I just can't say no!

[Hammond101]

HAS (Hammond acquisition syndrome) has reared it's head again. A long term friend of mine has donated his M101 (a 1961 model ser # 2287) that hasn't been played in 15 years to my collection. This little spinet is a total time capsule. The finish is as near mint as any Hammond I have ever seen. The generator suffers from gummed up oil as it most likely was never oiled while in his livingroom. I did get it fired up last night and cleaned all the tube sockets and pins. Everything works but it is missing a few notes. He moved it to three different homes in the last 20 years or so without locking down the generator.</P>


I'll spend a little time with the tone chart and a soldering iron and get it all A1. This thing had a service manual, owners manual and the original blank owners certificate in the bench with 10-12 music books. This one is a keeper. I put a pic up in the photo gallery.</P>


I really like M100s. They are my favorite Hammond spinet but never thought I'd have another. The M101 is the third Hammond given to me in a little over a year. (M3, RT3 , M101) Unbeliveable. I need to learn to say no at this point and get the others orphan Hammonds in the garage adopted ASAP. </P>


Anyone in Southern California (LA,San Diego)want a free B200 that needs some work? I'd like to spread the wealth.</P>


Best,</P>


H101</P>

[Guest]

Re: I just can't say no!



Are you sure every tonewheel was spinning?</p>


I don't think you have to bolt down Spinet tone generators.
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[Guest]

Re: I just can't say no!



"I don't think you have to bolt down Spinet tone generators".</P>
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I believe you are correct! I hauled my m3 across 2 states on it's back. I didn't secure anything. Plays like new.
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[Guest]

Re: I just can't say no!



I'm not so sure about that.  I've heard that the L series doesn't have a bolt-down generator, but I know for a fact that my M3 has a way to bolt down the generator.</p>

I'm just a little weary of saying "you don't have to bolt down the generator" without getting a definitive authority on the subject. </p>

[Hammond101]

Re: I just can't say no!



TPB,</P>


The fixed generators started with the spinets that used the single motor system L100 &amp; T100 maybe?). I can assure you that the M101 I dragged home Sunday has the "hang from springs" system because I bolted it down before putting it in the truck. </P>


As far as all the tonewheels spinning I would say I think so because the run motor would carry the load of the generator last night as least. I could not keep it spinning on the run motor thismorning however. It will fix its self in a few days when the fresh Hammond oil I gave her gets to the bushings in about a weeks time. Hopefully it will react to the oils sooner because I'd really like to play it!</P>


The M100 set up is the same as the M3 modelwith some presets for both manuals, reverb (yes! thank you) and a better speaker system. 2-12" for the mains and an 8" for reverb. It uses the same AO-29 combo amplifier. Basically it is an A100 junior. They kick pretty good butt compared to the M3 with the single 12" driver.</P>


H101</P>

[Hammond101]

Re: I just can't say no!



Steve,</P>


All M3 generators hang from springs. There is a good chance it was already bolted down and still might be. If you take a look under the generator cover you will see a spring connected to a small eye bolt at each corner of the generator. If it went across severalstates on it's back and wasn't bolted down there is no telling where those springs are now. You are also one of the luckiest guys in the world if it plays all notes on all drawbars!</P>


Best,</P>


H101</P>

[Hammond101]

Re: I just can't say no!

[quote user="tenpoundbass"]


Are you sure every tonewheel was spinning?
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TPB,</P>


You called it! I had one pair of tonewheels that where not spinning. I thought it was strange that two of the three tones I was missing where on the same tonewheel shaft and sure enough, stuck shaft. I diddled it with my finger from the bottom while lifting the generator a little and it sprang to life.</P>


The third was a broken wire at the gen. ternimal. Easy fix. Life is good. Thanks!</P>


I am finding out how thin a spinet sounds compared to a full console with foldback however. Even with a drawdar setting of 688600000 on the upper manual (one of my favorites) which is fairly basic without high overtones. When you get into the second octive above middle C it becomes quite noticable and requires a little more right foot to keep the balance.That's what I get for doing and A/B comparo with the RT3.</P>


H101</P>

[Guest]

Re: I just can't say no!



I wish they built cars like a Hammond Tonewheel organ, generally they don't just go on the fritz, and the wires aren't prone to just jimmying loose.</p>

I know one should bolt down the TWG but the truth is many has been tossed around and tussled up two flights of stairs with out doing so. Unless the cover is off and someone grabs a wire trying to get a grip during transport, a broken connection would have been my second guess. </p>

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Both my T series and L series had stuck tone wheels that just need time for the oil to work its magic on them. </p>

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They are different animals, the console and the spinets. Those spinets do tricks that the consoles don't do as well. Get a line out and shove it through effects, it is so amazing how even digital effects sound so organic and do a different sound color on those analog tone wheels than they do on stringed instruments. Phaser, auto wah, delay and even synt filters all behave less erratic and sound more like tone wheels with various Lessie modifications than they sound colored by the effect they are running through. You start noticing the lack of fold back more. Not for the purist at heart granted, but then again neither is playing on a spinet, so what's the harm?
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[Hammond101]

Re: I just can't say no!



I have a Leslie 710 and a deluxe 9 pin combo premp I want to try with it. A line out comes first however. I'm going to try one of those Barringer units that Randal on the forum keeps raving about. Oh, wait, I have a pair of Art Tube MP recording preamps. They will accept aspeaker levelsignal I think. That might do the trick and get me hooked up tonight. I'll post back.</P>


I have a speakeasy lineout on the RT but haven't messed with any effects other than reverb so far. The "R" in my HR40 sounds kind of crappy so I'm using a Fender Twin Reverb as a reverb amp through the line out. The rig is unbelieveably powerful. HR40, 251 and an 85 watt Twin.Nice living room toy! I have an Alesis Midiverb II that I'm not using right now and intend to put it in there as well as my guitar pedalboardjust to see what it sounds like. I think flanged Hammond may be kind of neat.</P>

[Guest]

Re: I just can't say no!

I ran my L through a Behringer Ultramizer, and fiddled through all 99 effects and adusted most of the parameters. Every one of them just gave the organ more character like different organs with different Cap values or cross talk or stronger key click mildly altered the sound as far as the effect went. Flanger just seemed to give the L a more throaty sound like a B3 running through a 33H, more than it made it whirly or gurgly.

[Guest]

Re: I just can't say no!



Hi H101,</P>


"HAS (Hammond acquisition syndrome) has reared it's head again." I know the feeling well.... :o) I acquired my first Hammond last June (a nice L122), then a C3 (with problems) in the August, then an M102 in November, then an M111 last month (plus a couple of leslies in between, a925 and a 145). I am a little concerned that I have lots of room in my house and that this collection has plenty of room to grow!! Worse still, there may be an energy about them might attract more Hammonds to come and stay with me.... I think I shall go and seek some counselling (from a non Hammond enthusiast)... :o) :o)</P>


cheers, enjoy.....</P>


Peter</P>
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PS: Oh dear, another has just reared it head on eBay .... :o)</P>
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[Hammond101]

Re: I just can't say no!



Peter,</P>


Don't place them too close together, they may breed! I don't think I need counseling, I need organ lessons! </P>


Best,</P>


Rich</P>

[Hammondlover]

Re: I just can't say no!



Enjoy your new acquisition! I love my M101.I would like to add foldback to mine too, but I don't know where to find the parts. I also need todo a busbarcleaning,I've rotated them so many times and there are always weak intermittentnotes. I need to replace the paper and electrolytic caps as well. </P>

[Hammond101]

Re: I just can't say no!



H-Lover,</P>


Bussbars and key contacts come up on ebay from time to time. The seller is from Canada if I can find him I'll post his user name. You will need 3-4 bussbars and 60-70 key contacts to do the job. I had a complete kit from this guy but never used them. I ended up selling them to someone in Hawaii.</P>


H101</P>

[Hammond101]

Re: I just can't say no!



H-Lover,</P>


I went through my ebay acount and I believe the seller was "Oldtymer01". If you have an ebay account you can send him a message and see if he has any parts available. Finding a donor manual from any M series Hammond should also do the trick.</P>


H101</P>