Nord Stage 3 - hammond B3 Sound

[aureliopenna]

I think the organ sounds different too. Maybe leak some low end in my opinion, but this could be cause by so many facts that is hard to say it's was something related with the Organ section itself.
Just guessing but, could be a fine tunning on the entire Eq preamp section, could have some tweaks on leslie speakers, it's so hard to say once nothing was mentioned on OS release features.

But overall I not unhappy with the Hammond, (or I'm just getting used to that). One thing to me is a fact, since the NS3 first OS a there were a lot (not to say huge) tweaks on the Organ Section and the board itself aside the ones that were actually mentioned. I believe that.
So far I think it's getting BETTER in my opinion (some OS got worse in the process).
IMHO Still it's not FAT or WARM as the Electros or early NS2 but maybe it can be some day!

[thomasw-dk]

I played on a Hammond SK2 for a couple of years and was using this board as an overall board for practicing at home and band playing....i liked the layout and the two manuals, the portability and the Hammond sound with the integrated Leslie SIM which had a lot of possibilities for tweaking. But for an allround board i found the other sounds too weak for solo playing, especially the piano sounds. I invested in a Stage 3 C and sold the SK 2 and really like the flexibility, the sound quality and ability to download and personalize the keyboard. All good.
So all what i was missing and complaining about the SK2, i got here with the NS3 C.....BUT...
A bit disappointing i found (besides of some quality issues with some buttons and the keybed) personally the Hammond B3 sound...i am missing some warmth, the airiness and colorfulness of the B3 somehow. A bit hard to describe...somehow a bit to harsh,"flat" and digital. And i tried the different settings both for the Leslie and B3. Not sounding as i had hoped and what i expected from a board like this and Nords reputation of being able to recreate a pretty decent B3 sound.
So i ordered a Ventilator II and gave it a test tonight. I must say that this thing changes the B3 sound dramatically and i love it so far. Looking forward to test it later this week with the band.

I also hope that Nord will continue working on improving the B3 sound and maybe add a bit more tweakability for the Leslie SIM.

[DougB217]

Don't take this wrong anyone... but playing in a band setting unless you really lug out a leslie will it ever be " On the money" ... I am sure if we took the stage 3 and pumped it through one it would sound fabulous. But once you get mixed in the mix to say I 'think that the overall percentage of the crowd will not hear any difference unless they play keys... but how many of us are really out there lol.. So for me personally ease of use and lightweight setup I am more then happy with my B3 sound..

[Schorsch]

Don't take this wrong anyone... but playing in a band setting unless you really lug out a leslie will it ever be " On the money" ... I am sure if we took the stage 3 and pumped it through one it would sound fabulous. But once you get mixed in the mix to say I 'think that the overall percentage of the crowd will not hear any difference unless they play keys... but how many of us are really out there lol.. So for me personally ease of use and lightweight setup I am more then happy with my B3 sound..

That’s true, but on the other hand playing in a band does not mean playing just for the audience ... I also play to enjoy this myself and I (as well as some of my band mates) hear the differences which the crowd may not notice at all. That’s why I am willing to invest into the best possible sound even though no one else might care

[Nordy1083]

Got my new Stage 3 two nights ago. Thought I was doing something wrong because the B3 doesn’t come close to the E5 that I sold and I can’t figure enough tweaks to get it there. . You’ve all assured me I’m not alone. I’ll be glad to file a support sheet if you think it will help.

[kbmatson]

I dunno people ... I was "perplexed" by the S3 organ at first, but after tweaking it a good bit ... and yes it does need it .... and it growing on me ... and particularly after hearing it recorded in live/band setting ... I think it sounds fantastic - much better than the other clones i hear from time to time ... especially and ironically the Hammond brand clones.

[Nordy1083]

Could you describe some or all of the tweaks you’re using? Thanks!

[kbmatson]

Could you describe some or all of the tweaks you’re using? Thanks!

it will have to wait until i get it set back up - in the bag between gigs at the moment. i know it was close mic, dirtiest settings i could get, some EQ and the compressor was key. More exact than that will have to wait.

[LeftyBass68]

Overall the Stage 3 organ sounds are great.Out of the box it was 'quite a distance' from my daily driver A100,comparative monitoring allowed me to get the sound really close to the real deal.
The things a clone never get close are the expression pedal optimum curve and the keybed. The C2D is closer in that respect and I prefer it's action to a Hammond XK3.
When people say "this sounds like a B3" about my clones,it makes sense.I have the real deal to compare it to.The Compact and 88 both play just fine though.
I route my Stage 3 to output 3 and a Neo Ventilator,where it joins other organs on that mix,such as a Hammond A100.No external verb FX on individual outs so I add a Boss or Strymon.
On it's way to that output it goes through the amp sim with no model selected,just a drive at 10 o'clock and mids cut 3db at 400Hz,treble +3dB bass flat.Really close to the preamp on this A100.
Getting the clone to respond to the expression pedal like the A100 is not even close.This is the only part of a Hammond XK3 clone that I consider superior to the Nord.
Chances are if you play a Hammond A100 every day,the Nord will never really get you there.Pretty darn close though.If I'm featuring organ I'll take the C2D and a Leslie 142.
Of these five Nords, my favorite B3 model is the Electro 2 A100. Closer to the real deal out of the box than any other they have produced.Every other one needed more tweaking.
Still miss the B3 model on the Stage EX88,which was also the Electro 2 A100.Also miss the dedicated EQ on the synth,and the midi external menu on the Stage EX.
Not thrilled with everything new on the Stage 3,midi per panel etc. Aftertouch FX control and morph,and better pianos is about all I'm prepared to call an upgrade.
Other than seeing the screens and FX routing, this 2EX does it all,but with less memory or variety.
Out of the box almost every other Hammond clone is better than Nord. Knowing how to coax those sounds out of the Nord only comes with experience.
Still easily the most adaptable clone available and can mimic all of my Hammonds. Leslies ? Not so much. Neo Ventilator original first model still the best one of that genre too IMO.
Right there with this Boss CE1,whose vibrato is still the best non tremelo vibe going IMO,has been since I bought it in 1976.

[Quai34]

Well, this is why I always bring my C2(d) on a gig, even if I don't have a lot of songs with it...