Hammond XTP (Noisy)

[JohnR]

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and is ready for the New Year! I have a quick question. I’m on my way to pick up my newly acquired Hammond XTP. Which, as of 30 minutes ago was gifted to me! So, it must be in the cards for me to have this little organ. Despite the 16 hour round trip drive to pick it up and a few personal hesitations on my end. The previous owner called me yesterday and said that it recently started making a loud noise. I’m pretty sure it’s the TWG. Since, the described sound is coming from the main cabinet. (I appreciate his honesty). He oiled it last week but did admit it hasn’t been oiled regularly and probably not in quite some time. I asked him about the TWG and he says that the belt to the it is turning. I’m guessing this means it hasn’t seized up? This should be a good sign right? This is my first official Dip into the Hammond restoration pool. Anything I should be concerned with here? I’m not a technician but find that I do a pretty decent job given enough time and patience. Thank you for all of the great resources on this website! In the meantime, I’ll continue to dig in and read as much as I can...

[enor]

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and is ready for the New Year! I have a quick question. I’m on my way to pick up my newly acquired Hammond XTP. Which, as of 30 minutes ago was gifted to me! So, it must be in the cards for me to have this little organ. Despite the 16 hour round trip drive to pick it up and a few personal hesitations on my end. The previous owner called me yesterday and said that it recently started making a loud noise. I’m pretty sure it’s the TWG. Since, the described sound is coming from the main cabinet. (I appreciate his honesty). He oiled it last week but did admit it hasn’t been oiled regularly and probably not in quite some time. I asked him about the TWG and he says that the belt to the it is turning. I’m guessing this means it hasn’t seized up? This should be a good sign right? This is my first official Dip into the Hammond restoration pool. Anything I should be concerned with here? I’m not a technician but find that I do a pretty decent job given enough time and patience. Thank you for all of the great resources on this website! In the meantime, I’ll continue to dig in and read as much as I can...

The belt drives the vibrato scanner, not the tone generator. But, if it turns it also means that at least the motor is turning, and most likely the main shaft of the generator too.

[JohnR]

The belt drives the vibrato scanner, not the tone generator. But, if it turns it also means that at least the motor is turning, and most likely the main shaft of the generator too.

Thank you! He was trying to describe it to me over the phone. So, worst case scenario is that the TWG might need to be rebuilt? Best case scenario is that maybe the oil needs a little more time to soak in? I take that as a good sign that the motors are still turning...

[enor]

Thank you! He was trying to describe it to me over the phone. So, worst case scenario is that the TWG might need to be rebuilt? Best case scenario is that maybe the oil needs a little more time to soak in? I take that as a good sign that the motors are still turning...

It is highly unlikely that the tone generator needs anything more than a good oiling (and a new run capacitor for the self-starting blue motor).

[JohnR]

It is highly unlikely that the tone generator needs anything more than a good oiling (and a new run capacitor for the self-starting blue motor).

Oh? I held off going to get the organ. I talked with my technichian and he advised against it. He said he wouldn’t work on it and that you couldn’t find parts for them anymore. He wasn’t thrilled when I mentioned this model and said Hammond had quality issue during those years. So, if I really commit to this it would truly be a solo enterprise. How hard would it be to find those parts that you mentioned?

[KC9UDX]

He just doesn't want to deal with it. Those parts are easy to get. I wouldn't make a 16 hour drive for it, but old organs are plentiful here. If you can't get a better deal elsewhere, don't pass it up.

[enor]

Oh? I held off going to get the organ. I talked with my technichian and he advised against it. He said he wouldn’t work on it and that you couldn’t find parts for them anymore. He wasn’t thrilled when I mentioned this model and said Hammond had quality issue during those years. So, if I really commit to this it would truly be a solo enterprise. How hard would it be to find those parts that you mentioned?

The XTP is a T-series Hammond in a fancy and kind of rare cabinet. So, cabinet parts will indeed be hard to find, but the rest isn't difficult. Plenty of T-series donor organs to be found for free or very cheap! But I agree - a 16 hour drive for one? No way.

[JohnR]

He just doesn't want to deal with it. Those parts are easy to get. I wouldn't make a 16 hour drive for it, but old organs are plentiful here. If you can't get a better deal elsewhere, don't pass it up.

Well, that’s disappointing. Of all people I thought my tech would be the guy to help me out. However, it’s nice to know that part/donor organs aren’t hard to find. I have seen a couple of them on Facebook marketplace, Craigslist, etc. Who knows I just might go save that little organ yet...

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The XTP is a T-series Hammond in a fancy and kinhd of rare cabinet. So, cabinet parts will indeed be hard to find, but the rest isn't difficult. Plenty of T-series donor organs to be found for free or very cheap! But I agree - a 16 hour drive for one? No way.

Thanks for the info! I’ll definitely think it over. Was just hoping to save this one since, it is pretty rare.

[andyg]

Rare, but no more value than a regular T. Sellers do like to place a premium on them, or at least try to! So free is good! 16 hours worth of gas would outweigh any value it has, though.

Your tech sounds like he either doesn't know much about the T series or, more likely, can't be bothered. As enor said, apart from the cabinet, there's nothing in any way special or difficult to find in a T, even an XTP. Donor T's are out there for free and the only non-Hammond T part in it is the Yamaha rotary speaker in one of the detachable speaker boxes. And there are plenty of free old Yamaha organs out there that will have one of those if you should need it.

We never had the XTP over here, instead we had the TTR series - in a micro X-66 style cabinet. Jury is out on which looks better, I like both! (but I wouldn't make a 16 hour drive to get one now!)