Hammond M-3 -- Should I ?

[chessrock]

Someone offered me the chance to buy one of these for $350 obo.

Supposedly works great, and the dude lives close-by.

Anyone who knows . . . how similar are these to the B3?

Do you think it's a good deal?

Thanks!

Chess

 

[DigitMus]

The M3 is a spinet version of the B3/C3 - no presets, and less keys on each keyboard. Amplification is built-in (and all tube) so you'll need to modify it to use it with a Leslie cabinet or an amp. If it really is in gret condition, you could probably turn around and ebay it for a LOT more than $350.

Scott

 

[chessrock]

Amplification is built-in (and all tube) so you'll need to modify it to use it with a Leslie cabinet or an amp.

Man, that kinda' sucks. Any workarounds that you could think of?

Thanks for the info! Much appreciated.

 

[Shailat]

First of all there are more differences like no foldback but there is a work around for that only you have to invest time and a lot of work and great set of hands.

As far as I know you have to buy a kit that will able you to connect to a leslie. Then expect to pay for a a leslie about $600- $1000
making the M3 an investment cheaper then a B3 and sounding really good but still an expense that only B3 lovers would go through.

 

[Henri Devill]

The M3 sounds great..Nice and nasty...Deep Purple..M3


Don

 

[MISTERQCUE]

Yo chess baby, INSANE question!!!
M-3 is an updated, compact version of the famed B-3 with a simulated Leslie rotator (commonly found in mid-level efx processors), however, the M-3 provides almost the same action,voicings, feel etc as it's predecessor. Depending on the condition and perf of the unit, 350.00 is a great price!!!




side note: IMHO, the 4, ALL-TIME GREATEST keyboards ever
created were the Moog and Arp 2600 synths, Fender Rhodes
and the Almighty, Hammond B-3 w. Leslie!!


(simply reminiscin'!!!)

 

[Shailat]

Q q q....

side note: IMHO, the 4, ALL-TIME GREATEST keyboards ever
created were the Moog and Arp 2600 synths, Fender Rhodes
and the Almighty, Hammond B-3 w. Leslie!!

(simply reminiscin'!!!)

I'm shocked at you Q. Being a Funky brother you missed the Clavinet. Were would we be in funk music with out it?!?!?!

 

[MISTERQCUE]

Re: Q q q....

I'm shocked at you Q. Being a Funky brother you missed the Clavinet. Were would we be in funk music with out it?!?!?!

Ohhh man!!! NO DOUBT SHAILAT!!!

 

[MISTERQCUE]

Re: Q q q....

I'm shocked at you Q. Being a Funky brother you missed the Clavinet. Were would we be in funk music with out it?!?!?!

Ohhh man!!! NO DOUBT SHAILAT!!!

 

[dafduc]

I had an M-3, then traded up to a D-152.

(1) Unless the foldback kit has already been installed, the percussion will not sound as good as a B-3;

(2) It is not an "updated" version - they were out at the same time, and the M-3 typically known as a "Baby B". The M-100 is an updated version - I've never played one, but the L-100 had some presets, reverb, and an integrated start-up switch. The M-100 was supposedly better than the L-100 (which was used to record Green Onions);

(3) The M-3 has an "octave minus one" pedalboard - almost useless. also stubby plastic pedals, rther than the "board" pedals of the larger models;

(4) The built-in amp and speaker really add to the weight. Two guys dan carry it, but it's not pretty;

(5) Extra cool item - there's a mono rca female plug on the back for an external audio in - it was for hooking up a mono record player back in the day, but an electric guitar sounds real sweet through all that tube circuitry (a whopping 10 watts, if I remember correctly).

Even without a Leslie, it's still a very musical instrument, solid as a rock, and a lot of fun. I only ditched mine 'cos I needed a full classical pedalboard, and didn't have room to keep it after I moved the D-152 in. $350 is a good price - I only paid $100 for mine, but by the time I paid for help moving it and repairs, I was up to about $450. I believe going rate for one in good condition is $4-600, so you should get your investment back out of it if you decide not to keep it.

Good luck. don't forget to oil...

Daf

 

[Badger]

The biggest diff, as our esteemed foriegn correspondent pointed out, is the lack of foldback. Most people never play the pedals(mine are leaning against the wall behind a pile of boxes). If it were mine(and if I wasnt unemployed I would have bought one the other day, and I have a C3 already), I would chop it. Make it more roadable and lose the amp/speakers. In the process, wire a direct out and get a Motion sound leslie setup. Much cheaper and easier to deal with than a real leslie kit and leslie. I run a motion sound r3-147 with my C3, and it sounds great.

You don't have to have a leslie....really, Booker T prefered not to use leslie or chorus. I've been meaning to try playing my hammond through my pod and see what kind of nasty distortion I could get out of it.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Before You turn this guy down, listen to the Boston records. That M3 is a wonderrful organ. I got mine for free but would have paid that for it anyday.

 

[B3Nut]

Green Onions was cut on an M-3, with a microphone pointed at the internal 12" speaker. No Leslie. Stax got a model 25 single-rotor Leslie right after that, and Booker used that until the mid-60's when Stax could finally afford to get a B-3 and 122.

M-3's are good little organs, but don't pay more than around $200 for one.

The M-3 came out in early 1955, and shipped before the B-3/C-3/RT-3 console models shipped. The -3 series added "Touch-Response Percussion" to the upper manual, basically a gated amplifier through which either the second or third harmonic could be piped through.

The M-100 and L-100 were introduced in 1961 to replace the M-3. The M-100 has scanner vibrato and 3 presets for each manual. The L-100 has a cheap electronic vibrato, one lower preset, and three upper presets. The L-100's reverb comes through the main channel, the M-100 reverb had its own 8" speaker and separate amplifier. The percussion switching in the M-100 and L-100 series allows both the second and third harmonics to be percussed simultaneously. The M-3 and B-3/C-3/RT-3/A-1xx/D-1xx only let you choose second or third.


Aside from the upper-octave foldback missing from the spinets, the other factor that makes them sound a bit different from the consoles (B/C/etc) is the fact that all frequencies connect to the keys via 16-ohm resistance wires. The resistance wire values in the consoles varied to "taper" the response of the manuals. Both factors make the spinets sound thinner and at times more shrill. However, the thinner sound can cut through a mix well, too. I have both a B-3 and an L-100...I love them both, for different reasons.

If you can get the M-3 cheap enough, go for it.

TP

 

[MrCrabs]

i wouldnt buy it.
I own one and its been "Leslied" i tried to sell it, but no one wants them. It is worth more in parts than a whole unit.
The true B-3 nuts look for hard to find parts for their babies. Lo and behold the M-3 has them.
In fact, thats where im currently positioned. I am trying to muster the courage to chop the M so that i can part it out and make the money its really worth.
But hey this is a free society and people ultimately will do what they want. sounds like you wanted some opinions...that was mine.
Paul Harvey....good day!

 

[Chrisjob]

B3Nut is right.....don't pay more than $200, or maybe 250 if it's in excellent shape.


Get the B4, unless you're gigging...you can always have the computer play it for you

 

[B3Nut]

Yup, the M-3's are often parted out to provide console parts. THey still make a good organ tho. Just put it through a Leslie. I just tossed up a little idea I've been working on with my L-100, an intro section to a proggish idea I had. It's not as cleanly executed as I'd like, but I didn't feel like moving stuff around again (I was getting a wierd resonance with the Leslie in the bathroom despite having blankets around). That, and the L-100 I have needs new filter caps in the power supply...it's NOISY. I'll re-record it after I fix the organ. That'll be awhile, since the IRS Monster is holding out his paw in my direction..

THat said, herewith an mp3:

Enjoy...

TP