[HAM] Overdrive

[Harold]

From: "OF" > At 09:02 PM 11/14/2006, wtimm6801 at aol.com wrote:
>>  Hello, I've read the articles saying how to add gain to the preamp AO28
>> swell capacitor for
>> overdrive.
>> (http://www.dairiki.org/HammondWiki/HowtoAdjustThePreampDriveLevel)  It
>> seems by this method that you have to have the expression pedal floored,
>> the leslie volume knob to 10, and the organ loud as hell to get the
>>

My question is, how do players like Jimmy Smith or Gregg Rolie
>> get that great overdrive sound from, say, playing 868000000 on the lower
>> manual and a half leaned expression pedal at low volume?
>
Wrote OF:
> Dylan,
> Unless something is wrong with the organ, overdriven sound comes from the
> Leslie when the signal fed into it is "too hot."
>
> I believe that Rolie played non-stock equipment but I could be wrong. In
> regards to Jimmy Smith, Jimmy's
> lower manual setting was always 838 or occasionally 848, if it matters.
>

I somewhat wondered about the numbers there in the regard that as you say it 
was usually in the 838 or 848 category for LH bass.

I would almost suspect if you were analyzing distortion level it would be of 
the RH playing. A great deal of this is done with the second drawbar out 
full as in 888. The second drawbar IMO tends to do an excellent job of 
screaming. That is to say "if" you are using registrations other than the 
888, you may not be bringing out the same type of sound.

I base this somewhat on my impression that the Roland  VK-7 that I had had a 
bit more scream than my aged '55
C3. To try to mimic I'd reduced the first drawbar to 7 or less.

Some of  "the rest of the story" is that as you lean into a phrase, 
depressing the expression pedal the overdrive shows up. I would even say 
that the manner you play brings this in when you roll a chord, etc. I know 
those keys aren't velocity sensitive but ?

This might not be in line with what you are asking but it might apply 
anyhow.

Harold
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