Hammond CV and spare parts

[ock1993]

Awhile ago I came across this Hammond CV that is in pretty good shape but I have no speaker to test it with to see if it works. I know that it powers up and that the start switch works but I just want to hear it. A few days ago I got this more recent Hammond for parts with a Leslie. I was wondering if could find a way to play the CV though the newer one just to make sure it works and is worth putting money into, because I've been on the fence about selling it if it just continues to sit around
.

[geoelectro]

The CV requires a B+ DC voltage to work. Usually supplied by a Hammond tone cabinet, Leslie 6H type or a stand alone power supply. Of course, it probably works...

Geo

[ock1993]

I got the CV for free and only paid a bit for the newer one so I guess I wouldn't find putting in a bit more for a B+ power supply. Also after I get the power supply would I be able to plug it into the Leslie's 5 pin plug on the newer organ with a 6 pin to 5 pin connector? These are also my first Hammonds so I apologize if what I'm asking seems silly.

[enor]

The styrofoam rotor from your T-400 is, sadly, more of a joke than a Leslie. Since your CV has the famous Hammond "scanner vibrato", you will likely find that any old amplifier with a stationary speaker will sound better than anything put thru that rotor; the animation that the chorus vibrato provides sounds far better than such a drum.

The foam rotor also has no power amplifier in it. It's just a passive speaker, so you won't get any sound out of it by hooking it up to the CV (which only has a preamplifier, not a power amp).

The CV is an absolutely wonderful instrument. Keep that, get a suitable tone cabinet or Leslie for it, and get rid of (what's left of) the T-400.

[ock1993]

Would it be possible to to just use the motor and the mount from the T-400 for the Leslie and perhaps make a new rotor or maybe find a old one that doesn't have a motor? I was slow thinking about ripping everything out and using the cabinet for a guitar amp because I like the size and the material for the grill.

[jdoc]

you have enough parts for a po' boy Leslie, you need a bigger and better speaker (likely still in the T) and to browse some thread here on homegrown Leslies, you need an amp though.....foam rotors aren't that bad and i have even mounted a 15" over them this was a spinet Leslie hacked into a 710, worked ok until I shorted something

[enor]

A "real" Leslie has not one but two rotors - a large drum, similar to the one in your T-400, that's sitting under a large 15" bass speaker; and a plastic horn that fires treble from a high frequency driver at the top of the Leslie. The two speakers generally rotate in opposite directions, somewhat depending on which model Leslie we're talking about. The motor from your foam rotor is good to keep as a spare, since many parts from it interchange with the motors in a proper Leslie. The rest of the parts aren't of much use. You might think I'm being a bit harsh here, but that's only because your CV has potential to have real deep bass, and crispy clear treble, and everything in between - but it needs a good speaker system to shine. Compromise with your speakers and you will be disappointed. Get the real thing and you'll be blown away.

[jdoc]

only the classic Leslie models counter rotate, 122, 147, 145, 142, many older and newer ones turn the same way, 51, 22, 860 etc.
Why does everyone not encourage single rotor "starter" Leslies, Hammond fever can take time to be permanent, I liked my 125, my 130 and my 120 when it was all I had.................even my RA50 was cool

[johnny b3]

I would take the money you'd spend on a B+ power supply and put it towards a Hammond tone cab, or better yet a 6H Leslie (21,22,31,122,142,222,242). These 6H speakers will provide the necessary B+ voltage and will hold their value very well. If your CV ends up being broken for some reason (though not likely, as Geo mentioned) you can shop around for a cheap console or spinet and use with the Leslie. At the end of the day the Leslie will hold its value and you can always get rid of it. That said, if you did part ways with the CV and end up with a spinet (M,M2,M3,M100,L100 are good places to start) or a later model console (B2/C2/RT2 and later) you won't need that B+ supply and you could aim your sights for the more common leslie's. All too many scenarios start by the organ/speaker finding YOU, not the other way around, hehe.