Solid State Spinet Organs 101

[StuM-3]

So Ive decided due to cost issues and lack of time available to spend on fixing the numerous problems, I am parting ways with my '56 Hammond M3. I plan to find a cheaper solid state organ that doesn't need so much maintenance and perhaps would have a headphone jack or way I can make a 1/4" output jack for it? I saw a Gulbransen Theatre-style-looking organ with two short manuals and those switches you flip up and down, lined up with this curved look. I don't know anything about solid state spinets, so maybe someone on this end of the forum could advise me on what brands are good?

To get into specifics as to what type of spinet I am looking for:

Solid State
Rhythm Accompaniment NOT required
Plenty of voices, tones
Hammond style drawbars desired
No more than two manuals, Im not looking for something huge.

Thank you for reading this, Im still pretty new with this forum...

-Stu

[StuM-3]

Well whadyya know? Found the picture. Its a huge resolution so go ahead and click on it.


-Stu

[seamaster]

If you want drawbars, that rules out Lowrey.

Hammond made plenty of solid state organs you might enjoy. Alternatively, a W-series Wersi if you're brave.

[andyg]

Well, if you went for that Gulbransen from the 1960s, you'd probably spend more time fixing it than you do your Hammond M3. To be honest, once you've fixed up a tonewheel organ properly, it should not require much maintenance at all, and will probably outlive many of the later organs on the market. And a 1/4" output costs pennies to make and install. All older spinets like that Gulbransen will need some TLC, you make sure you're not jumping out of the frying pan into the fire!

If you want drawbars and reliability in an older analogue organ, go Japanese - try a Kawai E550 or E520. Not a Hammond sound, but a good sound with a real leslie inside. Gulbransen were one of the few other makes that had drawbars, but the sound is a bit purer and creamier than Hammond. Models like the Paragon and Theatrum spring to mind. But, the reliability isn't as good as it should be.

Solid state Hammonds with drawbars? Either a T series, T200, T400 or T500 if you want a leslie built in, or you go for something in the LSI line, with all the usual issues that they bring.

[hamnyam]

Its not hard or expensive to wire your m3 for a headphone 1/4" jack.Most Any hammond M-series spinet should not cost alot to operate.It may cost a little to get the electronics back in shape.You may have never even heard your Hammond in its full glory!!! the way it sounds when its tuned up. As far as electronics. s.s. vs. tubes.I have come to find that when it comes to hammond organs the tubes arent the issue for cost.I have a yamaha spinet,the entire reason I got for free" the yamaha was becouse its s.s.I assumed no tubes etc.It worked great for a month or 2.Then the caps after 40 years are just about done.So the same problems my 1970 ss yamaha has are the same problems/maintanance my early 60s tube hammonds have.Maybe you could find a free/low cost m-100 series they have newer electronics then yours,maybe one thats had some repairs done already.I think the m- 100 series is a couple pounds lighter then the m- 3 series.Lol

[jimmywilliams]

I am not sure why you are looking to wire in a 1/4" output. Did you want an organ that is more portable, to use with an external amp? If so that Gulbransen T200 is not a good choice as it has massive tone generators and there is really no way to strip it down, and having loved and worked on these older Gulbransens for several years I can say it will need some maintenance at this stage! A basic Gulbransen Paragon would be a better spinet choice if you want drawbars and a design you can possibly make more portable - more compact tone generators and modular circuitry overall. But remember no other organ is going to sound exactly like a Hammond tone wheel organ besides a Hammond tone wheel organ, so you have to consider the sound you are looking for.

[Kurzweil]

You don't mention where you live. Probably the best buy today in a modern Hammond sound is an older Roland rock product. The VM-760, VK-7, VM-700, and VK-8, listed in order of likely cost. Still, they top out at under a grand and the first two can be had often for well under $500. You'll not only get authentic sounding Hammond tone wheels but a very respectable Leslie emulation. The VM-700 is already set up for two manual plus pedals. Any cheap MIDI keyboard will make the second manual. Pedals are more difficult to find inexpensively but they hook right up with a MIDI cable.

Alternatively, the newest and cleanest tone-wheel Hammond, which will be 1975 or older. Still, I believe that all of the spinets with Leslies built-in were LSI models. The thing about the older Hammonds, as has been stated by others, is capacitors are almost the sole weakness. The tubes are so understressed they virtually never fail. The mechanics is so over-designed, same thing. Like a good Japanese engine - - just remember the oil.