Hammond L-100
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=44847
Printed Date: November 28 2024 at 09:09
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hammond L-100
Posted By: sean
Subject: Hammond L-100
Date Posted: December 28 2007 at 05:13
|
So, someone put an ad in a local paper selling one of these, so I talked to her and tried it out and I'm buying it for $450. I can't wait to get it, as it sounds and feels great to play.
I was wondering if anyone else here had any experience with this particular model, since the B3 seems the most popular, and that was the only one I had played before, since the guitar center near my house had one but I could never afford it.
|
Replies:
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 28 2007 at 05:37
|
I have a L100 model myself (1971 L122); these are a spinet model as opposed to the full consoles, such as the B3, C3, A100 etc, so correspondingly considerably cheaper. Depending on age/condition etc, $450 would appear to be a good price (even better if it's had the conversion to connect to a Leslie).
Although I don't play much myself anymore, you're right in that they're a joy to use; maintenance wise (again, depending on age/condition) the main thing you have to make sure of is regular oiling. This only needs doing once a year, but this is essential to keep the tone generator in good condition - very easy to do; take the back off, look out for two small funnels on top of the tone generator & use (preferably) Hammond oil (easily obtainable online) - just top up the funnel & this will then work its way into the tonewheels. Assuming you're not going to be gigging the organ, this should last for many, many more years - if any of the valves go, they're fairly easily obtainable online. Enjoy! ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: December 28 2007 at 11:30
Well, it actually has the Leslies built in, and the way it feels and sounds it seems like it should be more expensive. The lady I'm buying it from paid $4,250. Thanks for the tips on keeping it clean. She just got it cleaned but I'll make sure to oil it. As much as I would like to gig with it I probably won't just because it's so old (and hard to move). |
Jim Garten wrote:Posted By: pierreolivier
Date Posted: December 28 2007 at 21:14
Hi,
I own a Hammond L-112 since many years. You said that the Leslie is built in, be careful, maybe it's not an L-100 model. L-100 models never had built-in Leslies, that feature came in the late 70's with the coming of transistorized Hammond organs. L-100 model is a tonewheel organ and tube powered, the functionning of that organ is mechanical, that's why it need oil. The Leslie on L-100 model is external.
A good tip to recognize, if it had drawbars, you had big chances to be in presence of a tonewheel organ. If the organ had presets only, then it's surely a transistor organ. Ask the seller to be sure what you brought. Also, be careful with oiling , transistors organs don't need oil. Transitors Hammonds are very good, my first Hammond when i was a kid was a transistors organ and I liked it a lot, and it featured a built-in Leslie, wich is very pratical but a lot of Hammond fans prefers the sound of tonewheels organs like the L-100, but as long as you like the sound, that's the important thing.
Happy purchase.
|
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: December 29 2007 at 04:37
It did have drawbars, but I'll look further into what it may be. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: January 02 2008 at 03:29
|
When you say it has a built in Leslie, do you mean it has the converter kit to be connected to a Leslie cabinet, or has a revolving bass speaker in the cabinet itself? If the latter, it's not an L100 series. -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: January 06 2008 at 02:03
The revolving speaker is built into it. I was under the impression that it was the L100 because the owners manual that came with it was for that series. However, I looked into it and I believe it is an Aurora. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: January 07 2008 at 03:49
|
That's one of the models I know of but know nothing about... -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: January 08 2008 at 19:37
i actually had trouble finding any information about it, it's just not that popular, but i think it sounds great an i'm really enjoying it. |
Posted By: rileydog22
Date Posted: January 08 2008 at 20:15
That's what counts  -------------   |
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: January 09 2008 at 04:54
indeed, and even though it's not a b3 at least i can say i have a hammond. it feels good to finally say that, i've wanted one for so long. now for that mellotron... |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: January 09 2008 at 12:35
|
Good luck, Sean!
Rare beasts these days & bloody expensive.. -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: January 10 2008 at 02:57
It's unfortunate, they are wonderful. Isn't Hammond producing a new B-3 now? |
Posted By: pierreolivier
Date Posted: January 10 2008 at 23:29
Unfortunately, Jim is right. Present owners who brought them 10-15 years ago during the revival keep them and don't want to sell them.That's why they are rare and expensive and that's why when there's one for sale on Ebay, it sold for ridiculous high price,even for non-working units.
Streetly in England realeased a new one in Spring 2007 called the M4000,wich is a multi-stations machine,a bit like the MarkII was but in an M400 cabinet. I've heard that the popular alternative band Arcade Fire brought one past Fall to use it on their next album. They seems to be neat and convenient and a lot more reliable than a lot of their vintage counterparts.
Yes, Hammond Suzuki produced a new B3 some years ago but is very expensive (a lot more than their vintage counterparts) and are not true tonewheels organs but virtual tonewheels
|
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: January 16 2008 at 03:12
Are you referring to the B3000?
I think the best thing that can be said of these is Hammond at least tried; look around at the reviews & you'll rarely find a good one; tinny sound by comparison to the original, poorly built (no waterfall keys  ) & presets to be avoided. They come up occasionally on Ebay & may go for a couple of thousand sterling, but you can get true tonewheel full console Hammonds (C3 or A100 usually), which will give a real sound for less money.
-------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: pgryphon
Date Posted: January 29 2008 at 20:41
|
The L100 series are cool. Very rock'n roll sound thru at leslie 147 (at least on full volume). It's what Keith Emerson used (besides his C3 which was too heavy and expensive to throw around on stage). |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: February 13 2008 at 07:31
Also used by Thijs Van Leer of Focus on most older recordings (uses a split B3 these days), Ian McLaghan with The Faces/Small Faces (utilising a wonderful whistling high range I've not yet been able to get) & I believe it was a Hammod L100 on 'Whiter Shade Of Pale'  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: nunez
Date Posted: April 10 2008 at 09:34
|
Hi there,
I have an Hammond L122 - just bought it for almost no money, I really never played it much. Now I'm just scared of turning it on since it's not been turned on for a long time and I've read that it should be oiled every year - does anyone know where I can get hammond oil in europe? cheers |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: April 10 2008 at 12:27
|
At a pinch, any light machine oil should be OK to use - at any rate, you're unlikely to damage it by turning it on, unless it's completely seized (very unlikely).
Due to the specific nature of the task, I'd recommend you do use the real thing - the following is in Canada, but ships worldwide http://cgi.ebay.com/THREE-TUBES-OF-HAMMOND-ORGAN-GENERATOR-OIL_W0QQitemZ300214478287QQihZ020QQcategoryZ16219QQcmdZViewItem - Hammond Oil -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: nunez
Date Posted: April 10 2008 at 14:14
| thanks a lot, I'll check it out! |
Posted By: endlessepic
Date Posted: April 13 2008 at 23:35
| I love my Hammond l-101. It rocks. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: April 14 2008 at 03:36
Me too (bad picture coming up)
Just wish I could really play it... -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: April 14 2008 at 17:52
| Awesome! I had that setup once myself, back around 1970. Eventually sold it and bought a Fender Rhodes, which just fit in the back seat of my VW. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: April 17 2008 at 04:31
|
Mine's a 1971 vintage - I bought it with all the original paperwork & warranty certificate (although I think that's now expired...) -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: April 17 2008 at 23:00
Don't think you're going to get much warranty work on that one 
I will suggest you refrain from opening up the back and plucking on the reverb unit, as I once did to imitate Emerson, as it can deliver a nasty shock.
|
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: April 18 2008 at 03:44
It's much safer to imitate Jon Lord - ie raise the front a few inches & let it fall to get the authentic Deep Purple reverb spring "CRASHHHHHH" - which is about the closest I'll ever get to making the same sound on a Hammond as Lord does...  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Vicky Garten
Date Posted: April 21 2008 at 07:35
The cats really love that - NOT  ------------- Confusion will be my epitaph |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: April 21 2008 at 20:53
|
I think cats like Mellotrons
|
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: April 22 2008 at 07:40
|
We've also discovered that if you floor the swell pedal, rack up the Leslie, then act all innocent until a cat walks past...
...then hit the bottom C bass pedal... you get poo on the floor & claw marks in the ceiling 
Fun, though  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |