Hammond Hello

[Tim59@aol.com]

Hi Wheelheads: 

My name Tim Petit 
My story is that I have been a dedicated B-3 player since early 70's. My
first organ was a Vox Continental (single keyboard) that I kept until I heard
Lee Michael's "Barrel" album (before Cd's ask your dad) . When I heard that
B-3 screaming sound I had to have one. 
I bought a M-101 and then later moved up to a B. 
It took me a while, but I finally got a B-3 from a club in Brockton, Ma. 
It was sitting with old tables and chairs piled on it. I brought it home
polished it ,oiled it and fired it up. It had gold key contacts and was built
around early 50's. Club owner told me that many famous people played it in
the 60's....yeah right... I didn't pay him more for that! 
The B-3 had an old Leslile 22 which had only fast and off speeds. I switched
that for a souped up 147 and later for a 760 which gave me nothing but
trouble. The 147 was the best combination with a Jensen top rotor. There is
nothing like the sound of slightly blown top horn screaming out a high "C" ! 

That B-3 stayed with me until about 1990. I sold it to a rock band in the
area. I had played the organ continuously at least twice every weekend , we
always worked a steady club gig on friday,saturdays and did weddings, parties
other times. We always were two pieces, drums and keyboards. The sound of the
band featured the B-3 and later I added synths and even replaced the B-3 with
sythns even though I wasn't happy with the sound. It seemed like the audience
didn't notice even though I missed the dirty sound of the B-3. 
My old B-3 went up and down many , many staircases and I never cut it down
even though I thought about it each time I had to lift it with those weird
dollies with handles.

Anyway, now I've got straight  job, wife and two kids and fiddle with a old
M-3 with a super-souped up 122 Leslile . I don't play out any more but jam
with my old drummer in the cellar from time to time.   
My hands aren't what they were but it is still fun. 

I love to hear anything about old Hammonds so...... I'm listening. This XB2
sounds interesting I'll have to go out and hear one soon. 
Last new Hammond I played was Hammond/Suzuki which looked like a B and had a
bunch of  toys on it. It was a B-3000, I think, It sounded way too clean and
didn't just do anything for me.  

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