Roland VK88 Dual Keyboard Combo Organ

[jamaicanbaan]

How many of you played a Roland VK88 Dual Keyboard Combo Organ ???  I'm thinking about getting one but I'm not sure....... I never heard any Roland made organs befor..I currently have a Hammond XK3, and I love it to death,but I just dont want to buy a Roland VK88 Dual Keyboard Combo Organ and be let down.........Is there anyone out there that can compare the sounds for me and let me know if it's worth it?????

[Dooley]

I played one in a church...Besides the feel, I liked it.  It sounded pretty good.  Almost like a vintage hammond.  I just didnt like the feel sometimes, and it didnt give me that bottom like i wanted...but it could have been the amp

[RMS2003]

My advice, stick with the Hammond...The VK88 isn't bad by any means, its actually pretty good soundwise (I own the module version, VK-8M)...but unless its the dual manuals, I really don't see why you'd wanna buy something else over the XK3. If I'd had the money then I would've taken the Hammond over the Roland, I'd like something with more drawbars and waterfall keys, plus the Hammond has the tube amp.

[c3hamby]

STICK WITH THE HAMMOND XK3!!!!!

Hammond is now offering a lower manual and pedals for your XK3...as well as the panels to make it look like a B3 or C3...check it out!

http://www.hammondorganco.com/product_set4.htm

[sacred-composer]

I haven't tried the Hammond but I have tried the Roland VK88 and I was impressed by the tone quality. What I did miss was the reverse key presets they have preset buttons instead. But you have to try one yourself to see if it is what you want.

[wannjl]

Why would you not just get the new second manual for your XK3?

http://www.hammondorganco.com/product_set4.htm

Jeff

[jamaicanbaan]

Why would you not just get the new second manual for your XK3?

http://www.hammondorganco.com/product_set4.htm

Jeff

Oh I've looked at that link a few times ,but It dont say how much it cost....... And I dont think any stores out here sells the second manual for the xk3...................I paid 2,300.00 for my xk3 and for a new version of the hammond B3 it cost only 3,500.00.....so I figure that the second manual keyboard for a xk3 will cost the same as the first manual....but the roland only cost 2,100.00........I was going to trade in my xk3 for the roland.........My motives for that are simply me needing to practice using an upper and lower manual at the same time.........the only hammond I played with two manuals was a Hammond m3........Catch my drift????..................

[B3Wannabe]

Although I think you can get a slightly better sound from the XK3. I think the VK88 is a good model. Almost all the organ clones sound equal when you play them through a leslie. The difference usually comes in the bass, on some the bass, when played through the pedals isn't as deep as a normal organ. This isn't the case with the VK88 as it is with the Korg CX3, which is why I want to switch. I'm getting an XK3, and may use my CX3 as the second manual for it. I don't know yet.

If you plan to get a VK88, also plan to get a good leslie or leslie simulator, like the Motion Sound Pro 3T, since the VK88 doesn't have a tube in it, the sound isn't as distinctly Hammondish as it would be if you played it straight through an amp. If you plan to just play in the background, you may not have a problem though.

[Wolfram]

Oh I've looked at that link a few times ,but It dont say how much it cost....... And I dont think any stores out here sells the second manual for the xk3...................I paid 2,300.00 for my xk3 and for a new version of the hammond B3 it cost only 3,500.00.....so I figure that the second manual keyboard for a xk3 will cost the same as the first manual....but the roland only cost 2,100.00........I was going to trade in my xk3 for the roland.........My motives for that are simply me needing to practice using an upper and lower manual at the same time.........the only hammond I played with two manuals was a Hammond m3........Catch my drift????..................

You can hook any control keyboard into the bottom of an XK3 and have the organ.  It can be even a Casio, if it has midi outs...  I would not sell the XK3, save up and get the bottom or get another control board.  I currently use my Triton as a lower keyboard.

W

[blesshands]

 
   i don't know to much a bout notes i just hear chords and times i can make them out
   i can play a few songs in chords slow song have no beat at all, i tryed to in proved my speed but noting happening yet.
   help, help help pleas]
 

[Kevykev388]

A friend of mine has the whole XK-3 (mini B3) setup. He has the Xk3 itself, the lower manual, the pedal board, and side panels to make it look just like a mine B3 all running through a leslie. Stick with the Hammond. The Roland VK was made to compete with the Hammond...and it does just that....(compete) very well. But it DOES NOT in ANY way compare to a Hammond. Stick with the hammond. To get the panels, lower manual and pedals....i think you're lookin at a lil over $2000!

[PianoWizard]

Welcome to the LGM family "blesshands".....Be Blessed.

PianoWiz...

[docjohn]

one of my friends suggest that the lower manual for the xk-3 was WAY overpriced.he was actually talking about buying a second xk3 and making his own satand,more capable/lower cost.for playing out,he could just lift the top board out. like 2 complete organs for not much more than one.as good a job as hammond did on this,think they missed the boat price wise

[Wolfram]

The lower keyset (pro version) will set you back $1200-1400.  The reason to get this version as opposed to the $2000 vintage bottom is that you are paying $800 for wood.

If you want a cheaper stand, you could use the Quicklock Z series stand.  It is sturdy and will hold the boards nicely for under $300.

To build your own stand... (I do woodworking)  You will spend a pretty nice chunck of change for wood and then to put it all together so that it doesn't look like it was thrown together.  Are you making a permanent stand or do you ever want to move it? 

I would say buy what was designed for it instead of trying to work around it...  :-)

P.S.  A new XK-3 is $2100.  getting the pro bottom stack would make more sense.  You could them take the money you just saved and buy the stand or pedals...