Korg CX-3

super easy to use....

this is one of the best parts of this instrument---if there is 'something' about the sound you don't care for (i.e. too much of this, too little of this. etc.) editing is powerful, versatile. and super intuitative...

Here is where the debate ends....I've had every clonewheel possible (electro, clavia c-1, vk-7, vk-8, hammond xk-1, hammond xk-3 ) This one is the best. Why? Because it has all of the essential hammond qualities and features one needs (i.e. draw bars ONTOP, not to the side...electro does not even hit the radar here....) PLUS it has a little bit of it's own personality. There is no one around who is going to argue that they would not rather play a real b-3/leslie combo. No clone wheel will ever match the real deal...this is not because of sound quality, but it's because of the whole overall organic 'experience' you get when you sit at a b-3 is something only a real b-3 can generate. (a porsche and a ferrari are both fine cars, but they generate different feelings...) In that same sense, the cx-3 has a unique organic 'feeling' all of it's own that makes the player feel very connected and at one with the instrument. The ability to edit is so hugely important with this instrument. This is where the cx-3 leaves the others, particularly the nord electro, in the dust. Everybody has a unique preference to how they like their hammond....with the cx-3 you can shape the sound you want quickly and easily. You can't do that with the nord. If my career gets to the point where I have a road crew, a hammond technician, and a b-3 plus TWO leslies....than I will leave my cx-3 at home. Until then, I really don't care how many new generations of clonewheel's come along, this one has proven itself to be a worthy part of any serious keyboard player's rig. Go to any pro show, and you'll see for yourself how many cx-3's are on stage.

never a problem

I have purchased another CX-3 after selling my previous one to buy a Hammond XK3. The CX3 has "it" over the XK3, in my opinion. Also, the XK3 is way overpriced and harder to lug around. They didn't need to include the black presets. The CX3 is intuitive to use, especially if you grew up a B3 player - piece of cake!

The features are laid out very much like a B-3. I could do without the EX mode for the weird non-B3 settings. Korg didn't need these to include these.

The thing that makes this is the Leslie simulator which is incredible. The sim on the Hammond XK3 is just plain mediocre compared to it. The CX3 comes loaded with some very useable presets, all of which are very easy to edit.

I used my first CX3 for about three years straight without issue - even dropped it once (without issue). Personally, if I were touring, I'd take two of any main axe (including the CX3). For local gigs,however, one is quite sufficient.

Again, this is my second CX3. After being duped by hype about the XK3 "system" I bought one - even bought a Leslie 2101. Even with the Leslie, the XK3 has nothing over the CX3. I also own a 1974 B-3 and two Leslie 122's, so I think I have a realistic sense of my Hammonds. In the end, the choice of a Hammond clone is subjective and I respect each player's choice. For me the CX3 is the next best thing to a real B-3 and Leslie 122.I will not part with mine this time. Nor will I attempt to improve upon it with the XK3 or Nord electro. By the way, the electric pianos are incredible on the Nord but the organs are not going to satisfy a die hard Hammond player.

I played the CX-3 version 2.0 for about a year. I myself own a Hammond XK-2 and now a Hammond C3 with a tube Leslie since last year. If you have the real thing and if you played on original tonewheel console organs, then you are able to rate this product and compare it to a console! Before the Hammond XK-3 system came out
the Korg CX-3/BX-3 was the thing to go for when using a clone.
Beginners will be pleased to first own such clone before they are advanced enough for changing to a Hammond organ. Although everything on the CX-3 looks like organ the editing is quite synthe-like which is ok in most cases. For the CX-3 you don't really need a service manual, everything like on all the other clones is intuitive. You simply need to know how to save a setting if necessary, for midi, and if something doesn't work. Edit your key click, the leslie sim if there's no leslie in your rig, the percussion and maybe the chorus/vibrato. After that everything should be ready.

To my mind you might be able to edit everything you wanna do, there's full polyphony. The keyboard action is even better than on the XK-3. The leslie sim sounds full in comparison to other sims. The XK-3's leslie sim sounds more like real leslie but it lacks because it's much too thin. A mix of both would be attractive. Using a leslie sim depends on the room you have on stage. If there's enough room in your car too a tube leslie will do much to the sound. In live-situations there's always a compromise. If you carried your leslie(s) on stage there'll be the mics. A good tone technician will deliver your audience goosebumps all over but I even heard real bad mixes where the low mids and bass where not there ("Hammond growl" impossible). In such situations a leslie sim does a quite good and solid job if well edited. In fact it is not too important to the audience if there's a real leslie or not when it sounds good with the band. For yourself and myself as a Hammond-gourmet an organ needs a real leslie without a question. The transport of a chopped Hammond tonewheel console often becomes very tough after a few times on the road. Since the CX-3 II, for the first time those light clones became a quite good alternative and backup line to the heavy consoles. The Harmonic Drawbars (2 sets) sound quite good, but as just mentioned there's to much bass in the lower section of the manual - be careful not to forget about editing the lower manual and use the split function. The chorus/vibrato is far away from a console but better than on the XK-2 - same with the purcussion. The distortion comes with the increasing volume like with tube amps and together with the leslie sim it sounds quite good for a clone.
At the CX-3 the multi pin output is missing, you'll need an adapter if you wanted to connect it to an original leslie. Before buying a Korg BX-3 with it's nice wood cabinet, better have two CX-3's (maybe built into a self-made-cabinet) like Keith Emerson had for percussion on both manuals, which is indeed very nice...

I'll rate it 6 because it's made to only repruduce the tonewheel sound -the Hammond XK-3 does it better except for the leslie sim.

Although the keys have another form than the original Hammond waterfall keys, the feel of this keyboard isn't reached till now by other clones. Everything else is already said. All in all it sounds good enough to my ears but it's certainly not a Hammond organ. A real Hammond has a lot better expression in every single way. It's completly different and you have to train your dynamics a lot more on a tonewheel console. If you have a tube leslie and a real Hammond next to the Korg BX-3 with a Leslie you'll hear the big, big difference.

Digital keyboards are often quite reliable since there are no mechanical parts inside which could cause a brake-down after a few years. On the other hand mechanical parts are a lot easier to maintain and repair than digital technique.
But you'll be satisfied with the CX-3 for years without a singe repair or service, I guess, if you don't use knives to hold down a note like Keith Emerson did with the cheap L100. The price for a new Korg CX-3 II is not to bad in comparison to other non-organ keyboards. But about 2000 bucks are not too far away from a good Hammond A100. I would never buy a BX-3 for 4000 bucks when I could effort a tonewheel console for the same money.

Nice. Except for the Hammond XK-3 the Korg CX-3 II the best clone out there.

I updated to software version 2.0 almost right after opening the case. The update was due to the key bounceback that triggered multiple notes. The bounceback was to be helped w. S/W 2.0. Partially, it did help, too, as the triggering point of notes got deeper.
Although the organ had very closely the same design knobs and was a functionality-wannabe-of-B3, I had some trouble finding a decent Hammond sound to come from it. But modifying preset D-3 (Carpet Magic) sufficed for my own use. All the time I had this organ, as I browse through my organ registrations notebook, I seem to have preferred evenly harmonized tones to oddly harmonized ones. My theory about this later. Leslie sim was good and well configurable.

Echo was ok, and also the leslie. But the organ was somehow miswired and the whole setup misfired, so I fired the organ. The keyboard had a bouncy feeling to it and I had to delete the resulting key bounceback notes in fast playing. 'Deep trigger' of S/W version 2.0 setting didn't help, either. But as I have read later after getting rid of the device, that this feature might be due to low serial #, as I had serial #10.
I liked the leslie miking simulator where you can adjust the proximity and angle of mikes.

Ironically, modifying the preset H-3 'Voxinental' with even harmonics gives you the best approximation of a VOX organ I've ever heard. It might be even better VOX than the real VOX. Thus, this organ might have certain value after all for long-haired wide-sleeve-hosed hippy potty flowery powery garage musicians.
The other harmonics 3 & 5 overlap esp. in chords in a buzz of a thousand bees manner too familiar from other clones to me. Thus I had trouble believing CX-3 had only 91 output frequencies like the original B3 from its tone generator. Is everybody serious in their review(s) or haven't you heard a real B3 next to CX-3?
I've already retraded the unit, but I can return to being a Korg's customer if they compare closely to a Hammond and can have their tone generator sounding right. I disliked the overdrive with exp. pedal which was a lousy 1980's type digital buzz. An overdrive sound that mimics 1980's type Hammond digital clone gone hay-wired.

No problems in terms of reliability.

No comment as I've never had to deal with Korg's customer support, ever. They might be hiring monkeys from the jungle there and an average musician wouldn't know. Don't be upset guys as I know your coffee breaks keep on prolonging.
As for design department Korg has had so far the right stuff for building roadworthy gear.
Does the Korg have a support department?

I've already bought another brand and submitted this review to share my point of view. I've been playing for my personal interest for 15 years among other work I do for living. You considering this unit should try Clavia's Nord Electro 2 '73 before buying this beast as both are relatively closely priced. NE 2 lacks string reverb and real drawbars, but you can compensate and hook a set of real ones instead. NE's latest SW 2.1 has crashed on me which Korg never did. Perhaps more about NE 2 in an another review, some day.
DISCLAIMER. You can't model an analog computer well with digital technology. It's like trying to digitize a woman. You can come close and perhaps get one part right and that's all.

I have version 2 software, the latest. The presets are a little boring for me, but I love playing with the drawbars anyway. The beauty of the board is changing the presets and saving sounds you like is a snap. Editing is so simple, I never even cracked open the manual. Hmmmm....where did I put it?

Polyphony is unlimited, it is an organ opure and simple. The keyboard action is perfect when compared with a traditional Hammond. It is very quick. Effects, now it gets interesting. First of all, you have to hear the leslie sim on this thing, it is brilliant! It soulds as good as the real thing and I was able to even enhance the doppler effect, creating an even "thicker" effect than a real leslie. This is all in the "mic" placement. There is no expandability, but who cares, this is a first-class organ. The distortion (overdrive) is very good, although I wish it had a more gutsy sound, it is a little buzzy, but very good in a mix. The reverb is great, I didn't even have this on my A-100 years ago.

This organ is a Hammond for all intents and purposes. It sounds like one from the tonewheel sound right on down to the rotary speaker effect. It is lightweight, and handsome as can be. I hate carrying three boards around (I have a Triton and a Roland RD-170 too), but I will not be able to leave this baby home. This organ would be great in church, or on a rock gig, blues, jazz, you name it. Everything on it is very editable, and you can get it very mellow, or very bright. Keyboard action is brilliant.

Depend on it? Are you kidding, this is a KORG! I would take it without back-up, but I love how it sounds with the Triton and RD-170.

Gee, in 35 years of playing, I've never dealt with the company. I have had everything from a Poly-six (love at first sight!) to a DW-8000, Triton Classic and now this wooden gem. KORG website is brilliant, check it out!

If it were lost or stolen, I'd have to get another. I had another one a few months back, thought I didn't need it, sold it on eBay, and I was miserable. Had to get another one, and they will be burying me with this one! I've been playing semi-pro for 35 years, and this is worth every bit what is costs if the old Hammond/leslie sound is as important to you as it is to me. I love the portability of it (37 lbs, and most of that is the weight of the wooden cabinet I'm sure). I know there are some great "do it all " boards out there, Fantom, etc, but this nails the tonewheel/leslie sound, had to have it. My Triton, for example does horns like the "wrath of God", but the organs sound bland and static next to the CX-3. The RD-170 does good pianos, but again the organs...BO-ring! Compared with KORG's competition, the Hammond clone from Hammond is great, but more costly, and heavier. The Nord is very good, but no real drawbars (digital simulations). The Rolands are very cool, but the leslie sim can't touch the CX-3. So, to sum up my legnthy verbage here, I recommend the CX-3 to anyone who loves the old 60-70's Hammond/Leslie sound. This board is perfect for anything from church to jazz club, to straight-ahead rock, distorted "leslie" and all! In my performance, I'll do everything from soft blues to Steppenwolf on this thing. Don't buy a Hammond clone until you try this one first, and then decide for yourself.

its more practical than other combo organs.the most important parts have their own knobs.so you can easly use them even you play live.i used to have vk-7.and worst thing with it was i couldnt use vibratos and chorus easy.korg made the knobs just like a b3 so its perfect.

it has every thing to be need in an hammond sound.

i had a roland vk-7 before korg.the mid tones were good but if you play solo the difference is too much with an original hammond.i never get that feeling with the korg cx-3.before i buy it i tried roland vk-8,hammond xk-3,nord electro 2 and non of them felt like i am playing a real organ.but i feel that solo organ sound with korg cx-3.like every combo organ has a digital sound so has korg too.even they made the leslie simulation so good u know that something wrong with the sound.as every one knows no amp with transistor has a great sound than a amplifier with lambs.the original hammond also has amp with lamb.that gives the soft and hot sound.but for the perfect hammond sound with a combo organ i had a solution.i am using my korg with a hughes&kettner tube rotosphere.u cant even imagine that small pedal gives the exact sound with an original leslie. i suggest you to use that pedal with your korg.

i am always using it in live performances.i am still keeping my vk-7 for a back-up but i never had to use vk-7 since i bought korg cx-3.

i didnt need support yet..

the only thing wrong with the korg is its output.if you want a soft tone without overdrive u cant get a powerfull volume.cause the main volume is not high enough.u can only get a powerfull sound if you turn on the overdrive too.but even with that problem i can still say the best organ!! i dont give a 10 even i love it but its a digital world and i am sure in a few years i'll find a better organ sound.but i guess its going to be a new model of korg..

This is the latest version of this keyboard (version 2.0). At this point, I've only owner the KB for a week. In general, the keyboard is a "10" in ease of use. However, there's a lot of editing I'll have to do to produce the exact sounds I'm looking for. Many of the presets are close to what I want but the key click is over emphasized for my tastes and takes some editing to change. Therfore, I'll rate it a "8" in this catagory. Otherwise, it's very easy, straight forward and intituitive to use. It's nice having real drawbars, overdrive controls, reverb level and everything else at your fingertips.

I looked at numerous keyboards and emulators looking for the best B3 sound I could find. I looked at the Roland VK-8 and the VR-760, Voce, Nord Electro 2, and Hammond XK3. My second choice was the Hammond. On this keyboard, having real drawbars are a big plus for me. The keyboard feel is great. The keyboard also has reverb which is missing on the Nord.

The keyboard can be split to operate two manuals with two sets of drawbars. Via MIDI, you can alternativily, attach a seperate keyboard to operate as the lower manual. Again, you have two sets of drawbars for this. In EX mode, the drawbars are combined to give you a large ranges of tone controls. Control location's on this keyboard are very player friendly and function well.

The Korg will give you just about any sound you desire from the lineage of the B3. The built in leslie emulation sounds very good to my ears. I'm not a B3 expert or purist however the recording engineer in me makes me finicky about sound quality. Is it the real thing?... no. But it's so close that unless your a B3 purist (no offense intended) about the leslie sound and your intending on using this as a primary featured solo instrument, you won't be able to tell the difference in the mix (live or studio). In many recording situations, I'd rather run this direct into the board rather than miking up a leslie cab anyhow. Not because of laziness but due to recording situations with other musicians laying down basic tracks at the same time, in the same room. (Meaning: no keyboard sound leaking into drum or rhythm guitar mics.) However, you can still run the Korg into a leslie if you want via it's 1/4" line outs. **Note - there's no direct leslie multipin connector on this keyboard.

I chose this keyboard over the Hammond XK3 due to the fact that I don't see a big difference in the sound between the two and yet the Korg is priced significantly enough less than the Hammond that I couldn't justify the additional cost just to have the Hammond. The Nord is a decent KB as well. It gets rave reviews for it's B3 sound/leslie emulation. It's well know for its other keyboard tones that it offers, Rhodes, Wurly, etc... all VERY good sounding. However, I found it's range of B3 sounds to be somewhat limited and the overdrive poor. When trying to obtain a good overdriven, rock Deap Purple, Boston, edgy kind of sound, the Nord's overdrive implementation went from a very nice sounding bluesy, jazz tone and with just a bit more overdirve broke up into a horible raspy and harsh sound. Maybe I needed to work with it more? I don't know, but I don't think so either. If the overdrive sounded better on the Nord and it had reverb I would have bought it over the Korg for the additional keyboards it emulates.

As I mentioned earlier, many of the presets on the Korg are close to what I want but the key click is over emphasized for my tastes and will take editing to change. The fast leslie spin up time is a little slow for my tastes as well but this too can be adjusted via additional editing. Like any new instrument, you'll need to invest some time into it to tweek the sound to your tastes. At least this keyboard has the ability.

While I haven't owned it long enough to determine it's reliability, I know this keyboard has a good reliability reputation and it's road worthy even though mine will sit in my home studio.

I've never had to deal with Korg. I do like the fact that their web site is decent and offer downloadable updates online for those that own old versions of this keyboard. They also have a few different mp3 sounds of this keyboard to give a person a little bit of a preview into what it's capable of producing in terms of sound. I'm not slamming Hammond here, they make a great product. however, if they want to try to compete with the competition in this class of keyboard, they could take a few lessons by looking at Korg and Clavia's web sites. I'm sure it would help to boost sales. The new XK1 that will be coming out around March of 2006 will likely be positioned to compete more directly with the Rolands, Korg, and Nord.

I don't normally do these user ratings, but I did for this product becuase I felt this purchase decision was a bit more difficult for me than some others. Sometimes a person can get too worked up with the minor differences between different makes and models. i.e. "Which one should I buy?" I feel I bought the best keyboard for my needs and I'm sure I'd buy it again after deciding on the Korg.

So here's where the truth comes out... While I play keyboards, I wouldn't call myself a keyboardist either. Thus many might ask "How do you know what a real B3 should sound like?" I think that would be hard for many of the B3 experts to answer as well. Consider the wide range of tones a B3 can produce and the fact that people have different tastes in what they like in a B3 sound. Also, no two B3's sound exactly the same and over the years, the overall sound of the B3 went though a couple changes in overall sound. So the best answer for me is: I don't do cover tunes so I'm not looking to perfectly emulate any specific artists B3 sound. I just know the overall B3 type of sounds I'm looking for and the Korg delivers it to my satisfaction. My primary instrument is guitar and I record most of my own original material which, I guess could be classified as a classic rock type of sound. (My ears are alraedy burning... "Oh great! A guitarist reviewing a keyboard/organ!) But hey, it's a review from maybe a slightly different viewpoint. I've been missing that big B3 sound for several songs I'm working on and thus the CX-3 purchase. I do own a Roland keyboard and some software based keyboards. This combination gives me most of what else I need for keyboard sounds. I've been a musician and recording engineer for 20 some odd years so I guess I've got a certain amount of experiance to know what I need and like.

I bought my CX-3 new for $1480. The standard going price on the web is about $1,799. My local music store would have sold it to me for $1580. They discounted it another $100 for me due to a very slight ding in the top wood panel.

If your a CX-3 owner, and would like to share some hot patches/register settings etc, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks

1.0, it was the store model at a big retailer. I took it home while they ordered me a new one. I fell in love with it playing it at home. I don't normally play keys but just LOVED the sounds and was eagerly anticipating the new one with v2.0. The new one came in, I plugged it in and sounded absolutely HORRIBLE compared with the store model. I ended up taking the floor model, it's serial number is in the 400's so I think it's a pretty early model, the new one they shipped to me was in the 4,000's.

Unless there was a physical defect with the new v2.0 keyboard which I doubt because I compared them side by side at the store with 2 keyboard players. They thought it was the software also. I just can't believe that more people here praise v2.0.

I guess I'm using the OS v2.0, as I bought the unit about six months ago, and I seem to get the drawbar animations etc. Not that I really get into the presets or anything, but that's judging by other reviews down below. The presets are, well, just presets, and I definitely didn't buy a clonewheel for the presets. However, the sheer amount of the parameters sometimes require that you use the presets as a basic sound and build the tone that you want based on that particular sound. It was fairly easy to get used to, and I was editing patches in no time. I use this board live, so I have basically played around with a few presets and set up the tones that I like, mainly based on the amp and reverbs. All other stuff I play around on the fly, and an organ player who doesn't use the drawbars, percussion or C/V knob shouldn't be calling himself an organ player in any case. The manual was quite good, the parameter names are easy to understand, without a lot of unintelligible acronyms that most synth manufacturers love to use. (Actually I have a theory that they are in a secret race amongst themselves so as to develop the most incomprehensible manual.) Having said that, you have to be familiar with leslie miking, amplifying and general Hammond organ concepts to fully understand what the manual is talking about.

The beast has full polyphony, as expected from a clonewheel. Waterfall keyboard makes the palm smears and glissandos feel like the real thing. The built-in effects are quite good, especially the leslie simulator is almost perfect. What one would expect from a clonewheel are all there, the chorus and vibratos, overdrive, reverb and percussion... The thing that I really like was the tone controls, as I hate the sound check stage, so I just tell the engineer to get everything flat, and I play around with my tone when I'm playing. No complaints yet, so I guess I'm doing a good enough job on that front.

One thing that shines on the CX3 is the double drawbar set, and I use it extensively. I usually split the board when I'm not in a solo, and use the lower two octaves for the "pad" with something like 044433333 and the upper three for licks, trills and frills.

Yes, there are MIDI in and outs, and I will possibly use something for the lower manual in near future, but haven't tried it yet. Sequencer? Get outta my face!!!

For what a clonewheel should be doing, Korg has done a very good job. I play the blues, and it does everything expected from an organ. One thing I'm slightly annoyed with (with an emphasis on slightly) is the volume level when the chorus / vibrato setting is changed. It's not that much of a problem, but it requires some manual intervention. Velocity and aftertouch on an organ? Get outta my face!!!

Built like a tank, and I mean it. I hate to lug 100 lbs of keyboards, stands and cables, but I usually have to do that when I'm gigging. This baby is around 40 lbs, but I shouldn't be complaining when I compare this to the real thing. Last week, the organ dropped from the Ultimate Apex keyboard stand from 3 ft to the floor, with my feet as the only damping factor, during a solo! I just took it and lifted it onto the stand and apart from the drawbars dropping to 888888888, there were no problems whatsoever with the sound, cables or anything. Need I say anything more?

As a principle, I try not to gig without backup, but if I had to, I probably would do it with the CX3.

Never used it, I hope I never will.

I'd definitely buy this again if it was lost or stolen, it's made for what I do, playing live blues on a relatively small stage with an 8-piece band. I've been playing the piano for about 35 years, and I've been on synths and keybs for tha last 20 in various bands. My stage rig consists of the CX3 and a Roland Fantom with Keyboards of the 60s and 70s expansion board (SR-JV80-08). I compared it with Hammond XK2 and XK3, and Roland VK8 when I was around shopping, the XK2 sounded a bit thin, XK3 was too pricey and Roland's leslie sim wasn't as good as the CX3. I need to say that this a matter of personal taste, and I definitely don't condone musicians who have opted for other clonewheels.

Using version 2 software, and I never use presets, they are boreing next to the sounds I can create on this machine! I bought used on eBay without manual, and don't even need it. For what little info I need, I can get the info from the KORG website.

The polyphony is unlimited, it is an organ. The effects are incredible, and infinately editable. The keyboard action is just like the old tonewheel organs, easy and snappy fast. It has midi in/out/thru.

This is a completely realistic tonewheel-sounding unit. It looks like a classic instrument, is laid out like an old Hammond, but has all the flexibility of a new digital instrument. You can adjust everything about its sound and operation! This board is good for blues, rock, church, jazz....you name it. It can sound like the sweetest church organ, or the grungiest rock organ. The rotating speaker on this is what puts it over the top when compared with its clone competitors. Korg, Roland, Hammond, Nord, even Viscount make good Hammond clones, but only the KORG CX3 needs no external Leslie. In fact, my experience has been that if you spend some time "tweaking" the leslie parameters in the organ, you can create an even thicker doppler effect than a real Leslie would give you. From the audience, it sounds like a mic'd Leslie screaming at you.

Backup? Are you kidding, this is a KORG....I will always use it with another board anyway for piano and other sounds, but this is THE organ!

Gee, don't know yet, haven't had to call or write.

If it were lost or stolen, I'd have to get another. I've been playing for 30+ years, and used a Hammond A100 and 2 Leslie 147's for a long time. TRULY, it had nothing on this sound. I also have a Roland RD-170 and a Korg Triton Classic 61. I love that this sounds like I remember a tonewheel unit should sound like!