Hammond Chops: M101 vs M3

[ThomasP]

Hello all!

I am very to this forum, and was hoping to get some input on a project I am planning on doing this summer.

Firstly, I have a 1961 Blonde M3 and a 1961 M101. Ideally, I would like chop one of these organs so I could keep one for home use and use one for gigging. I was hoping you guys could give me some input on chopping either of these. Has anyone had any experience chopping either of these models? A Hammond tech told me a while ago that "there's no easy solution for an M3, whereas an M100 is much simpler". I was wondering how dealing with the 3 speakers and reverb tank in the M101 compared to only one speaker in the M3.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, or links to other information.

Thanks

[crabtrap]

(HAPPY 4th of July) i'll get the ball rollin'. i have an m-100 and have been under the hood a lot lately; i can't imagine there being much difference in a m3 vs m100 chop. the speakers will be removed regardless. the reverb tank will probably be removed (the ext. amp you use or effects will have that on a chop project) that leaves you the main amp to relocate. you will be ditching the reverb amp and tank. so basiclly there is little differance IMO. but the hammond wiz-kids will chime in hopefully soon to give you a more exact opinion. good luck either way

[jdoc]

chopping a Blond M3 would send you to hell, an M100 purgatory at worst, find an L100, much cheaper or free, easier to do and a dime a dozen, M3 is too nice and all hard wired, save it..........................or buy a clone

[SBurton]

I suppose that if I had two Hammonds and thought there would be some real advantage in chopping one of them, I would pick the one with the poorest condition cabinet for the sacrifice.

Or perhaps I would come to my senses and sell one to someone who would appreciate it for what it is and use the proceeds to help finance a truly portable clonewheel instrument.

[crabtrap]

i missed the blonde cabinet stat. on the rare side if in good shape. i agree on not butchering that guy. having recently found out the a mint '69 M100 i donated was left on a loading dock during torrential rains and destroyed......i can tell you i was sick about it for days. don't butcher it if at all possible. all that being said ,if its a hammered cabinet that has been sitting in a garage for a few decades.......fire up the saw i guess

[ShadyJoe]

Or perhaps I would come to my senses and sell one to someone who would appreciate it for what it is and use the proceeds to help finance a truly portable clonewheel instrument.

One of the reasons people consider chopping Hammonds is the cost. A decent clonewheel will run a few hundred up to a couple thousand or maybe more. An M3 or M100 will fetch about 100, not significant enough to change the economic argument significantly.

[enor]

There is no real difference in simplicity chopping an M-100 vs an M-3. They are essentially the same organ electrically speaking, except that the M-100 has the reverb amp piggy-backed in there. Pick the one in worst shape.

[Brendon Wright]

Pick the one in worst shape.

The usual moral allowance one uses for chopping is if the organ has a NASTY cabinet.
It's therefore a rescue measure which saves the organ AND makes it a useful gig warrior... thus introducing the Hammond to whole new audiences.

I would say find someone who's got a real beater and swap one of your rigs for it....
But then, you ARE in Sweden and they're harder to find on the continent.
And It's in YOUR possession, you make the choices which decide the future of the instrument.

My own preferences in the same situation:
A tidy M3 is a beautiful piece of furniture which I'd hate to hack but I find the M100 has "all the features" which would make that my choice as gig-meister, whether altered or original.
Having the reverb installed into the top of the organ is perfect for crash effects, so I wouldn't do away with that myself.

The ULTIMATE answer is a "Roll Or Kari" organ dolly (or equivalent brand) and a covered trailer or a van, but I have neither either, and understand the need! (I also acknowledge my bad Grammar! She's a rebel.)

To be perfectly practical, after a number of venues the cabinet will be beaten about and then you can do what you like with it!

You could even consider converting the M100 to a "split" which means it maintains the organ form when reassembled. Then if the bass player gets sick or fatally poisoned.....

[Juan]

chopping a Blond M3 would send you to hell, an M100 purgatory at worst, find an L100, much cheaper or free, easier to do and a dime a dozen, M3 is too nice and all hard wired, save it..........................or buy a clone

Amen to that :o

[ThomasP]

Thank you all for your input!
As far as organ condition goes, my blonde M3 is in far worse condition than the M101. Electronically and visually - it's got paint on the cab and it's missing various tones. The M101 has no missing tones and it's in near mint shape. I do feel bad about chopping any organ, regardless of its condition or value, however it has become almost necessary for my band as we don't have a big van or truck. I have a contact who does professional hammond chops, and he has offered to give me detailed step by step instructions should I decide to go undergo the chop. For now however, I might hold off and measure my alternatives. A 1/4" jack, for instance, might be suitable for my needs at this time, however I know I will have to do SOMETHING in the near future.

[enor]

In that case, do the M3. That also gives you the added advantage of the nicer waterfall keybeds and a more compact design without those extra tab switches and reverb amp.

[ShadyJoe]

Thank you all for your input!
As far as organ condition goes, my blonde M3 is in far worse condition than the M101. Electronically and visually - it's got paint on the cab and it's missing various tones.

The electronics should be fixed BEFORE you do the chop. You want to make sure everything is in working order before the chop to make it easier to fix problems that might arise from chopping. So the missing notes shouldn't have any effect on your decision.

I do hope you have explored other options such as some kind of clonewheel. In a live situation it may not make much difference to the audience.

[enor]

I do hope you have explored other options such as some kind of clonewheel. In a live situation it may not make much difference to the audience.

Why would anyone want to gig with a clonewheel? Who cares about if the audience hears the SOUND difference, it's all about how you feel when you play. A happy player makes better music.

[Brendon Wright]

Who cares about if the audience hears the SOUND difference, it's all about how you feel when you play. A happy player makes better music.

Haha!
I'm just as terrible as Enor, I have to agree with him.

As selfish as it sounds I play music for how it makes me feel, not the listener.
I agree also that each instrument feels different and makes you play a different way... piano, Rhodes, Hammond Organ, electric guitar.

In the sports equivalent some folks like the feel of playing on the grass.
For more businesslike folks, astro-turf doesn't need as much maintenance and looks the same to the folks in the bleachers.... even if it DOES rip your skin!

To extend the "me me me" thing, I know it sounds completely awful but I also know these things are important if you operate as an "artist" (rather than as a musical technician):

I've played in bands where I couldn't "get no" satisfaction and realised that there wasn't much point in being there. whether in the music, the company or the instrument I had to play.
That included covers bands as well as worship bands.

True fact: You're better off playing and enjoying air guitar at home than have a miserable time playing with a band or an instrument you don't like.
In fact, delusional fantasies of musical grandeur are WAY too underrated!


One year I decided if I have to play regularly on a synth (not meaning clonewheels) instead of the real thing I'd prefer to play guitar... at least I can feel the strings!

I know plenty of keyboardists who are happy holding string pads and are grateful to be there.

As they say, diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks...

[enor]

Haha!
I'm just as terrible as Enor, I have to agree with him.

As selfish as it sounds I play music for how it makes me feel, not the listener.

There's no contradiction there - if YOU feel good, it makes you play better and give the audience an even better experience.