Hammond Aurora Custom 1981 - Buzzing and Popping Problem

[mmulcahy]

Hello, I was hoping someone might be able to help me trouble shoot a problem I am having with a Hammond Organ I just bought. It is a 1981 Hammond Aurora Custom. Everything is in great working condition except for one thing. When I turn it on I get an underlying buzz of static and pops. I thought it may be the speakers or amplifier but when I plugged it into a different amp and bypassed the internal amp and speakers I got the same static and pops. I can hear the organ playing fine and at high volumes I can down out the buzzing but I was planning on using it for recording in my studio. Does anyone have any idea on what might be the problem? Thanks!

[andyg]

We should make this answer a sticky!

Like all LSI Hammonds of this era, it's prone to what is often called 'LSI Disease'. This is where the many internal inter-board connectors start to oxidise. The solution is simply to unplug each connector in turn, clean it - an eraser or De-Oxit will do the trick - and plug it back in. I'm not saying that this will cure all problems but it cures many of them and, in any case, is something that should go under the heading of 'essential maintenance'.

Do the clean-up and then see what you've got. Let us know the result and we can help you further if needs be.

Andy G

[mmulcahy]

Thanks Andy! At the risk of sounding like I don't know what I am doing (which is the case) do you know where I would locate the internal inter-board? Thanks again for your help!

[handyczech]

I have one of these. The organ is filled with perhaps 30 or more circuit boards. The wires between the circuit boards are connected to long white or beige plastic plugs. These attach to rows of prongs on the circuit boards. Hence, inter-board connectors. Eache of these should be at least wiggled, or sprayed with plastic safe contact cleaner or wiped with alcohol.
They must be plugged in exactly as they were or the organ won't work or worse.

Please do not take this the wrong way as I am reading between the lines. Are you comfortable doing this intense painstaking work? Inside, the organ is much like a big computer. If you would not be condident in taking your computer apart and putting it back together, than do not do this. Call someone.

The results of cleaning, checking solder joints, and lubricating the leslie motors is well worth the trouble.

[indianajo]

At the risk of sounding like I don't know what I am doing (which is the case) do you know where I would locate the internal inter-board? !

Air is everywhere. Any junk PCB you buy will be just as oxidized as the one you have already. So it would still need cleaning. You didn't break a pin off did you? If you bend them you can usually straighten them up with pliers. Mark one end and the PCB of each with a sharpie marker before cleaning. OF course if you are using contact cleaner, that washes sharpie off so you will need bread ties or something similar on the low keys end or front. Do one plug at a time and don't mix them up. Work unplugged, power off. The top unscrews from under the back cover on most hammonds. If there is a light in the top you unplug it.

[jkrusel]

Thanks Andy! At the risk of sounding like I don't know what I am doing (which is the case) do you know where I would locate the internal inter-board? Thanks again for your help!

Internal inter-board = "The connections inside the organ between the boards"

Ah, English is a wonderful language to use when you wish to be mis-understood. Technically speaking, "internal, inter-board" with the comma would have worked better. But then Andy and I both speak English, that's why we can't understand each other..... ROTFLMAO!!!! :-)

[mmulcahy]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I am going to check into what it would cost for a technician to come out and bring the organ back to full working order. Although I have installed my own memory in my computer and fixed my Fender Rhodes a few times I have a feeling it may be advantageous to have a pro show me some tricks of the trade as I will need to maintain it for years to come. Assuming I am looking at a cleaning and tune up and not major part replacement is there a price range reasonable for this? Thanks again for everyone's help.

[handyczech]

So now the dollars and cents.

My Aurora Custom was $50 and I probably could have taken it free. A good serviceman, familiar with this KIND of electronics, if not this specific model, may be difficult to find. Imagine finding someone familiar with an '81 Ford Pinto.

Expect to spend an initial $100+ and then time spent, so long as you are not in a rural area. Or take the time to learn the skill and do it right yourself. But you have to commit.

[mmulcahy]

Thanks Larry, I am actually located in Saint Charles IL so I am calling a few places around here to see if I can find someone that can help me out.

[jkrusel]

Thanks Larry, I am actually located in Saint Charles IL so I am calling a few places around here to see if I can find someone that can help me out.

MITA is a technical group of Professional Musical Instrument Technicians. You might want to contact one of them. To search go to: http://mitatechs.org/service-locator
There are several quite close to you.

[kkeys]

Clean all the amplifier connectors. This has solved hiss and pops issues with my organ. Tech repositioned the reverb tank in my organ to reduce hum as there was improper shielding around it and the use of non-shielded wiring to connect it.