Custom Hammond and Leslie

[KEYBORDHAM@aol.com]

Mike Longo-  

I read on the Internet your letter about what must have been a totally cool
experience testing the Pro3 at Goff Professional.  Did I read correctly that
you were able to play a customized Hammond C3 as part of the test?  Plus a
brand new Hammond Suzuki XC3?  I am *green* with envy!  What about the Xb2?

Although the Pro3 results are the reason you went, what was it like to play
the customized C3, and was there any real difference in it over a non-custom
model?  I just heard and saw up close a Goff Professional B3 on tour with
Page and Plant from Led Zeppelin.  Since I work for a local sponsor, I was
able to go on stage after the concert. The Hammond was black and completely
customized, with all kinds of controls on the left side.  The keyboard player
told us that Robert Plant and Jimmy Page decided to let Al Goff choose how
the organ would sound!  All I know is it was awesome sounding, clear as a
bell sometimes. Other times it was really blues sounding. You know, fat and
distorted. It was always loud as hell with two Leslies, I think 122's.  We
couldn't take the back off, but we were told it had a solidstate
preamplifier.  No one believed it since the organ sounded so good.  I saw
tubes in the Leslies, so I'm really not sure about the preamplifier.

The gold Goff Professional name on the organ is really gold leaf or something
like it.  It was on the side front and back of the organ and Leslies.  Its
exactly the same stuff used on a Steinway piano and other really good
instruments.  How do they do this? 

Your comments on the custom C3 will be much appreciated!  Also, how was the
new Suzuki C3?  When I finally get settled in I'm joining the board.  But for
now, I'm borrowing a friends AOL account.  I have seen posted letters from
this board in music stores in San Francisco!  Its probably the best Hammond
board throught the net.