So, I tend to frequent a particular flea market in Northern Massachusetts every Sunday and have found quite a few music-oriented things for short dough over the years. But this takes the cake. Allow me to set the scene:
A producer friend of mine and I park the car and just as we are leaving the field to where the vendors are (it's outdoors), I notice a bench to a C3. I make a joke about where the organ is and think nothing further on it. We browse around, pick up some small things, see some friends and its time to go so we head back to the car. My friend decides he likes the bench (he recently got a CP70b and needs something to use with it) and the vendor gives it to him for $25, a sweet deal in and of itself. I quip "The organ is included in that price, right?" The guy says, "Well there IS an organ that goes with that, but you'd have to talk to the woman who owns it." They have no idea what model it could be, "...but it's a Hammond". We get her number and leave, excited by the mystery.
Later in the day, I call her out of curiosity. Turns out, it was an estate item that didn't sell and she says, "We were going to smash it up and toss it in the dumpster. You can have it for the moving." !!!! I ask for pictures and model numbers. She sends them to my phone. Lo and behold...indeed, it's a C3! Purchased in 1959, it has sat in their living room, lightly used since then. Unfortunately, the tone cab was sold in the sale, but the organ remains. Apparently, it needs only one tube to function, but its mint, so even if there's more to be done, it's most certainly worth it.
Long and short, I have movers grabbing it this week. So psyched! This will be an amazing addition to the studio and a nice friend for my Mellotron and recently purchased Rhodes 73 Suitcase.
Now the questions for the B3/C3 folks out there....
Obviously, I need a Leslie (which is why I'm not crying over the tone cab). I'm looking for a 122, 147, etc. and have a few local leads. My query is this:
Do any of you prefer a Trek pedal to the half-moon switch? Tube or solid state? Pros and cons? There's a great tech here in MA that I'll have go through it, but I'd like to avoid any expensive experimentation. Any insight would be helpful.
Thanks, and Cheers!
-Jack