From groovecake@yahoo.com Thu Feb 14 14:32:10 2002
Subject:CX-3 Test Drive

Well, I went again to try out the CX-3. My initial
test drive a couple months ago yielded mediocre
results, so I decided to give it another go.

I REALLY want to like this thing. I have set myself up
for gear envy. I have read all the great things people
have said about it on here and have gone in with a
totally open mind...wanting to be forced to carry a
balance on my credit card.

But it just doesn't do it for me.

Now...granted...this is from playing it in a loud
store on small speakers, but here are my general
feelings:

1. The biggest thing it has over my VK-7 is how it
sounds in the top octave when set at 888000000, 3rd
perc, chorus C3 (the Jimmy Smith). It is not shrill
like the Vk-7. I really like how it sounds there.

2. I understand how nothing sounds great out of the
box and only with tweaking can you get an instrument
to sound the way you want it to. That said, my initial
impression of the leslie simulation is revulsion. I
think it sounds synthetic and noisy. (Bear in
mind...this is coming from someone who gigs with a
VK-7 using it's internal leslie. For some reason, I
like how it sounds in the mix.) I imagine that with
some tweaking it would sound a ton better...but the
initial settings really turn me off.

3. With regards to #2, I think the thing sounds WAY
better with the leslie sim bypassed. I would venture
to guess that the CX-3 sounds fabulous through a real
leslie and would scream through my 147. True?

4. The keyboard feels chintzy. It is very
fast...almost too fast. And the hot key bounce could
get annoying really fast.

5. I wasn't that knocked out by settings other than
Jimmy Smith. 838000000 was way too thick to my ears.

The bottom line is that I still want one. I think it
would make a fantastic addition to my rig (in
fact...setting up the Cx-3 and the Vk-7 in a stacked
double manual type of rig would probably scream), but
right now it is cost prohibitive.

I am thinking that the Cx-3 and Vk-7 are probably as
good as Hammond clones will get for while, considering
this lists previous discussion on how Hammond clones
are a total niche market and that these companies will
soon tire of searching for the perfect tonewheel
doppelganger. Therefore, I am figuring in 6 to 12
months, more CX-3s will appear on the used market and
I will be able to get into one for $1000 or so. At
least that's what I am hoping for. Until then...the
Vk-7 will sit atop my Rhodes for a while longer.

Thoughts anyone?

Mitch

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