LearnGospelMusic.com Community
Gospel Instruments => Organ Room => Topic started by: apostoliczak on September 20, 2008, 08:16:37 PM
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Greetings!! I just got my m3!! I picked it up from atlanta this afternoon. Been on the road all day! When I get home and recoop I'll upload some pics of it! :)
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So I am kinda of mad about my organ. The A note on the top manual doesn't work. A lot of the notes stick out. Any help? I'm kind of irritated. Some of the drawbars don't work for some of the notes.
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It just sounds like it needs to be gone through and cleaned-up good, it probably hasn`t been played much lately; but without being there to check it myself, it`s hard to say exactly if there`s a stopped tonewheel; sticky because of no oil, or numerous dirty switch contacts including bad drawbar contacts. Anything interupting the signal can cause those symptoms. The good news is that those old Hammonds were overbuilt so much, that even numerous years of abuse and neglect won`t necessarily ruin them---so call the Hamm-Tech for the verdict; I hope your friend didn`t mislead you on the shape the organ is in, but don`t dispair; the prognosis is still good...
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^^what he said^^
Didnt you test it out before you paid for it? Its nothing a tech cant fix for a couple of hundred dollrs.
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Can you recommend any good Hammond servicing companies?
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You might try a conversation with Captain Foldback before calling a Tech. He could access your technical abilities and walk you through a quick diagnostic; you might find a simple solution that you or a tech could easily fix. A second opinion is always good; you don`t want to get into this too deeply, you need to know when to cut your losses. This is frustrating for me because if I could just jump in my car and come over, we could know now, and for free. Stay in touch with questions, God bless
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^^what he said^^
Didnt you test it out before you paid for it? Its nothing a tech cant fix for a couple of hundred dollrs.
I hate when these things happen.
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That`s this old world for you though: "Murphys` law in action"
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Well '66 where you live at?
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BAKERSFIELD
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Where is bakersfield at?
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Probably Bakersfield, CA.
This has been an excellent group that I've been subscribed to for a while now. These folks can help you. Check the archives too as this problem may have been discussed before.
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/hammond_zone/ (http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/hammond_zone/)
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I`ve been sitting here waiting for apolostoliczak, and my computer didn`t indicate that there had been a response; and now I`ve missed him. This is a real hot-bed of Hammond buffs. isn`t it? We won`t let our man be misled obout his options on this..... Cal. is too far a drive, so we`re going to work out something else. BTW, have you checked-out the 14yr old Hammond player? Shows you what can be done with talent, early influences, and a good teacher!
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What's up 66. I've been in class all day. Yuck. The hectic life of a freshman music major!!! Hmm. Yeah california is way far away from lil ole mississippi.
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I gotta have an update on the mighty M.... Have you had a little time to work those drawbars w. Lithium grease?
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Nope. I've been so busy. I got to play around on it today. And got an estimate for a hamm tech to come by... $300
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No way man! A doctor woulden`t even charge that for a house-call! He must have come clear from Bakersfield----try another closer one. Why not talk or email Rick Prevalet, or the Captain before making an appointment with the tech? A second or third opinion could present options not yet considered. Don`t be in a big rush yet. Do you have a webcam for your computer? Before calling the tech, lets talk on the phone! You`re going to kick yourself if you end-up paying $600.00 or so to buy the organ, then fix it, when an A-100 could have been had for about that. We need to fix it right for cheap, or start over by getting your money back if possible, or just keep it for a spare.
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I have a webcam but don't have internet at the house. Who is the captain and rick?
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Captain Foldback is Lars Mikael Verholt and Rick Prevallet is a Hammond/Leslie tech from the midwest (only a few hours from where I live) and has a Hammond/Leslie business called Tonewheel General Hospital.
www.tonewheelgeneral.com (http://www.tonewheelgeneral.com)
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I'll look them up tonight. Do you got a webcam.
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Too bad you are not me because I would have got some tools, webpages, WD40, and open that M3 up.
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Oh I'm fixing to. The hamm tech I've been talking seems to think it just needs oil. Where do I put it.
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If the M3 is anything like the other Hammonds, there should be oiling cups in the organ. The cups funnel into these long "pipes". This oiling system allows each part of the TWG to be lubricated. Fill the cups up and wait 2 or 3 weeks for the oil to work its way to each part.
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The beauty of these organs is that you can work on them yourself. If you`re new to the inside of a Hammond, get some help first---it`s out there. Capt. Foldback for instance, has an engineering degree in electronics, and another acoustic design, plus is also a guitarist! we`ll keep working on this until it`s solved. I don`t have a webcam yet, but if you know somebody who can stream video to the internet from their cell-phone, we might be able to comunicate well enough so I can take a peek and a listen in real-time.....
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I emailed the captain and the tonewheel general guy. I'll p.m. You when they email me back.
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Thanks! I`ll be anxious to hear their slant on this. Since they work on these all day, they`ll have some helpful ideas. Have you put any Hammond oil in yet?
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Don't ask Lars too many questions. I won't get into details but I've had dealings with him and we don't see eye to eye.
Rick Prevallet is a great guy who I have a great respect for. He knows his stuff and I trust his judgment.
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Ok. No not yet I got to order some oil.
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have you checked a few simple things? one-did you move it with the generator locked down?-if not;look for loose wires 2) All tubes lit? 3) wires from back of drawbars come loose+ no tones 4) if key contacts are dirty;hit each key like 30 times BEFORE you stick your fingers inside your HAMMOND;look out-serious voltage-know where you are going 1 st-there is enough juice to KILL
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Oh wow thanks for scaring the crap out of me!!!!!
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Just unplug it first and you'll be fine. There may come a point in time when you need to take some readings with a voltage meter, which then you will need it plugged in and turned on. Just use common sense and you'll do fine. :)
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a little caution is a GOOD thing bro,wanna keep u around LONG enough to hear some good things-don't want to rapture you outta here ha ha
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Just use common sense and you'll do fine. :)
Common sense to me is calling a tech :D
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Common sense to me is calling a tech :D
I'm right there with ya bro! I know when to quit. :)
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apostoliczak,
Did you ever get anything done with your M3? It's been a while since you've posted anything so I thought I'd ask.
You know, I said use a little common sense and you'll be alright...here's a perfect example. Last night I had removed my Leslie 21H amp from the cabinet to look some things over. I removed the canned capacitor and tubes from the amp before flipping it over. The Leslie had been on that day, but that was about 2 or 3 hours prior to this. When I put the tubes back in, I went to grab the canned capacitor and wasn't paying attention. I touched the leads and got a nice "little" zap. It was about a half hour before my hand started feeling better. I don't mind saying that was an experience I don't wish to repeat.
Just to prove how long these capacitors can hold a charge, I waited until this afternoon before I touched it again so keep in mind, this had been a full 24 hours since the Leslie was turned on. I touched each lead with a screw driver (with a rubber handle) to discharge the capacitor completely and it still had some juice left in it. Each lead I would touch would create a blue spark with an audible pop.
The reason I discharged the capacitor as opposed to simply putting it back in the amp again was because last night when the thing zapped me, I instinctively threw it across the room and the leads were bent. I had to discharge it so I could bend them back in place.
I've touched capacitors only minutes after disconnecting power and never received a shock, despite what I've read online. However, electrolytic caps can apparently hold a charge indefinitely.
So this is just another reason why I say, BE CAREFUL! All of this could've been prevented had I used a little common sense last night, lol. ;D
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I touched each lead with a screw driver (with a rubber handle) to discharge the capacitor completely and it still had some juice left in it.
This is what I heard an organ repair guy say do when he worked on and organ.
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been there,done that RMS;the caps in a hammond can hold a charge a LOOOONGGGG time.had a tech tell me he used to go fishing and toss caps in the H2o to stun the fish,careful folks
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I touched each lead with a screw driver (with a rubber handle) to discharge the capacitor completely and it still had some juice left in it. Each lead I would touch would create a blue spark with an audible pop.
Shouldn't you connect the cap leads to a ground of some sort? That's what I have heard and I always do that.
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Shouldn't you connect the cap leads to a ground of some sort? That's what I have heard and I always do that.
With high voltage, probably so. A couple of screwdrivers, a couple of jumper cables, and a 20K 2 watt ceramic resistor would be the proper way. The capacitor I discharged didn't have enough juice left to warrant going to the trouble - probably less than 50VDC.
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Where is Zak? I hope and pray he didnt hurt himself by takin yalls advice....
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I'm here I have just been buuuusssssyyyy with school. Lol
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So I take it you have not done anything with your M3 yet?
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Nope not yet but hopefully next week. I've had midterms all week.
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I hope you do well on your mid-terms! They may have saved your life..... Capaciters can "regrow" current after they are disconnected! Please don`t poke around those caps at all! I know it sounds easy and straightforward, but when it comes to that level of diagnosis, call a Tech. The older Hammonds have what are known as "Death Caps" because when they fail, they short ~200Volts DC to the frame. Those caps are not round, they`re square, and I`ve seen them mostly in Hammond Tone cabinets from the electrodynamic speaker era; pre-fiftys years. I would much rather see you just get another, better one from ebay etc. for $50.00 to $100.00 than to take a chance working on an amp at that level---I promise---all it takes is a jolt strong enough to discoodinate your heart muscles, and without a defibrollator, you could be found still warm by a family member. One little slip is all it takes; Brian will tell you; he learned his lesson cheaply.