Hammond Colonnade high-G note playing all the time

[Guest]

I bought a used Hammond Colonnade. It had been sitting in a garage for about 2 months (according to seller). Everything works well except...when I select any of the harmonic tabs I get a high-G note all of the time. If I select "reiterate"the G notewill stop. I have moved/wiggled all of the connectors to make sure it isn't an oxidated connection... but it didn't help (although I did get rid of a hum). I don't have a service manual, so haven't tried to open up the keyboards to clean the contacts and check for a foreign object (in the contacts). Does anyone know how to open up the keyboard to check the contacts onl this model? Any ideas what could be wrong? This organ has a ton of wires... so thought I'd ask before I mess up something.
Thanks,
John
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[OrgansR4Me]

Re: Hammond Colonnade high-G note playing all the time



I own a Colonnade and it can be slightly tricky to open. It would be a good idea to watch Ebay for a manual before going in. You have to start at the back removing fasteners before the top lifts away and then everything is built into aluminum framing that you have to move and prop very carefully. I did work on an Aurora theater using the colonnade directions, the reverb line came loose and I don't think I ever got it back in the right spot. I gave it away. Some soda had been spilled into the unit and it still needed a little more work on the lower manual but I was too chicken to dissassemble the set up down that far. Every thing is held by the wiring when loose and you have to keep working on supporting what you have taken off the frame. I much prefer other brands where the stop rail, and each manual are built completely ready to lift! Most ciphers as you mention are related to the fine wire contacts behind the key.</P>


To check the key use one pitch of drawbar at a time and see if the same key ciphers or the cipher moves to the appropriate octave on the keyboard. If the cipher stays on the same key it is definitely a contact. If it moves the problem is with the generator for that individual note.</P>