I was curious if anyone can recommend a keyboard that gets a decent Hammond organ sound, without having to buy an actual Hammond? I want to get that Blue Hawaiians sound for a few songs that my band plays, but without the huge cost. I would greatly appreciate the help.

Thanks,

From Korg, there's the CX-3. It's been around for a while, so ya might be able to score a good deal for one, on eBay or at a store that sells used gear. From Roland, there's the VK-8. Everything I'd said about the Korg also applies to the Roland. Both are also available in double manual versions (Korg BX-3 and Roland VK-88), and have also been around long enough for there to be some good deal potential on the used market. Of course Hammond has already been mentioned, with their current models being the XK-3, and XK-1, for single manual combo organs.

Now, if you really want as authentic a Hammond sounds as possible, the only way to do that, even from one of the above mentioned combo organs, is to use a real Leslie speaker. Another option to the price of a Leslie speaker is, one from Motion Sound. But, if you're only looking to use a "Hammond" sound for just a few songs, the built-in Leslie simulator in the mentioned combo organs should suffice, with a good keyboard amp. Otherwise, and as you'd eluded to in your question, the only way toward a true Hammond sound is with a real Hammond organ through a Leslie speaker.

Matt

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

the MicroKorg has a decent Hammond-ish sounding preset in its "vintage" bank...you should check it out.
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Will any Hammond organ give you that classic sound, or does it have to be a B-3 Hammond? I only ask because I have seen a ton of Hammonds for sale in the newspaper and online for only a few hundred bucks. They arent the B-3s, but they are electric organs by Hammond. Would this give me the sound I'm after? I dont know too much about organs, so i really appreciate the help. Thanks,

Kuk
I've got a Clavia Nord Electro 2 SeventyThree. Good B3/Leslie emulation plus piano, Clavinet, etc. The newer Nord C1 Combo Organ looks kinda interesting

Karen from MBP has one as well, a nice sounding simulator in a very portable package. About the price of an AVRI.

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

It may be a shock to some of you, that I'm weighing in with such authority, concerning a Hammond sound question, but I've been around the Hammond community, on the 'net, for quite a bit longer than I've been a member here. I do own a Hammond M-2 spinet organ (still haven't yet got it working, after buying it for $40.00 at an Indianapolis Goodwill store, in 2001), and still have a desire to own a Hammond B-3/Leslie 122 (along with a Leslie 31H), but for the purpose of future recordings I'll settle for faking the Hammond sound. There are a number of excellent 'net resources for all things Hammond, particularly the Hammond Technical List, which can be used as a "springboard" to other useful Hammond organ web sites. The majority of list (e-mail) members are Hammond enthusiasts banded together to exchange information about how to keep their beloved Hammonds/Leslies going. There are several on the list that are bona fide Hammond/organ technicians, and several general electronics technicians/engineers. It's good to have the experts around, as they're not going to steer folks in wrong directions, especially when it concerns potential safety hazards of certain fixes/modifications posted by some of the amateur techs.

If any of you happen to actually decide to check out the IRC chat, tell 'em MAD_Matt (me) sent ya...if I happen to not be there. Don't be too quick, however, to let 'em know that you're normally a "gee-tar" player, or they'll tend to make fun of you - all good natured, though...they put up with me, and several of the chat regulars also play guitar.

surfagent_
Will any Hammond organ give you that classic sound, or does it have to be a B-3 Hammond? I only ask because I have seen a ton of Hammonds for sale in the newspaper and online for only a few hundred bucks. They arent the B-3s, but they are electric organs by Hammond. Would this give me the sound I'm after?

When most folks talk about the Hammond sound, what is being referred to is the Hammond B-3 organ through a 2-spd. Leslie speaker (typically a 122 or 145/147). As far as Hammond consoles go, the A-100/B-3/C-3/RT-3 is essentially the same guts in different cabinets, with some slight differences in what tone shaping selections are available with each different model. The Hammond A-100 has a built-in speaker, and would need a slight modification to add a Leslie hookup, while the RT-3 has a 32 note (AGO) pedal board, instead of the typical 25 notes of regular Hammond consoles.

Hammond also produced a number of spinet organs, with the most popular choices being the M-2 and M-3. These two are essentially the same organ, with the M-3 having supplanted the M-2, and the M-3 has built-in percussion while the M-2 does not. For those that don't already know, a good example of how a Hammond M-2 sounds (albeit through a 2-spd. Leslie...I forget which model), listen to the original recording of "Green Onions," by Booker T. & The M.G.s. For a good example of how a Hammond M-3 sounds (again through a Leslie), listen to some songs by STYX, particularly "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)."

spy
Nothing is like the B-3.
But any of the suggested digital organs will do the job. Only a hammondist will hear the difference! Ok anyone who know a few things more about Hammond.
My friend bought his XB2 from a Hammondist. The owner had it for gigs instead of carrying the B3.....

You completely nailed down the gist of the Hammond sound right here, spy. There are a number of reasons why a Hammondist would chose to use a combo organ (Hammond, Korg, Roland, etc.) for gigging, rather than take their B-3/Leslie. Weight is certainly a factor, with a completely stock B-3 (by itself) weighing in at 500 pounds. My M-2, at 250 pounds, is still not exactly light weight. There's also that tonewheel Hammonds don't quite "grow on trees," these days. The last Hammond B-3 was produced in 1975, so even the newest example of a tonewheel B-3 is going to be 32 years old (52 years, for a first production year - 1955 - B-3). Available stage space is another consideration, in deciding between "dragging" the B-3/Leslie to a gig, or bringing along the more portable combo organ/keyboard speaker.

Matt

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

I have a Hammond s-6 chord organ which doesnt sound at all like a B3. I also have a Rheem Mark VII combo organ which sounds like a transistor organ. For my jazz organ sound I use an old Yamaha PSR-60 keyboard which was cheap, light and does a good organ sound. I run it through a good solid state amp/PA. I want to try it through two amps and my stereo phaser for the leslie effect.

I've had good results with the Native Instruments B4, but it's software and you'd need a laptop and midi keyboard. But it works great, and it even has really good presets, and an excellent stereo leslie effect.

JD

I've also owned a Hammond M3 spinet. That's the closest thing you can find with tonewheels to the B3. It's very similar, but has a few differences. However, for less than $100 you can't go wrong. Not very portable though...

I have owned a Voce Micro B, and that was a great way to do the B3 sound. It even has leslie on it. It cost me 3 bills I think, and that was 7 years ago. not sure what it'd cost now. There have since been some updated versions from that company I guess.

And I've owned a Motion Sound rotating speaker. Very cool. It just had the top end speaker that actually spun, and the low end was simulated. Great portable substitution for the leslie. If I had a farfisa or vox or something, I'd use one of those.

JD

Granitsky
I've also owned a Hammond M3 spinet. That's the closest thing you can find with tonewheels to the B3. It's very similar, but has a few differences. However, for less than $100 you can't go wrong. Not very portable though...

The Hammond M-3 spinet is often referred to as "a baby B-3," and especially when it's modified to play through a 2-spd. Leslie. For as much as I myself lust for the Hammond sound, it's probably a good thing I developed G.A.S. (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), instead of what's known in the Hammond community as H.A.S. (Hammond Acquisition Syndrome) that is usually (in the case of the Hammond consoles that don't have built-in speakers) accompanied by L.A.S. (Leslie Acquisition Syndrome). With my house being less than 1,000 square feet, I'd have to sleep on top of a Hammond, if I had as many as I have guitars.

Matt

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!