Thanks, JMcS,

I'll check one out in person soon and take a look inside.

My old Roland A80 could be switched for universal voltage. I'm guessing the person who responded to me was not a tech per se.

They probably were not.

I think:

A: You were recently reminded just how much fun playing a B3 is.

B: There is an ongoing resurgence in the popularity of Organ, particularly in Jazz.

C: There is money to be made, particularly for people who can play the B3 with both hands and both feet.

E: You like making money particulrly via playing music.

F: All of the above.

Good Luck and hold out for the MkII version or a real good deal on the original.


Also, I hear being Bi-keyboard doubles ones chances for a gig on Saturday night.

JMcS, yea, those thoughts have crossed my mind.

Last night on TV I watched about 30 minutes of the Steve Winwood \ Eric Clapton tour and Steve played B3 for some of the time.

He really didn't play much at all and the one lick he played that seemed impressive at first listen is not really all that much ... and he used it at least twice. My point, it's a lot easier to be flashy or sound more impressive on organ than it is on piano - it's just part of the instrument.

When I played B3 for my wife in Germany last week she was really impressed even though what I played was not much at all.

I'll check out the dealer who's not too far from my house and report back on the power issue of the PB3 ... and also report back on that Hammichord (or whatever it's called).

More info - I called the Piano Organ Depot in Olyphant, PA and was given a ballpark figure of $18,000 for a PB3 and the 3300 Leslie.

This is looking more attractive.

Mint condition vintage B3/Leslie combos can be found pretty easily for under $10k. If it's me, I'd still rather get the "original" instrument and pay less in the process.

HEY!

You're giving away my secrets, man, keep your voice down...

--Dave

I've known it all along but it just became glaringly apparent after watching Steve Winwood play a B3.

I just received an e-mail (in Dutch) regarding the voltage situation with the PB3. I was told the voltage is selectable and is easy to do. So, they come with a multi tap transformer and the user makes the change.

For the Dutch guys ...

Geachte Hr. Horne,

De B-3 Portable heeft geen universele voeding, maar moet afgesteld worden met een interne spanning carrousel.

De nieuwe B-3 Portable die we in West/Midden Europa leveren staan afgesteld op 230 Volt, voor het Groot Brittanie en Australie op 240 Volt.
Er is echter ook de mogelijkheid om de B-3P op 100 en 110 Volt (voor Japan en USA) te schakelen.

Echter het is wel nodig om het instrument te openen om dit te doen (boven/achterkap moet er even af) maar dit is niet echt moeilijk.

Wilt u de Nieuwe B-3P eens nader bekijken of in alle rust uit te proberen, dan bent u van harte welkom in onze distributeur/dealer-showroom in Vianen.
Als u dit wilt dan verzoeken wij u om hiervoor een afspraak te maken (tel. 0347-370594) dan zorgen wij dat het instrument voor u klaar staat.

Met vriendelijke groeten,

Jan Kok (sales manager Europe)
Hammond Suzuki Europe bv
Ir. D.S. Tuynmanweg 4a
4131 PN Vianen

Basically you turn a dial and line up the voltage you want with an arrow. Replace the fuse if necessary and possibly the power cord.

The fuses are either 125V 1.6A or 250V 800mA depending on the AC line voltage.

Good Luck.

Between the obvious words that are similar to English and a little bit of German knowledge, that was a fairly easy read.

Yesterday, I played a Korg BX3. It's good to know that if I start jonesing for a dual manual organ, I could satisfy it for less than $3k.