Roland VR09 Hammond XK 5 Shootout

[dakoiaa]

Thanks for the demo, great video. The VR09 surprised positively, specially by its practicality and affordability.

[BrioTang]

Every day, I lust more and more for a tonewheel organ. I've been wanting a hammond for nearly four years now, when i was 11 I heard lazy by Deep Purple, and that solidified my love for the hammond IMMEDIATELY. I've recently fallen in love with Emerson, Lake and Palmer, with Keith Emerson's use of the 888 c3 with lots of Drive, I've never wanted to do anything so much IN MY LIFE!

[allegrobarbaro]

Was looking for months for a presentation of Roland VR09 but what I've found was mainly just about VR09's piano and synth sections.I'm grateful for this useful organ demonstration, which convinced me to buy a VR09.Thank so much! You're a true organ player! (Highway Star) ...

[robjo]

I’m sure everyone would love a Hammond. However, for a gigging musician, the Roland is much easier to lift around. And in a band mix, it would take a great ear to hear the difference. Great video. 👍🏻👍🏻

[Judesmood]

Roland also has a tone knob you can adjust to warm it up so it mixes better like the Hammond.

[ffas]

I think that Roland VR-09 sounds great.

[lmoorerd]

To me, Hammond XK5 sounds like a live organ and the Roland sounds like a recorded organ. I currently own an XK5 with a Leslie but I wouldn't turn down the Roland if that is what I had to use. I could make it work. The Roland still sounds like the VK8, just like how Korg keeps shoving their old CX-3 engine into current products. Going through a real Leslie hides a lot of crimes.

[RGAWKE]

… again a great video… The Hammond sounds more homogenious to me… The VR comes more (to) sharp… But this difference can also be a chance for a different „Hammond“ Sound with the VR… Anyway, I have two of them and use them with the NeoVentilator or the third internal Rotary, which offers a more rock sound… You should mention the 3 types of RotaryFX in the VR… There is also a great advantage as there is an costfree iPad-App that let you do deeper Organ settings or even full Synth programming… I live this VR-09… Itˋs a great instrument with great sounds for everything (but maybe the acoustic piano🙄)… The keybed is more than okay for organ playing… And as a last hint: you can use the pitchbend to control the rotary speed like with a half moon switch… ☝️

[beadmusic]

The VR-09 certainly has more high end that would cut through a busy mix.

Great job on the vid!

Les

[stevec.]

A VR09 would more than suffice for my needs in a gig situation with a rock cover band. A bit more audio girth in Hammond XK5, and with my XK3c. Wonderful presentation, as always.

[universitylowbrowastronome]

I've owned a VR-09 for over 10 years now, and it's stood the test of time and has proven to be a versatile, flexible instrument. At half the price of the Hammond equivalents, it's an absolute bargain. I bought the Roland while looking for a clonewheel, and thought that due to my inexperience on keys, the Roland would be a good compromise. Since then, I've grown with it, and it continues to stand up well in sound and functionality. Yes, it has some quirks of operation where they obviously cut some corners, but easily corrected once you know what to expect. I have to say that if/when it dies, I'll probably buy another!

[sandcat-maurice]

The XK5 is just such a beautiful instrument, both the looks and sound.

[nicklisac]

I once went to a lovely Chinese restaurant where I was served fried🍛rice, crispy🍗🐔 chicken, dumplings and a side order of Dim Sims🥟 & Leslie Sims.
The fried🍛 rice, crispy🍗🐔 chicken, dumplings and dim sims🥟 were delicious. 😋
The Leslie Sims made me very very sick. 🤢
Something about them not quite right 🤮

Always watching and enjoying your videos👍

[jazzplayer]

I have the vr09 as a rehearsal board...the overdrive is really buzzy (in a bad way).the early versions also had the percussion running thru the vibrato...thanks again...I really enjoy your comparisons and reviews.

[robjo]

I’ve been gigging for many many years. In the past I’ve used organs with a Leslie cabinet and fender Rhodes. These things are all a 2 man lift. And sometimes up lots of stairs. To me the VR09 is an amazing keyboard especially for the cost. In a band mix the organs, pianos and EPs are all amazing for something you can carry under your arm.

[terrygeraci]

The Roland holds its own at $1000 versus $4000 for the Hammond. Hammond guys are jealous of the Roland VR series, because of this. Fact!

[valleywoodstudio]

Great little series of videos thanks - just as I needed a little supplement to add to my playing rig.
I ended up getting the little Yamaha CK 61. Fab weight, good Wurlitzer and Rhodes and quite good Hammond with a little tweaking - but the clincher is it plays well with its three voices and separate levels and fx, with a master keyboard (old Roland FP3 (best weighted hammer action still) just for the electric piano whilst retaining the CK61 local keys for the Organ.

[phillerup]

Some comparison videos often leave me feeling like there's obvious omitions - Not yours though Nick. Love that! Just watched this in a rather noisy environment - and what i heard was the Roland being much brighter, (but with more 'honk') and the Hammond much warmer. I assume this could be equalized quite easily with eq., but without wanting to be controversial, I wonder whether the brighter sound would be better for live? I just picked up a used VR-760, for peanuts. It's a heavy beast, but lovely keybed! - Running it through a NeoMiniVent sounds pretty good in my opinion. Contemplating adding an OrganGrinder for those JL moments! Any thoughts on this combo?

[glenhenning]

I've owned the VR09 since it came out. In the studio my computer driven best organ sounds are slightly better, but in a live situation the VR rocks! The slightly "edgy" brighter sound cuts thru better, and it has beautiful piano's as well. It's a combo- brass, reeds, accordians, bells, incredible synth sounds, great keyboard to play imo. All that and much more for $900 US! (about 10 years ago). One wierd drawback- sometimes is harsh when changing presets. It can run on batteries! As you can tell, I love mine.

[anorganlover]

I think this amply proves you do not need a HAMMOND. ROLAND have aways made good HAMMOND clones.
I currently play a YAHAMA S970 - which also has the tonewheel sounds I like - with good rhythms, panning, reverb and the all important part EQ and MASTER COMPRESSION.