The Organ Forum

I am starting to think that my old 46W Leslie may need some work.  It does not seem as brite sounding to me as other Leslies I have heard.

When I went to pick up my RT-3 it was hooked up to a JR-20 tone cabinet and the sound was great except for some lack of bass response.  The highs were crystal clear.  I brought it home and hooked it up to the 46W and it sounds kind of dull.  The bass roars but the highs are, what I consider, weak.  Even when I play guitar through it the sound doesn't seem as clear as my buddy's 145 or 147 does with guitar.  I'm thinking that maybe it's time to re-cap it.

I am sure I could do the work if I had some direction and instruction.  I know practically nothing about the amplifiers in these things.  I have a schematic for it but am not sure which caps need to be changed in order to get the sound back.  Is this feasible or am I expecting something from that Leslie that is not possible?

Another note.  Some years ago the Leslie would blow a fuse in the combo pre amp when switched to high speed.  I took it to a tech and he found nothing wrong so he put a slightly higher rated fuse in it and it has been perfect ever since.  I am thinking power supply component break-down perhaps?

Any suggestions?  

Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

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Hammond RT-3
Modified 2 speed Leslie 46W
Korg SG1-D 88 key digital piano
Minimoog
Yamaha DX7
Korg O1R-W
Oberheim Matrix 1000
Roland JV-1080
Peavey DPMV-3
Gobs of software synths
from Arturia and NI
and others

I would not recap unless there was an obvious signs of sound deterioration, like scratchiness or popping.  I would start by checking any tubes and for lose connections.

 

About the fuse blowing, where you sure the correct fuse was used in the first place?   Make sure the fuse is equal or greater than the voltage used and the same amperage.  The fuse should not blow...

It could also be your treble driver or even crossover, although they rarely give out. If you're not familiar with working on amps that might be a problem although you have to learn sometime. All caps should be replaced especially the can capacitor. It's an easy plug in. If you can get another treble driver to substitute that would tell or at least eliminate one possibility. Also try removing and cleaning the tube pins and sockets with Deoxit.

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HAMMONDS: A; B3; D; E; 5-M3's; T582C;2-A100.
LESLIES: 3-31H's; 21H;22H; 122; 122A; 145; 147; 245; 715; 825; 25; 125;4-44Ws;45; 46W;102;103;50C;51C;55C;300;2-120's;770.
ALSO: 1925 Wicks PipeOrgan; Yamaha DGX-520; Kurzweil MicroPiano.
(Yes, I have 'AD')

I noticed the can capacitor on the schematic.  Any idea where I can get one of those for that Leslie?

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Hammond RT-3
Modified 2 speed Leslie 46W
Korg SG1-D 88 key digital piano
Minimoog
Yamaha DX7
Korg O1R-W
Oberheim Matrix 1000
Roland JV-1080
Peavey DPMV-3
Gobs of software synths
from Arturia and NI
and others

Try Antique Electronic Supply (www.tubesandmore.com).  I bought a new relay and can cap for a 147 from them a few months ago.  Not sure if they carry the exact can cap for a 46W, but it's worth a look.

td

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...and so on, and so on,
and Scooby Dooby Doo.
-S+F/S

toasterDude:

Try Antique Electronic Supply (www.tubesandmore.com).  I bought a new relay and can cap for a 147 from them a few months ago.  Not sure if they carry the exact can cap for a 46W, but it's worth a look.

td

They have a 10% off sale right now which means they're selling for about $30. To find them: click on 'capacitors', then 'multi-section', then 'FP type' to get to the correct page. Your 46w uses a 30-30-10 but all they have for that is 30-30-30 which will probably substitute (E&ME, what do you think?). Part # C-EC30X3-525.

 

 

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HAMMONDS: A; B3; D; E; 5-M3's; T582C;2-A100.
LESLIES: 3-31H's; 21H;22H; 122; 122A; 145; 147; 245; 715; 825; 25; 125;4-44Ws;45; 46W;102;103;50C;51C;55C;300;2-120's;770.
ALSO: 1925 Wicks PipeOrgan; Yamaha DGX-520; Kurzweil MicroPiano.
(Yes, I have 'AD')

Thanks guys.

I did a search and found this place. 

http://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/~reese/electrolytics/

They offer instructions on how to rebuild those can caps or they will do it for you for about $30.  I could probably do that myself but I am not going to attempt it.  I am not that confident in my abilities.  If I mess it up then what?  I don't want to fry something that is irreplaceable or expensive.  It does work they way it is now.

I looked at the 46W service manual and did a lot of searching as well and could not find a 30/30/10 - 450V cap either.  From what I have found they are practically non-existant. A 450V rating, or more, should work according to what I have read.  I just don't know about the capacitance rating difference.  I found that some things could be added to the circuit to make that work but I am not that electronically inclined and would not attempt it by myself.

I did find the ones for a 145 or 147 but they are quite different.

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Hammond RT-3
Modified 2 speed Leslie 46W
Korg SG1-D 88 key digital piano
Minimoog
Yamaha DX7
Korg O1R-W
Oberheim Matrix 1000
Roland JV-1080
Peavey DPMV-3
Gobs of software synths
from Arturia and NI
and others

Kenny,

See this post: http://organforum.com/forums/post/67662.aspx

David Headley, AKA DH Distributors, will build a new multi-section FP can capacitor to your specs.  For example I bought a 4-way 30/30/30/10,450V can from them and it cost roughly 16 dollars- a lot cheaper than any place I have seen.  The post has all the contact info.  I have been very happy with this company and will be placing my third order soon.  If you have a 3-way 30/30/10 can, he can easily make one of these for you.  You just have to let him know all the details - height/diameter of the can, how many pins and blank spaces for unused sections the underside has, is the can a common negative, is the can insulated or not, which values are attached to the corresponding pins marked circle/square/triangle/none (this should also be printed on your current can), etc.  Have the cap in hand (discharge it first of course) when you call and this will make it easier to give him the full specs of what you need.

For replacing the old wax/paper caps under the chasis I (and probably a lot of others) recommend Sprague Orange Drops - that's what I used when rebuilding a 22H amp a while ago.

If your amp is very old it probably could use a re-capping as standard maintenance - especially if you are noticing any strange behavior or humming.  But the frequency response problem may be another issue altogether - which the others here can assist you more with.

Hope this helps,

Jim

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Jimmy Williams
Gulbransen Model D, Leslie 204, Farfisa Compact, hobby organist/technician

Kenny, regarding your low treble level; does the top (horn) section of that Leslie cabinet have a bunch of wooly-looking stuff stapled in around the perimeter?  21H's often had this, and usually yielded better treble after it was removed; this is kinda out of left field here, but thought i'd throw it out there just incase.....I couldn't remember if 46W's had that stuff or not.

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Dave Stevens
Home: 2/3 Wurlitzer pipe organ project
Hammond D-152 #2042
At the gig: Hammond M3 (former M) & Leslie 145, plus a few old synths
Previously owned a Hammond E, CV, RT3, H111, Lowrey C32, Conn 830, bunch of Leslies.....

Dave, That was a good point on the wooly stuff. I had forgotten about it, however the 46W did not have it except on the removable back plate. You just jogged my memory to go take it out of 2  Leslies (a 21H and back of my 46W). I usually do that but slipped this time. The wooly stuff was usually only on models with one upper louver as it covered the lower part where the 2nd louver is on later models.

Jim, Thanks for your report on DH. I have heard of them but not tried them. Just bought 4 cans at $30 each from Antique Electronic Supply. I'll give them a try next.

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HAMMONDS: A; B3; D; E; 5-M3's; T582C;2-A100.
LESLIES: 3-31H's; 21H;22H; 122; 122A; 145; 147; 245; 715; 825; 25; 125;4-44Ws;45; 46W;102;103;50C;51C;55C;300;2-120's;770.
ALSO: 1925 Wicks PipeOrgan; Yamaha DGX-520; Kurzweil MicroPiano.
(Yes, I have 'AD')

The Admiral was correct in that only the rear cover for the top rotor had the padding on it.  I just recently re-installed the rear cover on the upper rotor.  Before I found the M3 a new home I was digging around in my shed to retrieve the bench for it and found the Leslie covers for both rotors.  They have been off for many years.  When I was gigging with it miking it without the covers was much more effective so I had removed them.  I left the padding on the top cover and could not hear any noticeable difference in the frequency response of the top rotor.  However, I do believe that the doppler effect is more pronounced and sounds better with the cover on.

The Leslie still sounds very good it just seems that the balance between the upper and lower drivers is not balanced how I would like to hear it.  The bass response is a little overpowering to my ears.

---

Hammond RT-3
Modified 2 speed Leslie 46W
Korg SG1-D 88 key digital piano
Minimoog
Yamaha DX7
Korg O1R-W
Oberheim Matrix 1000
Roland JV-1080
Peavey DPMV-3
Gobs of software synths
from Arturia and NI
and others