[HAM] eBay Reviews and Guides

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Found these Guides on eBay, thought it would be good amusement for all.

Reviews & Guides Listed on eBay

LESLIE SPEAKER - Which One's the Best?
by: rockinroller ( 156156 )    
9 out of 10 people found this guide helpful.
Guide viewed: 1535 times Tags: Leslie | Hammond | Organ Speaker

The popularity of Hammond drawbar organs is at fever pitch, with even the
"off models" such as the A-100s, the Cs, Ds, Es and even the little "M"s
getting attention from consumers who are rabid about having "that Hammond
sound" in their homes and recording studios.  Coincidental to this interest
and popularity is the associated "sound box" of the Hammond--the Leslie
Speaker.  As is the case with Hammond organs, NOT ALL LESLIE SPEAKERS ARE
CREATED EQUAL!  Many look similar in that they are wooden cabinets with
slats on the front and sides and a "rough" back with panels hiding the
"twirly things" and amplification components.
In general, there is one Leslie speaker that stands out above all the rest:
The 122.  When you find them on Ebay or in the classifieds, they are likely
priced substantially higher than any other Leslie models due to their power,
heighth and general perception (mostly true) by the public as being the
"best Leslie".  You generally cannot make a bad investment if your
Hammond/Leslie rig includes the 122. 
Catching up quickly in the Leslie value department is the 145 (or similar:
147) cabinet.  Frankly, purchasing a 122, 145 or 147 Leslie will generally
give you the most solid investment of any of the Leslie speakers that are
out there on the market.
Finally, avoid the solid state models that Leslie tried to produce back in
the 80s.  They are generally dark gray, "vinyl" covered and hardly resemble
the wooden, slatted cabinets of the 122, 145/147 varieties previously
discussed.  They are unreliable and don't have the warm depth of the wooden
cabinet Leslies.
There are other model Leslies (125, 245, 21H, 31H to name a few) that are
generally inferior to the models listed above, usually due to the presence
of a single speed rotor (vs. two speed on the previously discussed models:
slow (chorale) and fast).  However many times these type of Leslies were
purchased inexpensively and retrofitted with two speed motors which
basically brought their value and application up to the higher standards of
the 122, 145 and 147 models.  My personal favorite was the 31H Leslie, which
stands an imposing 5+ feet, contains hundreds of watts of power and a
massive 15" driver that produces more thundering bass than most bass amps.
I played an old Model A Hammond (the precursor to the Bs) with two of those
monster Leslies--one on each side of the stage--in my days as a Detroit
rocker back in the 60s and I recall vividly the power and shear thunder I
could produce by using those cabinets.  However if you are looking for a
nice rig to pit into your recreation room at home or in the living room for
family enjoyment, you can't beat the B3 with a nice 122 Leslie in the
corner!

Guide ID: 10000000005751207
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Hammond Organs
by: rockinroller ( 156156 )    
110 out of 138 people found this guide helpful.
Guide viewed: 16668 times Tags: Hammond | B3 | Model A | Leslie Speaker

To you Ebayers who are hoping to land a great deal on a great artifact from
music history--the Hammond Organ.  There are a lot of different models out
there with letter and number names like "B3", "A 100" and, my favorite, the
"baby B3" (what the heck does that mean?).
First and foremost:  The standard for all Hammond enthusiasts is the B3.
There simply is no other organ that copies its marriage of shape and sound.
You probably will not go wrong investing in a clean, maintained B3.  This
organ was also very commonly used in the church and unknowledgeable church
councils and leaders replaced the aging organ with modern, pipe-sounding
types like Allen and others.  The B3 and its external speaker ("Leslie")
were usually moved into a storage room or sold to a parishioner for a home
entertainment piece.
Here is the caveat:  These organs were manufactured as long as 50 years ago.
While their classic sound is substantially unable to be reproduced
completely, there are obvious issues with purchasing them.  Parts are
becoming increasingly more difficult to locate and technicians who are
trained and experienced in their maintenance and repair are becoming
obsolete.  Consequently, if you are truly driven to want to have one of
these classic organs, you need to follow the following recommendations to
insure that you don't get burned:
1.  The Hammond B3 is, by far, the most valuable Hammond organ and will
likely retain its value, or possibly appreciate, more regularly than any of
the other Hammond models.  The B3's sounds, etc. are generally replicated in
other Hammond models such as the A, C, D and H models but the cabinets are
substantially different, rendering them less valuable in the market. Models
that contain a "2" instead of "3" following their letters (i.e. B2)
generally are lacking "percussion" which is an integral and popular part of
the B3 sound.  It can, however, be added on by an experienced technician.
2.  The Model A100, 105, etc IS NOT A B3 even though Ebayers like to
advertise it that way.  The A100 level Hammond has its speaker system built
in underneath the main keyboard structure--similar to those regular, cheap
organs that people had in their living rooms.  Granted, it has similar keys,
drawbars, etc. as the B models but has a substantial departure from the B in
terms of appearance.  Besides, if your intent is to move the organ around
for performing, you will not appreciate the additional weight that the
internal speakers create.
3.  The "baby B3" term that is associated usually with Hammond's "M" level
organ is deceiving also.  It's a "baby B3" like a Chevette was a "baby
Corvette".  Don't be fooled by its substantially lower price.  It's not
worth buying--at least as an investment.
4.  Finally, here is the tip of the day for you organists out there who are
considering a Hammond because of its classic sound:  Find a Model A (I don't
mean A100, A105, etc but an actual Model A Hammond.  They were built by
Hammond primarily in the 1930s and were the pre-B3 versions.  They are
meat-and-potatoes when it comes to kicking out the sounds and I recall that
no percussion was standard on these from the factory.  The real advantage of
having a Model A Hammond (besides the substantially lower price) is that (a)
it's easier to haul around, being much less "thick" than a B (not nearly as
deep, fore to aft) and (b) the octaves on the keyboard do not annoyingly
repeat like the Bs do when you head downward on the keyboard but it ACTUALLY
GOES AN OCTAVE LOWER all the way down!  Match that organ with the old "phone
booth" Leslie cabinets (31H) and you've got HUGE bass capabilities besides
all the drawbar combinations that the Bs have.  I saw a couple of these on
Ebay over the past few months and I think one sold for $750 and another for
around $1300.  
I have played professionally for 40 years and spent many of those years
hauling around B3s and a Model A.  If I had my choice, I'd take the A
anyday.
Hope this information helps those of you who are looking for a Hammond Organ
and for your practioners who think the B3 is the only classic organ to buy.

Guide ID: 10000000000983412