[HAM] Preserving Hammond Organs/Chopping Hammonds

[Steve Beach]

Well written John.   IMO, yours and companys like yours provide a viable 
service to preserving organs that otherwise would be ready for parting out 
or the junk pile.   If I had my choice, I probably WOULDN'T chop.   But as 
I've noted in a previous post, I have a B-3 that was in serious need of a 
good, professional tech. who transplanted what was left of my organ into a 
professionally chopped case, and is still running basically problem free 
almost 30 years. later, using many if not all the stock original parts.

Again, this is just MY OPINION, so please lighten up a bit guys.   We are 
all still entitled to our opinions aren't we?

Steve B.



>  John Haburay Writes:
>  NOT spending money seems also to be what matters to some people as well, 
> but I will leave it alone for now and post it maybe later in reference to 
> somebody who talks without knowing the facts. Scott! This post concerns 
> preservation and chopping and Hammond facts. I have never pushed my 
> business on this list. I only stood up for what I do for a living to 
> counter some ignorant statements which I feel are not based on any factual 
> information of any kind. An example is Mr. Hawthornes statement above. 
> Totally fact less and shot from the hip in a condescending manner, 
> directed directly to and at me, by name.
>  Now for some facts for anybody who may be interested in Hammond's.
>  My recent Hammond preservation included the following steps. The Hammond 
> was a 1964 D-152 purchased and now owned by me.
>  I evaluated the Hammond and some of the following issues are posted 
> below:
>  The busbars were scratchy with inconsistent tones sounding when the most 
> keys were depressed, the scanner was motoring and when it wasn't the 
> chorus was watery and weak, the wax caps on the generator were causing 
> crosstalk and a muddy sound, (some call it phat, I have another 4 letter 
> word for that sound), the keyboard action was a little sloppy, the pedal 
> solo unit did not work correctly, the reverb did not work correctly, the 
> bench was missing the lid hold up lever, and the start switch was bad, and 
> the 12Au7 tube was a 12Ax7 so the percussion did not fire. This was the 
> diagnosis in about 15 minutes and I then decided this organ needed to be 
> preserved or it was not going to be a usable instrument for very much 
> longer. I did not bother to go any farther in a diagnostic vein, but went 
> directly to work mode.
>  My preservation included the following steps: I replaced the wax 
> capacitors in the vibrato line box and generator with matched orange drop 
> poly caps, resistors in the line box were changed, RF filters were 
> assembled and installed on the generator 12 frequencies. The vibrato 
> switch box was opened cleaned and the resistor changed. The percussion 
> switch box was opened disassembled and cleaned on both sides and the 
> resistors changed, the vibrato switches were opened, removed and cleaned 
> on both sides. Drawbar assembly was removed, opened and cleaned and also 
> greased, bottom of each bar only. The vibrato scanner was disassembled 
> cleaned and reinstalled. Keys were removed and cleaned, keyboard base 
> vacuumed and keycombs checked and adjusted the best that could be done by 
> me. The preset return levers were cleaned, adjusted and greased. The 
> percussion switch on the upper manual was opened and cleaned. Upstop felts 
> and down stop felts were replaced with new. All was then
> reinstalled. The bus bars were pulled, cleaned and replaced with three 
> different ones used from stock because those three were pitted a little 
> too much to suit me to be used again. The preamp was rebuilt as: all 
> capacitors and resistors that were bad, replaced. (Many resistors were way 
> passed my acceptable value in this particular AO-28) New filter caps as 
> well. New start and run switches installed. The variable capacitor on the 
> preamp was removed, relocated and wired onto a custom volume pedal. NOS 
> quality tubes were installed. All rebuilt internals were then placed into 
> a custom case about half the size and weight of the original case, with 
> removable legs. Approx. 200 hours were logged in on this preservation as 
> well as many new parts that were purchased by me. This Hammond has now 
> been preserved and is once again a great looking, great sound Hammond that 
> can be used for professional, studio, institutional or novice use. It is 
> also now fairly easy to move, compared to
> the original furniture, similar to a Fender Rhodes or a Leslie speaker. 
> The original case was discarded as it was offered for free for one week 
> and nobody wanted it. This is how I preserved this particular 1964 Hammond 
> Organ so that it can be used as it's original intent, as a musical 
> instrument for many years to come. I also use the same procedures 
> sometimes on Hammond A-100's that people buy for $500.00 or less and use 
> them relentlessly in their original cases, infesting nothing in 
> preservation, until they are practically destroyed from abuse. Want to 
> save a Hammond? Don't talk about it or tell people what to do or not to do 
> with theirs. Buy some and take care of them! The case it sits in should be 
> the least of any body's concern if preservation is the issue. The last I 
> time I checked it out, the original cases did not produce any sound at 
> all. If sound, practicability and reliability are an issue for you with a 
> Hammond organ, put it in a case that suits you to your
> needs. Hammond organs B-3's C-3's RT-3's D152's A-100 etc. are readily 
> available here and many other places in abundance should anybody want to 
> purchase a totally original one to put away, as well. Do not let anybody 
> without Hammond experience of many years convince you of anything 
> different. Tired original stock Hammond are much easier to find than 
> rebuilt A+ condition ones are. Good chops are even harder to get. Free 
> Hammonds that are worth owning for any reason, are almost non existent and 
> if found will need time and/or money to make them useful or preserve them. 
> You will need to have some money and be willing to spend it to begin or 
> continue successful Hammond ownership. Guys who limp around stock 
> Hammond's playing the same old tired jazz tunes that everybody has played 
> for years are not qualified to tell anybody anything about preserving a 
> Hammond Organ. Go to a reliable source for information. Somebody that can 
> show you credentials and clients. Opinions will not help
> you in any way. If you are not sure what to do, you need facts from 
> experienced people, not lip service from somebody with too much time on 
> their hands minding other peoples business ventures.
>
>  Webster dictionary. The word PRESERVE:
>  1 : to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : PROTECT
> 2 a : to keep alive, intact, or free from decay b : MAINTAIN
> 3 a : to keep or save from decomposition
> 4 : to keep up and reserve for personal or special use
>