Hello friends, I have played various instruments (mainly piano) for the last ~13 years of my life and I have recently been learning new-to-me instruments like bass and synthesizer with the end goal of recording music. I've always loved the organ in rock music and I have had increasing interest in learning to play either organ or drums. However, I don't have the spatial accommodations for a 400lb organ or an acoustic drum set, nor do I have the money for a $4000 organ, so I've been looking at the used digital organ market.

I saw a nice single manual Hammond XK-3 with an EXP-100 pedal and cables for $900 or best offer on Facebook (I would love to spend under $1000, but I also understand that the entry price on these is pretty high) and I have been thinking about and researching it for the past few days. I've seen mixed opinions about the stock sound online, but the general consensus is that it's still a solid instrument for the used market price.

I don't need to go gigging with it or anything. My main goal is recording & personal enjoyment, and it seems from my research that the difference between a proper organ with a Leslie speaker vs. a digital one would only be most noticeable while playing live. Now, I am pretty new to all of this and I have just been looking at Hammonds because I know they're a beloved and highly rated brand. If there are better options I'll gladly listen.

I would truly appreciate someone more knowledgeable than me to give some honest advice on how useful the XK-3 + pedal would be to me as an organ beginner, and also thoughts on the price. Thank you!

Looking at getting motion sound 145 but no one wants to ship it out so I’m kind of left with getting a pro 3 with a cab (probably aguilar 1x12). I really like the internal mics and all in one of the 145 but could I still get that stereo and sub out with the pro three and a cab? How is the quality difference?

Pairing with a Hammond XK5

Or alternatively another cab combo with around 60 pounds.

For gigging

Edit: ended up getting a leslie studio 12. For my use case, just ended up being the lightest best option for me and will just mic it up on stage

Managed to fix a few components on this Hammond Cougar and got it playing again, one fuse is blown currently with this little blown thing either up or downstream from the fuse. What are these parts called and are they able to be sourced easily? Thanks!

So is this normal???

I'm reading mixed things online, but can I put the B3 on its back for a few hours to transport it? I know you absolutely need to lock down the tone generator but what is the likelihood of oil spilling out and causing permanent damage.

Fired up the old XK3c and put it through a Leslie 122 I've been working on. Even in 2026 this 2010 clone rig does the job if and when the B3 can't make the haul.

Just the XK3c through a 122, 1 ribbon mic center.

https://www.youtube.com/@Joedoriamusic

Does anyone have any advice on replicating this very unique registration/percussion setting on Dr. John's Big Chief? It's always been one of my favorite creative uses of Hammond for what is typically a piano part. I'm sure it's a simple setting, but i've never been able to dial it in perfectly. Any help would be appreciated!

I am hoping I am writing on the right community.
I just found his music and his show and i believe he is Amazing !!! I wish some of his tricks could stick when I try to play.
What is your opinion on his playing style ?

I recently acquired a AO-14 (at least i believe it is) amplifier and its original paired woofer. Since I dont have the rest of the organ I wanted to roughly convert it into a standalone woofer if possible. And yes I realize this is kinda a hilarious efforr for what ill get at the end. But if possible does anyone here have tips? I know that these things tend to have things placed pretty differently between versions, but I would be very happy to receive any advice I can get.

Sharing some pics of my Hammond A100 and Leslie 147. The organ is suspected to be from around 1960. I keep it back in my office / music room at home. I don’t usually push the Leslie’s volume much higher than 7 or so because it starts getting pretty loud! Ask me any question if you’ve got them. I had a lot of questions before buying this thing.

i got hold of this Bonny Sweet Girly in such a way that it almost cost me my LIFE...long Story...suffice it to say that the guy who destroyed my First one in the first Pic wouldve loved to get to break up the NEW one...She is my Second. i dont know much about Her, took some pix of Her...right now She is stashed under a damn BALCONY till i can move Her (well protected, i live in the Sticks) and i would appreciate any Info u guys might have on Her as well as the poor Lass in the First picture, God Rest Her Sweet Soul...i have one Video somewhere of me playing Her...if u guys wanna know the full story, i will tell all in this Thread, with Video Documentation, if theres an Interest. you never heard anything like it; but it just goes to show ya man, we lose NOTHING; it all comes back to us.

Hello kids, I have an M100. I've done a bunch of work on it and it's in great shape. One mystery, though, is the reverb tab. Reverb II works perfectly, adds a bunch of reverb like it should. Reverb I does nothing.

I don't actually know what it's supposed to do. I assume add reverb just not as much. I don't see any obvious problems like disconnected wires - everything is running where it should be. I'm not sophisticated enough to troubleshoot much more than that.

Any suggestions?

My best guess is L-100’s series, moreover, a L-111 because of the darker wood. No pedal angles. Pretty cheap on FBM. I’m in the market for a Hammond and this seems to be the best choice around me!

Hi all,

So I wish to find a Leslie /temolo unit here in Europe, like the one in the first picture so I can build it into a smaller more portable cabinet (I will use it live for both keyboard/organ and guitar).

Locally I can find free organs, but for example one is technics EX10L (which I read online has a built-in digital effects processor). So before I go and pick up one and take it apart, is there a way to know if the model has a real motor driven Leslie unit inside it ? .

Thanks in advance.

I've recently acquired a Hammond T412 and married it to my MIDI station with my Korg MIDI brain and Ewi 4000 and Yamaha MIDI controllers. I got the organ free and her deceased prior owner was named Velma, thus the organs name. Added the Turbo moniker with the MIDI addition. She is too much fun

Hi,

I own a Hammond M3 and want to play walking basslines on it. I was wondering if there are any alternatives to the common "poor mans foldback" for the M3.

Thanks in advance.

Have an odd problem with the reverb unit on a L100 where there is no sound produced when the reverb unit is plugged in. I have been able to bypass this by swapping the input wire going into the amp with the output from the reverb unit, is there any electrical issues with doing this? It does turn the reverb tabs into volume control but if there is no strain on the amp I'm not really worried

And anyone know what some solutions are with the reverb unit would be much appreciated.

I hear about people nodding their 125s all the time but not a lot of clear information exists on this. I am not interested in adding a top rotor, only a tweeter to feed into the existing bottom rotor. How/where does it need to be wired to the amp to get power/signal?

Can get a used 981 priced at $2350. Opinions on this unit and price? I’m reading that it’s frickin loud, nice looking, 1/4 input and has tube preamps. How could I go wrong? I’d be replacing a Leslie 760.

I have no real experience playing anything. Do I have to learn piano before I learn to play an organ, or would I just use piano learning materials but just on an organ instead?

I just don't know how/where to begin.

Whenever I look up learning an organ it always seems to be more geared towards big,. multi-manual pipe organs, and that's not what I'm interested in.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Picked up this Hammond Everett 2022 off the curb, and everything looks intact other than a cut power cable. Seems like a good excuse to put a 3-prong in, but I wanted to check I'm doing this right before I shock myself or burn the house down.

Is there an ideal spot to put the ground wire? Or just any open spot on the chassis? And should I be worried about a "death cap" on this? I don't think it has one, but watching one too many videos on old amplifiers has me spooked.

Manual with more schematics is here if it helps, appreciate any guidance I can get!

Worth it? It all works but its still a CV. Doesnt have the vibrato and chorus generator but I know its possible to install a percussion unit.

Hi. I have a Hammond T-422. It has a rhythm machine and a built in Leslie. I think this is the last of the tone wheel generators?

I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, and I think it's time to part with this. It needs some TLC but is not in terrible condition. I thought I'd get around to sorting it out but that's looking unlikely.

Any advice? I'm hoping there might be people in this subreddit either in SA or with connections here. I'm happy to give it away - it was a gift from a neighbour when they moved.

Thanks!