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A chance encounter with some musicians previously unknown to me, on FurAffinity of all places, has stirred up something dormant. Some of you know that I've dabbled with folk music and early to middle 20th century popular music, the latter largely on keyboard instruments. That itch has been sleeping for a few years largely because I lack instruments to play on. My oversized Wurlitzer electronic theatre organ is here, but needs some major work and isnt much fun to play these days. I gave up my piano when we moved to the farm, and though I've toyed with the idea of getting some sort of compact electronic imitation I've never gotten serious about it.
However, listening to some clips posted by canon on FA has made me realize how much I miss playing keyboards. Now I'm tempted to look at electronics again. I always wanted a Hammond B-3, ever since I was perhaps 6 years old and first heard one. After Hammond quit making them around 1968 or so, they became so highly valued that owning one was out of the question. That's how I ultimately came to have the Wurlitzer 950, which is nice but not a Hammond. Apparently Hammond's remains were bought up and merged with Suzuki musical instruments a few years ago, and more recently they've come up with digital replicas of the classic B-3 tone wheel instrument. They look and play the same, sound the same, but are all electronic and weigh a lot less. Unfortunately, they cost even more. A working mechanical B-3 runs about $5K and up now, but the new B-3 instruments are $20K. Sigh.
But... Hammond Suzuki has just introduced this year a new portable keyboard instrument, the SK-1, that weighs only 15 pounds but has the same digital sound generators. It also has MIDI and a full selection of piano and traditional organ sounds. This is seriously tempting. A B-3 you can carry around in a shoulder strap bag, with a full 61 note keyboard and hundreds of sound combinations? It's still priced a bit high at $2K, but I'm seriously tempted to tap my piggy bank. I need to find a place where I can play with one in person, though, and that seems to be easier said than done.
I have to try to contain my enthusiasm until they've been out a while longer. Maybe some used ones will start showing up at a reduced price.
However, listening to some clips posted by canon on FA has made me realize how much I miss playing keyboards. Now I'm tempted to look at electronics again. I always wanted a Hammond B-3, ever since I was perhaps 6 years old and first heard one. After Hammond quit making them around 1968 or so, they became so highly valued that owning one was out of the question. That's how I ultimately came to have the Wurlitzer 950, which is nice but not a Hammond. Apparently Hammond's remains were bought up and merged with Suzuki musical instruments a few years ago, and more recently they've come up with digital replicas of the classic B-3 tone wheel instrument. They look and play the same, sound the same, but are all electronic and weigh a lot less. Unfortunately, they cost even more. A working mechanical B-3 runs about $5K and up now, but the new B-3 instruments are $20K. Sigh.
But... Hammond Suzuki has just introduced this year a new portable keyboard instrument, the SK-1, that weighs only 15 pounds but has the same digital sound generators. It also has MIDI and a full selection of piano and traditional organ sounds. This is seriously tempting. A B-3 you can carry around in a shoulder strap bag, with a full 61 note keyboard and hundreds of sound combinations? It's still priced a bit high at $2K, but I'm seriously tempted to tap my piggy bank. I need to find a place where I can play with one in person, though, and that seems to be easier said than done.
I have to try to contain my enthusiasm until they've been out a while longer. Maybe some used ones will start showing up at a reduced price.
