Re: W-5000

[Will Walker USG <wwalker@zk3.dec.com>]

>And when I saw Joey DeFrancesco play the W-5000(finally I know 
>the correct name now) he had an incredible piano sound coming 
>out of this thing. I would have to say it was one of the best 
>piano samples I've ever heard. The strings were incredible, must 
>all be sampled sounds. Hell he even made the thing bark like a 
>dog.(that just cracked Jack Mcduff up). Anyway It does all of 
>these things and it sells for the same price of the XB-3. Well 
>at least you get more for your money.  Just from the Hammond 
>sound alone that it gets its a better deal then an XB-3.

I went to the DeFrancesco/McDuff show in Boston and I
didn't think the Rodgers stood head and shoulders above 
the other available clones.  I think the thing that made 
it sound awesome were two things (in this order):

        1)  Joey.  Joey could make my mother's Casio 
            sound awesome.  

        2)  The Leslie.  At the Hammond-clone shootout, 
            Al's 122 made up for many of the apologies 
            each clone had to offer.

I really didn't care much for the barking dog sound, 
either.  There's really nothing like the real thing 
when it comes to the sound of my poochies barking at 
the paperbabe.  Then again, I have a Golden Retriever 
and a Golden Retriever mix (American breeds) whose 
barks are warm and friendly sounding.  I think if I 
had one of those Shar-Pei's, though, it would sound 
a little harsh and maybe too thin.  The German model 
might be a little too angry sounding, but I think 
some people prefer that.  Anyway, the Rodgers bark 
didn't come close to any breed of dog.

It ain't the equipment.  It's the driver.

Will