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Help! B3 Question? **Added Pics **


KeyMoe

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Posted

I have a chance to pick up a B3 for less than $1000. Not sure what shape it is in but the owner says it works? Going to look at it tomorrow. They don't have a tone cabinet or Leslie available, so is there any easy way I can test it? Any help is appreciated.....

 

Thanks

Matt

Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
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Posted

I think you should be able to evalute this thing or have someone with you who can. What I mean is there are counterfeits out there. Chopped b3's over the years have created a situation where a nut job could put bogus parts in a B3 cabinet....just be careful is all.

 

Too good to be true? maybe it really is!

Posted

If you're willing to drop some money into it, say another grand or so beyond getting a Leslie, it's probably worth the risk. That said, while B-3s are virtually indestructible, they can have problems that are impossible to overcome. If it starts up and runs freely, you're *probably* ok.

 

Have any more of a backstory on it?

A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable.
Posted

Testing it - if it is a B3, it has a preamplifier inside it, which has a rather high line level output. Before going, check out this page: http://vintageorgans.com/counterfeit/ which will help you know if it is a real B3 or not.

 

Go to this link: http://www.hammondb3andleslietips.com/schematics.htm and download the AO-30 preamp schamatic PDF file, then display it large enough to see the line view of the amplifier terminals on the back of the amplifier. The two output terminals are those identified as G and G, they are on the second from the left group of terminals (the first group of terminals has a metal cover, and is the 110v AC to the organ). The output terminals will be the left two out of a group of five. You can take a feed from either one and the preamp chassis (ground) to a line imput level of an amp that you carry to see if the instrument makes output.

 

 

Howard Grand|Hamm SK1-73|Kurz PC2|PC2X|PC3|PC3X|PC361; QSC K10's

HP DAW|Epi Les Paul & LP 5-str bass|iPad mini2

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Jim

Posted
Perfect thanks!!!
Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
Posted
No. Don't have any other information......
Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
Posted
Keep us posted! I'm crossing my fingers for you, and what can be this awesome find. :)

~ Sean

Juno-60, Juno-G, MicroBrute, MS-20 Mini, PX-5S, R3, etc.

Posted
Here is the deal. The B3 was beautiful, blonde probably mid 60's. Very clean, inside and out. Except the starter motor would run for about 2-3 seconds and stop. Appeared to be well oiled. Not sure was causing this, so right now I passed on the organ. Need to do some research before I make a move....
Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
Posted
Well the good ting is it may be repairable. Try to not let it get into someone else's hands.

"Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello"

 

 

noblevibes.com

 

 

Posted

Look, if the case is in great shape, it's worth $1000 by itself.

 

Dude, pick it up! All other parts can be repaired or cannibalized from A-100s. It will be worth several thousand when you are done.

Moe

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Posted
Look, if the case is in great shape, it's worth $1000 by itself.

 

Dude, pick it up! All other parts can be repaired or cannibalized from A-100s. It will be worth several thousand when you are done.

NEVER cannibalize an A-100 :cop:

 

That's what A-102's are for.... :rimshot:

A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable.
Posted

Yeah, I should retract that. You usually don't need to buy an intact organ to tear up.

 

My buddy Rick at Tonewheelgeneral.com has a warehouse full of organs, parted out generators and manuals, etc.

 

For instance, the manuals for my organ controller came already parted out - no intact organs were harmed.

Moe

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Posted
Here is the deal. The B3 was beautiful, blonde probably mid 60's. Very clean, inside and out. Except the starter motor would run for about 2-3 seconds and stop. Appeared to be well oiled. Not sure was causing this, so right now I passed on the organ. Need to do some research before I make a move....

 

If it comes down to having replace the starter motor .... I THINK a M3 uses the same starter motor as the B3. But the motor may not even need to be replaced.

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

Posted
Talking to the local service guy tomorrow to see what worst case might be....will keep you all posted.
Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
Posted
I had a similar problem with my console,found out the organ had been over oiled,the scanner was saturated.Instead of rebuilding the scanner,I installed another dry one,probably from an m-3 but not sure. Yeah when I would power on after start, the start motor would stop spinning,thought it was a switch and all, but after a while,(couple months prob.)I narrowed it down to the scanner. I bet if you had it home you could have done the hair dryer trick to it to get it running...
Posted
Here is the deal. The B3 was beautiful, blonde probably mid 60's. Very clean, inside and out. Except the starter motor would run for about 2-3 seconds and stop. Appeared to be well oiled. Not sure was causing this, so right now I passed on the organ. Need to do some research before I make a move....

 

Here's the rub. If it is the starter motor (or more likely the run motor), and once it gets replaced, that B3 will go from $1000 (plus the motor repair) to double or triple the price.

 

I'd still grab it for a grand, especially if the cabinet is nice. It's really a no lose deal at that price.

 

YMMV

Yamaha C7 Grand, My Hammonds: '57 B3, '54 C2, '42 BC, '40 D, '05 XK3 Pro System, Kawai MP9000, Fender Rhodes Mk I 73, Yamaha CP33, Motif ES6, Nord Electro 2, Minimoog Voyager & Model D, Korg MS10
Posted
I'd rent you some organ dollies from the tool rental place, and negotiate a lower price on a non-working 45 year old organ!
Posted
I'd rent you some organ dollies from the tool rental place, and negotiate a lower price on a non-working 45 year old organ!

 

You must have been absent that day at Hammond school where they covered the part where the case alone is worth $1000.

 

:cool:

 

I was offered $1000 for the case alone for a BC I picked up and they didn't want the "guts". I turned them down flat, since the BC has a great voice, but it goes to show what a B style case (and the BC is slightly different than a B2/3) is worth to those who want to turn them into "faux" B3's.

 

Yamaha C7 Grand, My Hammonds: '57 B3, '54 C2, '42 BC, '40 D, '05 XK3 Pro System, Kawai MP9000, Fender Rhodes Mk I 73, Yamaha CP33, Motif ES6, Nord Electro 2, Minimoog Voyager & Model D, Korg MS10
Posted
What's the hair dryer trick?
Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
Posted

Hand held blow dryer is an important Hammond accessory if you are going to gig with an organ. It has a couple of uses. One thing it does is heat the wicking system and help oil get to areas that need lubrication. This can also help speed up the time it takes to oil a bone dry organ.

 

If an organ stays in a trailer during winter sometimes the generator will not run if the organ is too cold.

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

Posted
Thanks!!!
Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
Posted
Well I picked it up today. Has all of the original paper work back from April of 1959 along with the gold warrantee certificate.....Pretty cool!
Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
Posted
1959 was very good year.

"It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne

 

"A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!!

So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt

 

Posted
Agreed. Although it looks like it may have been built in 1958 based on the serial number.
Montage 7, Mojo 61, PC-3, XK-3c Pro, Kronos 88, Hammond SK-1, Motif XF- 7, Hammond SK-2, Roland FR-1, FR-18, Hammond B3 - Blond, Hammond BV -Cherry
Posted
Find out who the best Hammond tech in your region is, and sink the money into revitalizing it. Get that thing rocking with a Leslie, and you just made one hell of a good investment.
A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable.
Posted
Yeah I know I am interested to see it. If it is a 1958 it has wooden cheek blocks.

"Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello"

 

 

noblevibes.com

 

 

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