tube rectifiers, HexFreds, and Hammond Organs

[Debby and Gene Stopp]

There was a Hammond S-6 in our house as I grew up, inherited from my
Grandma. When I was in high school, I started reading Electronotes, and the
S-6 died right about that time (surely the victim of an opened heater or
gassed envelope). Needless to say, it got sucked into my room and declared
unfixable, so the keyboard was ripped out and built into my first modular.
The rest went into the trash. I had my priorities back then.

I'd probably argue with somebody who says that the S-6 "isn't a real
Hammond". Of course it is, it's just not a tonewheel model. But it has lots
of that old tube organ character. I wish I had one now. I'd probably keep it
fairly stock but try a lot of post-processing.

As for the M-3, that *is* a tonewheel organ. It's different from the L-100
type spinets in that it has a larger tone generator and two motors (starter
and run). It has percussion so it is capable of the big Hammond sound,
although the 44-note keyboards limit the tonal range. Parts-wise, tonewheel
organs are famous for their multiple-contacts-per-key manuals, and the
amazing tone generator itself (one heck of a piece of ancient engineering).
If I had all those parts, I'd make - a Hammond organ! My vote would be to
keep it stock and make it all work like it was meant to. I might even have
an old M-3 service manual in the garage.... I'll look. My M-3 is long gone.
I have a much bigger Hammond now.

For many (older) rockers the sound of a Hammond organ is a very cool thing
and is much sought after. For many of later generations the attraction just
isn't there. But a Hammond is capable of some pretty spacey sounds with some
creative use of the drawbars and the vibrato, especially with some reverb or
other processing. If you just don't think it's a very interesting machine
and could be chopped up for parts, my suggestion would be that you first
look around for somebody who wants the Hammond sound and try to sell it.
There's only so many that were built and they should go to those who would
care for them. You should probably be able to get $200-300 bucks for it
(US$). Heck, if I had a 303 I'd try to find a buyer before looking at those
cheap pushbuttons for spare parts - sombody out there wants it more than I
would. Same idea.

- Gene

-----Original Message-----
From: Leon Rothenberg <leon.rothenberg at ctg.com>
To: Synth DIY <synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl>
Date: Thursday, November 12, 1998 3:16 PM
Subject: Re: tube rectifiers, HexFreds, and Hammond Organs


>Bill Layer wrote:
>>
>>
>> It's not valuable as hammonds go, but then again, what would it cost to
>> replace it? The thing was *not* cheap when it was new. If it were mine to
>> do, I'd think about modifying the heck out of it.
>>
>
>On the subject of Hammond Organs, I have an M-3 Spinnet at home.  Does
>anyone know anything about it?  Interesting parts, etc.  Is it worth
>anything?  Where can I find out more about how it's innards work?
>
>TIA.
>--
>-- Z037 | leon.rothenberg @ ctg.com
>--
>