than one night I wished the old B-3 had them, but, then again, not having them certainly added to my musical education.

Do I "need" transpose buttons? Nope. Do I "want" them? You bet! Slicker than frog hair!

Ian

The XK3c has standard synth type keyboard contacts, but the Hammond Suzuki B3 has beautifully made multi contacts (gold). Each key contact unit can be removed independently. Cleaning the bussbars on one of those is such a pleasure! The only problem is its still too big and heavy for most people, still requires a Leslie and costs more than a vintage B3. Part of the reason the KeyB duo (at 26 kilos) is so popular...and it has transpose (much to the despair of the designer who was forced to put it on by his customers!).

For my money, the XK3c is by far the nicest "portable" I've played. The Nord C2 is really nice, but it just doesn't cut it for me. Real drawbars are what I like.

The double manual XK3c felt and sounded so much like a my old B-3, it was scary.

If I was playing in a blues band and played predominantly organ, I'd have the XK3c double manual in a heartbeat.

Haven't tried the KeyB Duo...no dealers here.

Ian

My uncle had a B3 with a 147 in his living room. He taught me how to play "Silent Night" on it. Up until then I only played clarinet. I didn't know what I was doing he just showed me which keys to press. Later after taking organ lessons from a "Pop" style of teacher I would go there just to play it and have fun. I still remember "96 Tears" on it. I never hauled a "B3" with the band I played in for 36 years. I did haul an "M3" with 147. I don't miss that at all.