New Hammond SK 1

[berbie]

I had finally gotten over gear lust and G.A.S.when I saw the new Hammond SK1 keyboard.  This is a great board.  It is an organ clone but it has great pianos included.  It splits and layers and it sounds just like a hammond B3(on the demos).  It weighs 15 pounds so it is very easy to port. 

It has actual drawbars and other types of organs. 

It costs $2000.00 so it is not cheap.   If bought during one of the 15% off sales, it would be $1700.00. Still not cheap but somewhat more reasonable.  As much as I would like to have one (I would have to let my Motif go)I just have to take some Alka Seltzer. I can't let my Motif go. 

Check the demos and see what you think.

[docjohn]

It does look nice bro! Haven't seen one,hadn't talked to anyone who has.The guy Malc Deakin from England ;doing the SK 2 demo( 2 sets of keys) makes a pretty convincing argument for it.Where was this bad boy when I was playing the discos in the 70's(humming KC "shake your booty")?.

Saw an add for a Roland bk7-m and a Korg SD 10 ($1 +2 k respectfully) which are file players.I could see doing BBox files on a USB and talking that and a SK 1 or 2 for a complete be-all gig rig.I think Roland GW 8 has the same ability to file read including Aiffs ,another lite/easy combo.

[berbie]

Have you tried the GW 8 Doc? I wondered if the sound is equal to the fantom x. My brother was considering one. 

The reason that I like the SK1 so much is that I really haven't been able to get a real good hammond sound on my other boards, and I really like the hammonds.

   

[docjohn]

It's been a while bro-I think the soundset is from the Fantom X.I was not impressed with the sounds A/B my Motif.

The big winner in it though is it's  ability to play all those file types in a lite travel board.Probably the guys @ Sweetwater could give you a heads up;try Mike Soper 800 222 4700x1342

[berbie]

Hey, Doc. Thanks for the info.  I wil try the person referenced and/or pass it on to my brother.  Have a great day. 

Berbie.

[docjohn]

couple thoughts on the organ sound bro;

I'm a Hammond cat-going back to 1972+I'd prefer to have one in ANY situation.The SK1+2 look killer,as well as Nord etc.

For space+ money;there's a couple options-check out Motifator.com for "B s Knees"(software upgrade/sample?).

 There's a couple clips on U-Tube where folks have sampled B4(?) or other sims into their Motif's.

Modules;like Rolands VK and Hammond-using a XS/XF -you have your sliders.

I saw Chester Thompson,on a Yamaha video using an XS(may have had B's Knees?) that was off the chart.

so drool on!

[berbie]

I like the Roland VK8 module but it has gone up in price to $1400.00.  It was not too long ago (several years)when I saw one for less than $800.00 on sale. I thought it was too high and might go down in price so I didn't buy one. They are handy cause you can move them from board to board. Fourteen hundred is too tough for me though. I haven't checked out b's knees. I don't have DMMMs in my board so I don't think I can load b's knees.

[docjohn]

The memory is "cheap"relatively speaking.Another option is the Voce V5,V3 +Micro B ll.The V5 has no leslie-maybe could run thru XS and use it's sim?

I had a V3 and MB ll;both good sound but noisy!!!If you just use the basic 3,4,all drawbars +/- percussion ,leslie off/slow-they are decent units and can be had cheap.I think the MB ll can still be had new from DR Strings;google Voce.

I've done some recording with both,and except for if you leave the 'fast" running too long(3+secs) you could fool most folks.The only way for me to stand the hiss was to have a set of cans on while playing it.

I've seen the V3 as low as 100 on e-bay;don't know about getting it serviced.Spending much more than $500= look for a Nord used or bite the bullet.The local Sam Ash had a Korg CX3(new model) for a 1K.Good board/good price-but heavy!

If I find somebody psychotic enough to pony up $1700.00;I'd sell mine/case/stand +probably get the SK2(as lond as the old lady doesn't catch me)