Author: Tomas Morton | Updated: | This post may contain affiliate links.
One of the most unforgettable moments in my musical journey was when I had the opportunity to play the Hammond B3 Organ for a Santana record. Imagine this - sitting at the B3 Organ in the heart of The Village Studios in Los Angeles, all set to jam with one of the most legendary guitarists ever.
Before this amazing experience, I had only played a handful of Hammond organs, mainly the electric ones, represented by various Roland keyboards available at that time.
What really blew me away about the real thing was the incredibly rich, crunchy, and percussive sound of the Leslie speakers. The authentic sound of these organs had a profound impact on me.
Now, whenever I get my hands on an electric keyboard designed to mimic these phenomenal instruments, I make it a point to recreate the sound that's etched in my memory from the real thing.
Top 3 - Electric Organs
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So, here are my top five picks for authentic electric organs that truly bring the experience to life.
Best Electric Organs - My 5 Top Picks!
Table of Contents
- Best Electric Organs - My 5 Top Picks!
- 1. Nord Electro 6D 73
- 2. Yamaha YC88
- 3. Crumar Mojo 61
- 4. Hammond XK-1c
- 5. Hammond SKX Pro Dual
- Choosing the Best Electric Organ
- Realistic Drawbars
- Effect Quality
- Leslie Emulation
- Final Thoughts
1. Nord Electro 6D 73
I've recently been using the Nord Electro 6D 73 both in the studio and during live sessions with bands. It's impressive how closely it resembles the real deal.
What's even more impressive is the feel of the keys. They're actually better than a real vintage organ. The weighted hammer keys are pleasant to touch, as this model doubles as a piano.
Many vintage organs have keys that feel a bit stiff or strangely loose. You need to get used to them before performing, but that's not an issue with the Nord.
I also love that this model focuses on the B3 and includes physical drawbars. They're essential to capture that authentic feel. Additionally, it also does a remarkable job rehashing the Vox Continental and Farfisa transistor organ sounds.
Since it doesn't have pedals, they've incorporated the base of the Nord C2 organ engine, which does a great job at replicating the bass pedal sounds of a real Hammond.
Another great feature is the ability to split and layer three sections across the keyboard, allowing three different types of sound. You could have the B3 at the top and bottom and perhaps a Vox or Farfisa in the middle.
It also includes programs and presets, so you can save your unique sounds, especially those you plan to use for performances. Plus, it saves your drawbar settings, which is something a real organ doesn't do.
I love that they included a mount for the optional half-moon switch for rotary speaker control. It's crucial when you're playing a live organ. You can also use a pedal to trigger the Leslie action, which is cool.
The only area for improvement I see is the effects. While they nailed the sound of the organ itself, I feel the vintage vibrato lacks a bit of character.
2. Yamaha YC88
Yamaha never ceases to amaze with their outstanding vintage keyboard emulators. Their latest model, the YC88, is no exception.
It comes with dazzling electric pianos, a must-have if you fancy a complete 60s and 70s keyboard collection for your live gigs.
It's a no-brainer that the sounds of the Rhodes, the Wurli, and the B3 Organ are timeless classics. Whether you're serenading pop, rock, or jazz tunes, these sounds are indispensable.
One thing I definitely don't miss is lugging these hefty instruments in and out of venues. I mean, even the Wurli was a backbreaker!
What I absolutely adore about this keyboard are the dual rotary speaker models. It's strikingly lifelike, as organ players often position one Leslie speaker on each side to get that sweet stereo spread of the rotary sound.
The keyboard also boasts fantastic vibrato and chorus options, along with Reverb, Delay, and Drive. I find myself constantly reaching for the Drive, it has this warm tube quality that takes me back to the days of old transistor organs. Spot-on job with this effect, Yamaha!
I also find their DX7 style FM sounds quite enjoyable. Although it's a bit of a departure from electric organs, the ability to split these keyboards opens up a world of unique possibilities. Think a DX7 style bell for high notes and some vintage organ vibes for the body.
Playing an 88-key organ comes with a little quirk: the range might feel a tad unauthentic. No organ has 88 keys, so the extreme low and high notes can seem just a smidge synthetic.
Unless you're an organ connoisseur, you might not notice it, but there's just a certain something that's not quite right.
3. Crumar Mojo 61
The string machines from Crumar in the 60s and 70s were some of the hippest around, rivaling even the Solina and ARP. It's a thrill seeing them make a comeback in a transistor organ-style keyboard.
The Mojo 61 has a certain charm, it's slightly minimalistic, but it's unmistakably an organ with its drawbars, vibrato, and chorus section positioned exactly where you'd find them on the B3. The Leslie speaker representation on the keyboard, complete with slow and fast brakes, is seriously cool.
What really sets this keyboard apart is its drive control. It boasts a dedicated knob that can create some truly wild tones, ideal for nailing those gritty Prog-Rock organ sounds.
The inclusion of gritty electric pianos is worth mentioning too. They sound like a Hohner Pianet and Wurli mash-up, with just the right amount of reed grittiness that we all adore.
It's a bit of a bummer that it only has 61 keys. I would have liked a 73-key model for those extra high notes, a feature I quite enjoy on the Nord.
A pleasant surprise is the built-in Wi-Fi. It enables you to tweak parameters from tablets or laptops, which is super handy for live shows or studio sessions when you need to recall settings. It's not something I saw coming from an instrument with a vintage, retro vibe.
The Mojo 61 really excels in studio recording sessions. After the Nord, it probably has the best stereo balance and output punch.
The sound is incredibly clean but also has a three-dimensional quality akin to a real analog keyboard. Maybe they've managed to hang onto a little of that synth magic from the good old Crumars.
4. Hammond XK-1c
When it comes to authentic electric organs, you can't go wrong with Hammond - they're the masterminds behind the legendary Hammond B3!
You're in for a treat with the Hammond XK-1c. The drawbars are just fantastic! From the way they're labeled, the speed at which they pull, and how they close, it's like having the real deal in your hands.
And guess what? The XK-1c also packs some terrific pipe organs. They lean more towards the transistor theater organs and church organs, but trust me, they create some exciting effects.
Out of all the keyboards, the vibrato on Hammond's feels like it's the real deal. It's as if they've plucked it straight from the vintage circuits of a Hammond B3 - pretty amazing for a digital keyboard, right?
The keyboard comes with a superb EQ section, perfect for enhancing the sound, especially if you're after the roaring lows of the B3.
In a bid to keep things as authentic as possible, they've included an eight-pin Leslie speaker jack, so you can connect a real Leslie speaker. This feature turns this keyboard into something quite close to an analog organ.
It's like running a digital Rhodes sound through a Rhodes suitcase speaker - the vibes are off the charts! They also sell some very cool rotary speakers these days if you wish to not get the vintage ones.
Even the Motion Sound Pro-3X amp can elevate your game.
The only minor hiccup with the Hammond xK-1C is the reverb. A real organ doesn't need reverb because of the Leslie speakers, but if you're going to add reverb, a vintage sound would be the cherry on top.
The reverb on this keyboard leans slightly towards a modern digital tone.
5. Hammond SKX Pro Dual
If you're an enthusiast for authenticity like me, you've probably noticed that every B3 organ comes with a dual keyboard. It's a bit off-putting when single keyboard B3 emulators don't quite capture that, right?
It almost feels like you're playing a hybrid, and not the real deal.
But guess what? Hammond listened to us and brought out the SKX Pro Dual electric organ. It's not only visually stunning but also takes the best features of the XK-1c up a notch.
One of the coolest things is that each keyboard level comes with its own set of drawbars. So, it's way easier to split your bass or high and your harmonic chord settings.
What this organ tries to do is bring the real B3 experience to your fingertips. It's got the rotary speed and Leslie break on the left side of the lower panel, just like the good old B3.
Now, while it might seem like a replica of a Hammond organ, it's much more than that. Whether you see that as a bonus or a drawback is up to you. If you're someone who plays a lot of organ and also loves to dabble in synths, this keyboard could be your new best friend.
On the right side, there's an envelope section for creating proper synthesizer sounds, with knobs and sliders for oscillator pitch, filter cutoff and so forth.
Personally, I stick to using this keyboard strictly as an organ. I'm not entirely sold on its synth sounds when compared to other brands. But, if you're after the authentic organ experience, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better option.
Plus, it's a joy to play the pipe and transistor organ models on the dual keyboard, adding even more versatility to your performance. So, why not give it a try?
Choosing the Best Electric Organ
When you're scouring the market for the perfect electric organ, the key question is: how much authenticity are you after? Are you seeking a spot-on vintage replica, or are you more inclined towards a modernized version?
Perhaps you're an up-and-coming rock star, capable of managing multiple keyboards and playing on large stages. Or maybe you're a performer with space constraints, playing at smaller venues.
In the latter scenario, it's essential that your electric keyboard is versatile enough to be your one-man-band for the entire gig.
Whatever your needs might be, we've got you covered! Here are the most critical factors to consider in your search for a top-notch electric organ.
Realistic Drawbars
So, one of the most significant differences between using virtual instrument libraries and playing on real electric organs like these, is the genuine joy and significance of opening and closing the drawbars in real time. It's quite an experience!
Now, all the models we're talking about here have physical drawbars. When comparing the Hammond drawbars to the ones on the Nord though, well, there's just no contest.
Hammond is way ahead in that department and it's a real game changer!
Effect Quality
The quality of the effects is super important, especially for the Vintage Chorus and Vibrato. These effects, part of the original organs, were impressively gritty, nasty, lush, and quite breathtaking all at once.
It's a unique experience that's hard to describe. But I've got to say, some virtual instruments and sample libraries really knock these effects out of the park.
So, when you're checking out these physical organs, don't forget to give the Chorus and Vibrato a good listen. Make sure they sound authentic to you.
Leslie Emulation
Let's address the elephant in the room - the sound of the Leslie speaker. To be fair, only the B3 really got a boost from the Leslie sound.
Other transistor organs like the Farfisa, or Vox Continental didn't need it as much. They could easily be plugged into Fender amps or even go direct, but the B3 needed that Leslie to really make its presence known.
Now, if you're evaluating Leslie emulations, here's a tip for you. Listen closely - can you hear the subtle hint of air leakage when you play the keys?
It shouldn't just sound like a rotary effect. Rather, it should give you the feel of a physical horn moving around in a box.
Luckily, many software options nail this aspect quite well!
Final Thoughts
I truly believe that all these electric organs are an absolute joy to play and they deliver such a fantastic organ sound. If you're a die-hard organ fan like me, then it's a no-brainer that you're craving that authentic Hammond experience.
Good news - we have not one, but two Hammond organs right here on the list! Although, I have to admit, some of the others really do give them a run for their money.
Do yourself a favor and try all of these out. Prepare to have a blast and don't forget to crank up the volume!
About Tomas Morton
Tomas is a record producer, engineer, and synthesizer enthusiast based in Pasadena, CA. He received training at Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. When not in his studio, he can often be found scouring garage sales or Craigslist ads for vintage gear treasures.
