Friday, 6 July 2012
B-3 on a 6' 10" wide Narrowboat .. A World First ?
YES … a 50' long by 6' 10" wide narrowboat !!! ……. A B-3 complete with 25 note pedal board, bench and Leslie Speaker (which was already aboard)
Below are a few pics form delivery day with Bob, Barrie and Malc and you can then read all about Bob, his new Hammond and his music below.
Pathway leading to Bob's mooring
The B-3 Portable's new home
All unboxed and ready to go aboard
Bob and Barrie ready to take the B on board
Permission to board ?
Malc setting the B-3 up with Bob at the helm (couldn't resist that pun)
Bob's story ….
Ive been playing since I was 6 when I was allowed to play my Gran’s piano on a Saturday morning. I was originally trained on the trumpet but never progressed much beyond School Orchestra level. One day I was listening to an old 78 record and heard some blues and I was hooked. The sound was terrible but the wonderful music of the blues just got into my heart. On this old record was a Hammond and I knew from hearing this from the first moment this was what I wanted to play.
I got a chance to play an old B3 a few years ago and this was the moment knew I wanted one but cost and space was a problem. A few years ago I started playing with “Wendys Lost Boys” and I steadily progressed from an Oberhiem B3 simulator and Hefner Leslie simulator pedal to an single manual XK3 and Leslie 860 (Thank you Ebay). Although at this time I was using a stack of keyboards and midi gear on stage I was only happy when I was on the Hammond playing the blues. When Wendys Lost Boys folded (Arrgh girlfriends in the band!) I bought a lower manual for the XK3 and stopped using the synths and midi gear all together as the Hammond was such a nice instrument to play just sitting on it brought a smile to my face. I also do some charity work, which requires me to play a church organ so, I made up some drawbar settings that resembled what I had so I was able to practice with the same sound. (Between you and I the Hammond is a much nicer instrument than some of the church organs I have played!).
Late 2010 I bought and moved onto my 50ft Narrow boat and installed my studio in the living area with a squeeze (Hammond Xk3 system, Andomenda A6, several Yamaha DX7 and a 24 track mixer with Alesis Monitors) and for a year found the peace and tranquility of the life on the canal beneficial to recording. I could take the boat out, tie up and turn the Leslie up with out neighbors complaining.
Since the first day of playing the original B3 I have always lusted over one so earlier this year I decided to finally go for it but as I lived on a Narrow boat it had to be planned very carefully as I needed to get it on and off along with the Leslie so armed with an expandable ruler I found I could get the B3-P in so the order was placed.
When it arrived, In a large van, on a large pallet, I honestly thought it would never fit in but after Malc and Barry had unpacked it, it all fitted in just as I had planned.
What is it like to play? Well the answer is just perfect; the keyboard action is as smooth as silk. The sound is amazing and IMHO so much better than the XK3 and is a total joy to play. The only thing I regret is not getting it earlier and as for space, the dog is a bit peeved that her bed has moved but there is only so much you can fit in on a Narrow boat.
The band I play with now is more rock and blues so my Hammond fits in perfectly.
If you are interested in the blues I broadcast a live Internet radio show from my floating studio every Tuesday and Friday 10-midnight in the UK on
http://www.dekadance-radio.com and the show is also available on iTunes search Dekadance and select Ain’t Nuthin But Bob Blues.
Have fun and Go for it!
Bob Blues
Monday, 21 May 2012
May 2012 Roadshows
All set up and ready to go …
Great to see some of our existing Hammond users
Sk2 owner John Gulliver tries the Pro XK System
Basic layout for the shows featuring the
Sk1 - Sk2 - XK-1 - Pro XK3c System and Leslie 2010
Ready to start the Hammond Sessions show ..
The mighty Pro XK-3c System and Sk2 stage keyboard side by side
One to One 'Hammond Player Session' with Malc
for a few more pictures and comments from the shows go to our FACEBOOK PAGE
Once again …
Many thanks for all the enthusiastic support during the 3 events.
Always great to see old friends and meet up with new ones.
Cheers … Barrie & Malc
Monday, 14 May 2012
May 2012 Newsletter
- The award winning Sk Stage Keyboards
- Frankfurt 2012 MusikMesse report
- A few words from Malc
- New items in Hammond Organ UK Shop
Sunday, 13 May 2012
MAY 2012 ROADSHOWS
Meet up with Barrie Freeman and Malc Deakin to try and learn about the incredible new Hammond Sk Stage Keyboards and the Hammond XK-3c and Pro XK system - One to One Sessions with Malc Deakin.
- The venues are:
- Friday 18th May 12 noon - 8pm Holiday Inn Express Manchester East - Hyde Rd, Manchester, M18 7LJ
- Saturday 19th May 12 noon - 6pm Holiday Inn Ariel Hotel London Heathrow Bath Rd, London UB3 5AJ Sunday 20th May 12 noon - 6pm
- Holiday Inn Express Birmingham West Birchley Park, Oldbury, Birmingham
Full details or on our Events Page - links for maps etc.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Hammond UK Roadshows May 2012 - Manchester - London - Birmingham -
MANCHESTER Fri 18th - LONDON Sat 19th - BIRMINGHAM Sun 20th
see and try the multi award winning Hammond Sk Stage Keyboards -
Hammond XK-3c and Pro XK System
- One to One Sessions with Malc Deakin
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Frankfurt MusikMesse 2012 - Sk Stage Keyboards Receives Two Major Awards
April 2012.
Sk Stage Keyboards pick up two major awards
At this year’s Frankfurt Music Fair I actually managed to get some time to walk round this enormous show, mainly to get some feed back as to what was going on in the rest of the industry. The weather was more like that in California which undoubtedly helped the upbeat atmosphere and reflected a welcome, buoyant mood from the manufacturers exhibiting.
What is always encouraging is that you notice, as you criss-cross through the many diverse hardware and software companies, the many attempts at the iconic Hammond sound emanating from all corners. This undoubtedly emphasises the importance of the Hammond image in other manufacturer’s planning and is a testament to the timeless popularity of the sound for all musicians.
Lots of eager hands trying out the incredible Sk keyboards for the first time
It certainly did not feel like a year ago that Jon Lord officially launched the new SK series and although we were not able to get products through until November, these incredible instruments have quickly emerged as two of the most important Hammond products for many years. It was therefore even more pleasing and encouraging that, for the SK series , Hammond picked up not one, but two extremely prestigious, press awards at the show, ahead of all other major companies
Siemen Lassche (Hammond Suzuki EU) and Yu Beniya (Suzuki Corp) with the two major awards received by the Hammond Sk Stage Keyboards at the 2012 Frankfurt MusikMesse.
crowd gathers for a live session on the New B-3 outside the main demo room
It is always difficult to analyse the importance of the ‘fair’ to our own market in the UK, but it has been noticeable in the few weeks since the event, demand for SK and also XK instruments has been at its highest level for some time.
In my somewhat biased opinion, the proof is that, if you want Hammond then buy Hammond and a big thanks to all the other companies in helping promote that concept.
Barrie .
Friday, 9 March 2012
Sk1 and Sk2 Software Updates and Voice Library Downloads
[click here] go to this site
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Kent International Keyboard Fair - this Saturday and Sunday ( 11th - 12th Feb 2012)
Barrie and Malc will be there and this is your chance to see the Incredible Hammond Sk Stage keyboards.
Malc will be running 2 x formal presentations of the Sk1 and Sk2 at 11:30am and 14:30pm. You can of course drop in and see us anytime between 10am and 5pm for a chat or to try the Sk's for yourself.
This is also your chance to spend a little time with Malc on 1to1 Hammond knowledge sessions.
Hope to see you there.
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
See Us at the Kent International Keyboard Fair Feb 11th / 12th
See and try the incredible New Hammond Sk1 and Sk2 Stage Keyboards at
[event web site]
The Holiday Inn The Black Prince
Bexley Kent DA5 1ND
Just off Junction 2 (M25) then A2
On
Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th February
10am—5pm both days
FREE ADMISSION - FREE PARKING - FREE PRIZE DRAW