Nord User Forum

As a saxophone player who is getting into keyboard and organ more and more (and really loving it) I'm thinking of getting an actual B3 or A100 series to have in my home space. I currently have an NS2 and E5D and a Leslie 3300 in my studio space and they are really fun...but I tend toward vintage saxophones (Selmer Mark VI and Martin Committee III), real tube amps etc. Sure, much of the vintage vibe is lost in live setting when mic'ing amps and such, and of course the weight and schlepping of them is not an adventure one looks to take on in their 6th decade. But the feel-- even the smell-- of an organic instrument still compels my best creative emotions. Do any of you have an original B3/Leslie to augment your Nord keyboards? is it true that a Vent and a good clonewheel have made vintage Hammonds completely obsolete? Thoughts?

Vintage Hammonds are all unique instruments, and each has their own specific characteristics. If you have the space they are definitely fun to play. They are certainly not obsolete, but I wouldn't want to tour with one.

I still have my B3 and 122 Leslie, although the B3 is not currently in playable condition. I have all the parts to refurbish, but it has not been a high priority.

Wildwood wrote: is it true that a Vent and a good clonewheel have made vintage Hammonds completely obsolete? Thoughts?

No.


Nothing — nothing plays like a (good) real console Hammond through a Leslie.

I have an A101 and 122 in my home music room, along with a CP80 and some of my older keyboards stacked on them. These are amazing timeless instruments that are inspiring to play and I treasure them.

Thanks much for the responses. I was starting to think I was being silly going after a vintage Hammond. I’ll pursue getting one over the next few weeks, probably an A100-105 as well a matching wooden 122. And it will probably one that comes from a shop or has recent service records.

Thanks again!

I still have my old Hammond C3 and Leslie 122 but they’re in the living room apart from the rest shown in my profile pic. There’s just simply no room. I can also confirm that they can vary from organ to organ. I love the sound of the Nord B-3 as well as other software based instruments like B3-X which have the advantage of shaping the overall organ/leslie sound. Because of this, I mostly use the Nord or B3-X for recording and the actual C3 for anything else. There are times when I’ll take the trouble to mic up and record the C3 for the ‘real’ sound but not all that often since I can get the Hammond sound I want a lot easier with the emulations. The main thing the real organ has over the others is the keyboard feel. I find it difficult sometimes to play naturally on anything other than my C3. BTW, the bottom photo was taken in my previous home -it’s still in the living room at my current one -minus the drum kit and the other one is with the 122 today.

I had an A100 w/147 Leslie several years ago. Ended up selling them for same price as purchase.
Every time I see the nice picture I took I feel a bit sorry they are gone, but I knew we would move soon. Enough said there.
I guess if it had been a B3 and a 122, I would still have it. That is speaking as a collector. If you’re seriously thinking about gigging with an A100, I just don’t see any practical way to do that. Let alone the problem of getting it around, it will need service at some point and those guys are hard to find. Depending on your specific needs, get a Stage or an Electro. I just bought an Electro D 61. Just getting into it again after having a Stage 2 many years ago. I’m not a pro though and don’t gig, but those are my thoughts from my perspective. Hope it helps. Cheers!

Over the years I've had a Hammond CV with Leslie 145, an A100 with Leslie 122RV, a beat-up B3 with 122, and now a B3 in cherry wood with matching tone cabinet and Leslie 122. I have to say that every time I've sold my Hammond I've later regretted it, but unfortunately I'm now at that crossroad where I'll probably sell again as I won't have the room where I will moving over the next year. It is absolutely wonderful to play and there is no matching the sound. If I had a studio I would have it there, no doubt; they are timeless, beautifully crafted instruments. In the Hammond forums, true enthusiasts consider themselves the caretakers of these instruments as they will far outlast them if properly maintained. Good luck to you.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a one owner Hammond A100. I don't have room for a Leslie, so installed a Trek II line out box and run it through my Ventilator 2.

I like it because it makes funny fart noises sometimes. There's a fart in the above video, but you got to concentrate to hear it.

I've always wanted a real Hammond / Leslie combination. My reservation is repairs. These are old mechanical beasts, and they are breaking down. Unless you have a good, local repair technician, you'll be hauling your beast to the repair shop periodically as they don't make house calls.

Even though I have a colleague in town who buys/repairs/sells Hammonds and Leslies, the idea of finding room for such a big beast -- and periodically having to move it -- gets in the way of my fantasy.