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Hammond organ amps as a monoblock?

Jcricket

Jcricket

not someday, but today
Subscriber
I picked up a hammond organ to day for cheap. It has a H-AO-29-13 amp and an H-AO-44-1 amp in it.
The main amp uses a 5u4 and 6v6PP compliment It also has some 12au7 and 12ax7,6au6,6ba6,and 6au4 tubes.
Kind of a monster long thing.

Anyone have any ideas on this guy. I have one and I am sure I can find another. Might make a really nice set of monoblocks with just a bit of mods.

Mark
 

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The little amp on the right facing the back is a reverb amp, I got a hamond organ sitting here too that I need to dismantel soon with almost the same guts as yours.
 
I've got a Hammond similar to the one on the left that is supposed to run the field coil on the Jensen speaker that was in the organ. I haven't done anything with it, Though....... I haven't done anything with any tube amp yet.
 
If it still works or is easily fixable, please don't mess with it. They don't make these beauties anymore. I know I might be in the minority around here, but I'd sell it to someone who will use it if I was you (If it was me, I'd keep it and play it) and use the profit to get the tube amps/parts to build amps/etc elsewhere. Depending on what model you have, it could be worth quite a bit. If you'd like, I can help you with getting it running if its not, and finding more info on the model you have.
 
bluesrockman said:
If it still works or is easily fixable, please don't mess with it. They don't make these beauties anymore. I know I might be in the minority around here, but I'd sell it to someone who will use it if I was you (If it was me, I'd keep it and play it) and use the profit to get the tube amps/parts to build amps/etc elsewhere. Depending on what model you have, it could be worth quite a bit. If you'd like, I can help you with getting it running if its not, and finding more info on the model you have.
Click to expand...

I sent this to your pm too.

Hey thanks for the offer. I did test it and I get no sound from the keys. I hit the "start" button and the speakers make a low pitch whump for a second. This would mean the amp is in operable or repairable condition, but that there is a problem with input. BTW - it is a model M-102 serial number 59768
Is in beautiful conditon cosmetically too. When I got it, I was thinking about a seller in colorado springs that specializes in Hammond organs. I have sent him an email and am waiting to hear back from him.
He also sells alot of nice tube gear too. I was going to offer him a trade for maybe a set of already harvested monoblocks.

We'll see.
So, what would you do next?
 
bluesrockman said:
If it still works or is easily fixable, please don't mess with it. They don't make these beauties anymore. I know I might be in the minority around here, but I'd sell it to someone who will use it if I was you (If it was me, I'd keep it and play it) and use the profit to get the tube amps/parts to build amps/etc elsewhere. Depending on what model you have, it could be worth quite a bit. If you'd like, I can help you with getting it running if its not, and finding more info on the model you have.
Click to expand...
Your not the only one who feels that way. Only a bonehead would scrap a good working hammond tone-wheel organ and turn it into a Hi-fi amp! :mad: Can you imagine somebody turing a Fisher 500c or McIntosh into a guitar amp? I have two hammonds (L-112 and M-111A) and two Leslies (21H and 45) and they all have great tube amps that I would NEVER modify. The last time Hammond made tube equipment was 1974!
 
If yours has the tonewheel generator, you need to hold the start button for about ten seconds (this gets the tonewheel generator spinning), then hit the "RUN' switch.

EDIT: Also note that the tonewheel generator never needs to be tuned or goes out of tune. I would seriously think about keeping this one intact!
 
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I checked it again. I turned it on, waited about a minute, then held the start button on for at least a minute. I was able to use the foot pedal volume control and get some low pitch hum out of the keys. Same pitch out of all the keys, but the keys did make a hum. This only happened as long as the start button was engaged. The moment you let the start button go, the sound stopped.

So what next?
 
Did you find the run switch? I'm pretty sure this is not one of the one switch does it all models... Also make sure some of the drawbars are pulled out or a preset is selected when trying to play it. Try changing the drawbar setting with it on to see if that changes anything.
 
Here is a page on how to start the organ.

http://www.dairiki.org/HammondWiki/How to start a Hammond

1. Hold the start switch on for eight seconds. If you're in a quiet room, you should be able to hear the ToneGenerator spinning up.
2. While continuing to hold the start switch on, turn the run switch on.
3. Continue holding the start switch on for four more seconds. (The run switch should stay on by itself.)
4. Let go of the start switch. It should spring to the off position. With the start motor off, things should get much quieter.


There are lots of pages on how to start and run a Hammond.

I agree that a Tone Generator Hammond shouldn't be torn apart for the tubes.

Chad
 
bluesrockman said:
Did you find the run switch? I'm pretty sure this is not one of the one switch does it all models... Also make sure some of the drawbars are pulled out or a preset is selected when trying to play it. Try changing the drawbar setting with it on to see if that changes anything.
Click to expand...

I di find bot hswitches. I also tried different bar and otehr switch settings. I didn't follow the procedure exactly. I turned it on first, the used the start button. I'll try the otehr way tomorrow and see what happens.
I'll post more then.
Mark
 
mashaffer said:
Even the L-100 series? I was thinking of chopping mine for a portable setup. :naughty:

mike
Click to expand...

Lots of famous English groups used them (Yes, ELP, Genesis, Steve Winwood, etc.) because C-3's and other larger Hammonds were too expensive for struggling rock bands. B-3s were never available in Europe and had to be brought over from USA at great cost. I've cannabalized 2 L-100's so I could have extra parts for my Hammonds.
 
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Have you ever done a chop?

mike

Or another possibility is to modify it with its own rolling chassis. ;)
 
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Jcricket said:
I didn't follow the procedure exactly. I turned it on first, the used the start button.
Mark
Click to expand...

It won't work unless you do it in the correct order. You will probably need some generator oil as well or else it will probably sound like it's grinding away inside.

Chad
 
Jcricket, the M-102 is a beauty, popular because it has no legs in front. If the tone generator bangs around inside the cabinet when it is moved, it should be tightened down before moving. There are bolts on the tone generator that are for that very function. On M-100's the tone generators are sort of shock mounted (Not found on L-100's).
 
What type of oil do I need. The tone generator definately sounds "dry" and could use some oil. WHere do you get the oil?

This thing is a beauty, maybe it will just go inside and I'll even take some lessons. Yep, if I can get this working correctly, that is what is going to happen.
 
I have basically the same organ (M103, just a different color). When I got mine it wouldn't start either. Purchased a tube of Hammond Organ oil from a music store that had organs ($5). Put the oil in the oil cups in the rear and waited a few days. The oil travels down a wick and in time makes its way throughout the entire assembly. After about three or four days I tried it again and discovered I had a beautiful working instrument. If you have any questions PM me and I'll give you my phone number.
 
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