Hammond H112, or Concorde? Which is best for a Bach Player?

[Paul789]

The serial number for the H112 is A-45802. I am aware that for the H100, serial #s after 15000 are considered
the better units, so was the H112 just a continuation of the H100? The owner is asking $500, but
from what I have read, these "H" organs should be really cheap (like $50), or free to haul away, due
to the problems in the H series.

I don't know the serial number of the Concorde. It has a hum, and a broken stop key, and the bench is missing.
The owner wants $100.

I mainly play Bach, and I do electronic repairs, so I can do some tech work no problem
(I have restored a Wurlitzer organ in the past).

These organs are here in Arizona. So what do you all recommend? Is there a size difference
between these two models? Which one weighs more?

Thanks for your time.....

[handyczech]

The series H-100 came in several cabinet styles, denoted by different digits in place of the 00. H-112 is a walnut legless cabinet, which won the American Walnut Association furniture award for design in 1966 or so. The A- prefix indicates this organ was manufactured in 1969, past the most troublesome years of this series. It should have a stylize "H" before the word Hammond between the keyboards, and pipe footages printed on the somewhat triangular drawbars, which endure yet today. Many things could and should be replaced inside, especially capacitors on a multitude of boards. explained on many threads here. The H also has the traditional tonewheel generator, with a self starting motor and run capacitor which should be replaced now.

The Concorde came in two iterations- 2100 and 2300. As a salesman trying to earn a living from these things, I found them exciting and appealing, at first. When customers started returning them demanding refunds, and our servicemen started tearing hair out, the series lost its appeal to us. The technology at the time was too new and untried and suffered from engineering problems. The 2300 was a vast improvement, but still problematic. There are many supporters of this series here, and even Rosemary Bailey produced an album at the time, which is not bad.

Both of these are 25 pedal consoles. They take up about the same space, The Concorde is somewhat wider, The H somewhat heavier, in the area of high 300s low 400s.

A real purist would find neither of these consoles appropriate for Bach in an artistic sense. The H of this later series has better build quality and has a vibrato system that can add an undulating quality to certain pieces where appropriate. The Concorde has a Leslie of sorts, a drum unit, and some bright voices beyond drawbar synthesis.

From the standpoint of a salesman of these when new, and a child of the '50s raised mostly on show tunes and old fashioned pop, the H is better. I owned one of this era for quite some time. I would never own or attempt to repair a 2100,2300. That being said, both can cause a world of repair frustration, but the rewards of the H outweigh the other, in my humble opinion.

[Paul789]

The series H-100 came in several cabinet styles, denoted by different digits in place of the 00. H-112 is a walnut legless cabinet, which won the American Walnut Association furniture award for design in 1966 or so. The A- prefix indicates this organ was manufactured in 1969, past the most troublesome years of this series. It should have a stylize "H" before the word Hammond between the keyboards, and pipe footages printed on the somewhat triangular drawbars, which endure yet today. Many things could and should be replaced inside, especially capacitors on a multitude of boards. explained on many threads here. The H also has the traditional tonewheel generator, with a self starting motor and run capacitor which should be replaced now.

The Concorde came in two iterations- 2100 and 2300. As a salesman trying to earn a living from these things, I found them exciting and appealing, at first. When customers started returning them demanding refunds, and our servicemen started tearing hair out, the series lost its appeal to us. The technology at the time was too new and untried and suffered from engineering problems. The 2300 was a vast improvement, but still problematic. There are many supporters of this series here, and even Rosemary Bailey produced an album at the time, which is not bad.

Both of these are 25 pedal consoles. They take up about the same space, The Concorde is somewhat wider, The H somewhat heavier, in the area of high 300s low 400s.

A real purist would find neither of these consoles appropriate for Bach in an artistic sense. The H of this later series has better build quality and has a vibrato system that can add an undulating quality to certain pieces where appropriate. The Concorde has a Leslie of sorts, a drum unit, and some bright voices beyond drawbar synthesis.

From the standpoint of a salesman of these when new, and a child of the '50s raised mostly on show tunes and old fashioned pop, the H is better. I owned one of this era for quite some time. I would never own or attempt to repair a 2100,2300. That being said, both can cause a world of repair frustration, but the rewards of the H outweigh the other, in my humble opinion.

Thanks for the insight. I never thought a Hammond could do Bach justice, until I saw videos
by this guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7MoGiuH9gk

The H112 has tonewheels, while the transistorized Concorde does not. Since the model
in the video is an "A", I would assume the "H" would sound closer to this video?

[Papus]

H will sound more like the "Hammond" sound most people have in their head as the "gold standard" for electronic organs.
H will also be easier to work on than any solid-state organ, albiet still not for the beginner tinkerer

[bourniplus]

Just one more thing to consider if you're intending to play a lot of Bach: the pedal part sometimes goes up to D. Of course, it can be adapted to fit on a 2-octave pedalboard but I thought I'd mention it. I've been playing through the trio sonatas lately and find I have to shift certain parts down an octave. This said, I don't know which Hammonds have a 32-note pedalboard except for the RT3.

[Paul789]

Just one more thing to consider if you're intending to play a lot of Bach: the pedal part sometimes goes up to D. Of course, it can be adapted to fit on a 2-octave pedalboard but I thought I'd mention it. I've been playing through the trio sonatas lately and find I have to shift certain parts down an octave. This said, I don't know which Hammonds have a 32-note pedalboard except for the RT3.

Ok, if I go the digital route, I would need to get the Nord "Pedal Keys 27", which includes the high "D".

More info on the Hammond Concorde: The owner says it is Model # 21**, and they do have the bench.

I have a feeling they will soon let me take it away for free! If I wait a little longer! :devil::-B

[handyczech]

The early model E, RT-2, RT-3, and the D-100, as well as the rare G-100 all had 32 note AGO spec pedalboards.

Free may not be the best deal. Someone who has a 2107 perhaps should pay you.

[geoffbrown]

Lately I've watching Mike Reed on YT playing his much maligned 1974 Hammond Grandee even though it doesn't have quite have the B3 sound he still makes really good music so the H100 or the Concorde? it's up to the skill of the player

[tpappano]

I have two H100s at the moment, both were free. One thing I really like about them is the stereo “Celeste vibrato”. It sounds similar to a Leslie running on slow speed. If you don't have a Leslie already, this effect helps 8)

edit: possible negative issue is the photoelectric swell pedal. Due to age the photocell might exhibit a slow response to pedal movement. Fixing this may require an “imaginative” solution 8)