preamps

[Bt1955@aol.com]

Going back to the sound of preamps, I have had the chance to sit and
really evaluate the difference between solid state amps and the original
preamps. 

My 57 B-3 has the original preamp in it, and I play on that organ. The sound 
is to put it in words, expressive with soul and tone. The first thing one has
to
keep in mind is the Hammond is not a clean sterile instrument. It is
inherantly
complex with overtones, cross talk and bleed thru from the design of the
generator.
The combination of everything in a Hammond gives it its unique sound. This is
the same with any instrument. Look how long people have been trying to figure
out why a Strativarius sounds the way it does. They have tryed to duplicate
it,
some experts say its the wood others say its top finish.They have measured
the thickness of the wood, the chemical make up of of the finish, and still
 they cannot figure it out. Hell who knows how old the tree or tree,s were
when
he made those instruments. Just the aging process alone produces different
results. Its a combination of everything that gives it its unique sound.

The same goes for the electrical properties of transformers, caps, resistors,
etc.
A guitar amplifier for example one of the simplest forms of amplification is
also
one of the most dificult pieces to build.The variance in the purity of the
iron core of transformers, and how they are wound produces different results.
  
Anyway when I replaced the original preamp with a solid state one I found the
changes
to be,
 1. The tonality of the organ changed.  Its character had gone from being
sultry and expressive
to being more focused and articulate but with no soul. Nothing would give, it
wont
breathe. It was more of a clear cut deal. I noticed that the drawbars
became alot more sensitive with the solid state units VS the old tube preamps

 
2. The percussion is different, it is not as smooth and triggers different.
It does not
have that roundness to the note. The upside to the solid state preamps
 especially
Bill beers preamp is the bass control is outstanding. If you play alot of
bass with
your left hands and feet, man you get that thing to hump. Dont get me wrong,
Bills preamp is really a nice piece, and Bill is a great designer of product,
but I will always know tube is tube and solid state is solid state . Two
totally different critters,
both having their good and bad points and each of them has its place.

3. I have tryed a little gadget that Bill Beer designed and had sent to me.
This was
a bolt on bass and treble control that was used in conjunction with the
original
preamp. Man I tell you this gave you the best of both worlds. More of
everything.

4. Bob S. has just sent me a schematic of a tube driven bass and treble
control
that you use in conjunction with your original preamp. This is very simular
to 
what Joey DeFrancesco is now starting to do with his custom setups. I cant
wait
to build this and check it out. This stuff is nothing new, its just that its
application
for Hammonds is not known as well as in the guitar industry.

Tony