NEW COMBO ORGANS

[Franz]

Let's face it. The days of transistor organ are past. No current company will venture moneys and resources for the refined tastes of the likes of us. However, they have "modeled" this and "sampled" that.

Perhaps these new organs aren't true combo organs in the classic sense. However, if we define "combo organ" as a portable organ played in a small group (combo) and tending to have a reedy or buzzy sound, then they can suffice.

So I encourage you to review new keyboards for their combo organ properties, and judge them gently against the vintage ones. Keep in mind that sometimes an instrument can grow on you. And sometimes there are external mitigating factors to having or using an organ.

Thanks.

[Franz]

I'll start this off by reviewing specifically the transistor organ sounds of the Nord Stage / C1 / Electro 3 versus the Hammond XK-1. There have been plenty of reviews of these, but not from some one specifically obsessed with Farfisas like me.

About two months ago, I was getting really tired of bringing my Farfisa Mini-Compact somewhere, and then having to wait fifteen minutes for the oscillators to warm up. Before they warm up, they don't play the right notes...they're almost totally random. Also, my Mini has sentimental value because it belonged to a departed friend of mine.

Thus, I resolved to look into a digital organ.

I had a chance to play a Nord C1, which I've briefly reviewed elsewhere, and will not mention here really. Except to say, that I contacted Nord and the Vox / Farfisa models on the C1 are exactly the same as on the Nord Stage. I suspect the upcoming Electro 3 will also have the same models.

The C1 was about a g-note out of my price range. Nord also has cheaper "Compact" stage (which can be found used) and the upcoming Electro 3. At my local music store, there was a Nord Stage. Right next to it, however, was a Hammond XK-1, which was a bit less expensive than a regular Nord Electro. Both were routed through the same set of monitors. So I played the two back and forth for a long time before buying one.

Keep in mind, I was pretty much convinced of getting a Nord already.

Immediately, the action on the slightly yellowed Hammond keys is better. It plays great. Also, the Hammond has read drawbars, which are really fun and easy to play with... WAY more fun than Nord's LED buttons.

I don't usually care about B3 models, but since both had them and I was going to be dropping mad money, I figured it was worth it. The Hammond's B3 definitely had more balls, more warmth, and more presence. Generally, I liked it better. Later, I learned that the Hammond uses a method of very long samples, versus Nord's models.

I get the feeling that the combo organ sounds of the Hammond XK-1 were something of an afterthought. Other than the B3 and X5 modes, there is a "surf organ" which equates to a Vox, and a "cheap transistor" which equates to a Farfisa.

The Nords have a B3, a "V" for Vox and an "F" for Farfisa.

The Nord has several amp models, effects, including distortion, and leslie/vibrato models. The Hammond does NOT have the amp models, but does have very good reverb and delay effects. The Hammond has overdrive, but is only good in moderate amounts. The Hammond has a GREAT leslie effect, and the chorus/vibratos are equally great. Probably a hair better than the Nord's. But the Nord's amp models give it a slight edge.

On both keyboards, I experimented for a great, long, while to find a great Farfisa sound. I had even read each manual online before returning to the store (I made several trips).

To me, the Vox emulations were really good on both. But mind you, I've never played a real Vox before, so I really was looking for the Farfisa sound. The Nord certainly did a better job getting the "reedy" aspects down. The Hammond's transistor sounds overall are definitely more square wave. However, the Nord's sounds were...how should I say...flubbery. Flacid. A bit weak. Even though the Nord's Farfisa was more realistic, the Hammond's sounded better. Bigger. Warmer. More bad ass.

So it may be no surprise which board I went with. I picked up the Hammond XK-1 for all the following reasons: it sounds bad ass, great action, drawbars are great, slightly cheaper, and the B3 is cool too.

Other things worth mentioning about the Hammond. It has the ability to split the keyboard, to use a manual bass on the left, or a "second manual" on the left. Also, it has three MIDI ins, one of which can be used for a bass manual and the other can be used for a second manual. Which means you can plug in a cheapo controller and have more organ sounds! Or bass! I gotta tell ya, the bass is REALLY fat.

The XK also has some "additional sounds". Including a three electric pianos, a vibe, two clavs, a "Van Halen Jump" sawtooth synth sound, and finally, a "funny sawtooth" which is really just a serious waste of RAM space. Most of these sounds are stupid. The 60s EP, which is supposed to be a Wurly, is ok, but could be better if the sound designers would spend another twenty minutes on it.

Of course, all this is subjective. Some folks may prefer this or that...like, what's cooler, a red keyboard or a wood keyboard? If you can, always try these out. But since I couldn't find anything comparing these from the combo organ point of view, I thought I'd offer my opinion.

Later!