@nickfoleyuk Here's an interesting tonewheel to at least have a look at if you get your hands on one... A Roland Fantom O (the cheaper version of the Fantom) The Fantom has a strange way of accessing the tonewheel... you have to press "Zone Select", "2", and then "Organ". But once you're in... it's surprising how good the Fantom Tonewheel is. Considering it's a workstation (compared to a Modx, for example). I own both the VR730 (same as VR09, but with waterfalls keys) And I own the Fantom O. The Fantom O is far more portable than the VR730... with many more sounds and far better sounds. And here's what I've observed with the Fantom tonewheel compared to the VR730. I'd say the VR730 has SLIGHLY better clean organ sounds... the percussion is slightly better, and the chorus is a little better. But the Fantom is VERY close... with, I think, better distortion and rotary. To the point where I no longer use the VR730. Not to mention... for a synth that has (once you purchase and download) unbelievable Jupiter-8, Juno 106, SH101, and JX8-P expansion engines... It's a no brainer. I bought the Fantom for Analog synth sounds... but I was very surprised by it's tonewheel engine.
You can also adjust the Leslie rise an fall of both rotors. With the program buttons you can store your favorite organ settngs like all the other adjustments on the VR 09. I´m using it since 7 years.
I once owned and gigged on a Roland VK8 which sounds a bit similar to VR09. Even though I upgraded to an XK3c a few years ago I wish I had held on to my VK8 after seeing John Mayall in 2018 in California gigging on a VK8. It’s not a Hammond but I didn’t see the audience complain. A secondary clone wheel is a nice thing to have. Great demo, Nick. 🔊
I've owned one for 10 years...only use it for rehearsals...no service issue whatsoever...light with usual sounds even battery powered... wouldn't want to do an organ centric gig with it...but, all in all a great bang for the buck.
The VR was the top of the line clone for a short time following the VKs. Those have been eclipsed by many things in the last 10 years but in the end the audience really doesnt care how real the leslie sounds or if the percussion goes through the reverb. The leslie reminds me of the RT20 pedal which was good for about a year or two untill the neo Vent changed the leslue sim world and forced all the clonewheel makers to up their game. I think the vent still wins but many including me find the onboard leslies good enough to forgo hooking up extra wires for that nth of improvement.
Great demo. I am not an organ player, not even a keyboard player--just a humble, average bass player, but I do love the sound of a Hammond. I have listened to a lot of demos of "affordable" Hammond clones and this is my favourite. I was a bit disappointed with the organ sounds on the CK61--too polite for me but the VR-09 really has the sound I like, and cheaper too. Maybe because it's a bit more lo-fi?
It's a very good clone, as have learned all Hammond's sound a bit different, so the clones too. I have the VR09 recently, along other clones Mojo Desktop, and also the Ferrofish (for the Leslie effect use the Ventilator), for me is the VR,09 round, but it depends what you want to play of music style. Thanks for the presentation.
Once again. Thanx for these awesome vids!!:) I had the VR-09 for 5 years and it's truly a good bang for the buck. I was great to haven one rehearsals and small covergigs. I did my own setting on the rotary that i was quite pleased with and you had to make small tweaks on the tone knob to get the right sound. If you have any chance to do a video on the Numa Compact 2x it would be awesome. It's in the same pricerange as the VR-09. All best //Peter
I was wondering if a VR730 was a competent (and cheaper) option to a Nord Electro or YC and some videos have been proving it would be. Now I gotta see if I keep my Juno DS76 or sell it to get one of these or if I keep it and buy a VR 730 anyways, just for a piano-rhodes-organ kind of gig
Hey man, great vid! Which piano out of the Yamaha ck61 and the Roland vr-09 should I go with? I need a secondary piano for church. Which is the best for straight organ, and which is best as a whole?
Great video Nick. I'm wondering if you have a pedal to suggest for the Leslie effect. Being a beginning keyboard player I love Leslie sound, but I do not want to mess with the bar on the left side. Being a beginner I need my hands. Thanks again and please respond.
Recommendation for amateur very low budget, just want to play something with hammond sounds to play pop covers like Klaus Wunderlich and Stef Meeder. Not picky. Is this Roland the cheapest decent instrument? I won't be gigging anytime 😅
