Imagine the Hammond organ in your living room, but in a smaller scale. That’s what makes this portable organ from Hammond Musical Instruments so great: you can take it anywhere around the house, to church, on trips or to parties.
Despite the piano keyboard’s small size, the instrument features nine drawbars, three pedals, a Leslie simulator, and a range of 61 keys. It’s ideal for concert musicians, but it also makes a perfect practice instrument for budding organists.
The 2019 Hammond XK-1c portable organ is a great option for organ players looking for a quality instrument they can carry around. It comes with an 88-key keyboard, a Leslie simulator, nine drawbars, three pedals, a Farf, and a microphone.
The keyboard is fitted with 88 weighted keys; the Leslie simulator is for simulating the trademark Leslie rotating speaker, while the Farf is a flute-like instrument. The organ can also be equipped with a bass pedal for an extra 83 keys.
The organ comes with 32 preset songs, but you can save up to 128 of your own songs by plugging in a USB thumb drive.
The organ’s manual is large and easy to read, while the LCD screen makes it easy to see the song you’re playing.
Overall, the XK-1c is a great instrument for advanced organ players looking for a portable organ, or for practicing at home.
Hammond XK-1c Portable Organ Review:
The Hammond XK-1c Portable Organ is a great keyboard for those who want the classic sound of a Hammond organ without having to lug around a huge instrument.
I had been considering buying an electric piano for some time, but when I saw the XK-1c, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. It’s small enough to take with me on the go, yet it still has all the features and sounds that I need. Plus, it comes with a built-in Leslie speaker, which gives it that authentic Hammond sound.
About the product:
61-key Combo Organ with B-3:
The Hammond XK-1c portable organ gives you the classic B-3 sound in a small, lightweight package. It’s perfect for the traveling musician or the gigging keyboardist who needs an authentic Hammond sound without lugging around a full-size instrument. The XK-1c features 61 keys, 11 drawbars, and over 120 sounds.
Leslie Simulation:
The Leslie speaker is synonymous with the Hammond organ, and many people say that it’s what gives the instrument its unique sound. The XK-1c has a feature that simulates the iconic Leslie speaker, so you can get that classic Hammond sound without lugging around a huge piece of equipment.
Nine Drawbars:
There’s nothing quite like the sound of a Hammond organ, and with nine drawbars you can get just the right sound for your needs. This is a great feature if you’re looking for a portable organ that you can take with you wherever you go.
Review and Score:
Our Score: 67/100:
I found this as an extremely versatile keyboard. It can do pure classical, mellow Jazz, or cutting edge electronic dance music. But if you are really into any of those genres, then you will really appreciate this product.
I would award this product a whopping 67 score out of 100. Moreover, I also did the groundwork for you readers. I found 16 customer reviews on Amazon when I started writing this blog post.
The customer reviews on Amazon are positive overall, but there were a few niggling points raised one person mentioned that the machine cut out during use; another said that some of the sounds were substandard; and finally somebody else said that it stopped working after two days.
Hammond has acknowledged these issues in its own reviews and says they have been fixed in newer models of the XK-1c so if youre considering buying one secondhand, just bear these things in mind. That makes it very easy for me to recommend the Hammond XK-1c Portable Organ as well.
How We Pick & Test?
Size:
We look for the smallest organ that will realistically sound like a full-size organ.
Keyboard feel:
A good organ should feel solid and responsive.
Tone:
We check each organ’s tone quality, and we look for a classic organ sound.
Portability:
Organs are heavy, so we look for a model we can carry comfortably.
Sound:
We check each model’s sound in a small room, and we look for clear, balanced tone.
Programmable:
We look for models with programmable features, like MIDI, external speakers, and a built-in Leslie speaker simulation.
Connectivity:
A portable organ should be easy to connect to other devices and play sounds from other instruments.
Pros
- Sound quality is great
- Easy to use
- Looks good
- Feels solid
- A lot of features
- Great price
- Super portable
Cons
- Some knobs are a bit hard to turn
- Some buttons are hard to press
- Playing some keyboards (like piano) can be a bit tricky
- There is no sustain pedal
- No headphone jack
Standard benefits:
- Organ with 61 keys.
- Leslie simulation with four Leslie speakers.
- Connects to smart devices through the Bluetooth function.
- Organ music tuning function.
- 16 organ sounds.
- High-quality digital sound.
Emotional benefits: - Enjoy high quality sound.
Are Hammond keyboards good?
They’re very good but, in my opinion, not as good as the classic Mellotron or Minimoog.
Hammonds are an electromechanical instrument. They consist of a panel with 2 keyboard keyboards. The 2 keyboards can be layered on top of each other.
When activated, the keyboards activate a solenoid that operates a mechanism. The mechanism strikes a metal plate. The metal plate makes sound, and the sound is amplified via one or more speakers.
Hammonds became popular in the 1960s.
If you’re into rock & roll, you’ll recognize Hammond sounds. The organ in “Purple Haze” is a Hammond B3. The organ in “Good Vibrations” is a B3. The organ in “Soul Man” is a B3. The organ in “Satisfaction” is a B3.
Today, most electronic keyboards emulate Hammonds, so they sound similar.
If you can afford a Mellotron and Minimoog, go for it.
I recommend the 1930 and 1931 Mellotron models. They’re the best sounding Mellotrons.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Hammond XK-1c Portable Organ is a great choice for those in the market for a portable keyboard that can do it all. It has a full range of features and comes at an affordable price, making it a great value for your money.
