The HAMMOND® XK-5

“The New Original”

Stephen Fortner
XK5 Heritage Series Model Options

XK5 Single Manual

XK5 Heritage Pro System

 XK5, XLK5 lower manual, new Pro
Bench (BK), new Pro Stand (BK)
 XPK250BK Pedalboard (option, not
shown)

Model A3 Heritage System

 XK5, A3 lower manual (RW), new A3
Bench (RW), new A3 Stand (RW)
 XPK250W Pedalboard (option)

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HAMMOND® XK-5
“THE NEW ORIGINAL”

The HAMMOND B-3™ organ and its siblings such as the C-3™ and A-100™ have been the single
most influential keyboard instruments in musical history, perhaps apart from the acoustic piano. When
paired with the spinning Leslie® speaker, the HAMMOND’s sonic versatility defined the electrified
keyboard sound of genres from rock to soul to Gospel to jazz. This sound is as sought after today as
ever.

With the XK-5 and Heritage Series, HAMMOND is proud to announce that we’ve closed the final
millimeters of the realism gap—in terms of both sound and feel—in a form factor that’s far more
portable and affordable than a vintage Hammond organ. We are very proud of this instrument for
providing an absolutely authentic playing experience that will meet the demands of even the most
seasoned B-3 purist. Frankly, we feel it has no peer among today’s keyboard offerings.

“It’s very important to feel comfortable sitting at the organ. Sometimes I play an
organ and it doesn’t feel like what I’m used to. First of all, [The XK-5] feels like
a B-3, just sitting at it.” – Dr. Lonnie Smith, legendary
jazz organist

“It’s a Hammond B3! That’s what most of us want in

essence. But to be able to go beyond that and have all these incredible
adjustments … I’m in love!” – Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones)

Let’s face it: Moving and maintaining an antique Hammond will only become more difficult as time
passes. Of course we have tons of respect for anyone who does, but to get all of the sound with none of
the hassle, let’s learn why the XK-5 is destined to become The New Original™
.

NEW PATENT-PENDING TECHNOLOGIES

The engineering team we’ve dedicated to the Hammond sound for over 30 years went back to the
drawing board for nearly everything about the new XK-5, analyzing many classic organs and poring
over original diagrams and blueprints that only we possess. Here are some of the biggest new ideas in
the new Hammond XK-5.

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Hybrid Multiple Key Contact System: On classic Hammonds (and in our current, full-sized New B-3
Mk. II family), pressing a key closes nine mechanical contacts: one for each drawbar. Your ears usually
hear the multiple harmonics as one note. Depress a key slowly, however, and you can hear the
harmonics come in at slightly different times. Normal playing created a subtle “slop” between
otherwise crisp attacks, and the more drawbars you pull out, the more of an almost subliminal but
chewy and soulful character it impacts to the sound. One perhaps feels this more than hears it, but
seasoned players certainly notice its absence.

You can’t accomplish this with a single MIDI note-on, which is what most of today’s organ and synth
key actions use. In the XK-5, we use three mechanical contacts at different points in the keys’ travel.
Each of these in turn triggers three virtual contacts, giving you separate “note on” connections for
every drawbar frequency in the same manner as the original nine-contact electro-mechanical
Hammond® organs. The result is a fingers-to-music connection that perfectly duplicates sitting at a
vintage B while saving on weight and cost. Plus, the time-spread between these “note ons” is
programmable, as is the order in which you hear the harmonics speak. And since the contacts all
receive and transmit MIDI note data, you can capture every harmonic nuance of your performance in
your DAW program of choice—to which you can directly connect the XK-5 via USB.

“The first thing that struck me was the action. I played a big Larry Young
chord, and stretching and hitting that top note, it didn’t quite trigger all the
way until I really pressed on it. That’s exactly what a B-3 does and what I
expect as a B-3 player.” – Jim Alfredson (Organissimo, Janiva Magness)
(Jim – jamming on the XK5 – ModelA3)

Completely Redesigned Key-bed: The XK-5’s keyboard action is built in-house, not sourced from a
third-party manufacturer. We designed it to duplicate the heft, bounce, and key dip of a “new old stock”
and well-maintained B-3™: No springy synth keys allowed! Master Hammond players who tested
early prototypes confirmed that nothing comes closer to the feel and response they expect. Of course it
has the “waterfall” key fronts critical to Hammond playing techniques such as palm slides. Play the
XK-5 alongside any other modern organ and we’re convinced you’ll find the difference stunning.

“The feel of the keyboard, it kicks back at you.

It’s not dead, and it feels good.
See, that’s what we’re looking for!”- Dr. Lonnie Smith

“It’s like the feel of what I imagine it must have been like in 1968
when you put your hands on a brand new one. It feels great.”- Chuck Leavell

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All-New Sound Engine: The XK-5 employs new proprietary technology to recreate Hammond’s
storied tone wheel generator with unprecedented accuracy and flexibility. Tone wheels were spinning
discs on shafts, each with its own pickup pointing at the edge. The pattern of “teeth” cut into the edge
of the wheel and its rotational speed determined the pitch. Modeling and sampling are combined in an
exclusive process to capture the frequencies of all 91 tone wheels found in the original organs, not to
mention other important sonic details such as key click, harmonic percussion, vibrato-chorus, and
more.

Tone wheel generators have become like rare violins or classic cars: Even though Hammond originally
calibrated all instruments that left the factory to sound identical, no two are exactly alike after decades
of use. So we’ve extended the programmability of both the overall generator characteristics (such as
leakage and cross-talk between pickups) and individual tone wheel behavior (such as the purity of the
sine wave) to almost ludicrous depths. In addition to letting you perfectly duplicate different conditions
of Hammonds—from showroom-new to road-abused if that’s what you’re going for—there’s the ability
to recreate individual organs right down to the model, year, and serial number! Presets will capture the
exact tonal qualities of famous artists’ instruments, from jazz great Dr. Lonnie Smith to Chuck Leavell
(The Rolling Stones) to Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey) and more.

Virtual Matching Transformer: An often overlooked subtlety of the Hammond sound was that the
tone wheels generated tiny voltages that needed to be stepped up, and you could be “drawing on” some
of the same wheels at the same time by playing similar notes with similar drawbar settings on both
manuals. All signals from the upper, lower, and pedal manuals passed through a matching transformer
that was intended to even things out before the signal moved on to the preamp and vibrato-chorus
scanner. The transformer—a piece of iron with a coil wrapped around it—could “remember” some of
its saturation based on how hard it had been working previously, thus affecting new notes played.
Physicists call this hysteresis. Musically speaking, it affects how much “volume robbing” you hear and
adds to what Hammond aficionados think of as the “breathing” quality of the organ. (The phenomenon
is similar to why some recording engineers like transformer-equipped microphones and/or preamps for
certain sounds.) In the XK-5, the matching transformer and its place in the signal chain is modeled
precisely, and the saturation and hysteresis amounts are adjustable from barely-there to over-the-top.
Like we said, we’re closing the final few millimeters of the realism gap.

MORE FEATURES

We didn’t stop there. Just a few of the XK-5’s more than 50 innovations and features include:
 Four full sets of Harmonic Drawbars plus pedal drawbars, just like on original Hammond
console organs including the B-3.
 12 additional virtual tone wheels are devoted to harmonically complex pedal tones (i.e. more
than just 16' and 8' sine waves), as found on Hammonds beginning in 1945.
 Custom tone wheel profiles available via download.
 Our best-ever Digital Leslie effect. Anything else is just a “rotary simulator.”
 Continuously variable Digital Leslie speed if desired.

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  Dedicated octave shift / transpose buttons.
 Improved DSP-based overdrive complemented by vacuum tube preamp.
 Improved vibrato-chorus.
 Dedicated on/off buttons and amount knobs for reverb, overdrive, and assignable multi-FX.
 Lower B drawbars can alternately control 9 MIDI CC messages for external gear.
 Left and right ¼'' outs can be used at the same time as Leslie output, for running the XK-5
through a real Leslie in parallel to stationary speakers, a subwoofer, or house P.A.
 More key-triggering modes for pedal-to-lower coupler (Manual Bass function).
 Firmware updatable via USB flash drive or directly from computer.
 Crisp new OLED display is more readable under different lighting conditions.

Of course we’ve retained the things that made working with the XK-3C and our compact SK-series
keyboards a joy. Hold any button and the first page of parameters most relevant to it comes up in the
display—holding the Leslie speed button for Digital Leslie settings, for example. This saves you a ton
of menu-diving when customizing your sounds. New patch-naming and copying features also make
your housekeeping even easier.

HERITAGE SERIES OVERVIEW

The single manual XK-5 forms the basis of our new Heritage Series, letting you configure as large or
as small a system as your gig requires.

For adding flawless and inspiring Hammond organ sound to your existing multi-keyboard rig, simply
purchase the XK-5 single-manual unit. It contains all the tone-generating “brains” in case you want to
expand later. From here, two systems offer a choice between contemporary or traditional looks for
players who require dual manuals and/or pedals.

XK-5 Pro System

This system is best for touring musicians who carry their own gear but require a full portable B-3.

The new XLK-5 lower manual uses the same key-bed and multi-contact system. It features the same
high-quality cabinetry as the main unit, with vertically extended side panels designed to cradle your
XK-5. Remove the existing side panels from the main unit (a quick and simple operation), slide it into
place, and you have an integrated dual-manual rig with a seamless appearance.

Jazz players who kick bass can add the XPK-250 two-octave radiating pedalboard, which includes our
new EXP-250 expression pedal. Though the XK-5 is compatible with previous XK-3 and XK-3C Pro
System expansion products such as the XLK-3 lower manual (though you’ll only get the multiple key
contacts on the XK-5 itself), all the new components interconnect via H-BUS, our new connector that
simplifies setup by carrying both data and power.

Rounding out the options are the open-footprint aluminum Pro stand, which folds for easy carry, and
matching bench.

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Model A-3™
So named because it looks very much like Laurens Hammond’s first organ, the Model A™ he
introduced in 1935, the Model A-3 is ideal for installation in a church or nightclub, or for any
application where the appearance of a classic B-series Hammond is desired.

It begins with the XK5 and adds the A-3 lower manual, which functions exactly like the XLK-5 but
has thicker side panels. The wooden “B-3 look” stand and bench match the cabinetry perfectly, as does
the XPK-250 pedalboard with expression pedal.

HAMMOND will offer different bundles of these components through better retailers everywhere.

If you demand no less than perfection from your tone-wheel organ sound, a feel and responsiveness
that will make you close your eyes and imagine you’re playing a vintage B-3, and programmability that
will let you recreate any specific Hammond that may be in your mind’s ear, don’t settle for a “clone.”
Insist on The New Original … the HAMMOND XK-5.

“I’m so glad Hammond is carrying on the tradition, and making it even better than it was in the
beginning. Congratulations!” – Chuck Leavell

Hammond USA
743 Annoreno Drive
Addison, IL 60101

www.hammondorganco.com

SPECIFICATIONS:
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Manuals Adjustable Normal/Soft Volume Custom Cabinets (8 Preset, 8 User)
Upper and Lower 73 notes each settings, Adjustable Slow & Fast Speeds, Rise
(61 playing keys plus 12 Preset Slow/Fast Decay rates, Velocity, Key & Fall Times, Horn/Drum/Subwoofer
Keys) Tracking, Volume Balance, Microphone
Square-front (“waterfall”-style) 1’ Drawbar Cancel ON/OFF Settings.
New mechanical key-bed design
Vibrato & Chorus™ Reverb
Pedal (optional) Virtual Scanner™ (3 settings) ON/OFF panel control
13, 20-note spinet-style Adjustable rate, Vibrato/Chorus Mix 11 programs
25-note radiating Vibrato on Pedal ON/OFF Leslie On Reverb ON/OFF
Adjustable Pedal Sustain
Pedal to Lower coupler Overdrive MIDI
Custom Pedal Registrations (3 Tube/Solid State 5 MIDI Templates
Factory, 3 User) Adjustable drive level 3 Keyboard Channels (Upper, Lower,
Pedals)
Split Preset Keys 6 External Zones (3 Upper, 2 Lower,
SPLIT panel control 9 Presets plus Cancel each Manual 1 Pedals)
Assignable split point 2 Adjust Presets each Manual Assignable MIDI channels, key
9 programmable Preset Banks range, Program Change, Pan,
Tone Generator Velocity Curve, Min/Max Volume
MTW™ (Modeled Tone Wheels) Patches IN 1, IN 2, OUT Connections
61-note polyphony for Manuals 100 User, 100 Factory Patches
5-note polyphony for Pedals Assignable to Preset Keys as Display
Favorites OLED, 20 character, 2 line
Virtual Multi-Contacts™ Assignable Patch Load: Drawbar 7 Control Buttons & VALUE Rotary
Custom Contacts (3 Factory, 3 User) registrations, Drawbar parameters, Knob
3 Physical Contacts, 9 Assignable Internal & External Zones, Multi-
Virtual Contacts Effects, Reverb. USB
Adjustable Attack, Release, Decay “A” port (“To USB Flash Drive”)
Tube Preamp “B” port (“To Host”)
Harmonic Drawbars® 12AU7/12AX7 Tubes
5 sets (4 Manuals, 1 Pedal) Adjustable Routing & Drive Level Tune/Transpose
Upper 2 X 9 pitches Transpose +- 6 semitones
Lower 2 X 9 pitches MT™ Matching Transformer Fine Tune +- 10 cents
Pedal 2 pitches Adjustable drive level, Hysteresis, Octave Up/Down +- 2 octaves
upper/lower/percussion levels
Drawbar Voicing H-BUS® Connector
4 choices for Manuals (A-100, B-3, Multi-Effects To Pedals/Expression Pedal
C-3, Mellow) Tremolo, Auto Pan, Wah-Wah, Ring
4 choices for Pedals (Normal, Muted, Modulator, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Audio Connections
Synth 1 & 2) Delay. Adjustable parameters for LINE OUT L/MONO / R
each effect. Headphone Jack
Custom Tone Wheel (CTW™)
3 Factory, 3 User for A-100, B-3, C- Master Equalizer 11-pin Leslie® Connector
3 & Mellow Drawbar Voicings Bass/Mid/Treble panel controls
CTW’s identified by model and Adjustable gain & center frequency Other Connections
serial number CONTROL 1, CONTROL 2,
Adjustable parameters for each tone Programmable Equalizer 8-pin DIN (EXP-100F Expression
wheel Bass, Mid, Treble Pedal)
12 complex tone wheels for bottom Adjustable center frequency AC Input
12 pedal tones. Hammond Preamp Tone Control
Dimensions
Touch-Response Percussion™ Leslie® 46.8” (W) 15.8” (D) 4.7” (H)
Percussion On, Normal/Soft Volume, STOP, FAST, BYPASS panel Weight 34.6 lbs.
Slow/Fast Decay, 2nd & 3rd Harmonic controls.

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