This year, representative members of world renowned audio magazines Mix, Electronic Musician and Remixjoined the editors of 55 other music and audio magazines to vote for the best products of 2005/2006 at the 7th annual MIPA awards. Chosen from three finalists in each of 40 categories, the winners were announced at an awards ceremony held March 30, 2006 during this year's Musikmesse/Prolight + Sound show in Frankfurt, Germany. More than 300 international representatives of manufacturers and distributors of musical instruments and audio equipment attended the 2006 MIPA Awards Show, including guests from Australia, USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, Poland, Great Britain, Italy, France, Greece, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. This proves that the MIPA Musikmesse International Press Award has become the "Grammy" of the Musical Instrument/Pro Audio industry. A highlight of the MIPA ceremony was the presentation of the MIPA Lifetime Achievement Award to Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, who founded Sennheiser in 1945. What’s nice to know about the award is that magazine readers can’t influence it, and manufacturers can’t put in the fix. The music industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony draws on the editors of 58 magazines worldwide to nominate, then vote on, the best of the past year. It’s a fairly gruelling task, so special thanks should go out, especially Gerald Dellmann of Musik Media in Germany, for getting this award off the ground six years ago. We weren’t surprised when we heard the winners. There was never any question about who would be heading up the Organ/Portable keyboard nominations… the Hammond XK-3 of course!
Celebrating the Win! Bernie Capicchiano (far right) of Hammond Australia in Frankfurt,
with staff from Hammond Japan, Hammond Germany and Hammond Europe.
Here’s just a few reasons why. Remember that big old Hammond organ grinding away on “A whiter shade of pale”? Or maybe the opening to the Wonder Years with Joe Cockers version of the Beatles classic “A little help from my friends”. What a beautifully huge earthy sound! Imagine taking that sound home with you. Not enough room? Wrong! Hammond has given birth to the “Next Generation” of Hammond Organs. There’s no need to empty out your lounge space just to fit an organ in. Now you can bring that wonderfully renowned Hammond sound home with you, and still have the room for your favourite chair! In this case, the Hammond model XK-3 is the latest in conveniently-sized and portable Hammond organs. There’s so much of the old school features jammed into one little package that it’s so hard to know where to begin. First of all, it’s a 61-note keyboard with the old black and white reverse coloured presets on the far left. This makes things easy, in terms of changing over from old Hammonds to new one and having the familiar features. You don’t need to learn something new. On the other hand, if you’ve never played a Hammond before and you’re just starting out, these preset keys are great for making difficult sound changes on the fly. Just like setting up banks on any synth these days. This new offering from Hammond also has 2 sets of 9 drawbars. This means that you can split the keyboard in half and play walking bass in the left hand, Jimmy Smith riffs in the right. You could set up two different solo sounds and chop away in a funky style like Mick “the Reverend” O’Connor. One of the hidden beauties in this second set of drawbars is the matching and interlocking second manual. If the second manual (now available from Hammond) is connected, your second set of drawbars automatically controls this keyboard. Now we’re getting closer and closer to the original shape of the Hammond. A foldaway metal and timber stand is available, as well as a 25-note pedal board for full expandability. This is definitely an amazing machine in terms of its expandability. The XK-3 alone is practically the brains of Hammonds greatest achievement since the first time around, the mighty New B-3, and the XK-3 has the ability with a few extra add ons to become a baby B3 itself. The “Next Generation” of Hammond is embracing the ease of use theory, by making things nice, easy and simple. The breakthrough in this breakdown version of the New B-3 has enabled everyone thinking of carting the magnificent Hammond sound around with them an easy and enjoyable experience. When the XK-3 is being expanded to its B-3 form, there’s no need for screwing and unscrewing because all of the parts are interlocking. The entire organ can be transported by one person alone, easily carried up stairs, as well as being a huge step in the vintage to modern crossover in today’s studios. With the amazing new VASE III tone generator and a dual vacuum tube pre amp on board (as used in the New B3), it’s easy to replicate those sounds of the past and bring them right on up into the 21st century. Hammond have spent years researching and developing the VASE III technology and when you have veterans like Jimmy Smith saying “you finally got it right”, I don’t think anyone can argue. So, essentially as a sound, you are practically able to carry a B3 under your arm! Mind you, weighing in at 20kgs, it’s a substantial difference from the B3 (weighing in at 195kgs). The XK-3 keyboard on its own has the ability, with its sleek design, to fit into any keyboard rig, be it the “Rick Wakeman” style, where you have to be dropped into the centre by crane for the sheer amount of keyboards (or maybe he comes up through a trap door?), or as a single keyboard in it’s own right, the XK-3 is perfect for playing the original “Hammond Organ Combo Blue Note” material. It’s even more than enough for the home hobbyist seeking the experience of pure enjoyment. One of the greatest partners in crime with Hammond would of course be the Leslie Speaker. Just try teaming the XK-3 up with the new Leslie 122XB. Pure heaven. Maybe you’re running late for the gig and haven’t got time to pack that precious 122. The on-board Leslie simulation is amazing. It’s so simple to just plug in to any amp or PA and just go. As a Hammond player myself, I know that sometimes there just isn’t enough room in some situations, so it’s definitely handy to know that you have several options available. I’ve had the chance to try many of the clones out there on the market today, and one thing remains the same. That’s exactly what they are. Clones. If you ever get a chance to put a Hammond and a clone side-by-side to hear and feel the difference, you’ll realise that Hammond were the first, and there’s a good reason that they are. Hammond spend time listening to peoples’ wants and needs in an instrument, not trying to copy someone else’s success. They got it right the first time, so why bother going anywhere else. We’re all very proud of the new XK-3 coming in first at the MIPA awards, but we’re not surprised. It’s a Hammond. Bernies Music Land / Musico Pty Ltd, Australian Hammond Distributors. 
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