I'm looking at Roland VK-7 or 8, Korg CX-3 and Hammond VX2. I've never played any of them and I need a good B3 keyboard. I currently use an XP-80 with an organ card installed. It's OK but not meaty enough.

Trie with LIONSTRACS MS X76.

Is having good open system.
And playing good. B4 is real time

http://www.lionstracs.com/

Since you have a Roland XP80, if you want to keep with synthesizers then check out Rolands Fantom range or Yamaha's Motif or MO range, both have good quality organ samples in them that produce the great Hammond sounds. Hammond still do keyboards and rack units but can't think of the name. You could get a rack/module and midi it to your XP80 which is possibly the cheapest option.
If you are more into arrangers then it's Yamaha's Tyros 2, the upcoming Roland E80, Korg PA range, or Wersi, Ketron stuff.

For the best B3/B4 if you are into recording I would stick to a computer and use Native Instruments plugins or other VST stuff.

I have had or played all of the models you mentioned...
I would check out the Roland VR-760..it is my choice..giving you 76 waterfall keys with a great feel..same VK engine[with draw-bars] and a great piano too..

You can't go wrong with any of the choices on your list..

My chosen B3 today is a software..Native Instruments B4...

I checked out the VR760 and it sounds like it's EXACTLY what I need. I can't find one for sale as they're all discontinued. Do you know why? Did Roland replace it?

I'm needing this for live playing in my praise band at church. I don't want to mess with modules and switching back and forth etc. Space is a premium and looks are important as well. Modules add more cabling and I already get a lot of flack. I need primarily a Hammond organ with some synth and piano sounds as backup. The other reply about the VR760 looks great but I can't find one for sale.
Thanks all for the input.

For the best B3 sound, I can't see how anyone would expect to get it perfect right out of the box.
Personally, I'd want to tweak, and be able to adjust according to room quality for sound.
I'm just using an old T3 as my workhorse for all organ parts, but I can get what I need in the way of B3 tones, along with an effects pedal for the leslie, that plus running lines out to the front end to allow the full stereo sweep, but one is always different from another, depending on the song, and the room and how the EQ is affected. You've also got to be conscious of what you're using for speakers. It's gotta be a 15" or better to get that full bottom end, 'cos you'd never pull it from a 12".
If output is what you're looking to achieve then speakers have to be a big part of that formula.
...Just my thots..

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...shboom

I had already read this review and it helped sell me on this kb. However, I can't find anyone that's still selling them. That worries me.

I've owned a Korg CX-3 for almost 5 years now. Most of the B-3 clones have good sounds. The CX-3 has two sets of drawbars which makes it a little more versatile than the others. The layout of the controls is very similar to a B-3. I play mostly jazz gigs and the sounds are perfect for me. Later, Ray

Korg CX-3 is my fav B3 sounding and Leslie effect sounding clone I've heard. I've never owned one but have played a few in stores.

Now the VK8M (module) I believe has the same organ sound as the VR760.

I was faced with the very same dilema you're in. I play in my praise band. I've tried quite a few set-ups.... final solution for me... Yamaha S90

But I gotta tell ya... I miss the control that the XP80 has. In fact in the back of my mind I want to get an XP60 again someday and run it through a Motif rack.

The XP80 and XP60 have that ability to use SINGLE PERFORMANCE mode. That mode is HOT for controlling it's own engine as well as other multi-timbral synths. You can layer and change patches on the fly with no sound cut out.. its really incredible.

So you might want to consider running the VK8M from the XP-80, especially if you're used to playing piano on the xp80. I don't play piano well on semi or lightly weighted keys. I play piano so much better on heavy weighted keys. And that's another reason I went with Yamaha early on. The Yamaha keys seemed heavier than Rolands or Korgs.

Either way, God bless.
Bob
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[This message has been edited by RW (edited 06-06-2006).]