If you’ve seen my setup at a recent show, you may have noticed a change.

I’ve swapped out the Nord Electro 2 I’ve used for a number of years for a Hammond XK-1. Despite the release of the superbly exceptional Hammond XK-3c, the XK-1 still wows me, fans, and my bandmates. Reviews for the XK-1 have floated around the internet since the mid 2000s now so going into specific detail seems a bit repetitive, but here are some key points from my perspective that should help prospective portable organ buyers looking for recreational, pro use, or otherwise.

1.) PRICE – The release of the Hammond SK series keyboards as well as continued promotion of XK-3c have created a situation where many XK-1 owners are looking to renew their collection, or update their home, studio, or stage sound. This has helped many buyers find XK-1 keyboards for sale for one-third of the price of brand new products. A player’s budget may be less than that of another, so being able to afford this deal is incredible. I was able to find mine bundled with a road case, the manual, leslie foot switch, and expression pedal for $1,000 — with that money saved, I’m looking forward to a new, portable Leslie cab.

2.) PERFORMANCE – A very natural, wood and breathy tone can be achieved with a few tweaks of the parameters. The description coming from an explanation of feeling rather than technical term. The tone driver is still being used in products today, however the Leslie sim is less up-to-date than current Hammond Suzuki models. The customization of Leslie parameters, key click, and percussion must be taken advantage of in order to drive toward a natural sound. I prefer to take a lot of treble and percussion out when performing country shows. But I’ve seen jazz and blues players getting a kick out of the playability of this machine.

3.) COMPLIMENTS – No matter who you are, you should enjoy people saying they enjoy listening to your playing and that they’re jealous of your Hammond sound. Straight to the point: It does indeed have great Hammond sound, it IS a Hammond, and people do love listening to it.

4.) PORTABILITY and EASE OF USE – This 33-lb keyboard feels very light for the number and it’s slim design fits easily into different gig bags and cases. Although it is a 61-key organ, it is best to double-check the length of any potential case to make up for the drawbars. (Total length is 45-5/8 in.) With 12 banks of 11 numbers adding to the capacity for presets, quick set-ups, sound checks and plug-in and play make for an enjoyable and stress-free experience.

5.) NEED TO KNOW: All the presets and internal memory are backed up by a small battery inside the organ console. The manual states to take the organ to a Hammond professional when you get a warning about the battery, but the fix is very easy, cheap and quick to do on your own with the cost covering a $5-$8 CR2032 battery found at many general stores or gas stations. Here’s a link for further details: http://www.harmonycentral.com/t5/Keys-Synths-amp-Samplers/Hammond-XK-1-Battery-AHHHHHH/td-p/23915430

Hopefully this adds a little insight. Many technical reviews for the Hammond XK-1 can be found online and in organ forums. These are a few of the good things I’ve noticed so far, on a personal level. Happy playing.

@bkakeys