Converting a Hammond A100

[warble]

Hey all,
Just got lucky and was given a Hammond model A100 that is in great working condition. Tubes fire up, and all seems to work well except the reverb (which I don't really care about). I'm wondering if anyone here has done or knows how to go about converting this HEAVY thing to more like a standard B3. It is a B3 but with the speaker system. I imagine I could hook up a high-boy or low-boy leslie box to it somehow, and maybe hook-up some kind of audio jack? Maybe it's not worth the trouble, but without the amp/speaker system, this thing would shed a little weight and could be road-worthy.

Another question: although the tubes fire up and work well, would it be beneficial to the sound to replace them and get everything checked out? I don't think they've been replaced ever, and I also don't think this thing was played a great deal.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[philboyd studge]

I don't think I can help you much in making it lighter but there's a few things I've learned since taking my dad's M100. Most important is oil for the tonewheel generators, without it they can slow up and seaze and the organ is useless. Also the tonewheels should secured by tightening the bolts underneath them when you move the organ around.

As for tubes, capacitors etc., just treat it like any other amp...they are built really well and though a tune up would be nice, it'll likely go a long time without it. Wouldn't hurt to clean things up though.

[warble]

Thanks for the input. Any place to look to about oiling the generators? I don't have a service manual, but did check on ebay last week for prices on getting one. Saw one for about $15. I suppose that manual would tell the type of oil and how oil? There is a service record on under the bench seat, and it's been since about '75 that all that was oiled.

[philboyd studge]

I forget the keyword that found the oil but it's an outfit that specializes in Hammonds. Seems like it cost about $10. Probably a light machine oil would do but I think it's better to get the proper oil.

[bgavin]

Google for those keywords. There is a lot of info on the net for conversion, oiling, etc.

I had the church version (C3) of your A100, and it was a heavy monster. One of my friends has done a conversion on his, kind of a hack job, but acceptable. He moves his rig around unassisted, but it is still VERY heavy and bulky.

I went with a Hammond XK2 (40 pounds) instead. Plus, I got MIDI which is something I really use for live work.

The A100 should be regularly oiled, and have the dust removed from the works. They are great machines, but still have to be maintained. The tone generators are repairable, new shaft bushings, etc.

[warble]

I am having second thoughts of lugging this thing around. I've looked in the the Hammond portables with MIDI, and that could very well be a better option.

I managed to find some Hammond oil for sale, and a service manual so I'm gonna give maintenance a shot. I'm amazed this thing worked as well as it did after sitting for all those years. It's been a long time since the last oiling, and the generators ran pretty well without any noises of concern.

Thanks all for the input.