[HAM] Ethics

[JoeD]

Posted at: http://www.hammondforum.com/phorum-5.2.6a/read.php?4,1066,1079#msg-1079
JoeD wrote:

Wow, A101 for $100 is one of those lucky finds. Rare now. Advice on not talking until the deal is done is good advice indeed.
These stories aren't new anymore really. It's come to this...(been this way now for quite some time).

But, what kind of goes hand in hand (seeing the words "chop" arise)...

Sorry to raise the point again but: A101's/100's are perfect giggers (and studio hammonds) AS IS imo, maybe it's time to stop/help stop chopping these up?
You don't need a B3 to play B3.  The C3 (again, excellent studio hammonds) is a little bit more of a bear to load (therefore, even more chopping occurs)...but the A101/100 series are a really nice loading giggers (good weight distribution.  And you're gonna need a ROK anyway if it's a gigger, so the little extra weight below is moot really.  Those internal spkrs also make for an ok lil monitor for ya too. All built right in).

And hey, it looks, sounds, and PLAYS like an orig hammond,...not like a chop (yuk).

If you were to have grabbed it with the intention of keeping it as is...then I would have prefered YOU got the damn thing (whether it was free, $100...to $3k).

But this is how it's going, the dwindling numbers compounded by choppers dreams of granduer, it just furthers the problem. 
It just makes prices soar, availability dwindle further, usually executing future pedalwork (most chops)...dwindling the numbers of real hammond players who might 
be able to utilize it.
Instead it "usually" just furthers the the goofballs who can't man a hammond load, know 2-3 chords while standing up at their chop dancing around playing louie louie (or whatever) all night with a once beautiful looking rig now chopped into a monstrosity.

It's valid, but they make EXCELLENT clones (org and leslie) for this type of playing/players.
I have to reiterate, i will not/cannot support those who chop (not because they aren't good knowledgeable people, etc. - heck no, most are great peeps)...but because in the end the big picture looks rather sad and bleak when the work is said and done. All for some extra bread.