organissimo "Jimmy Smith Goes To Washington" - Hammond B3 XK3 -

[martinlehfeldt]

xk3 is a great piece of gear.all of hammonds new stuff is top, pro gear. tony monaco, jim alfredson and the list goes on. really, that takes care of that.

[RobPoyton]

You gotta love a guy complaining it don't sound like a "real" B3 through his $20 computer speakers...... I had it once with an XK1 - guy comes up on stage, looks, sneers and says "digital". I said "oh so you play then?" he said "nope".

Good sound, good playing, thanks for posting

[osodogful]

I have played Hammonds all my life (M3, B3, CV and Xk3c system), and I will tell you the new Hammond Suzukis are on par with the older models. They are Hammonds, sound like Hammonds and look like Hammonds! Enough already!

[organham]

Did Jims guitar player rejoin him?

[organeu]

FAMOUS NEW HAMMOND ORGAN, the real new HAMMOND, 

[organeu]

XK3 is a new HAMMOND product, rather the best HAMMOND of this generation, nothing to see with nord or other roland, the dream and teh sound are here like on legendary B3 HAMMOND. Thanks Susuki for this fabulous work.

[BigBrassMachine]

Heard the tune on Sirrius. Bass could be louder. I think that's why people like the Nord system, the bass on it punches through.  Turn up the lower manual. That's also why Barbara added midi bass to her rig. JOS recordings have louder bass. I don't mind the new stuff, I've never owned a B3 but have an XK2 and it's good enough for me, use the Jimmy presets. Jim is from another planet. There's only a handful of people who can play like that. Great job.

[martyg374]

Nice job, Jim!

I am an XK3 system player and won't entertain any conversations about it being "real." It ain't the clubs, it's the golfer :)

Can we move past the gear talk, for once and for all?

A guitar player friend of mine passe sout a card when he is asked about his gearl It reads: Schmuck, go home and practice.

-m

[b3groover]

In all the shows I've ever played, I've only had one person come up and say something about the XK System not being a real Hammond. Most people, if they even know what a Hammond looks like, assume it's a B3. They don't really care if it's analog or digital, they just want to hear some good music. And that's what I try to do: Play good music.

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and looks like a duck...

[BakeliteArmy]

Sorry guys. I have a C3, 145, 2 A100 chops, an XK system and a Ventilator. I am a "Hammond Purist". However, I have a bad back. I mix and match the organ and Leslie setups often. I can hear the differences vividly at the gigs, but by the time the recordings hit Youtube, I absolutely CANNOT tell what I was playing unless I look.

Svamp has a point about "seeing the real deal". I feel I am a curator of these great old instruments, and all other factors being equal, I choose the B3/Leslie.

[EddieLandsberg]

@BakeliteArmy There must be some Freudian element to the human need to see the actual "big organ". Ironically this is the damned if you do, damned if you don't situation: I think the NORD C1 beats out many of the Hamm/Suzuki products soundwise, but visually Sys XK3 looks like a B3. All in all, I don't bill gigs in which I play clones as "Hammond Organ" shows. (P.S. Ever lug an organ and get complimented for the nice piano you play?)

[craigousb]

I listened with my eyes and it sounded great.

[Avagadrostein]

sounds tight

beautiful solos on beautiful, beautiful instruments

[blackhammond]

noticing the comments about "why not use a real B3?" Groover- make no mistake, the xk system is absolutely incredible! I love it and it does sound better than a 50 yr old B3. Im glad the B3 was invented and served everybody very well, but enough already! Lets move on! GET ON BOARD WITH THE NEW STUFF. I also know that there will come a day when the vintage units are gone and if we dont support H-S products today, who will fill our void somewhere down the road?

[royalbastardo]

Swvamp, you are a wanker. Clonewheel or Tonewheel, Jim's flat getting it done, amazing playing Jim!

[organham]

You can tell this is not a tone wheel B3...

[organham]

LIke the cool sound of the bass!!!!

[MysticCzltic]

Excellent !!! The XK3 sounds great too.....

[swvamp]

I think he needs to be using a real Hammond. The sound from this clone doesn't cut it.

[b3groover]

@swvamp Are you offering to be my roadie?

[swvamp]

Thank you for the offer but you already have at least two capable roadies, namely the drummer and guitarist. The stage is of ample size to have accommodated a proper Hammond so why not use one? for simplicity? seems like the wrong mentality.

[b3groover]

@swvamp I hauled a real B3 around for almost 10 years. I had to have back surgery in late 2006 due to a herniated disc from moving that thing.

Why do I use the XK System? Because I think it sounds really good, I use the MIDI functionality to trigger external devices and yes because it's 300 lbs lighter. In fact, when I play festivals I would rather play my XK System than a rental B3 because it's better; I know what I'm getting. Sorry you think it doesn't sound good. I disagree.

[swvamp]

@b3groover That's a shame about your back.

There are trolleys available which would, apparently, allow one person to move the organ. So you could supervise your band mates moving it. It's in their own interest that you sound the best you possibly can. Chops are available and although still heavy would be of a more movable size.

If you're genuinely happy with your sound then fine but I think the difference between real and digital is substantial.

[b3groover]

@swvamp I am happy with the sound of it, as I stated before. I think it sounds great. So do my bandmates. The bass is especially great; much tighter and more focused than a real B3 and thus easier to hear. And like I mentioned, I use the MIDI capabilities of the organ to layer in other sounds. You can't do that on an old tonewheel organ.

I have dollies for my B3. I play over 200 shows a year. I do not miss the B3 at all. I think you're judging more with your eyes than your ears.

[oravia1995]

Yes, I like the sentence: "I think you're judging more with your eyes than your ears."............when you close your eyes, the XK system sounds great.......:)...

[swvamp]

@b3groover I certainly didn't listen with my eyes. I like to listen to music videos on Youtube while I browse other sites so I didn't see that it was a clone and then start to look for imperfections in the sound.

People who go to listen an Organ trio I feel are expecting the Organ player to be playing 'the real deal' in the same way someone who goes to listen to a classical solo piano recital expects the pianist to be playing a grand piano and not the latest Roland/Yamaha digital piano.

[b3groover]

@swvamp Believe it or not but I don't play in order to live up to your expectations.

I've seen many legendary jazz organists. For instance, Tony Monaco on the new B3p (same tone engine as the XK3) and Lonnie Smith on the New B3 (same engine again). They sounded great.

I listen to the music. If it's happening, I don't care what the musician is using. The tools are secondary.

I enjoy playing the XK3 system. I own several Hammond consoles including a 1958 B3. I prefer to use the XK3.

[swvamp]

@b3groover The players you mentioned are endorsed by Hammond-Suzuki so there is a financial benefit for them to use their products. If another keyboard manufacturer offered them more money they would switch allegiances without hesitation.

Thankfully there are still artists, such as Barbara Dennerlein, who recognise that there is no substitution for such a revered and classic sound.

I'm glad you're happy with your set-up but for me it does detract from your performance.

[EddieLandsberg]

@b3groover The proper answer is "Then you come out and help me carry the m****f****er up and down the steps and help me load it into the truck..." I'm not a big Hammond Suzuki fan, but I think you're sounding great and look like the real deal... and I've played loads 'em all... I think a lot of people forget the fact that no two B-3s sound the same anyway!

And for the records, groove holmes played an X-66 and X-77 on many of his albums... not a B-3...

[b3groover]

@EddieLandsberg Thanks, Eddie! Hope to see you in Japan someday.

[BakeliteArmy]

I have designed my A100 chop and my trailer so that barring stairs, it is EASIER to move and set up than the XK3c. (I should shoot a video) But try to park a car and trailer in downtown Chicago!

I'd say 75% of my trio gigs are XK System/Ventilator though. Even that is a pain in the ass to move. I pulled my back yesterday. Bakelite Army @ Quenchers 9PM. Any "non purists" want to help me get it out of the back seat tonight? Much appreciated. I can barely lift the Ventilator today!

[DJTheCampbell]

man soooo good

[aztecmambo]

Cooooooool!

[marcoballa]

GREAT!

[gasttmdq]

majic

[featureG]

treeemendous, the volume output is low and sucks !

[b3groover]

Sorry. The DVD has much better audio.