Paul_dup5 Posted April 23, 2001 Posted April 23, 2001 Yesterday I bought my first Leslie cabinet. It was used, but seemed like it was in pretty good condition and I thought it would work well with my Hammond XK2 on my house gig. However, it was modified for a guitar player so instead of a standard leslie pin connection with a leslie preamp, it came with a tube head (Solvtek, or something like that-made in Russia) which takes a standard quarter inch instrument cable. My question is: am I losing anything by this setup as opposed to using the 11 pin port. My guitar player thinks I am, and that the drawbars won't quite sound the same, but my drummer thinks that since it's a digital Hammond organ, anyway, it won't make a difference. Can you give me some advice, please, or thoughts. Also, a Peavey footswitch was installed to make the horn go fast, but there is no brake, so I think it's either slow or fast, but never just stable-is this ok, and common? I think the cabinet I just bought is a 122, wooden. Thanks.
b_3guy Posted April 23, 2001 Posted April 23, 2001 Everything is fine. What may be happening is the Russian amp is a guitar amp. Guitar amps have a frequency range of 100k - 12,000k or something like that. The original Leslie amps were full range amps. But relax, since Hammond/Leslies were used in rock bands the amps were being replaced. The original amps were only 40 watts rms. To keep up with the larger guitar amps, the original amps were often replace by guitar amps. Turn the tone controls to 10. Hopefully this is not to noisy. If so turn them back a bit. Guitar amps are subtractive eq'd. A project for the future would be to replace the Russian amp with either a original equipment replacement or a full range tube or warm solid state amp. These are available at several places around the US. A place I've dealt with is Goff Professional http://www.goffprof.com/ . Your switching is working properly. Slow, hit the switch goes to fast. A brake or stop is just an option. I personally don't care for it. But lot's of other guys do. Booker T - Green Onions. You'll have to start listening to Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Best of ELP will do. I guy I like is John Novello/Niacin. Buy/order all 3 CD's. Works with Billy Sheehan & Dennis Chambers. Excellent Hammond presentation. Congratulations on your purchase. You are very lucky. Older Leslies are hard to come by. any other questions? Steve www.seagullphotodesign.com
DeeSquare Posted April 23, 2001 Posted April 23, 2001 To connect an XK2 you would have to buy a Leslie connection kit (~$175) which takes the 11 pin connector to a small solid state "preamp" that provides a 6 pin connection to the Leslie as well its A/C. This kit also sends the audio and fast/slow switching to the Leslie. I don't think you will be "loosing" by using the 1/4" inputs, for the most part the audio signal is the same whether it comes from the 11 pin or the 1/4" jack. However, you won't have that classic Leslie sound if it isn't a Leslie amp. I find the I prefer switching the Leslie with a footswitch. And yes fast/slow is the norm for a Leslie. A brake is an optional item, personally I don't care for that static Leslie sound, what's the point in hauling the monster around if it doesn't spin.
b_3guy Posted April 23, 2001 Posted April 23, 2001 I have another moment, so I can add some things. Keith Emerson's rig was an example of a hot rodded rig. 4 Leslies powered by Hi-Watt amps. Make sure your Leslie simulator on the XK-2 is turned off - no lit buttons. Also don't forget to add vibrato. The setting I like is all 3 vibrato buttons lit. Works well on both slow & fast speeds. Very thick & shimmery. The early Santana albums are a good example of a well recorded B-3. Steve www.seagullphotodesign.com
Guest Posted April 23, 2001 Posted April 23, 2001 It won't affect drawbar performance even if you use a real Hammond. I have my B converted to 1/4 inch and it works fine. I would just replace the amp with OEM. Always mic it from mic stands. Don't use clip ons. It picks up too much motor noise. Miking thru louvers instead of on the open side cuts down on wind noise. Placing mics behind leslie helps reduce feedback. Local organ and piano stores are excellent sources for parts even used amps. The one near my home has 2 floors of old leslies and hammonds.JW
b_3guy Posted April 23, 2001 Posted April 23, 2001 B-3whiz, what town is this? I could use a driver for my Upper Rotor. Steve www.seagullphotodesign.com
Guest Posted April 24, 2001 Posted April 24, 2001 Originally posted by b_3guy: B-3whiz, what town is this? I could use a driver for my Upper Rotor. b_3 guy, I can't post the store on here because the organ tech would have my head. However, if anyone is looking for parts and wants to email me @ b3wiz@hotmail.com I will be happy to find out if what you are looking for is available and for how much. He is simply too busy to handle all the calls he might get if his number was posted on here. I do know that I cleaned them out of horn drivers, but they have some deals in the works that will probably net some more "parts" leslies. The organ tech is a real honest guy and hasn't steered me wrong yet. He checks everything out and the prices are very reasonable. They work according to the deal they made on the trade rather than the actual worth of anything. Exception being B3's and C3's. I bought a nice C2 for $200, but a nice C3 will bring around 3-4 G's. JW
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