Stop me before I get out the chainsaw...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Badger
  • Start date Start date
NNNNOOOOooooooo.....!!!

that is, unless it's in terrible shape, beyond restoration. chop an A-100, or better yet, an M-3...

is there a reason you want to chop?
 
Did it hurt you in some way?

I have a 'no first strike' policy with all my gear...but if it is failing in some way and injures me....well..
 
Actually, its a pretty mint 1958 hammond C3. A few chips here and there, but its a real good shape for 45 year old organ.

Thing is, I really getting the itch to gig with a hammond, and I cant afford a second one.

And hauling around a 600 pound hammond to clubs is really not practical, so I am thinking of lightening it up a bit.
 
Ok, heres the idea. A friend of mine has a welding company that sepcializes in aluminum...He's also a keyboard player, so he understands..

So, were talking about yanking the guts out of the C3, building an aluminum tubing frame to hold it all, and then using clear plastic of somesort to cover the gaps so you can see the workings.

Whatta ya think?
 
Noooooooo!

Please don't cut up a beautiful instrument. Taking off the legs is not going to lighten it up that much anyway. Why not just buy something portable that approximates the sound?
If ...and only if....you remove the guts, and preserve the case, as long as it can be put back to original, you might have a valid idea.
 
do some research to see exactly how much weight you'd lose by chopping. i've read that it's not a whole lot. there's a great hammond bb you can subscribe to or search the archives. chopping has been discussed numerous times:

http://www.zeni.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hammond

also, are you planning on hauling a leslie cabinet around too? that's something else to consider. i'd keep the c3 and save up the $$ for a clone.

good luck :)
 
Re: Noooooooo!

Tonekat said:
Please don't cut up a beautiful instrument. Taking off the legs is not going to lighten it up that much anyway. Why not just buy something portable that approximates the sound?
If ...and only if....you remove the guts, and preserve the case, as long as it can be put back to original, you might have a valid idea.

C3's aint got legs....ITs a B3 in a church cabinent, meaning it has big solid slabs of wood all the way down.

And yes, I would preserve the case.
 
drawbars said:
do some research to see exactly how much weight you'd lose by chopping. i've read that it's not a whole lot. there's a great hammond bb you can subscribe to or search the archives. chopping has been discussed numerous times:

http://www.zeni.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hammond

also, are you planning on hauling a leslie cabinet around too? that's something else to consider. i'd keep the c3 and save up the $$ for a clone.

good luck :)

You can loase as much as 200 pounds if you do it right.
 
I dont use a leslie....I use a motion sound R3-147 rack mount. It sounds good, and I can run directly into the board
 
All I know is that to this day I have a bad back from when I hauled my C3 around. I no longer have it and that is sad but then again its like a bad marriage, The good times are over but I am still paying for them.

If I were you, I would seriously consider the Korg double manual B3 immitation. This is likely to be much easier on your back no matter what kind of casing you put the C3 in and, it will probably retain a good deal of its value since in that respect, it is not unlike a Hammond. After all, if you can use a modern Leslie mock up, why not a Hammond copy as well as long as it sounds good.
 
By the way, after posting that last reply, I realized that of all the keyboards I have had over the years, the one that I regret selling, truly regret selling, is the C3. In my opinion, you simply cannot do anything to destroy that wonderful instrument.

Many of the keyboards I have had were, in retrosepect, mere toys by comparison. Please treat it well, it derseves it. A C3 is an American tradition. Be kind to your C3.
 
My back I'm not too worried about, I already destroyed it. Therefore I make my bandmates(they are all about 20 years younger than me) move my shit. However, there is only so much abuse you can put them through before the whinning gets to be too much.

I think I have decided to go another route. I am going to get a set of roll or kari trucks http://vintageorgans.com/cart/acc.htm , and I found I can rent a trailer for 20 bucks or so that will be easy to load (even with the roll or kari, getting it in the back of my pickup is going to be a bitch).
 
You'll be sorry.

You can pick up a used L-100 for $300. Gut that instead. I used one for years at church (with a Leslie 147), rarely missed the extra drawbars. Missed the second octave of pedals, though.

Jay

correction:
sorry - missed your last entry. I meant you'd be sorry if you chopped it. The cart idea sounds like a winner...
 
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