Nord User Forum

[Ritchie333]

I was looking at putting a cheap Hammond + Leslie or similar setup in a studio. Everyone else in the band has spare gear (PA, drums, guitars, amps) and I always have to get to rehearsals early to set my Electro or Stage up, so I was looking at getting a permanent alternative. Never going to gig with it, it's never going to be moved, and it's only ever going to be for rehearsals, so it doesn't have to be particularly great. A T500 through a stomp box into the studio's PA would probably suffice. Don't really want to spend more than £100 at the most.

On another thread (can't find it now), somebody said they picked up old Hammonds for ridiculously cheap prices like £40. I'd like to know who on earth sells them for this money, because it certainly isn't eBay - where a broken Hammond M100 sells for £255.

Do I have any chance of getting anything within the budget specified above, or is that just wishful thinking?

[Hanon_CTS]

Hello Ritchie,
I think the days of £100 Hammonds are mostly gone.
Sure there's always going to be exceptions.
But almost everyone has the internet now, and it seems the first thing that they do is go look at e8ay as a pricing guide.
So even if the organ seller doesn't see a £300 listing on e8ay, 9 guys who have, will come offer £150 just speculating on "perhaps" doubling their money.
Just my 2 centavos worth.
Cheers, hanon

[Ritchie333]

I have seen a Hammond Aurora 8200 (c. 1978) in GWO on eBay for 99p. Is it even worth this much? One tiny advantage of getting this is I know enough basic electronics to retrofit a valve amp sim pedal somewhere in it, but I haven't got the faintest idea about tonewheels!

[bdodds]

keep looking, you'll find something.. check estate sales, things like that.. they're some work, though, something eventually fails on all of them - with any luck it's something simple to handle, but chances are always there it'll need real help.. I've got a laundry list of things wrong with mine that have all come about in the 14 years I've had it..

Might be much easier to pick up something like an old Voce V5 or similar clonewheel from the 90s clonewheel Renaissance - it'll sound much better and probably not cost much more, plus it'll work. and weigh less.

[Ritchie333]

I have gone for the Aurora, as it's being sold locally and I need a van to pick up some lighting gear anyway. Bear in mind I have slightly odd requirements - a Voce V5 isn't any good as I'll need a MIDI Keyboard, stand and amp as well, and weight isn't an issue as it will never, ever be moved (apart from to be fixed), and I'm going to use it for an hour or two every week at the most. (At home I just use my Electro - much better!) If it sounds better than the dead Thomas Playmate organ sitting in the shed next door it's probably okay. If the worst comes to the worst, I can take it into the field next to the studio and destroy it with a pickaxe, which might just be worth 99p. Maybe even video it for you lot.

Of course, there's always the possibility of "upgrading" to a "real" Hammond later, in which case I might do that anyway....

[simonbeck]

Well, here's what looks like an L-100 starting at £10: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAMMOND-ORGAN-/180801627426?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL&hash=item2a189de522 (link will expire).OK, it's not a particularly up-market Hammond, but it has drawbars.

[Hanon_CTS]

The problem with that is that it's at completely the opposite end of the country, and can only be collected in person, which would make the actual price for me something closer to hundreds of pounds.

The "Aurora" turns out to be a Hammond Cougar 8000 as far as I can tell. Aside from obviously having no valve overdrive on it, it does what I want. Here it is in the studio :

Hammond and technics.jpg (139.46 KiB) Viewed 253 times