Joey DeFrancesco on the KeyB Organ

I think he likes it.I know I do!
http://keyboardmag.com/Gear

Taike

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Bo pen nyang.

SWEET!!

Bittersweet...

About $4500 even if they DID have them over here.

Neat, but not for me--too much to haul around. I guess if I were back in the nite-clubs, lounges, restaurants situation, where it would be anchored at one location and didn't have to be moved, I would love it, even at that price.

Thanks for the link,

Gary

Well, with Joey endorsing -- and in on the design -- it should prove to be a lot less bittersweet than the Hammond Digital, which would come in at the US 25 grand level or thereabouts.

Notice that Joey uses the true stereo amplification in order to let the Leslie sim do its thing, just like I was trying to emphasize in posts here awhile back. You just can't simulate what the Leslie speaker does using a mono "keyboard" amp -- and I really can't stand those "keyboard" amps that have faux stereo INputs that get summed to mono immediately inside the cabinet.

Time will tell if the KeyB earns a place among the contenders. With Joey in on it, future looks bright at the moment.

If we start to notice 'em touring where there used to be Goff pros out there, look out...

Thanks for posting that,


--Mac

I'd like to hear some other artist play it. I'm not a Joey DeFransisco fan; I don't like all the runs and scales. Actually, I wasn't much impressed with the sound when he tried to play more melodically; I think someone like Booker T cold give us a better picture of that element. JMO.

Wow, that really IS sweet. If that comes in at $8500.00 with the stand, bench, and (25) pedalboard, that may be my next major musical purchase. I think I'd prefer it over the B3 (in every way other than aesthetically) because of the maintenance issue and the lack of a need for a Leslie. I'd still keep my C1 for gigging (and the studio) and keep the KeyB Duo in the Family/Recreation room.

Ummm, wish someone would make a cheap B3 enclosure made of lightweight plastic (in simulated cherrywood) with fake drawbars, knobs, and toggle switches, etc., that would perfectly house a Nord C1/2. Matching 25key pedalboard (real) that weighed in at @ 15 lbs, and of course, matching bench (also made of lightweight plastic - of course it wouldn't hold Joey D. ). The whole thing should be collapsible and cost under 2000.00. I'd buy one (and so would every C1/2 owner in the world - well maybe not in Arranger world). Ahhh, if only I were a little younger. What a great venture.
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Now that I've had time to think about it, it sounds pretty stupid.

chas

You know, Joey has endorsed everything from the Hammond/Suzuki to the Diversi to the KeyB. What's next, Casio? So much for celebrity endorsers.

chas

"Show me the MONEY $$$$$" ...
t.

Joey is part owner of Diversi.

Something like this, Chas?
http://www.hammondstore.com/chops.asp

Taike

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Bo pen nyang.

Home of KeyB
http://www.keyborgan.com/

My Father distributes the KeyB in the UK.

Many of you already know I worked for Hammond for years and when he told me about it..I just didn't want to know.

He ordered them in anyway, but I 'knew' I was going to hate it..its a clone after all. But it didn't matter how much I tried I couldn't fault the thing. Its like playing a real vintage Hammond, not a digital one.

He was the countries biggest Hammond agent and when the XK3 came out they were going out of the door like nobodys business, but he noticed straight away people were buying KeyB instead of XK systems. In the end he didn't bother stocking the XK system anymore.

In the last month he has taken two XK systems in for KeyB's. One went to the Steve Howe Trio (Guitarist from YES) and the other to John Paul Gard (Pedalmania). Both serious Hammond people.

I will never say anything against the current Hammonds, they are fine instruments if you like to tweek the sound, but if your serious about vintage keys its impossible to tell the KeyB from a vintage C3...and the Leslie Sim! all the years I worked with Hammonds and Leslie's I maintained a sim was just to get you by. Not so with the KeyB, you just don't need a leslie speaker.

Its all a bit depressing because I look after hammond-organ.com and run hammondzone yahoo email group which is the biggest organ group on the web. I tell you its messed me up big time and I hardly dare post on the yahoo group anymore.

Sorry but thats just not true!

I know Joey personally. For him its about the music. Money is absolutely not the motivation here.

Its even the same with Elvio, the guy that builds the KeyB in Italy, he is a huge Hammond fan and his passion is the sound and to make the KeyB into the ultimate vintage feeling organ. He is a genius and an absolute gem of a person.

There are still some people in the music industry that are not motivated by cash thankfully

[This message has been edited by Tonewheeldude (edited 03-05-2010).]

That's good info, TWD. Thanks. I know Joey's dad, John, pretty well (haven't seen him in a few years). Does anyone know if it's being distributed in the US? I would seriously love to have that piece of gear. For the last few years, I've been very shaky about pulling the trigger on another B3 because of the maintenance thing. I did have one up until '04 when we left Hawaii. Other than upgrading my VP550 to a VP770, this KeyB Duo is about the only board I'm lusting after at the moment. Of course, I wouldn't kick a nice Oasys out of bed, either.

chas

TWD, would you confirm that the approx. $4500 price for the KeyB Duo actually includes the full pedalboard as well, or would that be extra, too?

Diki, in one of the videos, I heard Joey quote $8500 for the rig he was demo'ing, which included stand, pedalboard (25), and bench.

chas

Yikes!

OK, another dream dies...

So... anyone got a rack Nord Electro they wanna sell cheap?

I am not sure of the USA setup for distribution or pricing, I will ask and get back to you.

Diversi were rebranding and selling the old models but I am not certain that is still the case. I think it may be someone else now.

Vintage Hammond VS DLQ KeyB2. Filmed at Hammond Italia Social Club, June 2006.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5U6y78M-7I&feature=related

Taike

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Bo pen nyang.

It's got WHITE keys, not off-white.

no it hasn't they are the same colour as a vintage Hammond