Korg BX3

It has 128 memories, 64 of which are populated with "name players" registrations...some good, some not so good. Editing is a breeze, after you've perused the manual. The manual is uncharacteristically good, for KORGese.

If you're a seasoned Hammondphile, dealing with the BX-3 is as easy as...pie/falling off a log/playing your own Hammond. If you're a newbie, you're in for a treat you cannot get from a synth or anything else lacking real drawbars and waterfall keys.

Full polyphony, hey, its an organ! Keyboard action is equivalent to any Hammond console model and better than most of them. Its easily the peer of my old B3...and then some, quite remarkable, actually. Built in reverb is adjustable, but may not suit everyone's taste. The keys transmit velocity, a really handy feature. No sequencer, organs don't need no stinkin' sequencers!

The modelled Leslie is absolutely the best replication of the famous rotating box yet....and no care and feeding of electro-mechanical devices or power amps. The proviso here is it must be heard "in stereo." Any perceived sense of movement will be lost, in "mono" mode. The drum and rotor spool, up & down, at different rates, which already puts it ahead of any stomp box or rack mount Leslie FX; additionally, the amp type and mic number and placement are all user defineable and saveable with a programmed voice! Try that on your Nords...hahaha!

The BX-3 RULES!!! I'm an old B3 driver for 40 years, (wow, time passes when you're having this much fun!,) and this instrument sounds and plays in a superior fashion to ALL of the competition, including the current crop of Hammond-Suzuki and Diversi models. I realize my opinion is "subjective," but I think after all these years with the real thing, it'll carry some weight as "informed."

It'll go from screaming to whispering and creamy to greasy.....what more can anyone want from a clonewheel instrument you can't reliably tell from the real thing?!?!? Hey, any type of music you'd use a B3 in is just waiting for the BX-3. Did I mention the Chorus/Vibrato modulations?.....any argument offered will not stand the test of scrutiny with the real thing, these modulation settings are fantastically EXACT!

KORG depedability is world-reknowned and I gig this thing without a back-up and with complete confidence in its reliability. Hey, I just sold my original, analog BX-3 after 28 years of duty. Last year, all of the capacitors and diodes were replaced to bring it back to original spec'd sound...and it worked like a charm. I expect my digital BX-3 to perform for an equivalent period, at least.

Mine is the 198th unit produced, which makes it a veritable youngster. As such, I've not had to avail myself to the mothership, yet, and don't expect to have to for some time. In the event, KORG Canada has a sterling reputation for customer assistance.

It'll never be lost because its never out of my sight. Before it'd be stolen, there'd be plenty of blood spilled in its defense, by me or my faithful pitbull..hahaha! Seriously, I've got it insured to the hilt, it travels in a top quality road case and is kept in a humidity contolled environment, to the extent possible, in order to insure it'll perform with the reliability I expect form all KORG instruments.

I've been both a pro and a semi-pro for 40 years now and have an extensive and expensive arsenal of synths and digital pianos....but only ONE BX-3, its is all I really need. I "love" everything about this instrument...what's not to love?...it's the perfect replicant of the B3 and weighs about 380 pounds less than the original instrument....it doesn't require anything beyond a pair of 1/4" cables, a volume pedal and a momentary switch pedal, for triggering the Leslie FX......it feels, plays and looks great....and with the advent of velocity transmission over MIDI, allows the player to trigger any, non-organ sound from modules...it lacks nothing.....as the premiere clonewheel instrument made to date, IMHO, its absolutely PERFECT!!! Get one , if you can find one, and you'll never regret the acquisition.

Korg has made some unneccessary confusion by adopting the name of its quite famous 70's analog organ. You will find here reviews of both generations, and the difference is huge! I am talking about NEW DIGITAL BX-3 launched in about 2003. It is two manual version of otherwise identical CX-3. This year (2007) new generation has been discontinued. I hope the next generation will not be named CX-3/BX-3.

Korg has been very careful about features and user interface. The layout of controls is classic Hammond. Digital parameters are deep and feature rich, and very easy to handle if you understand traditional Hammond/Leslie technology. I needed to see manual for just a couple of times.

The use of presets is very versatile. You can use presets for "global" parameters only, only for certain details, for whole sound setups including drawbars, for Leslie switching, etc. Very well taught of and pleasure to use.

I will not repeat factory specs here. I love the fact that this is Hammond/Leslie emulator and NOTHING ELSE. Very focused and very thorough implementation, no frills, no clutter. If you are not organist, then you may look for more universal instrument. But if you are, this one is perfectly versatile for its particular purpose.

CX/BX-3 is one of the best sounding Hammond/Leslie emulations, period. From my hands-on experience, it is better than any Roland or any modern Hammond except XK3. It is lot better than Clavia Electro which is particularily mushy for my taste. Some aspects, like Leslie simulation and vibrato/chorus are better than XK3.

The only clearly better sounding emulation is Native Instrument B4 which is virtual and somehow not really counting. If you take playability into account, BX-3 is the winner.

Looks very solid and dependable. With exception to a bit cheap looking pitch bend and vibrato wheels.

For a very solid looking 2-manual organ, it is pretty portable. The legs can be separated and disassembled for transport. A soft case looks enough for safely driving around on your backseats. But if you gig around a lot, I would recommend a flight case which would make it quite bulky.

Never needed any.

I am fresh out of honeymoon with this baby and I am still in love.

I play blues and funk and flirt with jazz. I was brought up on Keith Emerson and John Lord, but I listen to lot of acid jazz lately (I am getting old I guess).

I used to have a couple of authentic Hammonds and Leslies. I played almost everything and I think that the secret is in playing, not in the sound. I have a 147 Leslie but I don't use it much recently. And I don't miss it much, I guess my BX-3 leaves me with very little to miss.

Very easy to use, just like the dual manual Hammonds that it emulates.

The action feels really close to my mint 1968 C-3. The digital effects (reverb) are really great, but the Leslie emulation is the best yet...and totally adjustable (ramp rates and times for both upper and lower). The MIDI is fully implemented, as with most modern digital keyboards.

This organ successfully emulates many different Hammond setups...the presets do a great job of showing the different organs of Brian Auger, Stevie Winwood, Keith Emerson, Matthew Fisher, etc. Korg has done a brilliant job of reproducing several different organs...flaws and all !!

Extremely reliable...never a problem other than the fact that the stand, even though it is quite beautiful, is probably not suitable for taking on the road and taking the wear well.

I have never had a problem with this or any other Korg product...but Jerry Kovarski (?) from Korg is a member of the Clonewheel Website on Yahoo, and he seems very quick to answer questions or help out members of the clonewheel group.

Because of it's size and weight, I usually use a Clavia Electro 73 instead, just because it only weighs 20 lbs, and sounds almost as good. BUT...when I am mainly wanting to play Hammond, the BX-3 definitely comes along. I have played and owned many of the best clones (including the XK-3)...and for feel, sound (unreal chorus Vibrato and Leslie sim), and the ability to convince the player that he is seated behind 450 lbs. of living/breathing power, the BX-3 is king (that is, unless you want to pop for $15,000 for a new digital console/Leslies).

It's very easy to get access to the manufacturer's presets, easy to use all the tone-wheel organ features - such as vibrato, chorus and etc.
But there is a slight problem with deeper edition. I don't think it's easy to find type of the amp. In roland VK-8 it's easier.

AWESOME. Very Cool. It's dual manual tone-wheel organ. Polyphony is full.

I've always wanted a good clone of hammond. I've tried Roland VK-8, Clavia Nord Electro 2, but only BX-3 gets closer than anyone.
1 - Rotary
It sounds like an original vintage leaslie. Better than on VK-8 and Clavia.
2 - Chorus and Vibrato
Good. Again - better than on VK-8.
3 - Overdrive
Awesome. Have you heard the Uriah Heep's July Morning? A live version? With Ken Hensley on the keyboards? With David Byron on vocal? This is the sound!!! The sound of Hammond B3. And such overdrive is used in Korg BX-3

It's cool. No more, no less.

Didn't use.

It's JUST COOL!!!!!!!

I am using a board purchased B stock in March, 2004. Having played Hammonds in years past I can honestly say this is the closest to a real Hammond experience I've had in a clone. Sound is excellent, presets are quite usable, programming is easy, manual is clear and direct, leslie sim is excellent and very programmable.

The keyboard action is very good. I can do the same slurs as on a B3 with the same results. The only drawback I've found so far is that it's somewhat difficult to set up as a controller for other modules, and the percussion, while very good, is just not quite the same as the Hammonds I've played. It's a little thinner sounding.

This keyboard is somewhat limited in that all it's designed to do is emulate tone-wheel organs. That said, in the expanded mode it has some good sounds not from the tone-wheel group. Also, the different available preamps and programmability for the leslie give this a very good sound.

I've been using this for over 6 months now with no problems. I've never had to deal with Korg product support, but I see no reason to anticipate difficulties.

If lost or stolen I would certainly purchase a replacement. I find this the most accurate clone I've tried, and it's a pleasure to play.

I own a 1979 BX-3. I think nobody will need manual for this instrument. Nothing to complain about.

There are some built in effects : percussion, overdrive, chorus/vibrato and the rotary-effect. I think the percussion sounds ok. The overdrive-effect coul sound warmer i think. I prefer using a tube-preamp. I did not like the chorus/vibrato-effect when i bought my BX-3! The chorus-speed was to slow i think. But you can easily edit speed and depth when you open the organ. I did, and it sounds better now. The rotary-effect does not sound like a real leslie-cabinet. On slow speed it may sound ok, but on fast speed it sounds really cheesie. Using a real leslie-cabinet is the only alternative i think. Or maybe a Korg G4 ? I never tried.

the BX-3 is perfect for rock and blues. It may not sound 100% like a Hammond B3, but it's a great alternative. Using a BX-3 in a jazz band may not satisfy the keyboarder.

You can really depend on this instrument. I use it on stage. I never had any problems.

My BX-3 never had to be repaired. But it would have been a problem if it had to.

The 1979 BX-3 is a great instrument. It sounds great using a leslie speaker.I would never sell this baby.

This is a very user-friendly instrument. The BX3 features a wealth of user-configurable sounds and functions. In fact, the level of customization possible with the keyboard would be overwhelming if it weren't so easy and intuitive to program. I usually shy away from reading product manuals and didn't break from tradition when I bought my BX3. Within ten minutes of using it, however, I had figured how out to adjust and set all of the sound and function parameters.

As I noted above, the BX3 is extremely feature rich and easy to customize. A mutlitude of built-in effects and MIDI capabilities make this product very flexible.

After playing B-3s for many years I eventually grew tired of lugging around 400+ lbs. As a result, I have eagerly awaited and evaluated each new generation of Hammond tonewheel organ clones. The Korg BX3 is, in my opinion, about the closest one can get in sound, feel and looks to the real thing. Although expensive, it really delivers a very convincing palette of sounds, plays like a B, and outshines any Hammond, Roland, Oberheim or Voce product. While I originally had planned to play the BX3 through a 145 Leslie, the on-board rotary speaker simulator is so good (in contrast to the terrible one on Roland's VK series, for example)that I will leave the Leslie at home.

This is a very solid feeling and looking instrument. The fit and finish are superb and it is most definitely sturdy enough to use on the road. The BX3 is so beatiful, however, that I may confine its use to my recording studio and continue to use the Hammond XK-2/Leslie out to gigs even though this combo simply doesn't come close in sound and feel.

I have only owned the product for a short period of time and therefore don't have any experience with Korg's customer support yet.

I love this keyboard...it's perhaps the best musical instrument purchase that I have ever made over a 40 year playing and performing career.

Hey...it's a Hammond clone. Every bit as easy to use as a Hammond B or C.........

Full polyphony here...Killer Leslie effect...Great chorus/vibrato...nice digital reverbs and delays...even a pitch bender and mod wheel. And this is the only non-Hammond I have ever played that has the Hammond action NAILED (I know, I also own a beautiful '67 C-3)...much better than on the CX-3.

Here again, it only does the sound of a Hammond...PERFECTLY !!

I have only had this organ for about a week...but judging by other Korg pieces, it will be ultra dependable.

OUCH...don't know...never tried.

This is the best Hammond clone ever made...in fact, I would question why anyone would ever spend 5K+ on a 30+ year old B when for alittle over 3 grand they could get this new little (???) digital beauty and save their back(s). This thing SCREAMS !! If it were stolen, I would be extremely heartbroken...I love it.

Anyone coming from a background that includes current synthesizers/workstations will no doubt find this thing exceptionally easy, although the level of user control is DEEP!

For a clone of a Hammond, there are three categories that really count. First how authentic does it sound (really authentic). Second how is the operator interface setup both in terms of the original as well as regards the features that exist on the BX3 that don't exist on the Hammond B3 (excellent). Third, and least important...how does it look (this thing would look as good in someone's living room as it would on the stage or in the studio...nothing cheesey at all)

How does it compare to a Hammond B3 with a Leslie...it compares well, as well as you could reasonably expect, and at hundreds of pounds lighter and with no Leslie necessary.

Well, reliability remains to be seen as this piece is brand new. Years ago, I had an original BX3 and it worked always for gigs and in the studio, and while the two are completely different, Korg has a good reputation in this regard and I would expect no less

So far...so good

This is one of the first Hammond B-3 clones, "hence the designation of BX-3" There's no software, no mnemonic display, no pages or cursors. Just L.E.D. switches, knobs, drawbars and refreshing simplicity. The BX-3 has three non-editable presets per "keyboard" organists call them: "manuals"

You could lay your whole arm on the keyboard and as many notes would sound. Actually, B-3 players do that from time to time. The band "Deep purple" featuring John Lord, is suggested listening, particularly the song "Hush"... The BX-3 has a built in rotary speaker simulator which might have been good in 1976, but is lacking by today's standards. It also has chorus and vibrato which was supposed to replicate the legendary B-3. No aftertouch, No velocity, just simple on/off, No expansions. MIDI is available from aftermarket sources "Gulbransen". This keyboard does one thing...."organ".

The Korg BX-3 has all nine traditional drawbars for each manual, as well as three non-editable presets per manual
which are: 888000000 "Smith-jazz/blues"... 808808008 "YES-Roundabout".... 888888888 "Flat out, Gimme'some lovin'" .
It's too easy to say that the BX-3 is just two CX-3s in one unit. The BX has chorus and vibrato similiar to the Hammond.
All of us that bought the old CX-3 found it lacking in that area.
The BX has percussion with realtime knobs to adjust volume and decay. You can select 4' or 2-2/3' both at the same time if you want.
percussion is available on both manuals. The BX has adjustable key click, overdrive, upper/ lower balance, treble and bass EQ per manual, 3 settings of vibrato,
and 3 settings of chorus on either or both manuals. The BX has a functional Leslie simulator with a fast/ slow switch and an off switch for you "John Lord" fans.
The BX has a 1/4" jack for a momentary footswitch which will switch the leslie effect from slow to fast. It also has an external effects loop; "send & return" for
patching in your favorite effects such as echoplex and spring reverb. The send and return will also allow you to run a volume pedal.

I wish all keyboards would last like this one. It was built in 1976 and is still going strong. The keyboard action is very nice "for an organ".

Korg customer support is unsurpassed, however, the availabily of parts for a keyboard that hasn't been made in 20 years is limited.
I have a Korg Triton and they've been of emense help.

The Korg BX-3 looks really nice, like a piece of Granny's antique furniture. It's not at all suited to life in a Rock n Roll outfit. The body is made out of
plywood covered with a thin veneer of "nice stained wood" which scratches and dings with every breath. The BX also had a four legged wooden stand as an option,
which made the whole package look like a shrunken Hammond B-3.

While I'm complaining; The right side on the case/ body is too close to the high C note which makes it nearly impossible to play with any figure other than your
pinky and ring finger. Most piano and organ manufacture's put a flat spot at each end for this reason.