Hey guys, thanks for all of the great thoughts. Sorry, my previous reply was done from an "unfreshed" page that didn't display all of the posts at the time.
Sorry, I didn't give more info as well. Some of the reasons that I've been considering a Hammond are:
1. I'm a die hard fan of 70s progressive rock, which of course, is loaded with GREAT Hammond sounds.
2. My new music project is based on the above.
3. I know that M series Hammonds can be had for next to nothing (my budget is very low - the less the better).
4. I'm a electronics tech by trade, so I might be able to do some/all? of the mods myself.
5. This music project may or may not get to the live gig level. I personally would be happy just recording a CD down the road. Of course, that might change - I don't really know yet.
So those are some of the main points floating around in my head. If I do chop an M3, if the weight gets below 200Lbs, like say 150Lbs or so, it seems like myself and one other person would be able to put it in the bed of my pickup rather easily. That would be 75Lbs to lift for each person. That's not bad at all. Does anyone reading this own a chopped M3? Do you know the weight?
I do have some other questions (sorry if this is too much to ask in one thread). Please remember I'm a Hammond newbie, so these questions might make some of the pros roll their eyes a bit!
I plan to make use of distortion. What's the best way to do that with an M3? Just crank the volume up full? Use a effect pedeal, or guitar amp?
I also would like a Leslie effect. Would a Motion Pro be suitable? Would a "virtual" Leslie be suitable? I'd like to keep the costs down, otherwise I'd go for the real thing.
All of this is just me contemplating the possibilities for this music project. I don't know if I'd buy anything at all, but I'm thinking owning a real Hammond would be amazing.
I'd like to hear more thoughts about your own Hammond rig. How often to you play it vs a clone? Is anyone else using a real Hammond in a prog rock situation? What do your bandmates think about it? Do you have any comments about it when gigging? Have you recorded with it?
Again, thanks for any info, and sorry about the many questions...