Leslie 2 Speed Speaker Question - Hammond C3

[trking]

Hey pro's!

I'm new to this forum. I JUST purchased a Hammond C3 with a 2 speed Leslie Speaker....

Now ... There's a flip switch that says: Chorale (on the left) and Leslie (on the right), and the switch can either be left position or right position.

On the left, I get no Leslie, hence, chorale position.

While playing, I switch to Leslie, and I only get one speed.

Question ... How do I access the 2nd speed of the leslie.

I noticed, when they came to install, on the leslie speaker, where you connect the cable from the organ, there's a switch (selector switch). I didn't bother with it.

This was what I bought: HAMMOND C-3 ORGAN WITH MATCHING 2 SPEED LESLIE 21-H

Question ... How do I access the 2 speeds on the leslie? Am I missing something?

[under13]

Sorry, but the 21h is only a one speed leslie. There is no Slow option. They do sell kits that can convert it to a 2 speed.

I'm a little confused with your description though. Which one is not working, tremolo or Chorale? If the chorale is working but not tremolo, then you probably just need to have the fast motor fixed. Before you call your tech, make sure that the cable is plugged into the leslie all of the way

Where did you buy it?

Did you play it before you paid for it?

http://www.dairiki.org/HammondWiki/TwoSpeedLeslieConversion

[trking]

I purchased it from a piano store in Los Angeles, Schroeder's Piano store. It's in EXCELLENT condition, so that part, I'm very glad. I didn't play it before I bought it ... I purchased through e-bay.

Originally what I thought was, the CHORALE wasn't working. The tremolo definitely works.

I noticed, on the back, where you connect the switch controller and the cable from the organ, there's a dial. I initially thought it was the speed dial, used to set the speed of the leslie when "chorale" is chosen ... Turns out, it's a volume button.... So, it wasn't what I thought it was.

The description of the organ, after reading it again, said "the leslie has been fully serviced, AND upgradedto 2-speed.

One other thing:  I noticed, I could see inside the cabinet, and the drum spinning very slowly when the organ was in Choral mode ... and REALLY begin to spin in tremolo mode.

Perhaps the conversion kit installed was a hampton kit, only SLOW speed in Chorale.

[BimmerFan99]

If that 21H has been upgraded to 2-speed, then both the horn and lower rotor should rotate slowly when on Chorale and fast when on Tremolo.

If it doesn't do that, you need to get the people who sold it to you to take a look at it and fix it.  It could be a simple fix, but it's hard to tell you what to do if you're not familiar with Leslies.  It's easier and safer to get someone who is more familiar to take a look at it.

The last thing you want to do is go poking around in a Leslie amplifier if you don't know what's what.  Hammonds CAN kill you.

[trking]

This morning, I woke up early, headed to the church to figure out what that dial was on the back of the Leslie ... It ends up, it's a volume dial .... But, as you stated, I could see inside the cabinet, on the bottom, and something was turning slowly ... Now whether the horn is turning, that I don't know ....

One thing I did notice is that I noticed the difference when the speaker was turned at 45 degree angle while I was "poking" around ....

I think I'm cool though ... I just didn't know what was going on.... I'm learning more and more every day... and by the way, I LOVE this site! It's perfect, and I feel at home here, even though I'm FAR from being a gospel musician ... My hats off to you guys who ARE gospel musicians ... Thanks for the help guys!

I thought that was interesting, "Hammonds CAN Kill You" that's a GREAT bumper sticker! Even though it's true.

[jlc4703]

The 21-H was originally a "one speed" Leslie - either OFF or fast.  There are really three categories of Leslie speed.  "Two speed" Leslies (like a 122 or 145) have slow (called Chorale) and fast.  Some of the later models also have what is called a "brake" which turns off the motors so that the cabinet is like a tone cabinet (NO speed).

These Leslies also have two separate speaker systems. A speaker is mounted facing up and feeding into a rotary horn arrangment for the higher pitches (top part of the Leslie).  The lower part of the Leslis has a bass speaker (15" in a 122 or 147) that feeds into a rotating baffle.

A dual motor system is used for each of these.  There is a larger square black motor that rotates the horn or the lower baffle at high speeds for the fast operation, and a smaller motor (looks like a cheap phonograph motor from the 1960's) that drives a pulley which provides the slow (chorale) speed.  A relay is used to control power to the motors, power on to one while off to the other, for speed switching, and the half-moon switch operates the relay.  The 122 uses a DC operated relay, and the 145 uses a 115 volt AC relay.

The slow speed is more subtle, but still should be noticable.  It is possible that the seller either only installed dual motors for the lower section. It is also possible that both sets of dual motors are installed, but the upper slow motor may have been jarred out of position slightly (there is a small amount of adjustment that can be made), and is not contacting the pulley, or that some other fault occurred such as a bad motor, broken wire, joint not soldered and no longer making contact.

[trking]

Thank you! That helps!

One thing I've noticed, is that even though these Hammonds are the bombs, they are extremely sensitive:

On a separate question: The "B" Custom Preset Section, White Draw Bar to the far right.

I noticed when the Percussion button is ON, and have ALL drawbars @ 0, and take the far white draw bar, and start pulling out, I hear nothing. Even if I pull to 8, I still hear nothing.

However, IF I turn percussion OFF, the draw bar works...

I thought, when I was on custom preset Bb, that the far white draw bar for that custom setting worked whether or not the percussion button was ON or OFF.

Does that make sense? Is the percussion sound actually using the sound from the far white button, on B custom set of drawbars?

Interesting....

[under13]

Thank you! That helps!

One thing I've noticed, is that even though these Hammonds are the bombs, they are extremely sensitive:

On a separate question: The "B" Custom Preset Section, White Draw Bar to the far right.

I noticed when the Percussion button is ON, and have ALL drawbars @ 0, and take the far white draw bar, and start pulling out, I hear nothing. Even if I pull to 8, I still hear nothing.

However, IF I turn percussion OFF, the draw bar works...

I thought, when I was on custom preset Bb, that the far white draw bar for that custom setting worked whether or not the percussion button was ON or OFF.

Does that make sense? Is the percussion sound actually using the sound from the far white button, on B custom set of drawbars?

Interesting....

Thats how its supposed to be. It uses the 1 foot drawbar to produce the sound, but you or your tech can wire it so that it uses another drawbar instead. I'd change it to the 2 2/3 drawbar.

[BimmerFan99]

+1 on what under13 said.

Another tidbit:  The percussion only works on the upper manual B preset.  It doesn't work on any other preset.

[trking]

Gotcha! Now it's all beginning to make sense.

As I play this lovely instrument, I fall more in love with it's capabilities! AND appreciate the difference in emotion you can pull using it, vs. the piano!

I'm glad I made the investment!

[BimmerFan99]

Gotcha! Now it's all beginning to make sense.

As I play this lovely instrument, I fall more in love with it's capabilities! AND appreciate the difference in emotion you can pull using it, vs. the piano!

I'm glad I made the investment!

Oh, it's a great investment!  I just bought a 142 to go with my C-3.  My organ is still sitting at my parents house, and I can't wait to get it up here.

[trking]

Is the 142 in addition to an already existing cabinet? If so, which one?

[BimmerFan99]

Is the 142 in addition to an already existing cabinet? If so, which one?

Nope.  The 142 is exactly the same as a 122 except the 142 is in a slightly shorter cabinet.