How about building it into a new case, putting the tubes behind the manuals and creating jacks for the pedalboard, swell pedal, and an amp? I think I used the wrong word when I said "chop."
Split is the word you're looking for, but this is a really old tube organ and I doubt if it would be reliable enough to stand much gigging. Conn (and everone else) built these instruments to stay in one place. I'm with George on this, I'd sample the sounds you need and keep the organ intact.
It's not what you play. It's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.
I'm not one to squash a man's dreams..but even I wouldn't do this one. Believe it or not, even building it into a "different" case won't make it any lighter. More portable but not lighter. This organ was built to stay in one place for a long while. Years ago I played an electronic accordian called a Cordovox with this many tubes in it...it broke more than I played it, and it was specifically designed to move around.
Good luck though with your personal decision.
OK, in a nutshell. You'd need a PC with sampling software (plenty out there, a Google will get you details). You then record (sample) the sounds you need, You don't need to sample every key, these sounds are very basic and one sample can often cover a whole octave. Your software will then allow you to edit, trim and loop the sounds, building them into a small sample library. You then play them back using your computer, playing the sounds from a controller keyboard.
You'll also find that there are some synths and dedicated keyboards that have sampling capabilities.
Cordovoxes - I remember playing them, but only after they became much more reliable giggers when they went transistorised. In fact, we must thank the humble transistor for the explosion (not always literally, but sometimes!) in combo organs etc in the 60's. I think the only tube organ you could reliably gig was the 'built like a tank' Hammonds.
It's not what you play. It's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.
On another note (no pun intended), I'd really like a Leslie, but my amp doesn't have the plugs for one. Is there any way to either change out the amp for another with the Leslie plugs (there are only two plugs, one for key input and one for speaker output) or could I just add a straight mini plug jack for one of the newer Leslies?
When I absolutley had it with my Cordovox I bought my first B3 with a 122 Leslie for $800.00 from a local music shop in Buffalo NY. I played that organ on gigs for 17 years without as much as putting a tube in it. My sax player said "I'll help you carry the Hammond, at least we know it will work on every job!".. Like an idiot I sold it to buy all new gear to get heavily involved with a midi project. That was 7 years ago. Recently I bought it back from the guy I sold it to plus an M3 to portabalize now to gig with. Not as young as I used to be...the van is gone..and so is my sax player .
Frank
Firepower, do you have an operating/repair manual or circuit schematics for that 428M? I have got a similar vintage Selmer and am keen to compare what circuits and techniques they used back then.
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Spinet organ chop—advice?
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