Hammond X77 Owners Corner

[Guest]

Finally, after all the complaining about the X77 and its design problems...someone is actually offering some HELP!!
Hi there, I own a Pre 1969 X77 with X77L tone cabinet, and after having owned many other Hammonds, I am here to tell you that this is the last of the great Hammond tonewheel organs that with some modification, can ACTUALLY OUT PERFORM THe IMMORTAL B3!!!!

Points to consider:
-This instrument looks Gorgeous (Funky...not like a church organ) in your living room.
-X77 contains MODERN electronic components, so re-capping etc is not required.
-X77 is ALL solid state, so electronic parts are easy to get.
-X77L leslie tone cabinet is a 200 watt 4 channel beast!
-No "Gooey Foam Problem" like many of the 60's Hammonds had.
-Console comes appart easilly, and the many circuit boards are easy to get at.
-X77 has the funky B3 percussion built in...but needs an adjustment to tighten it up.
-ALL HUMM and FIREWORKS problems can be TOTALLY ELLIMINATED!
-Learn how to ADD the ORIGIONAL Hammond B3 vibrato scanner (C3 chorus) to the X77.
-Learn how to mofify leslie X77L to function like model 122 on steroids!
Should there be enough interest in this I will provide a website with MP3s to demonstrate EXACTLY how EXCITING this instrument can be

Sincerely
Don Cake (AKA Screemin Keys)

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Hi -

I just bought an X77/X77L and am *very* interested in the updates/enhancements you mentioned. Please let me know where I can learn more about these mods!

Best,

Mike :)

[bobdoyle]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

hi i also have an x77 and speaker.It is very noisy and hums and i am anxious to get it up to snuff asap.If you have the info please communicate to me via the forum.bobdoyle.

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Dear Don,


I presently own an Hammond X77 and would be very interested in receiving any of the fixes and or improvements that you have for this model. I greatly appreciate your assistance in this matter.


Best Regards

DCap

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Hello John -

I recently purchased an X77/L77 combination and would appreciate your advice on any or all of the following:

1. I'm having trouble with the bass pedals. When I slide the pedalboard into the lower casing of the X77, I cannot get each pedal to sound alone; invariably, the note selected sounds but with another note (usually a B-flat) sounding at the same time. Is there some specific procedure for lining up the pedalboard to avoid this problem? No amount of tinkering with the position of the pedalboard seems to make a difference, although shifting it into various positions can make a second note other than the B-flat sound instead. Weird.

2. I'm disappointed with the sound of the Leslie when switching from slow to fast. There seems to be a bewildering matrix of channels/effects. Frankly, I'd just like to have the organ push everything it can through the Leslie without all these variations. Is there a means to rewire the system so it behaves more like a traditional Leslie?

3. When the organ starts, the fast/slow selection works fine. After some time, say 30 minutes, the Leslie ramps up to fast and will no longer switch to slow. Any ideas why this occurs?

4. I've heard various opinions on the feasibility of modifying the X77 to include scanning vibrato. Any experience or thoughts on this?

Thanks very much. I really like this organ but feel it's operating at less than its full potential. All suggestions considered :-)

Mike Petit

[John Bittner]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

When the pedals are properly positioned they should lock into place such that you cannot remove them by pulling straight back on them, but have to lift, then pull back. This locking is accomplished by two pins on left and right sides of the pedal assembly that fit into corresponding holes in the console pedal frame. If the pedals are locked and you're still having a problem, inspect the flat spring metal actuator tab on the Bb pedals and make sure that they have not been bent down or crookedly. Adjust slightly to correct any problem. There are some other things I can have you check, but start with this.

2. The channeling and the Leslie configuration itself is not like that found in a conventional Leslie/B3 type configuration. The green leslie tabs on the organ simply switch the corresponding manual between the vibrato and non-vibrato channels. The rotors in the cabinet are not switched on or off as they would be in a conventional setup, they are always spinning. This is why you don't hear the ramp up. The Celeste tab switches the upper rotor to slow speed for the Leslie chorus effect.

In order to get the Leslie ramp up you're looking for you would have to make these modifications:

Add a switch a the console to turn the rotor motors off.
Modify the tone cabinet so that the rotor motors can be turned off from the console switch.
Modify the Celeste switch on the console to to turn on the upper rotor on slow when the motors are on.

You might find it easier to use a conventional Leslie half moon switch for this purpose rather than modifying the console switches.

Regarding not being able to select the slow speed after 30 minutes, try this. Turn the vibrato off. Hold some notes down and toggle the Celeste switch. You should hear the slow rotor sound when it is down and no vibrato at all when up. If you hear the fast rotor when the Celeste down, you need to start by checking the upper rotor motor assembly. It might need cleaning or lubricating.

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Hello John, I too am a new X77 owner. I just bought mine and it didn't come with a Leslie. I got it for a rather good price. At least the Tonewheel Generator fires right up when I start the organ so that is a preliminary good sign anyway. I am looking for a Leslie for it. Any Idea where I can get one and also a bench?

I own an RT2 that I am selling and was also wondering if there is any way to wire up my 21H Leslie to work with this organ at least on a single channel? Do you know anyway to wire up a jack to plug in a set of headphones so I can check to see if it works? I appreciate your input.

John aka Quantize2

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Hey John,

I have a Hammond X77 with Leslie X77 speaker to sell on behalf of my grandparents. You seem to have vast knowledge on this instrument and I was hoping you could tell me where I can research the value of the organ. It hasn't been played in many years and has been in a smoking environment but still works. There is a bench and an amp or something as well. I have pics of all the pieces but need to know a resource for researching what we have exactly in preparation for selling.

Anything you know would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Designing: Please reply to me. Check my profile for email address. Jerry

[John Bittner]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

The X77 and H100 series are very similar feature wise. They both have the expanded number of drawbars for the manuals and pedals, similar percussion abilities, and pedal sustain.

The H100 was a transistor/ tube model and completely self-contained, while the X77 was fully solid state and required a specially designed Leslie tone cabinet. The H100 used an advanced design vibrato scanner while the X77 depended upon the Leslie for all vibrato and celeste effects. The X77 had a harp arpeggiator which the H series lacked.

[John Bittner]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

designing:

Because of the low demand for used organs of any kind, there are really no hard and fast guides regarding value. To a certain extent, the value of the organ will depend upon the part of world you are in.

I doubt that you'll find a buyer willing to pay more than $3000 for an X77 in mint condition. I sold mine for just under $1000 about seven years ago.

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Hello from ImaJical...Don
I am VERY sorry to just leave you all flat like that...it was not intentional.
Yes I still have my X77 (origional NOT a GT) Here is a PARTIAL list of what I have done.
-PEDAL POP...performed factory modification to ELIMINATE this.
-LOWER manual POP, this is caused by the "Arpegiator" remove power to this device.
-OVERALL CRACKLY POP sound is coused be the first pre- amp board after the matching transformer, perform factory modification to replace poor quality transistors.
-THOROUGHLY clean all tab switches...these cause lots of nasty effects USE DEOXIT D5!!!!
-MISSING PEDAL NOTES, un-mount pedal contact assy and spray the hell out of it with DEOXIT
-MISSING NOTES ( the same note on every drawbar) Probably a STUCK tone wheel, this is surprisingly easy to fix. Remove all tonegenerator tie down bolts (from underneath) and prop the TG up ( tilting up towards you about 3-4 inchs) then shine a flashlight in there and using a small makeup mirror...you will see a tonewheel that is NOT spinning. Squirt some TG oil up in there, and give it a GENTLE NUDGE with a drinking straw. Thats it...you will not live long enough to deal with this again!!
-ORGAN ON but TG not turning...or it stops by itself. This is caused by the motor connector being intermittant (See motor bracket assy) Unplug the organ and pull appart this connection, clean and make for better contact...then put back together.
-AC HUMMMM. This is caused by the cluster of boards located on the organ's swing down back cover. They are high gain, and MUST be encased in a simple metal box...its not very difficult. Prove this by closing the back and putting your hand over the area where thes boards are inside...now you are getting the idea.

If you guys are interested, I would be happy to supply scans of my ORIGIONAL HAMMOND FACTORY X77 manual. FYI, this ALSO includes the X77L Leslie, and many Hammond factory modifications...they work!!!!

ps: This is only part one of my X77 adventure, anyone interested in how to turn this borring thing into a killer BX377...an 11 drawbar, four channel B3, with string bass YIKES!!!!!

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Hello ImaJical.

Thanks a lot for your contribution!!
It already solves a few of my problems.

Recently I bought an X77 (Also NOT a GT).
I would be very very very happy if you could send me the scans of
your factory manual!!

Many thanks in advance for your reply.

Adri Verschoor, The Netherlands

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

Hello ImaJical,

I'm VERY interested in obtaining the X77 and X77S manuals. I've been searching my socks off for them on the net without any results. I've just acquired an X77 and X77S one month ago. Everything seems to be OK, apart from some minor leslie troubles (needs some oil and does not switch to chorale) and 2 bas pedals that do not function reliably. The machine I bought seems to have been modified by a certified Hammond dealer (got invoice) and has 7 additional rocker switches to deliver the traditional percussion harmonics instead of the X77 preset ones (??? at least, that's how I understand it). I'm a bit disappointed with the leslie though. Even with the pedal to the metal, the overall sound volume is not what I expected from such a huge monster.

ImaJical, can I contact you/will you contact me ?

THX,

Patrick.

[Guest]

Re: Hammond X77 Owners Corner

ImaJical,

If others are interested, I'd be happy to put these scans on my website, so that you don't have to keep yourself busy sending them to everybody.

Patrick.