Another M3 in the house...

[jeremygs]

Needed to tell someone before I turn in for the night.</P>


Saw a 'free organ, doesn't work' no more details posting on c-list with images... an M3! Picked it up tonight only about 5 miles from my house. A little rougher than my other on the outside but far from road weary. The fellow told me ithas beenpassing through his family since his grandmother bought it new. Really clean on the inside.</P>


As far as not working... if nothing else I picked it up for a set of spares but really want to get it working again, a great way to learn more without tinkering too much with my'59. Upon initial inspection I checked the usual suspects and believe, as with my first M3, that some oil (which has already been introduced) is really all that is 'broken.' It has a newer power chord and start switch and a hodge podge of tubes but otherwise seems original. I did hit run long enough to hear the amp section fire up and respond to the swell pedal. The maintenancecard in the benchhas nearly yearly entries from '58 to '85 and the action of the keys is much different the the '59. I think this one has seen a lot more playing. That being said I have a feeling that an oiling and cleaning is all she needs.</P>


The main differences between this one and the '59, other than the wear and use as noted above,seem to be the amp, 1B vs. 7J, and the field coil vs. permanent magnet. What other unseen differences are there and how compatible are parts between the two? </P>


Also, looking the TheAdmiral's M3 study the 1B amp seems out of sync with the serial number. Any thoughts here?</P>


Edit: Looking at the study again I may have mistaken a H for a B, will have look again at the amp.</P>


Thanks,</P>


Jeremy</P>


P.S. Is it just me or is there is an addictive quality to this Hammond/Leslie stuff. I'm not sure I can get away with third organ at home, if you know what I mean, so I may need some rehab sooner than later. Thank goodness a Leslie looks like just another speaker to some.</P>

[TheAdmiral]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



Way to go. You are definitely getting a serious case of "AD".......Acquisition Disorder. No known cure. You just have to keep feeding your habit! Once your home is full then you have to put storage buildings in the back yard or rent miniwarehouses hoping one day you can afford a large warehouse!
</p>

You're right, the 1B is out of order. I would think maybe the amp was replaced if so. Look carefully and make sure it's not 1H with a bad stamping. That would be correct for the serial range. I have added it to the list. Please send the numbers on the speaker. You need a couple more Leslies with a horn now or a 3 way switch!. Congrats on the trifecta.
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[Brendon Wright]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



I thoroughly approve too, you lucky devil!</p>

There is something obsessive and addictive about it, I guess it was the same with gold diggers diamond hunters and Victorian Egyptologists....</p>

Is it a gift or a curse?</p>

Caramba, I hope I have a B3 in Heaven!</p>

-Brendoon</p>

[jeremygs]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



I looked again more closely this morning and it is definitely "1B", so it is probably safe to assume that the amp was replaced with an earlier model at some point. There is a "Y" stamped on the swell capacitor housing and the small cap that reveals the preamp adjustment is on the back of it (in the '59 it faces the rear of the organ, this one the front) if that provides any clues.</P>


Are there major differences between the 1B and 7J amps other than the voltage supply for the fieldcoil and incremental upgradesto individual components?</P>


The speaker is stamped with AO 21055-2.</P>


Looking forward to getting the TG turning this weekend to see/hear what is really going on.</P>


Jeremy</P>

[TheAdmiral]

Re: Another M3 in the house...

Thanks for double checking and for the speaker number. I'll add that. The preamp adjust cap was probably just put back on backwards by someone. Most of those boxes I have seen have either X or Y. Not sure of the meaning but I'll study that some. You have pretty much nailed the amp otherwise as far as any differences in the two. Good luck on the TG. It's just a matter of persistence.

[jeremygs]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



Patience (and a lot ofspotoiling and hand turning) has paid off. The'58 M3 is up and running!</P>


Next cleaned the drawbars and tube sockets and everything is to be as expected. The one exception is the vibrato is not working. When I switch on either manual the volume drops just a hairbut there is no vibrato. I have not been using it at all on the other M but will go after a fix at some point anyway for learning. Only clue at the moment is that the washers on the lower half of the scanner look awfully oily.</P>


I've read that each Hammond is unique and now have evidence. Once I got the drawbars cleaned it immediately sounded more punchy and bluesy (very subjective terms, I know) to me than the '59. The percussion is more pronounced. Most of all it overdrives early, and then heavy, a LOT more than the '59. So many variables at play, 1B amp, FC speaker, different tube set, etc. it's hard to know why. I can tell you that within 15 minutes of jamming I was already thinking about moving my Leslie connector kit over to this M.</P>


Curious if anyone has initial ideas on the scanner. I'll do a search tomorrow but wanted to share the good news.</P>


Jeremy</P>

[Guest]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



Congrats, Jeremy - between you and me, that's two M3s resuscitated this week!! A good couple days for Hammond lovers.</p>

My vibrato is working, but is a bit wonky - not sure what the deal is yet. Might be the rocker switches themselves, seems to me - however, I haven't done a good contact clean yet on anything.</p>

I'm jonesin' for an effects loop, though. I've got all these great guitar pedals sitting around, and just thinking how killa the M3 will sound through some of them. I'm also on the Leslie hunt...
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[Brendon Wright]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



Make a leslie like this, Bran man!</p>

It's made form woods scraps and rubbish!</p>

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); white-space: pre; "></span></p>

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); white-space: pre; "></span>very eco!</p>

[TheAdmiral]

Re: Another M3 in the house...

[quote user="jeremygs"]

Patience (and a lot ofspotoiling and hand turning) has paid off. The'58 M3 is up and running!</p>


Next cleaned the drawbars and tube sockets and everything is to be as expected. The one exception is the vibrato is not working. When I switch on either manual the volume drops just a hairbut there is no vibrato. I have not been using it at all on the other M but will go after a fix at some point anyway for learning. Only clue at the moment is that the washers on the lower half of the scanner look awfully oily.</p>


I've read that each Hammond is unique and now have evidence. Once I got the drawbars cleaned it immediately sounded more punchy and bluesy (very subjective terms, I know) to me than the '59. The percussion is more pronounced. Most of all it overdrives early, and then heavy, a LOT more than the '59. So many variables at play, 1B amp, FC speaker, different tube set, etc. it's hard to know why. I can tell you that within 15 minutes of jamming I was already thinking about moving my Leslie connector kit over to this M.</p>


Curious if anyone has initial ideas on the scanner. I'll do a search tomorrow but wanted to share the good news.</p>


Jeremy</p>

[/quote]</p>

That proves 'patience is virue'. Congratulations.</p>

I would suspect over oiling on your scanner. You may have to take it out and clean it. </p>

It's amazing how differerent they can sound. It has to do with the way they age and in what environment. Many people underestimate the quality of sound of the field coil speakers. Look how much the the Leslie 15" FC.sell for on ebay......1/2 the price of the Leslie they came from. Of course, you would never know that unless a side by side comparison is possible. Just build a Leslie connector for the new one. You don't necessarily have to have a box. It can be wired in directlyl with a couple of connectors and wiring.
</p>

[Guest]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



Make it 3 for the week!!!</p>

</p>

Just picked her up last night, replaced two keys and viola!! Magnifique!
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[Brendon Wright]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



Ahhh! That's beautiful!!!!!</p>

You make me weep to live in the hammond poor soil of New Zealand!</p>

[Guest]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



And another 3 hrs. away. This guy just wanted it out of his house. Amazingly got it into a Jeep Cherokee and finally got a bench also. After some spot oiling and tonewheel noise 101, we got the 2 loud guys to quiet down after 2 weeks. </p>

Total price for all 3 organs - gas = $50. + Gas probably around $200.</p>

</p>

And the whole family of fisher price toys.</p>

</p>

I'll contribute to the power amp study thread when I get a chance.
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[CEB]

Re: Another M3 in the house...

[quote user="Brendon Wright"]


Ahhh! That's beautiful!!!!!</P>


You make me weep to live in the hammond poor soil of New Zealand!</P>


[/quote]</P>


But New Zealand is rich in the haka!</P>

[gientke]

Re: Another M3 in the house...

[quote user="bnalls"]

And the whole family of fisher price toys.</p>

[/quote]</p>

</p>

I can't stop laughing[6]
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[bossbandbob]

Re: Another M3 in the house...



Wow, this thread is like FP,er, M3 heaven!</P>


Getting back to Jeremy's comment, my M3 seems to overdrive real easily also (which I like anyway). Even after I turned the gain screw down on the expression pedal box and the zener OD off. </P>