Was on a Hammond demo today

I was on a Hammond demo today. Mainly the NewB3 was shown but also the XE-1/XE-2 played a little bit.

XE-1 is an arrenger but is also called a single manual organ. XE-2 is the same thing but with two 61-keyboards. What was interesting to me, as an old organ player, that the XE had supirior organ (hammond) sound than any arranger I've heard and the fact that is has two set of real drawbars +bas. It has the same organ soung engine as XK-2. Unfortunately I had no chance to try it myself today but I will do so later. Also besides the organ it sounded good to me to. However the spec doesn't seem to be impressive for the price, almost USD 4000. A major drawback is that it lacks aftertouch.

Sad that none of the other brands can show up a decent organ sound and an easy way of controling drawbars for three manuals.

HI TonKan - Thanks for your posting - I have been trying to find out more about the Xe1 but it seems to be a closely guarded secret. What do you think of it's other (non organ) sounds/styles as compared to other keyboards such as psr9000/kn6500? Other things I have been trying to find out are: Does it have a decent grand piano? How many MB of samples? How many parts are styles? and finally can any set of midi bass pedals be connected (the hammond proprietary ones are expensive$$$).

Best Regards Tone.

Hi tony!

It was mainly the organ side of the XE-1 that was shown off so I can not say to much about the other stuff.

I just heard the piano sample while a lot of other sound was going on but I think the piano sound of my Yamaha P80 is much better.
When it comes to other sound and styles the PSR9000 is better to my ears but XE-1 is still good.

I have mailed Hammond and asked about the style parts, sequencer tracks, polyphony and Mb sound wave. I hope to get an answer.

Any midi bass pedals can be used.

I was informed that it can convert Solton and Technics styles (maybe also Roland).

I have to try the XE-1 myself but my opinion (so far) is that the organ sound and the real drawbars must be the number one consideration if it shall be of interest.
The choice for me is probably the XE-1 or another arranger + a drawar module but I would prefer to have the drawbars in the keyboard.

Has anyone else any experience of the XE-1 to tell?

Thanks Tonkan - It appears the keyboard is aimed specifically at organists - and is cheap compared to a full hammond organ and has advantage of memory card for style/sound storage. If it offered comparable sounds/styles to psr9000 I would buy it without hesitation but it doesn't so it would be a retrograde step to p/x my current keyboard. I'll be keeping an eye out for the KN7000 due out soon - it will have enhanced organ sounds/styles. (Technics KN6 can already emulate many organ sounds including passable hammond organs).

Tone.