Still can't get a B3 tone I like, help!

[playsabadguitar]

I want a breathy tone. kind of like a pipe organ, or a lazy train whistle.

I have been trying for months on my nord electo 6. I get something too dull. Too vibrato. Or no low end.

[monsterjazzlicks]

Did you learn the drawbars?

Try 008000004

[analogika]

Do you have an example of the kind of sound you’re looking for?

[monsterjazzlicks]

Try 008000004

With no 'Perc'?

[playsabadguitar]

Do you have an example of the kind of sound you’re looking for?

[monsterjazzlicks]

Do you have an example of the kind of sound you’re looking for?

There's your problem, right there! You're trying to sound like John Novello when he is playing a B-3 and Leslie that must have met his high standards. Very few players can sound like John on any instrument.

And no Nord will ever sound like that.

You can do very little tweaking to a Nord's clonewheel sound engine and I suspect you've tried it all.

The next step is a Leslie or Leslie sim/amp combo. Any Nord will sound better with the on-board Leslie sim turned off and the instrument connected to a real tube Leslie; that will address both the amp and Leslie effect and make your Nord sound as good as possible.

If you are plugging your Nord into anything other than a Leslie, you need to use a top-notch outboard Leslie simulator to replace the Nord's weak one. The best one is the Neo Ventilator. Plug the Vent into a decent FOH PA and monitor it in stereo with a great stereo keyboard amp or pair of excellent powered PA speakers. I think these steps will make your Nord's organ sound as good as it can get without a real Leslie.

But it still won't sound like John's B-3.

[playsabadguitar]

Do you have an example of the kind of sound you’re looking for?

There's your problem, right there! You're trying to sound like John Novello when he is playing a B-3 and Leslie that must have met his high standards. Very few players can sound like John on any instrument.

And no Nord will ever sound like that.

You can do very little tweaking to a Nord's clonewheel sound engine and I suspect you've tried it all.

The next step is a Leslie or Leslie sim/amp combo. Any Nord will sound better with the on-board Leslie sim turned off and the instrument connected to a real tube Leslie; that will address both the amp and Leslie effect and make your Nord sound as good as possible.

If you are plugging your Nord into anything other than a Leslie, you need to use a top-notch outboard Leslie simulator to replace the Nord's weak one. The best one is the Neo Ventilator. Plug the Vent into a decent FOH PA and monitor it in stereo with a great stereo keyboard amp or pair of excellent powered PA speakers. I think these steps will make your Nord's organ sound as good as it can get without a real Leslie.

But it still won't sound like John's B-3.

One think is for sure. I will never sound like John Novello. That being said, the first 30 seconds of that video is exactly what I am looking for, so what is the closest I can get with a nord?

[Hlaalu]

As for the drawbars themselves, to me it sounds close to a first 3 or first 4 all out with the 1' drawbar halfway out or so. Of course drawbar registration is only a portion of the overall sound...

[analogika]

Stage 3 owner here, so this may not translate exactly:

To me, it’s a mix of the EQ distortion and the Leslie distortion, balanced out by turning up the highs and bass on the EQ.

Assuming the drawbar settings aren’t the hangup.

[playsabadguitar]

Another poster here shared these settings. Hope this helps.

Type: vintage 2
Click: high
trigger: high
rotary: 122 close
Bass/Horn: 40/60 or 30/70 (more horn)
Rotary speed: Normal
Acc: Normal
Horn speed: normal
Acc: SLOW

Rotary Drive: 3.5 but will vary from song to song
Compressor: 8 w/ Fast Attack
Reverb: Stage 1 level:2.8

Amp Sim/EQ Section:
----------------------
Amp sim: off/clean
Treble: 6.5
Mid: Freq: 635 level: -3
Drive: 0
Bass: 10.5