Jim Alfredson Posted March 7, 2005 Report Posted March 7, 2005 What I need to learn are some true gospel drawbar settings. Man, I was listening to some Al Green, and whoever his organist was back in the day, he/she had the hippest settings. They get this "swooping" sound that is so cool... I've been trying to figure out the setting, but to no avail. Any recs? Quote
Soulstation1 Posted March 7, 2005 Author Report Posted March 7, 2005 didn't Willie Mitchell play the rhodes piano? i'm not 100 % sure ss1 Quote
JSngry Posted March 8, 2005 Report Posted March 8, 2005 I was listening to some Al Green, and whoever his organist was back in the day... Charles Hodges. Yeah! Think we had a thread on him here back in the early days. If not here, then on Baord Krypton. Quote
Soul Stream Posted March 8, 2005 Report Posted March 8, 2005 Charles Hodges.... Jim, try pulling out the 3rd drawbar all by itself, no percussion, leslie on fast.... Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 I just got a PR-40 cabinet off eBay for $100. I had to go pick it up tonight in St. Joseph (about a four hour round trip from my crib) but it's in perfect shape. The guy also has a minty 1965 or so B3 with a 142 Leslie, but he knows what it's worth. I got a good deal on the PR-40, though. Quote
Soul Stream Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 I just got a PR-40 cabinet off eBay for $100. I had to go pick it up tonight in St. Joseph (about a four hour round trip from my crib) but it's in perfect shape. The guy also has a minty 1965 or so B3 with a 142 Leslie, but he knows what it's worth. I got a good deal on the PR-40, though. Jim, why do you dig the PR-40 Tone Cabinet? Didn't know they had much use other than putting a lamp on it. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 I like the PR-40 because it has real nice bass and if you set it up right you can get that Larry Young vibe out of it! I also like the reverb. I wouldn't haul one around to the gig, but they are nice for the home and are a great alternative if you can't afford a Leslie. I was talking to my organ tech and he told me a story about a local cat that used to gig with a Hammond B3, two Leslie 122's and a PR-40 tone cabinet set-up inbetween the Leslies. Can you imagine hauling all that stuff around?!? Quote
Soul Stream Posted March 9, 2005 Report Posted March 9, 2005 I can't imagine hauling around anything more than a 122 and B3. At one point I tried using 2 leslies a loooonng time ago, but after seeing Lonnie Smith sound so great with 1 leslie, I thought who am I kidding. Quote
Soulstation1 Posted March 10, 2005 Author Report Posted March 10, 2005 (edited) can the 2 black rubber tube-like pieces that are nailed down towards the bottom of the picture be replaced? Edited March 10, 2005 by Soulstation1 Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 10, 2005 Report Posted March 10, 2005 Yeppers... not sure where to get it, though. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! Welcome to The Alfredson Organ Emporium! I'll paint that organ for $29.95! Actually, I just got delivery of a minty minty mint condition 1959 Hammond B3 with a PR-40 tone cabinet! That's the beautiful beast on the left. It's the same organ I spent a half-hour playing the music store in total bliss, only to snap out of it and realize there was a crowd of people around me! I just spent the past 45 minutes here at home doing the same thing, but alas no crowd!! Unfortunately, she is not mine. But I do have the pleasure of using her for the upcoming Organissimo record. The organ is so beautiful and it plays like a dream. I've never played a Hammond with such a tight action both in the keys and the pedals. The tone of the organ is absolutely gorgeous! Just the right amount of key click, mid-range clarity, and killer bass! I am really excited to use it for the next record through my recently overhauled and absolutely slammin' Leslie 122. The other organ in the corner is mine. That's my 1939 Hammond BCV. Strange bird, she is... but she's purdy. Vastly different playing experience all around on that girl. Here's a close-up of the "new" B3: Oh, she's a knockout!!!! Quote
Soul Stream Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 I'm jealous. But, good for you Jim. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 Oh Mike, I wish you could hear and play this thing! Well, hopefully you will hear it on the next record! Quote
.:.impossible Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 Jim, Is the B-3 for sale? Are you thinking about buying it? Sounds like you don't come across a 1959 in this condition everyday! Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 No, it's in absolute mint shape. They are getting rarer to find in that condition. But the store wanted $5000 for it, which is way beyond my budget. A friend of a friend bought it, however, and is letting me use it for the next Organissimo recording. That's all I can ask! Quote
Herb Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 *drool, slobber, envy, covet....* That's just real purty, Jim! Could be a sister to my '61! Quote
Soul Stream Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 What's a drag when you see these things is that whoever bought it from the original owner paid next to nothing and then it's $5000. Quote
.:.impossible Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 How do they find them? Estate sales? I'd imagine the most unassuming households have these babies sitting cold in the corner, waiting for one of you guys to wake 'em up! When I was a kid, like 6 to 10 or so, I had a friend whose grandparents had a great big organ in the corner. I remember it curving around me, lots of keyboards and switches. I couldn't get the image to work, but if you click here, this is how I remember it. Maybe bigger though. I notice that this one isn't a Hammond, but I bet there are cherry Hammonds all over this country just ripe for the pickin'! Quote
Soul Stream Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 You get these, for the most part by running ads in local, rural papers that say "I buy Hammond Organs, call _______". Then they go out and give the original owner next to nothing and haul off the gold. I know this because I know a dealer in Dallas that does this as him MO. Anybody can do this, I just don't find it all that moral. Quote
.:.impossible Posted March 12, 2005 Report Posted March 12, 2005 No, but at least you'd have the pick of the lot. You aren't looking to resell. You're just looking for a nice late-50s Hammond. And it sounds like it is up to you to set the price. You don't HAVE to rip the owner off... Quote
Soul Stream Posted March 13, 2005 Report Posted March 13, 2005 No, but at least you'd have the pick of the lot. You aren't looking to resell. You're just looking for a nice late-50s Hammond. And it sounds like it is up to you to set the price. You don't HAVE to rip the owner off... Unless you're willing to pay the orig. owner a fair market value, you'd have to pay that kind of bread. So really, you'd have to rip someone off. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted March 13, 2005 Report Posted March 13, 2005 I had the chance to get a mint condition '57 B3 from a guy who had no idea what it was. It was in the basement of a house he bought and the old woman he bought the house from told him to keep it. He called my dad, who is a piano technician, just on a whim, and my dad gave him my number. When I got there, I couldn't believe how beautiful and mint that organ was. But the guy had just bought a house, had two small kids and wife, and I couldn't bear to say "Ah, these things are worth much. I'll give you $500 and haul it out for you." I'm just not that kind of guy. I'll find one someday.... Quote
Soulstation1 Posted March 13, 2005 Author Report Posted March 13, 2005 my a-100 was a trade-in, check the new organ stores for trade-ins sometimes they might want to get rid of the trade-ins ss1 Quote
scottb Posted March 13, 2005 Report Posted March 13, 2005 Has the rightful owner seen it yet? And if so would they notice if you pulled the switcheroo? It is at your house and you know, possesion is 9 tenths of the law.(I have absolutely no idea what that means) "Hey this organ looks different than at the music store." "Uh, yeah, I think its the lights in here." B-) "Hey, what you got under that sheet over there in the corner?" "Oh, that's my wife's... sewing machine. Yeah, sewing machine. You should see her sew! Can I show you to the door?" I know you would never do anything like that. Quote
.:.impossible Posted March 13, 2005 Report Posted March 13, 2005 Hm. With vibraphones, I had a different experience. They aren't as common a household instrument as the Hammond and everyone that has one seems to know what they're worth. Seems they hold their value very well, though companies are still manufacturing quality instruments. Generally, you can find a vintage instrument for about 1/3 the cost of a new vibe. Unless you are in the market for an Aurora, which would be like you guys' quest for a late-fifties Hammond B-3. They still go for $4,000+ after 30 years. Interesting dilemma. So what is the minimum you would be willing to pay for a late-fifties Hammond B-3? Quote
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