Nord User Forum

I would like to ask..... I've always been a big fan of the sound of Hammond "spinet" organs, such as the L100 and T100.

These were usually branded as inferior to the classic B3/C3 sound..... but I've come to realise (listening to my favourite albums from the 1970s by bands like Genesis and The Stranglers) that I actually *prefer* the spinet sound. (I think it beds much better into mixes, it's not so huge and fruity and screaming "LOOK AT ME!")

The thing is: pretty much EVERY Hammond emulation of the last 20 years, Clavia included, always tries to model the B3/C3!
And if they offer extra organ types, it's usually then Farfisa or Vox.

I don't think there's a single spinet Hammond emulation on the market!

I'm wondering if Clavia could be persauded to bring offer a spinet Hammond sound for their C1/C2/C2D range..... and if so, who would I pester about that?

feline1 wrote:I would like to ask..... I've always been a big fan of the sound of Hammond "spinet" organs, such as the L100 and T100.

These were usually branded as inferior to the classic B3/C3 sound..... but I've come to realise (listening to my favourite albums from the 1970s by bands like Genesis and The Stranglers) that I actually *prefer* the spinet sound. (I think it beds much better into mixes, it's not so huge and fruity and screaming "LOOK AT ME!")

The thing is: pretty much EVERY Hammond emulation of the last 20 years, Clavia included, always tries to model the B3/C3!
And if they offer extra organ types, it's usually then Farfisa or Vox.

I don't think there's a single spinet Hammond emulation on the market!

I'm wondering if Clavia could be persauded to bring offer a spinet Hammond sound for their C1/C2/C2D range..... and if so, who would I pester about that?

Hello feline1,
Welcome to the forums
This forum is a good place to test the waters for such a request

Other than this, I would start campaigning with the UK distributor rather than directly with Clavia.
It is my perception that they listen more to the distributor than the individual.

The UK Distributor of Nord products:
Sound Technology plc
http://www.soundtech.co.uk/
sales@soundtech.co.uk

Here is an interesting page about making an L-100 sound more like a B-3, I suppose that it could be reversed.

Cheers, Hanon

Ah! that's a good thorough list of the differences between spinets and consoles on that link......lol but yeah, it's the wrong way round for me!

Hi guys
That is my old page that i compiled back in the 1990's
A spinnet is thinner sounding
It does not have keyboard tapering (all resistance wires are 15 ohms)
No foldback.
A stock l100 has less click than a B3

Try a Nord c1 - in a ventialator using the twin reverb amp model might suit your taste. The C1 has a less complicated click. Turn back the treble a bit to decrease the highs.
On on the lower manual never use the two first drawbars.

That could perhaps suit your taste.

Regards Frederick

flmc59 wrote:That is my old page that i compiled back in the 1990's

Hi Frederick,
it's great information.
Your friend that you refer to as "Pontus"
Would that be Pontus H. "NordPH"?
Cheers, Hanon

Interesting about the C1... most of the reviews I read of these machines are in 'Sound on Sound' magazine ... usually by Gordon Reid... they're good thorough reviews, but usually from the point of view of "does it sound exactly like a B3" - which is not the criterea I'm interested in!

That is the Pontus

I would only use the V1 and C1 vibrato - The depth of L100 vibrato is less than that of an B3

I used to own an L122 spinet model, and it never really sounded that great by itself. It was a bit anemic and the percussion and chorus/vibrato were really inferior to a console model. The amplification is what makes the difference. Running it through a Marshall amp for those early Jon Lord sounds, or through my beloved-and-much-missed 122 Leslie, really made it come alive.

As far as Genesis type sounds are concerned, I'm no expert, but I believe that Tony Banks didn't use a Leslie, instead he used various chorus/flanger effects. I suspect that doing something like this will get you close to the sound you're looking for, and that the actual simulation type - B3 or spinet - is less important that you might think.

Edit: a quick Google says that that Dave Greenfield also did not use a Leslie. I have no way of checking that, but listening to some old Stranglers recordings, I would say it's very likely.

No foldback on spinets? Maybe not on the bottom of the lower manual, but isn't there a ton of foldback on the top? That's what accounts for the big let-down when you gliss up to s scream on a spinet.
BTW, the M-3, even tho it lacks the reverb and a few other features of the later (L-100 spinets, etc) seems to me to sound better. But the upper drawbars drop out and fold back, a lot. They had a lot fewer tonewheels.