Have You Forgotten Your Password or Username?

**redoctoberff** · 05-20-2009, 06:34 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

That sounds like a steal. Others on the forum will be able to help you out with specific problems, butas everyone will tell you, there is very very little that can go wrong with a Hammond that you or your local tech can't fix.</P>

The RT2, if you haven't read up on it yet, is a console Hammond like the B3--61 keys per manual, preset keys, and harmonic foldback (notes doubling back in the higher registers to make it sound fatter) which smaller spinet Hammonds don't have. The RT series is special in that they have 32 bass pedals instead of 25 and are AGO (American Guild of Organists I believe) certified--so you can play classical on it if that's your thing. They also have an independent tube-based generator for the pedals called the pedal solo unit.</P>

The main difference between -2 and -3 series consoles is the lack ofharmonic percussion, which adds a high pitched "ping" to the beginning of each note.It's a feature that can be added with an aftermarket modification if you choose. Again, others will offer their advice, but this sounds like a terrific deal to me. People sell Hammond spinets for $250.With the RT2 you'll have plenty of bass and the aforementioned foldback among other things. You'll want a Leslie eventually--but $250 sounds like a good place to start. Just keep in mind they are HEAVY.</P>

**Guest** · 05-20-2009, 06:45 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

Thanks a lot! So this hammond model doesn't already come a with a leslie tone cabinet? What tone cabinet would it come with?

**Brendon Wright** · 05-20-2009, 06:46 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

Yup, Red about said it all!</P>

It's a B2 but with the extra enormous case and pedalboard. Add percussion and its better'n a B3, but has the B3 sound.</P>

The RT's are very very very cool....</P>

and very very very heavy.</P>

**redoctoberff** · 05-20-2009, 07:11 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

No, the Leslie speakers were made by another company, and Laurens Hammond supposedly didn't think much of them. (Actually, as I read on the forum the other day, Don Leslie never thought the B3/fast 122 combo was that great either since the Leslie was originally intended to mimic the "breathy" or "moving" sound of a pipe organ, hence why "The Pipe Voice of the Electric Organ!" is written on the outside ofLeslie cabinets. They did sell well though...) </P>

Hammond tone cabinets don't have moving parts, unlike Leslies, which use moving baffles--horn on top and wooden rotor on the bottom in the case of the 122/147, which are usually most desired--to "spin" the sound coming out of stationary speakers. Instead, tone cabinets just reproduce the organ's sound,usually with a pretty powerful amp anddecently large speakers.Most of them soundvery good, but the sound is stationary.</P>

**toasterDude** · 05-20-2009, 07:40 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

[quote user="pugrol"] <SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: arial"><FONT id=role_document style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial"></DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial">He is selling the organ for $250. With the leslie tone cabinet included, I thought it might be a great deal. </FONT></SPAN>[/quote]</DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial"></DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial">Hi and welcome.This initial point (quoted)seems to have gotten lost here. If there is a Leslie included, $250 is a great deal. In fact depending on which model Leslie, it could be an incredible deal - I've seen 122 model Leslies go for over $1500 by themselves. However, it is extremely common for non-knowledgeable sellers to describe an original Hammond tone cabinet as a Leslie -- I've actually seen the *internal* speakers on self-contained models like the M100 or A100 listed as "Leslie speakers" fairly often. (and once, even, a Hammond that included a so-called "Leslie bench" - ?!?)</DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial"></DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial">So the first order of business in assessing this deal is to find out exactly what type of tone cabinet it is. If it's a Leslie, personally I'd be there with cash, like tomorrow. But even if it's onlya Hammond tone cab, $250 is still a good price. Hammond tone cabs like the PR40 are very nice units, and WAY better than no tone cab at all - one of our forum members here once aptly noted that an RT2 without any external speaker won't do anything but make a neat whirring noise and drive up your electric bill! But despite their inherent musical value, the Hammond speakers have miniscule market value compared to Leslies.</DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial"></DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial">The issues you describe with the organaren't particularly troubling... the need to help the motor get things turning is likely just a lack of oil, very easy (and cheap) to remedy. The fading volume may be more difficult. Hard to say more without further info,but it could just be a problem in the tone cab and not the organ itself. But as RDOCTFF has already advised you, most probs with Hammonds of this type are easy fixes. It's all point-to-point wiring, and most electronic parts are still readily available.</DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial"></DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial">As far as the sound, again you've gotten good advice already. I'd sum it up like this: except for the percussion, an RT2 will sound almost exactly like a B3. I think only a very experienced Hammond man (or woman!) could tell the difference, or maybe a pro sound engineer. The main dip in value between the B3 and the RT-series Hammonds comes not from the difference in sound, but from the difference in cabinet appearance and from the different pedalboard (again as described above.) But in terms of the sound you associate with the B3: a LOT of that is the Leslie. So unless there's a Leslie in this deal, you probably shouldn't expect to get the complete sound you have in mind with just this one $250 outlay. Anyway hope this helps-</DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial"></DIV>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial">Scott</DIV>

**redoctoberff** · 05-20-2009, 07:46 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

[quote user="pugrol"]

This is the ad:</P>

"<SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: 'times new roman'">Hammond RT2 organ with tone cabinet. Finish is ok but has a couple of cosmetic spots . Bench and foots pedals included. I know it worked a couple of years ago , the cord to the organ disintergrated but can be reverse pluged with heavy duty extention cord. Must be moved can not deliver. Sold as is where is . I also have the factory manuel for this organ . As far as I can tell from the serial number it was produced in 1955."</SPAN><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: arial"><FONT id=role_document style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2></P>
<DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.2em; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial"></FONT></SPAN></DIV>

[/quote]</P>

Note the seller does not use the word Leslie. Sorry if I got long winded, I was just trying to clarify the difference.</P>

**toasterDude** · 05-20-2009, 07:59 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

[quote user="redoctoberff"]</P>

Note the seller does not use the word Leslie. Sorry if I got long winded, I was just trying to clarify the difference.</P>

[/quote]</P>

-Ah, missed that! I was going on what the original poster said. So it looks less likely that it would be a Leslie. Still might be a nice deal for someone who wanted the AGO pedalboard, though -- and who had room for the beast!</P>

cheers,</P>

TD</P>

**Guest** · 05-20-2009, 08:12 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

I have actually done a lot of research on this very subject over the past 2 weeks. A lot of it on this very site.
</p>

I just bought a RT3 and picked it up last weekend. When they said
it was heavy, they understated it a bit. It is VERY heavy. 525 pounds
with the bench and pedals. A good thing is that the removable bass pedal assembly is probably 75 pounds of that. The bench is about 15 to 20 pounds. Still, you can bank on the organ itself weighing about 425 pounds. A B3 without the bench or pedals is in the 350 to 375 pound range. A C3 is a little heavier due to a bit more wood on the cabinet. That should give you an idea about the weight.
</p>

This RT3 is everything I would ever want
from a Hammond organ, and more. The bass pedals are the fattest thing
you have ever heard. I have some friends with B3's, C2's, and C3's. I
also have a M3. The RT3 is ever bit as good sounding as any of those
other models. If I am not mistaken, the inner workings of the RT
series are identical to the B and C series other than the bass pedal
solo unit that offers more harmonics than the others. As someone already stated the RT2 is the same as a RT3 just without percussion. Abbey Road Studios in London has one and if it is good enough for them it is good enough for me.
</p>

You can't go wrong for $250. Offer him $150 and see if he will take it. You never know unless you ask. If not buy it tomorrow before someone else does. At that price it won't last long if anyone else finds out about it.</p>

As far as the start motor problem goes, some Hammond oil in the right places will very likely fix it. When I first got my M3 the chorus/vibrato scanner and tone generator were both completely bound up and would not turn....at all. I had to take the scanner off to free it up but all I did to free up the tone generator was to oil it and wait. After a couple of days it loosened a little. I turned it slightly by hand and let it sit for another couple days. After about a week of doing that it freed up and has been working ever since. That was nearly 20 years ago. I had it in storage for about 10 years and it was never even plugged in. When I brought it home and fired it up it still worked flawlessly. Then I oiled it again.</p>

I have no idea about why it fades in and out. That's a subject for some of the more electronic savvy guys around here. I am mostly a mechanical kind of guy.
</p>

**Guest** · 05-20-2009, 08:13 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

thanks for the replies. Yes, it was my uneducated assumption that leslies come with all hammond models. Good to know that they dont, so thanks for the info. I emailed him asking the model # on the tone cabinet, so I'll know something upon his reply. If it is a leslie though...I'm definitley on it. So I guess the rt2 is a monster of a unit, huh? How many people would it take to move one?(on average)

**Guest** · 05-20-2009, 08:29 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

It depends upon how far you have to carry it and how high it has to be lifted. With a proper dolly setup 2 guys can move it with considerable effort. Without the dolly, 2 guys and a gorilla or 4 guys. I had to stand mine up on its end to get it through my studio door and then move it around after I got it inside. I did it by myself but I am 6'6" and weigh 265 pounds. It was a lot of work for me and took me about an hour to move it through the door and about 10 feet into the house.. It would have been much easier with another person. But, I also had a Roll dolly to help me move from the guy's house and into the trailer, out of the trailer and to my house, and around in the house once I got it through the door. I damaged the finish on the edge of the lid a bit in the process. I should have waited for some help but I was too anxious and couldn't wait.
</p>

I don't know if it was standard issue or not but the guy I got the RT3 from had a JR-20 tone cabinet hooked to it. He started at $100 and was down to $50 before I left. I think he really wanted me to take it. If he had given it to me I would have taken it off his hands but I had no need for it. It had a surprisingly good sound through it but it didn't have a lot of bottom end. My 30 watt, Leslie 46W blew it away.
</p>

**Guest** · 05-20-2009, 09:06 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

wow. I will definitley need some help then. This may be a completley new thread, but anyone know of a good affordable starter leslie model?

**Guest** · 05-20-2009, 09:36 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

I suppose that depends upon your budget. I would think that you need a dual rotor, 2 speed, tube amped, Leslie. But , there are other options. Solid state amps, single rotor, single speed, or any one of a dozen other options. My suggestion would be to figure out how much money you can throw at it and then start looking. If you find the right deal you can get a nice Leslie anywhere from $50 and up. A 147, which is kind of the industry standard, in good condition can run you anywhere from $1000 to $2000. But occasionally you'll find one cheaper than that. </p>

A 122 is also a great Leslie and usually considerably cheaper. Usually $600 to $800.</p>

There are some single speed Leslies that can be found for less than that. Single speed Leslies have a fast speed and off. As always they can be modified into 2 speed models.
</p>

**Brendon Wright** · 05-21-2009, 03:15 PM

Re: Hammond RT-2 Help

Back to the moving of it, I'd recommend to use 6 guys.</P>

If it's just four, it's still a reasonably heavy lift. Two guys will rupture themselves!</P>

Take the back panel off to use theshelf as an extra hand hold.</P>

It's also essential to lock the Tone generator. It hovers on springs just above the shelf. There are four bolts going through the bottom shelf, with washers which are like top-hats. Unscrew the bolts, turn the top hats around so they are upright, and put the bolts back in. this will fasten the TG to the bottom shelf so it can't move afround and get damaged in shifting.</P>

In the tone cabinet there may also be a reverb which will need to be locked. If its a necklace style spring reverb, there's a shaft at its front with a screwdriver slot. Turn this until the cradle canno longer shake around. Likewise, if its a tank reverb there may be a lever you can push to press the springs against the back. This is lessessential though.</P>

Is that all lads?</P>

-Brendoon</P>

Welcome To The Organ Forum

Have You Forgotten Your Password or Username?

How To Recover Your Username and Password

Forum Top Banner Ad

Ebay Classic organs

Announcement

Hammond RT-2 Help

Hammond RT-2 Help

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment