Product Weight
100.00 pounds
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The latest HAMMOND Keyboard based upon the ‘King’ of all Hammond Organs, the B-3!
The Hammond B-3 is considered the ‘King’ of all Hammond organs due to it’s extensive use by professional and church organists worldwide. It was produced from 1955 to 1974, however it is still in demand by many professional Hammond organists. Today, twenty five years after the last Tonewheel Generator B-3 was produced at the Hammond Organ factory in Chicago, Il., the B-3 is still played by many touring and local performing professional and church organists. Along with the tube-amplifier equipped Leslie Speaker Model 122 series, the 400 pound Hammond B-3 has rightfully earned a place in music history. The size and weight problem has always been a factor for many musicians who desired an alternative to moving and storing a B-3.
The XK-2 is the newest member of the Hammond Portable Organ and Hammond Keyboard family
Since the late 1960’s, several Hammond portable organs and keyboards were developed as light-weight alternatives to the B-3. Hammond introduced the Porta-B (really an L-100 in a portable case), then the single manual X-2, dual manual X-5 and B-200. Hammond Suzuki developed the Digital, single manual XB-2 and dual manual XB-5 as options to the full size XB-3 and XC-3 organs.
Each portable offered Hammond players an alternative to carrying a B-3, C-3, L100, M-3 or other Hammond organ. Each successive portable featured the latest in available technology and narrowed the tonal differences to the original B-3.
‘The XK-2 represents the latest step in Hammond’s ongoing effort to digitally replicate the classic B-3 sound,’ states Steven Eaklor, Director of Product Planning and Development.
‘The new instrument uses Hammond’s V.A.S.E. 11 (Versatile Advanced Sound Engine) sound-generating system for unparalleled realism not only from the Drawbars but from the Vibrato, Leslie, Reverb and Overdrive as well.’
Advanced Digital Sampling and other improvements in the XK-2
Hammond incorporated the best features of state-of-the-art digital keyboard technology into the XK-2, including the new V.A.S.E. ll sound engine and B.M.T.P. Leslie simulator (see below). Further improvements to Vibrato & Chorus, Percussion, Distortion control, MIDI implementation, general user programming and playability, and…. the addition of square-front or ‘waterfall’ style keys similar to the original classic console Hammond B-3, C-3, A-100 and current models XB-3, XC-3 all work together in the latest pro portable keyboard, the XK-2.
The XK-2 is equipped with a full set of 9 Hammond Drawbars, Touch-Response Percussion, Digital Reverb, Chorus / Vibrato, Bass & Treble controls, a built-in 64-patch Library, full MIDI implementation, plus a Leslie connector for direct plug-in to 11-pin Leslie Models including the 122XB, 770, 771 and other older and current 11-pin Leslie models. Channel mixing in multi-channel Leslie’s (715, 716, 722, 723, 740, 750, etc.) is possible with technical assistance from GOFF Professional.
The XK-2 can be used with many other Leslie’s with the addition of appropriate Leslie connector kits. Older Leslie 122 series (22H, 22R, 122, 122R, 122RV, 222, 122A, etc.) with 6-pin connectors can be used with the addition of the 1122 Connector Kit; older 147 series Leslie’s (47, 147, 147RV, 247, 147A, etc.) with 6-pin connectors can be used with the addition of the 1147 Connector Kit.
Advanced On-board Leslie Simulator
‘An essential part of the legendary B-3 sound is the Leslie Speaker,’ says Warren Brunsting, Vice President of Manufacturing. ‘The XK-2 uses the new B.M.T.P. (Balance Monitored Time Phased) digital Leslie simulator. This new system is the most realistic Leslie Speaker simulator to be offered by Hammond and Leslie to date.’
The XK-2’s on-board Leslie simulator is fully adjustable to suit user preferences. The simulated upper horn & bass rotor ‘Rise’ (speed up) and ‘Fall’ (slow down) times can be independently changed. The ‘Brake’ (stopping) time for both horn and rotor can also be adjusted. Volume balance between the horn and rotor can be tailored to suit the user. Simulated Microphone settings can be changed to simulate the different options when miking a Leslie. The new B.M.T.P digital Leslie simulator was designed to offer the professional user total control to achieve a specific Leslie simulation of older single-speed tube amp Leslie’s (21H, 22H, 45, 45, etc.), later two-speed tube amp models (122, 142, 147, 145) and solid-state Leslie’s (760, 770, 925, etc) for live and recording purposes.
Designed in Conjunction with Hammond Organ and Hammond XB-2 Keyboard Players
Working in conjunction with professional Hammond organists, keyboard players, church and home organists representing every style of music, Hammond engineers designed the latest member of the long family of quality Hammond instruments – the XK-2.
Hammond received numerous requests from customers for a single-keyboard instrument which not only has the classic Drawbar tones but also the keyboard look and feel of the B-3. We are happy to be able to offer both of these features in the new XK-2. Utilizing Hammond’s own new state-of-the-art V.A.S.E. ll sampling technology, the classic sound and tonal qualities of the original B-3 were incorporated into the new XK-2.
Closing the gap on the REAL Hammond sound…
Attempts by other manufacturers at ‘sampling a B-3’ and adding Drawbars are not good enough to satisfy Hammond portable organ and keyboard owners interested in a replacement for their aging Hammonds. The new Hammond XK-2 provides for the idiosyncrasies of the electro-mechanical Tonewheel Generator which formed the basis for the classic Hammond sound. The XK-2 offers the closest digital reproduction of the classic sound while offering many features not found in any other keyboard or portable organ.