The all-new Hammond we’ve been waiting for

[seamaster]

[Markr]

Can it make a motorbike sound!

[andyg]

Ironically, you could give this to many a band and they could use it on stage and the audience wouldn't know the difference. :D

And with those names over the keys, it's halfway to being a Lowrey, just needs lighting up keys and a 'fake' button.

[seamaster]

If nothing else, it shows Suzuki are prepared to make a drawbar Hammond instrument that isn’t yet another dreary B3 clone.

[Keyboardguy]

Wow. That's one of the most bonkers new keyboard intro videos I've seen. I'm gonna have to try to run some sort of translation, if it's possible to do that on YT. Cute instrument, shame about the short keyboard. What's that about anyway?

[pipeorgan4321]

Wonder what it sells for?? Certainly not as much as those entertainment home organs, some of which sport retail pricing nearing six figures. Is it hard to understand why organ sales are vanishing?

[andyg]

Almost unbelievably, those near six figure instruments are selling in sufficient numbers to keep the companies going nicely. And there are models at rather lower prices, of course. The reasons for the collapse of the home organ market are many, complex and have been discussed many times on the forum. High prices, well that's one reason, of course, but not the only one.

[Ordinary_Man]

What, no white plastic Leslie??

[andyg]

Probably connects via Bluetooth to the mini-leslie! :->

[lcid]

Probably connects via Bluetooth to the mini-leslie! :->

Andy, where DID this toy-model Leslie come from?

[andyg]

Hammond were selling these at this year's NAMM show. It's apparently just a regular Bluetooth speaker shaped like a Leslie. I'm told that there's a light inside that gives the impression of the horn rotor on chorale.

Just a gimmick, but I think I'd like one on my desk!

[Ordinary_Man]

Never mind. Asked and answered. Cool little thing.

[Suhndog]

Oh, dear...

This is like the present-day Magnus Chord Organ.. yikes.
Part of me wants to say: It's a cool little keyboard for the kiddies.
-- yet, the other part of me wants to vomit.

I had a Magnus as a kid.. It was a launching-off point to better things.. namely a 'real' organ [2 manuals and pedals at least]..

I looked up the price of the HEK-3 in USA dollars, and it is $626. Considering the organ market as it stands, you could get at least a Conn 650, Kimball K800, and on and on... and have money in your pocket as well.

What drew me to liking organs was the POWER and MAJESTY of the King of Instruments! ... that was towards Classically Voiced real pipe organs..
I then also loved electronic organs.

Maybe they should install a pacifier [binky] on the side of the HEK-3.. heh

I'm sorry -- I'm just a bit put-off with Suzuki's fare in this case.. It reminds me of some of Casio's early keyboards.. Plink-plunk-barf-woof... :-P


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO53rfkjgn4

[seamaster]

I started on a Bontempi chord organ! I bet a lot of us did!

[Larrytow]

I started on an Estey ( Branded anyhow - not made by the real Estey Co I'm sure ) tiny chord organ that was a give away contest at a local grocery store in the mid 60s. I asked my mom if I could put my name in the box, and a few weeks later we got the call that I had actually won it.

This one had little keys for the chords, not buttons like you see on most all of them.

That was the start of my playing, and collecting organs.

I keep looking at the classifieds, and never see that model / brand available. If I did find one close by, I would probably nab it up, just for the memories.