Re: McGriff, Page & Plant, etc.

[GOFFProf@aol.com]

Mark and Ben wrote great posts about Jimmy McGriff and his use of the new
HAMMOND XB-3 and GM-1000 MIDI Module.  Jimmy is one of the few senior
organists who really uses MIDI equipment.  The original MIDI B-3 I rebuilt
for him in '87 was the first MIDI B ever placed on tour with a professional.
This organ is still in his possession.  
Make no mistake, Jimmy likes the new stuff too, as HAMMOND is backing him
with equipment for some shows when possible. For his recent show in
Springfield, MA, I rented him a rebuilt custom B-3 and two 122's.  He wanted
a new HAMMOND, but I had just installed our last new XB-3 and XC-3 organs in
churches a few days before, so we did not have any new organs left for him to
use.  Jimmy LIKES to experiment with new styles and changes his shows around
by doing this. 

Regarding the new HAMMOND GM-1000 MIDI modules, I sell a boatload of them
mailorder to churches and other new HAMMOND owners, as they slide right into
the XB-3 console and can be controlled via drawbars.  

Several bands use them on tour as part of our custom XB-2 Road Packages, or
with other keyboards.  As Mark Longo wrote, the GM-1000 is not a HAMMOND-only
MIDI module. It has 368 voices including some neat percussion. The owners
manual is still a tad scary, but we are getting more familiar with the
GM-1000 and like them. It will stand up to a much higher priced MIDI module
with no problem.  My one complaint is still the RCA-style jacks on it,
instead of 1/4" jacks.  HAMMOND is working on this. 

I agree with Ben and others in that I like to see the artists use an original
B-3 if their style is based on that specific sound.  But many players are
discovering that new ideas make them bigger $$$.  Keith Emerson played 22
keyboards from his GOFF Professional Velocity MIDI C-3, so this concept is
not new. He recently decided to work with Ensoniq and will soon be
reappearing on the music scene.  

(NOTE - To answer Email questions from board members about the February
KEYBOARD Magazine "On The Road" article on Page & Plant <previously LED
ZEPPELIN> and their HAMMOND --- their custom B-3 is painted black (KRYLON
semi-flat black), I was short on time and a black B-3 looks great on stage
under lights; The B-3 is purposely not MIDI, but it has lots of neat mods;
the two Leslie's on tour are new 122's in walnut finish, and, Yes, Chris
Burn, the P&P keyboard tech calls me at 2:00 A.M.  Don't laugh, some of you
on the board - you know who you are- call me at wierd times too.   Bob
S.--maybe this is also the best time for us to try? Bill Beer and I often
talk at night. Last week he said for some reason it's cheaper for him to call
me.)

Al