How much you pay?

[apostoliczak]

if you have your own personal organ and have put mods on it, how much money have you put into your organ?

[X-66]

(I`ll just follow you around and answer ALL your questions!)  $300.00 back in the day for a Treck-II replacement for the X-66 generator `cause I always had to pull it & press the motor bearings back in before playing---it woulden`t stay in pitch either.  The Leslie kits were about $80.00 back then; other than that, it`s a stocker.

[apostoliczak]

And you know I wouldn't have it any other way!!! I took it by your name, you had a x-66! You like it?

[RMS2003]

So far $230. I had my CV preamp rebuilt by Rick Prevallet at Tonewheel General Hospital. I plan to convert the ratcheted drawbars to smooth drawbars and then that's it. BTW, $10 of that $230 was for a pedal pusher. I broke one the other day while cleaning. I had to remove the pedal board and when I was trying to put it back in, one of the pushers got caught on something and snapped. Oh well...

[X-66]

That X-66 is incredible; we`ll talk about it in detail when you`re back online.  To Mr RMS: Do you notice a certain punch in the top end drawbars on your CV?

[bluemagic]

I own a Hammond C2 with Trek-II percussion and Leslie 145 in my home-based recording studio.  I just ordered a Leslie Restoration Kit from Ebay for $99.95 which contains replacements for all the capacitors (especially 'electrolytic' types) power resistors, and other electronics, except tubes, used in the Leslie amplifier unit.  I will install the parts this weekend and see if I can make this organ really, oh what's the word, oh yeah, SCREAMMMM!!!! If it helps, I'll replace the aged components in the organ amplifier as well.

PS - This is not really a mod but basic maintenance that should be done on all electronic items that are 40 to 50 years old if you want them to perform properly. Unfortunately, many churches don't opt to do this type of TLC maintenance. 

[RMS2003]

To Mr RMS: Do you notice a certain punch in the top end drawbars on your CV?

You can call me Ryan, lol. Regarding your question...no more than any other Hammond I've played.

[X-66]

I just have to say please be careful with those capaciters, they could zap you with 200 Volts; and they "regrow" current without even being hooked-up.  You`re probably an electrician, but I can`t take a chance...

[RMS2003]

I own a Hammond C2 with Trek-II percussion and Leslie 145 in my home-based recording studio.  I just ordered a Leslie Restoration Kit from Ebay for $99.95 which contains replacements for all the capacitors (especially 'electrolytic' types) power resistors, and other electronics, except tubes, used in the Leslie amplifier unit.  I will install the parts this weekend and see if I can make this organ really, oh what's the word, oh yeah, SCREAMMMM!!!! If it helps, I'll replace the aged components in the organ amplifier as well.

Replacing the components in the Leslie amp won't affect the tone in any way so if you're doing it for that reason, you'll be disappointed. The capacitors will definitely need to be replaced though, as you already know. The resistors usually don't need to be replaced. Generally they don't drift like caps do. Use an ohmmeter to check all the resistors. Replace only the ones that don't read at their proper values. There's no sense in doing more work than is necessary.

If you're wanting to brighten up the tone, rebuilding the organ's preamp sometimes helps. What really makes a significant difference though is recapping the TWG and vibrato line. I personally don't recommend doing it only because it's such a tedious job and using the wrong capacitors can drastically affect the tone in a bad way.

The TWG and vibrato in my CV still has the old wax caps. I plan on keeping them in there. The preamp has been rebuilt though. Honestly, I could hear no change in how it sounded before the rebuild. There were failing components though so the purpose of the rebuild was in eliminate the complications caused by those failing components.

[bluemagic]

Thanks for the warning X-66.  Look at the schematic at the site below and you will see that the tube anode plate voltage is not 200 but actually over 400 volts so I'll be doubly careful!!!  PS - I'm not an electrician but I do have a BS in Electrical Engineering but you don't need to be an engineer or electrician to replace caps, resistors, etc.  Just got to know how to SOLDER properly and BE CAREFUL.

http://www.captain-foldback.com/Leslie_sub/Leslie_schematics/147.GIF

Thanks for the advice RMS but i beg to differ.  Any amplifier (whether pre-amp or main amp) can affect the final sound quality, especially distortion, if not operating properly.  I've noticed a little distortion at high volume when using my Leslie but if I send the organ output to my Roland KC keyboard amp no such distortion is present.  I don't think I'll be dissapointed but I will let you know.

[RMS2003]

Distortion is usually tube related but sometimes it can be a bad cap or resistor that is causing the problem. Like I say, check the resistors before going to the trouble of replacing them. Please do let me know if your rebuild changes the tone in any way. I don't think it will, but if I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit it. 

[bluemagic]

Distortion can definitely be caused by a bad cap as it will affect tube (the two 6550s) operation.  See the passage below discussing Distortion from the Benton Electronics Service website on Servicing the Leslie 147 amp. I am not really trying to change the basic sound of the organ but hoping to improve the sound at mid to high volume levels.  I'll keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again.

Distortion (From Benton Electronic Service Web-Site)

One of the biggest complaints with Leslie Amps is distortion.

Here's some things to check;

The second section of the filter/power supply is 420VDC. If this capacitor section is weak, even though the voltage might read right, the stability of that voltage may be such that it cannot deliver a constant source to the plates of the output tubes and thus cause distortion at a mid level volume.
A quick test is to measure the AC voltage here. It should be below .5 volts ac. Also, while monitoring this voltage, play sound through the Leslie. If the AC voltage rises dramatically (several volts), then this filter section is weak.
# Often over looked, the preamp tube should be checked and the plate voltages also checked.
# The 15" woofer should be 16 ohm.
# Again the cathode voltage on the 6550 should be 25VDC.
# Remember these amps are only 40 watts and can easily over driven.

[X-66]

I`ve found that what makes the biggest single diffrence in the tone of these Hammond preamps is the tube selection!  Replacing the metal, top electrode tube in my CV preamp with an "old-new-stock" glass one; caused the organ to completly change in tone to a much mellower one.  I changed it back quickly.....  Would you electronics experts please tell me where the good tubes are?  I understand the ones from China arn`t as good, but some folks like the Russian tubes.  Mitchell tubes have a good reputation for lasting longer even when overdriven.