Woody Piano Shack’s CRUMAR SORRENTO Organ: Hammond Dreams or Digital Daydream?

The SORRENTO packs three distinct organ sound engines: drawbar, spinit, and a Farfisa for the brave (or the masochistic). Woody’s not fussed about the Farfisa – he’s here for the Hammond flavours. The drawbar engine gets the spotlight, with classic 838 settings and that all-important rotary sim. Woody toggles between slow, fast, and stopped Leslie speeds, showing how each setting shapes the vibe.

The real magic? It’s in the details. You get two drawbar presets per manual, quick access for full-on gospel or subtle comping. Woody points out the subtlety in the engine’s overtones, foldback, and even the simulated leakage – all the stuff that separates a proper organ emulation from a cheap preset. And yes, the rotary sim can be bypassed, revealing the digital and spring reverb options. It’s not just about nailing the Hammond sound; it’s about capturing the weirdness and warmth that make it legendary.

No Hammond emulation is complete without vibrato and percussion, and Woody’s not shy about calling out what works and what doesn’t. The vibrato chorus circuit is switchable per manual, adding that lush, pulsing swirl – or, if you’re unlucky, a dose of cheese straight from the 1970s. Woody admits some vibrato settings make him seasick, but C3 is the sweet spot for most.

Percussion is where things get spicy. Engage it, and you get that classic ping – but it also kills the relevant drawbar, just like the real deal. Woody demonstrates how you can flip between whistly and percussive tones at the press of a button, giving you two sounds for the price of one. The SORRENTO lets you tweak decay, harmonics, and even play percussion solo. It’s all about those expressive touches that separate a lifeless clone from an actual performance tool.

Here’s where Woody throws down the gauntlet: can you actually hear the difference between the console and spinit models? He swaps between them, showing off the subtle shifts in tonewheel emulation and percussion behaviour. The spinit’s percussion works differently, with harmonics you can switch individually – a nice nod to the original hardware’s quirks.

Woody encourages viewers to listen close for the nuances: the leakage, the foldback, the way the vibrato and percussion circuits interact. He’s honest – without a real B3 in the bunker, it’s up to you to judge how close the SORRENTO gets. If you want to catch all the subtlety, you’ll need to watch (and listen to) the video. Some things just don’t translate to text – especially when it comes to organ mojo.