C3 and XK5 Honest Shootout

[@marklinham2809]

Hi Nick great to meet you at MK event. This is a great comparison given you route via the same leslie. I agree with many of the comments here. The XK5 sounds slightly brighter and airing towards harsh side whereas C3 is a warmer sound. Having said that, playing the XK5 through the new valve 122 at MK, I thought how smooth and warm it sounded. I can only conclude that the XK5 can be manipulated in a way to get so close to that sound we all crave for and it has so many performance benefits I wouldn’t part with my XK5. This is having traded my A100 and 145 in for the XK5 and 145. Great reviews. A side note, I have adjusted my XK5 to route via the tubes and not bypass. What an amazing adjustment to the sound. I did not realise HS bypassed the tubes. Thanks again

[@handmadeindustrial]

I think it comes down to the attack click and tube sag being the variable. The tone wheel clicks are far more animated and raw sounding.

[@Spektralfarben-Music]

Nice and very interesting comparison, thanks! For my ears the XK5 sounds brighter and slightly harsher than the C3. There’s is some kind of "vintage dirt" and warmth in the sound of the old wooden lady.

[@nickblindlemon3383]

Sounded damn good last night Nick, look forward to our gig tomorrow night👍😊

[@B3-R]

Just heard the C3 little "ticker" sound as the XK5, probably the 9 contacts down on the Keybed interaction.All this without Leslie, with it and Percussion sounds the XK5 pretty near to the C3, this impression is listening on my smartphone, this could be different on an open Speaker. Thanks for this presentation.

[@nickfoleyuk]

Cheers

[@musicplacenz]

I can’t believe how different they actually are- I’d have put it down to the Leslie if I didn’t know better! I’m thinking the xk 5 needs the tone taking down a bit… the c3 sounds warm… it sounds amazing. If I didn’t hear the c3 then I’d still think the xk sounds a bit harsher.. hope that doesn’t sound offensive… both great machines

[@simonrinaldo3957]

Cheers Nick, a really interesting comparison. The first time and only time I every played the XK5 was at the event in Milton Keynes, (where we had a chat).... and it was only a very brief play. I did really love the organ, what an amazing instrument and finished so beautifully. The new Leslie is also very lovely indeed. I'd love to really play on and XK5 for longer to get a real feel of it. My first impression was, it all felt a bit too good for me, not enough noises and crackles and the keys all felt very new... ha! maybe I needed to get more dialled in for my tone? I got back and fired up my '62 chop and of course I felt more at home. Dirtier and grungier and a bit worn and leaky...... the way I like it,..... but it was more than that; it was the feeling of the living, breathing monster I felt was possibly missing in the XK5. The same with my old 147 and 145. But, it really is so so close, almost indistinguishable. I wouldn't choose to swap my old beast for one, and to be fair can't really stretch to buy one anyway. For some people I am sure it would be a better option than a vintage organ. Some of the other folk playing that XK5 at the MK event were getting some real sweet tones out of it so it clearly works for them. Would I play one live..... yeah!

[@nickfoleyuk]

Cheers. Great to meet you too

[@Blues.Fusion]

C3 had just a little more low end beef. With some kind of eq tilt control I'm sure they could be made to match almost exactly.

[@richferraro4422]

I play a 63’ B3 so I might be bias but IMHO the search for a true sounding mechanical tonewheel and wax caps portable will have to continue. Besides, where do you put the oil? The digital high end thinning out is a detriment. Your C is noticeably warmer, spongy, and has that punchier percussion mojo. This is good! You mentioned some equalization tricks available on the xk so not sure if that would even it up. Is that a stock 122? All things considered the portability factor of the xk wins on the road, in the studio, not so much. Just my 2 cents(US). Great chops by the way! Love your topics!

[@connor_flanigan]

the Suzuki comes with sealed bearings and don't require periodic lubrication like those obsolete antique organs which were made in Chicago

[@highamnj]

Clones always seem to sound a bit tinny on the higher notes compared with the real thing.

[@f-tech5497]

I'm surprised to read this. I always thought, this was a particular fault of the XK3(C) and corrected with the XK5.

[@Ianplankton]

This was great!

[@nicklisac4667]

Are there characteristics of the electromechanical tonewheel sound that a digital sound engine simply cannot emulate? The XK-5 is no slouch but there"s something missing....a feeling maybe....that can't be digitised? Who knows, I don't. 🤷‍♂️

[@nickfoleyuk]

Agreed. It’s something organic isn’t it? The XK does a great job

[@nicklisac4667]

@@nickfoleyuk 🤣 love the pun 👍

[@nickfoleyuk]

@@nicklisac4667 yeah sorry about that

[@sjl-nb1kw]

The XK-5 also includes Vox, Farfisa, and pipe organs so it's more versatile in that sense

[@hammondvoodoo9555]

Both organs sound very close. The XK5 is definitely brighter and also slightly louder (likely as a consequence). 2500 £ for a 1960 C3 is a steal, despite the battered cabinet. Interestingly, the percussion on the original is always beefier and louder, no matter which clone we're talking about. I suppose the C3's Scanner C/V would have sounded better than the one of the XK5 but you didn't compare it. However, the 50ies Hammonds in most cases have a C/V which is out of reach for any clone.

[@jazzplayer59]

Nice comparison... played my 1968 B3 for 25 years...the real deal is still king... however, the newer clones are a lot easier to move and in a band context it's hard to distinguish the differences...very nice review.

[@nickfoleyuk]

Cheers Steve

[@geoffemett]

The XK5 is superb and if you are gigging then it clearly makes sense……but on a straight comparison with the C3 it definitely falls short, the C3 is warm and rich and beautiful 🎹🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@nickfoleyuk]

True story

[@CINEMATOGRAPHERGR]

For me that who I hear because i play in Hammond the sound it’s so close but not the same The c3 it’s soft and xk5 little more sharp sound But I hope it’s possible to fix it in setting

[@dennisdibrizzi7726]

My question is, do you prefer the XK5 on C3, or B3?

[@nickfoleyuk]

Different for different needs really. To record and enjoy I go for the C3, for gigging and everything everything else the XK-5

[@dennisdibrizzi7726]

@@nickfoleyuk I’m sorry, I was referring to setting the XK5 on B3, or C3.

[@nickfoleyuk]

@@dennisdibrizzi7726 Ha yes I see, C3 for me, more leakage I think?

[@nicholasfaith8999]

The real unit definitely sounds better, there is more depth, and its much fuller, more rich sounding. The xk5 sounds great, It sounds perfectly fine as a a gigging workhorse. But, I won't lie, Id rather have another vintage C3 than the XK5 for recording

[@maurodonnini928]

Acquisterò, però, HK-5. è troppo comodo per gli spostamenti.

[@nickfoleyuk]

absolutely !

[@maurodonnini928]

HK5 ha un suono magnifico molto simile al C3 ma certo non uguale. C3 super.

[@maurodonnini928]

Aggiungo che i tasti del C3, quando suonati, fanno un certo movimento che viene trasmesso al mobile. Questo influisce sul suono dei rotori. Questa mi sembra l'unica differnza fra i due Hammond. Il suono puro mi sembra assai simile. Nel XK5 i rotori sono stati riprodotti con circuiti elettronici ovviamente. Questo vuol dire che certo non occorre ingrassarli con olio ne riaparare i rotori. La differenza che sentiamo, anche se mi minima, si piega con tutti questi fatti. Aggiungo però....santo C3....

[@gwroest9683]

C3 with percussion sounds way better than xk5😉

[@MegaCraptacular]

I used to own a C3 (currently playing a Mojo 61though a Mini Vent, Lounsbury Tall & Fat and Organ Grinder). Call me crazy, but those greasy tone wheels spitting through a 122 will NEVER be emulated! Just a shame that even a chopped C3 weighs a TON.

[@f-tech5497]

so 7 years after it was released, euphoria about the XK5 being the "new Real Thing" seems to diminish. BTW, I hear this bullshit with each new model since the XK2.

[@louiscornale5667]

Great but how about wooly bully watch it now either one wonderful 😮

[@sazieboy64]

C3 is best, just.

[@nickfoleyuk]

Thanks