Guess you decided to alter the post before I got to reply. I'm one of those old dudes who not only played a B-3, Suitcase Rhodes and DX-7, but still use all three instruments at a country club job several times a month. All this heavy old equipment stays at the club, and I'm lucky enough to have the help of a waiter and his son, who are both church musicians. When I get to the job, the equipment is all in place, turned on and ready to go. The music is straight ahead B-3....walking left hand bass, with a drummer. GREAT FUN!

That being said, if I didn't have this gig, I certainly wouldn't drag this old gear, great as it sounds, to anything but really big gigs.

You asked if any new stuff sounds as good as, or like the old stuff. The closest practical thing to a B-3 I've found is a Nord C-1. It's light (33 lbs) and is fine when you get used to the lack of real drawbars. It works great, but would benefit from a port for direct connection of a Leslie, like the C-2 has. The XK3 is sitting in my den, and sounds great, but is a little fragile and expensive to gig with.

Nothing sounds as good as a real Suitcase or DX-7 to me, but lots of things come close. I even like the Rhodes and other sounds on a little NP-30 Yamaha, which costs $300.00. I use it on my right hand with the C-1 and, at 12 lbs, it is adequate.

Old or new, the deal is, they're all GREAT!

Enjoy what you play, everybody!


Russ



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 12-04-2009).]