Re: Grand Funk; Keith Emerson

[<GOFFProf@aol.com>]

Bryant wrote: (in part):

>   How much damage did Keith Emerson do to his L100 when he stuck
>  daggers in the keyboards night after night, how were the keyboards
>  modified to tolerate this brutal punishment, and who did it for him?<

In the 70's, Keith had replacement L-100's provided by HAMMOND.  For the
Black Moon tour in 1990 and other recent tours including the just-completed
one with Jethro Tull,  his L-100 was kept running daily by his Manager and
keyboard tech Will Alexander, with regular   
major repairs done by myself.   The rough treatment of the L and the dagger
routine required a lot of cabinet beef up work and constant changing of
broken keys.  We stripped several old L-100's, M-100's and other spinet
organs for parts to keep the L working for the last tour and it is close to
being replaced.  The generator was rigidly mounted on bushings, the manuals
were made to be accessable, side struts and internal stiffeners were added to
the cabinet as well as a full base plate with front struts. 

His TARKUS C-3 was completely rebuilt in '96 for the last ELP tour with a
tube preamp and many mods.  As a matter of fact, several HAMMOND Board
members saw the organ while it was in my shop for rebuilding.  (Rumors that
certain Board members soldered wires in the preamp are TRUE! )  Keith's
PICTURES C-3 and Leslie 122's are also rebuilt; the C-3 has  with full
velocity MIDI and many other mods.  Can't tell all, but these are rockin''
organs cusom built for the Master of Rock. 

The Grand Funk add-ons varied as Craig Frost was not always with the band.
 Several keyboards were used (Rhodes, etc) as with most other bands.  

Al