Hammond XK-7 drawbar keyboard

General

The Hammond XK-7 is a drawbar keyboard from the 'grand daddy' among organ brands. And although it is now an ancient brand, the technology under the hood of the XK-7 is by no means so. In this keyboard, there are no tone wheels - and thus no weight - but contemporary technology. To be precise, the sound engine has a name: VEM (Virtual Electro-Mechanical), and as you might have expected, this is all about physical modelling. What they have fortunately included in this model is the famous crosstalk/leakage of the tone wheels, as well as the audible 'tick' on a keystroke.

Features of the Hammond XK-7

Physically just as interesting: longer keyboard keys, and 73 of them at that! Not that you see any of that, as the extra length is under the hood. But this does benefit the physics moment. In other words: it will be easier/lighter to press the keys, especially if that is a bit more in the middle of the key (like with a C# chord), and it also corresponds better to the original Hammond design from 1934. With mere virtual tone wheels we are not there yet, you also want to have a piece of buzien pre-amp, and Hammond applies modelling for this too. To be precise, the AO-28/AO-29 from the B-3 are recreated for you. Besides the Hammond sound, you also get some other well-known organs: the Farfisa, Vox and Ace-Tone, as well as classic pipe organs and theatre organs. Effects are also on standby: vibrato, chorus, reverb, delay and wah. And if you have really wild plans: there's a Leslie connector, as well as jacks for rotary out and bass out. Long story short, the ultimate organ anno today? Quite possible; and if you actually want a double keyboard, there's also the XK-7D. At least prog-rockers and worship bands have something to save up for again!