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Based upon the "King" of all Hammond Organs, the B-3!
The Hammond B-3 is considered the "King" of all Hammond organs due to it's extensive use by professional and church organists worldwide throughout its production from 1955 to 1974. Today, over twenty years after the last Tonewheel Generator B-3 was produced at the Hammond Organ factory in Chicago, IL., the B-3 is still played by many touring and local performing professional and church organists. Along with the tube-amplifier equipped Leslie Speaker Model 122, the 400 pound Hammond B-3 has rightfully earned a place in music history. The size and weight problem has always been a factor for many musicians who desired an alternative to moving and storing a B-3.
A new member of the Hammond P! orta ble Organ and Keyboard family
Since the late 1960's, several Hammond portable organs and keyboards were developed as light-weight alternatives to the B-3, such as the Porta-B (really an L-100 in a portable case), X-2, X-5, and B-200. These Hammond models offered Hammond players several options to carrying the B-3 or other full size spinet and console organs. Each successive model offered the latest in available technology and narrowed the tonal differences between the B-3 and themselves.
Recently, Hammond developed the XB-2 keyboard which features a 61-Note keyboard equipped with Drawbars, Percussion, Reverb, Chorus / Vibrato and full MIDI implementation, plus direct plug-in to 11-pin Leslie Models including the cl! assic 122XB, and other Leslie models with appropriate connector kits. The Hammond XB-2 is the first choice of professionals worldwide who absolutely require the classic Hammond sound, but in a full feature keyboard. Many touring professionals use custom XB-2 Touring Packages.
Designed in Conjunction with
Hammond Organ and
Hammond Keyboard Players
Working in conjunction with professional Hammond organists, keyboard players, church and home organists representing every style of music, Hammond engineers designed the latest latest member of the long family of quality Hammond portables - the XB-2. Utilizing Hammond's own new state-of-the-art DRH sampling technology, the classic sound and tonal qualities of the original B-3 were carefully incorporated into the new XB-2 and it's larger sister products, the XB-5 Pro-Portable organ, the XB-3 and the XC-3, which is identical to the XB-3 but housed in a church cabinet.
Recreating the Original Sound
All previous attempts by other manufacturers at "s! ampl ing a B-3" and adding Drawbars were simply not good enough to satisfy Hammond portable and keyboard owners interested in a replacement for their aging Hammonds. The new Hammond XB-2 includes all of the idiosyncrasies of the electro-mechanical Tonewheel Generator which formed the basis for the classic Hammond sound. These tonal nuances were successfully captured in a digitally based keyboard, the Hammond XB-2.
Back to Basics
The XB-2 digitally generates the pure harmonic sound of the classic B-3, including nuance characteristics of crosstalk, tonewheel bleed, etc., and other important features such as the Drawbar foldbacks at the top and bottom octaves, ! key click, and adjustable overdrive. User adjustable presets, percussion (adjustable), chorus and vibrato, and other B-3 options were designed into the XB-2.
Some very early Hammond organ models lacked "foldback" found in the B-3 and similar models. These models had keyboards which were wired internally different with extra bass tones normally found only on the pedals of B-3 and other organ models with foldback. Other later Hammond organ models had additional tones above the highest frequency tone found in a B-3. The XB-2 can easily be configured to recreate these earlier or later organs to suit the organist's playing needs.
The XB-2 has earned solid acceptance from touring professional and church organists, home and studio players worldwide by deliver! ing the classic Hammond sound and performance. The original B-3 weighed approximately 400 pounds. The new XB-2 weighs just 30 pounds and is the best choice for players requiring top keyboard performance at very reasonable cost.
New Features
In addition to the original features of the B-3 such as percussion, vibrato / chorus, etc., the new XB-2 has incorporated many new features at the request of portable organ and keyboard owners:
A specially designed internal Leslie simulator allows the user to utilize the XB-2's 1/4" Line Out jack and a standard amplifier / speakers, mixing or PA equipment. When an 11-pin Leslie is connected to the XB-2, the on-board simulator is automatically disconnected. If the 1/4" Line Out jack is used with a Combo Pedal Preamp and Leslie, or another rotary horn device, it is very important to turn the on-board Leslie simulator OFF through the control panel. Although the simulator is excellent, if possible, for the best classic Hammond sou! nd, a Leslie is required.