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The B-3 is universally acknowledged as being the most desirable Hammond, what's the worst?
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
Easy question. Any model beginning with a "J". You may also place anything made after the Australian firm purchased Hammond. But, by far, the "J" series were the pits. -
Re: Worst Hammond Organ
The "Regent" was the absolute worst attempt at a supposed electronic theatre organ ever done by an electronic organ manufacturer---IMHO.
As far as the B-3 being the best --- I suppose it would depend on who you spoke to. It would also depend on what kind of music was desired to play on the instrument. There are those who would still stay with the B-3---which is the ABSOLUTE best for rock/jazz/pop etc. Some might say the RT-3 or D-100 series because they had 32 pedals and could accommodate classical literature. For other types of music, the X-66 is favored---and so it goes.Comment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
I think the worst Hammond organ ever made was the Model V Cadette. It only had three 16' stops on the upper manual and two 8' stops on the lower. Bass Accent, Vibrato Light and Full and a Reverberation dial. That's the whole specification. No Leslie, percussion, rhythm or anything else. I did a one hour gig on one and it was torture.Comment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
Any one want to buy a Hammond Regent 4072???Comment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
The worst? True, some Hammond models toward the end of the Hammond era were a little difficult to keep running which wasn't the nature of the Hammond. the more you used them, the better they sound. But the word "worst " just doesn't fit with the word "Hammond," apparently no one here ever played a Thomas.
JerryComment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
Right -- the later the instrument, the more difficult to keep running. But there WERE some true dogs in the Hammond line through the years.
I played many Thomas products --- spent a number of years on the road as an artist for them and COMPARITIVELY had very little trouble with the instruments.
djbComment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
No question, in my mind. The HS-100.
I don't know if anyone on this forum has seen one, so let me explain.
The HS-100 was the first Hammond produced at the Australian manufacturing facility after what was left of Hammond was sold to Noel Crabbe. It had a very primitive digital engine and the quality of construction was VERY poor - there were reports of dealers unpacking the boxes and finding the instruments in pieces. Later, attempts were made to glue the cabinets together before they were shipped - by this time, nothing was being shipped if it came from Australia before it was opened up and checked out. Units would routinely come in with button caps and sometimes whole circuit boards missing.
As poorly built as some of the first MDD organs were, such as the 2100 Concorde, the 4000 (later 4100) Regent and 5200 Maverick series organs, they were nothing like this.
I am talking strictly about quality of construction and, to some extent, tone quality; however, tone quality is so subjective as to be almost worthless as a measuring stick. I don't read "worst" as code for "not a B-3," in other words.Comment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
super B, X66, H series. not necessarily in that order. build quality wise, the B3, even the early models, don't compare to the V series, and earlier pre WWII models. have you ever played a CV with staticky key contacts???Comment
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Re: J-series OK!
I have a Hammond J-200 and I really like the sound of this organ - it sounds great with six fingers playing on the upper keyboard - It is a lot different from a tone wheel organ, but I find it has a mellow, gentle sound. I'm not sure of what type of tone generation it has, but when I looked in the back it is full of capacitors. The J-200 has the two-speed built-in Leslie and this works great - the faster speed makes quite a bit of vibration so I mostly play with slow speed, and then switch to no Leslie for a change of sound. Probably the worst Hammond ever made is the Hammond "Sounder" - this was a one keyboard small organ with some built in rhythms - I used to like to play it, but not any more.
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Re: J-series OK!
Well, I surely agree with you on the Sounder - What a dog! But I had a J, also. Since I moved it around from lounge to lounge, it went out of tune and I was never able to get it properly tuned. THe method of pitch adjustment was/is terrible! I'd take an M-3 over it in a heartbeat!
JackComment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
Thanks Jerry for that note about the Thomas. You may have noted my query about the Thomas 606/606c a few days ago. I do not know if the same holds true for them since they look quite formal. I have had little experience with the Hammonds and would not want my ignorance or prejudice to be publicly displayed. But thanks for that info about Thomas. I will do more research.Comment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
<<As a whole, they were unreliable and undeserving of the name Hammond as it related to basic reliability of Hammond instruments of the time and the past. >>
As a console organ, The Hammond Regent was the all time worst possible organ from service standpoint. The Concorde, 2107, as Harvey mentioned did give contact and switch headaches.
But, the Concorde did sound pretty good and had some nice percussion sounds. Model 2307 that followed was much better than the 2107.
The Regent looked nice in a living room but, It was awful! The only thing that you could depend on was, it will be un-dependale! Gosh..... I bought one and thought I got a deal.... You know the rest of the story.
There are many stories about the B-3000 and I have sold several.. A TIP to lessen the B-3000 problems. Use a piano damp chaser in the compartment and it will make a huge difference!! It may be that it serves us better here in Mississippi because of the high heat, and humidity, but It really does make a huge difference. (Lack of Temp Range, I think)
About to use up my soapbox...
Best regards,
Bill...Comment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
In my experiences the worst has been any non-tonewheel model, nearly EVERY
example I've come across has had something wrong. Nearly every tonewheel
Hammond back to 1935 I have encountered works as Laurens Hammond intended.
GREAT!
My vote for the "Spookiest" "Strange" model would be the S series (Chord Organ)
models. Really weird looking,However, Hammond sold thousands and they seem
to hold up well.
I'd love to find a Hammond Novocord.
Ric TannerComment
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Re: Worst Hammond Organ
First, let me state that these are my opinions only and if an instrument gives you pleasure, then it has accomplished it's purpose. I played the Regent in a night club in the late 1970s and it left a lot to be desired. The sound was mellow and very pleasant and I did not question it tonally as a home organ. However, it was supposed to be a theatre organ, and the tone wasn't even close. It was also cheaply constructed. The stops wiggled from side to side. I'd like to know what kind of mounting they used. I would mention these qualities concerning any make of organ.Comment
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