Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).

[Guest]

Hello to those much more knowledgeable and experienced in than I in this world I'm diving into.  I don't know much but I am ready to shoot the BS and learn.</p>

After years of endlessly scanning LA craigslist and a decade of daydreams I found the deal I was hoping for in an A-100.  I was in no condition to fork over money but this was too good to pass up and I don't miss the money I spent for a second, in fact, I consider this organ as a gift that I need to live up to.  I call myself a caretaker rather than an owner because this Hammond is so well made and so well taken care of that it's conceivable it will outlive me and I'm not really that old myself.</p>

Although I've been fooling around on keys for most of my life, the Hammond is just another world, I understand the basics but I'm pretty green for the most of it.  I have a million questions but I don't want to open the flood gates on my first post.  Mainly I just want to say "Hey I exist!" and I'm extremely happy to be here and talk about the various ins and outs of this amazing instrument!</p>

My first question would be about the key percussion, having not played any B3's C3's or A-100's prior to my purchase I'm not sure if this feature is working correctly or if I just don't know what I'm doing.  There appears to be not audible difference between engaging the key percussion and disengaging it.  I do notice that some of the highs drop out on the upper register but I hear no real difference in attack.  Another strange occurrence is that when I change the attack to soft, it becomes louder?  I I also can't here and difference in the harmonic setting. Are there any common pitfalls here that can be fixed without a technician? </p>

 Thanks to all those in the know!  </p>

 -Evan </p>

[geoelectro]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).




First, the percussion works only on the "B" preset on the upper manual. Second, it borrows the 1' drawbar (white one to the far right) for the keying function. Turning it one while the 1' DB is out will make it sound like you lost some high tone.</p>



You can test if the percussion is working by pushing in all DB's and just play the percussion sound. If it is not working, the percussion may need to be flashed. You can read about this at Benton Electronics under servicing the AO-28 preamp and down to the percussion discussion.
</p>

Good Luck!
</p>

George</p>

[Guest]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).



Wow thanks for the fast advice.  OK, did exactly what you advised.  Good news is I can hear it working w/ all the B rester drawbars in.  Bad news is, on full volume, it's extremely quiet.  Is that how it should sound or do you now suggest the flashing process?</p>

 </p>

Thanks again!</p>

 </p>

-Evan </p>

[tonewheel1966]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).



What is quiet, the percussion or the organ? If you use normal percussion the upper manual volume will drop (one of the Hammond quirks). If the whole organ volume drops with the swell pedal flat, you may need to adjust the pedal linkage. I have had this on my RT3 after I had the pre amp out.</P>


Cheers</P>


Dave</P>

[geoelectro]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).

[quote user="audiophile"]

Wow thanks for the fast advice. OK, did exactly what you advised. Good news is I can hear it working w/ all the B rester drawbars in. Bad news is, on full volume, it's extremely quiet. Is that how it should sound or do you now suggest the flashing process?</p>

</p>

Thanks again!</p>

</p>

-Evan</p>

[/quote]</p>

If you pull out the first 4 drawbars and set perc On - Soft - Fast - Third, you should be able to detect the added perc effect. Switching to Normal volume on the perc would have the percussion effect a good bit louder.</p>

George
</p>

[Guest]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).



Dave:  The Percussion.  Organ volume is screamin'  I did what you advised, upper register, on B all drawbars in and I set on the percussion.  I could hear it work but barely on full volume.  It was very faint.  All switches seem to be working, it's the percussion itself that is barely there.</p>

 </p>

George:  Just tried that, I even put the lower keys on the exact same DB setting to listen for any difference since the perc only works on the upper.  No audible difference at all between. As I said with dave, when I isolate it, the percussion is there but at such a low volume.</p>

 Both:  I just set her up yesterday, haven't even had the back off yet so I'd imagine it could be a tube or something?  Or possibly what Dave suggested earlier?</p>

 </p>

Thanks SO much for your great help!  </p>

 </p>

-Evan </p>

[dwagar]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).



just a thought, you realize that percussion is single note triggered? Unlike many clones that fake percussion, you can't hold down one note on the upper manual and get percussion on following notes. ie, you gotta lift your hand off for every note.</p>

==</p>

not related to this, but there is a 'fix' on Hammond Wiki for the volume drop on the manual when Normal Percussion is selected.
</p>

[Guest]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).



Hi All, sorry it took me so long to respond, the drawback to having a 400lb behemoth is that I have it at a practice space, not my 2nd floor apartment so I can only manage to answer questions when I'm here with the A-100.</p>

I can say with some certainty after hearing clips of percussion being used that mine is not working correctly. The organ has no volume issue, it is ear-ringing loud but when percussion is engaged, there is no distinction in the single notes.  I do understand that percussion only works on the second drawbar set of the upper register and that percussion will only work one key at a time and will not work on multiple keys. It is really only when I solo the percussion by engaging it and pushing all the drawbars in that I can hear it faintly working. Everything else on the organ works perfectly (drawbars, vibrato/chorus, reverb and volume all work). </p>

Let me go over the specifics switch by switch:</p>

1) On/Off Yes, this works but the only thing I can detect is that the last drawbar on the right is being slaved to the percussion but no percussion can really be heard at normal playing volume so if I have that bar out, it will go away when percussion is engaged.</p>

---The rest I can only detect when I push all the drawbars in thus soloing the percussion, even to hear anything at all, I have to put the organ at full volume. At full volume, the percussion soloed is only comes through at about a speaking voice level.</p>

2) Soft/Normal Funny thing happens here, it seems 'soft' makes the volume louder and 'normal' makes the volume quieter.</p>

3) Decay I can hear almost no difference between fast or slow.</p>

4) Harmonics working correctly but I can only hear it when the percussion is soloed, no chance of hearing it at a regular volume, the other drawbars just drown it out.</p>

Does anyone know what this could be? </p>

 Thanks! </p>

 </p>

[TheAdmiral]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).



On the organ amp there is a percussion cut off potentiometer with a screw slot in the shaft. Get a screwdriver, with a pencil mark it's present position in line with the slot so you can return it to there if necessary and turn it slightly to the left and see if that makes any difference. If not turn to right past where it was at first. That could have jarred when the organ was moved if it was set too close to the cut off point. Also could be a tube or two. The percussion is very sensitive.
</p>

[Guest]

Re: Just became the caretaker of a '59 A-100 (question on key percussion).

[quote user="TheAdmiral"]

On the organ amp  there is a percussion cut off potentiometer with a screw slot in the shaft. Get a screwdriver, with a pencil mark it's present position in line with the slot so you can return it to there if necessary and turn it slightly to the left and see if that makes any difference. If not turn to right past where it was at first. That could have jarred when the organ was moved if it was set too close to the cut off point. Also could be a tube or two. The percussion is very sensitive.
</p>

[/quote]</p>

 </p>

SUCCESS!! </p>

The screw did need to be adjusted because the percussion was not decaying properly which I fixed but it turns out the MAIN problem was loose tube circuit.</p>

TO ALL THOSE HAVING PERCUSSION VOLUME PROBLEMS, TRY THIS BEFORE FLASHING:</p>

My original problem was volume, when I soloed the percussion, I could hear it but not hear it when the other drawbars were pulled out.  Visually the three percussion circuit tubes as illustrated here: http://www.bentonelectronics.com/AO28.html were glowing normally.  In a compulsive move I VERY CAREFULLY with a clean rag pushed the V7 tube gently away from me and BINGO!!  Working perfectly at normal volume.  It was just a bad connection as simple as that.  What an amazing sound BTW (having heard it as it is supposed to sound for the first time).</p>

Thanks, Admiral and everyone else for the advice.  Hopefully my solved problem can help others out in the future.</p>

 Evan </p>