It took a professional like Jesse to get the best out of it! Of course, the people that it was marketed to would never sound anywhere remotely this good!
@artdecolv Actually a novice playing a Hammond Chord organ can sound surprisingly accomplished. Unlike if they transferred the same skill level to a two manual organ.People who dog the Chord organs have never owned one.
Tuning on these organs consisted of adjusting rotary switches that would raise or lower the pitch of SOLO and ACCOMPANYMENT in eighth or quarter steps. Each coil was tunable by loosening two screws and tapping the center in to lower or outward to raise the pitch on each individual note. Best left to an experienced and not tone-deaf technician. The earlier models (large tubes) seemed to have a richer tone quality. I WANT ANOTHER ONE!!!!
THANK YOU! Owned one, a later production using glass miniture tubes. The first generation used octal (bigger) tubes. The later model still used a 5U4 rectifier tube and 2 6L6 or 6F6 outout tubes in push-pull design, ergo the incredible rich deep base, and it used two 10" speakers fastened with a 5 lb iron bricxk in the center to keep the speaker baffle from vibrating out of phase with the speaker cones. I have repaired several, and really the only frequent repairs were tube replacement.
If I remember correctly, Jesse Crawford, who worked for Hammond for awhile, reluctantly made two of these Hammond Chord Organ LP's and also wrote a method-course book(hard to find). I've always liked the sound of HCO and remember them fondly when I was a kid. I play the organ(have had other Hammonds) but, I hesitate to buy a HCO because I'm not adept with repairing electronics and, I think, that these organs need constant upkeep and repairs. Am I right about that?
No, you're not right about that. I have been playing a chord organ in my grannie's kitchen now for a few years, and not even a tube has failed. If you get one in good shape, and you keep it dry, and off of the heating register, you will probably die before the organ. Hammond made quality instruments, even these novelty chord organs were built to last.
@mortson978 I have 8 organs, even Hammond Tone wheels & they have all suffered from bad electrolytic capacitors at one time or another, but not my Hammond Chord organ S6 from 1955. It still plays perfect! MSRP was $789. About 1/2 of all their other models and this probably accounts for all of the bad rumors. If you want a great sounding woodwind you won't get it from a tone wheel organ, but you WILL from an S6. Amazing tone and amazing versatility. Also amazingly musical. Mine has orig. reverb.
@organdude44 I have 11 organs and only my Hammond chord organ needed nothing, and still needs nothing after 57 years. They are easy to repair as well. There is a free one in Lancaster Ohio today on Craigslist. Owner says that it was ghis Grandmas, turn on only hear hiss...he probably didn't move the lever to increase volume! These organs also came with optional spring reverb ( necklace reverb) that sounds great! I highly recommend.I play my other organs through the S6's RCA aux. IN
I just got a free S6 yesterday. the lady who gave it to me said her dad just wanted to "smash it" and throw it away because he thought nobody would want it. Other people had asked for it just so that they could strip the tubes from it for other uses. Yeesh.
I have one in my Hammond collection. Very different tones than a tone generator organ since it uses tube occillators.
I believe it is from the same linage as the Novachord which was truly one of the worlds first polyphonic synthesizers developed by Hammond way back in the late 1930's but they built only a few hundred. WAY AHEAD of its time! Hammond sold a ton of the Chord organs back in the late 50's into the 60's, so they are fairly easy to find.
i love adapting songs for chord organ. At times it can be so aggravating, but the end result is a very warm song, and a powerful one too. I had to replace the power chord in the back. Apparently they are a bit of a fire hazard, what with the wires, dust, and hot vacuum tubes.
My grandma has one, I love playing it, the sound is so warm, It is strange, how the sound hasn't changed after fifty odd years. I absolutely love the hum of the bass pedals. I hope one day to master it.
Thanks so much, it was wonderful to hear this pieces of history. Based upon negative comments I have read on other "organ-related" sites regarding the Hammond Chord Organ, I expected the the sound to be horrible. Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised how "musical" this organ sounded - the tone was actually quite nice, and not the least unpleasant to listen to
Thanks for your kind comments. I like yourself thought that the Hammond chord organ would not be very pleasing but when I obtained my first one back in the mid 80's I was thrilled with it's sound after I spent many hours refurbishing the electronics and tuning it. I have to lighten up so I will be auctioning off my chord organ soon.
Oh yes I forgot to thank you for posting Jesse on the Twin Hammond organs with his wife. The organs look wild with that art-deco set pieces concealing them. I wonder if they were model A's or model B's or even BC's?
This is great! Who'd ever know Jesse played the chord organ? I have a video of him and his wife playing twin Hammonds but I never knew he played the chord organ until now. Thanks for posting. Great bit of history!!
If you're in or near PA, I know of an S6 in good condition going cheap, complete with bench. Send me a message if interested.
Claudius131 3 weeks ago
How saddening to hear the great master like this in his older age. Wish I hadn't listened now.
davidgray2 3 months ago
@davidgray2
Why does that sadden you? The playing is as beautiful as anything he might of done in his youth, and we all get old eventually don't we?
EternityinTransiency 2 months ago
It took a professional like Jesse to get the best out of it! Of course, the people that it was marketed to would never sound anywhere remotely this good!
artdecolv 11 months ago
@artdecolv Actually a novice playing a Hammond Chord organ can sound surprisingly accomplished. Unlike if they transferred the same skill level to a two manual organ.People who dog the Chord organs have never owned one.
paulj0557 6 months ago
He truly was 'The Poet of the Organ'
I have never found a Jesse Crawford
recording that I didn't like!
three185 2 years ago
Hi Tony here again
Tuning on these organs consisted of adjusting rotary switches that would raise or lower the pitch of SOLO and ACCOMPANYMENT in eighth or quarter steps. Each coil was tunable by loosening two screws and tapping the center in to lower or outward to raise the pitch on each individual note. Best left to an experienced and not tone-deaf technician. The earlier models (large tubes) seemed to have a richer tone quality. I WANT ANOTHER ONE!!!!
Thanks
Tony
tonysqqkq 2 years ago
THANK YOU! Owned one, a later production using glass miniture tubes. The first generation used octal (bigger) tubes. The later model still used a 5U4 rectifier tube and 2 6L6 or 6F6 outout tubes in push-pull design, ergo the incredible rich deep base, and it used two 10" speakers fastened with a 5 lb iron bricxk in the center to keep the speaker baffle from vibrating out of phase with the speaker cones. I have repaired several, and really the only frequent repairs were tube replacement.
tnx
tonysqqkq 2 years ago
If I remember correctly, Jesse Crawford, who worked for Hammond for awhile, reluctantly made two of these Hammond Chord Organ LP's and also wrote a method-course book(hard to find). I've always liked the sound of HCO and remember them fondly when I was a kid. I play the organ(have had other Hammonds) but, I hesitate to buy a HCO because I'm not adept with repairing electronics and, I think, that these organs need constant upkeep and repairs. Am I right about that?
organdude44 3 years ago
No, you're not right about that. I have been playing a chord organ in my grannie's kitchen now for a few years, and not even a tube has failed. If you get one in good shape, and you keep it dry, and off of the heating register, you will probably die before the organ. Hammond made quality instruments, even these novelty chord organs were built to last.
mortson978 2 years ago
@mortson978 I have 8 organs, even Hammond Tone wheels & they have all suffered from bad electrolytic capacitors at one time or another, but not my Hammond Chord organ S6 from 1955. It still plays perfect! MSRP was $789. About 1/2 of all their other models and this probably accounts for all of the bad rumors. If you want a great sounding woodwind you won't get it from a tone wheel organ, but you WILL from an S6. Amazing tone and amazing versatility. Also amazingly musical. Mine has orig. reverb.
paulj0557 8 months ago
@organdude44 I have 11 organs and only my Hammond chord organ needed nothing, and still needs nothing after 57 years. They are easy to repair as well. There is a free one in Lancaster Ohio today on Craigslist. Owner says that it was ghis Grandmas, turn on only hear hiss...he probably didn't move the lever to increase volume! These organs also came with optional spring reverb ( necklace reverb) that sounds great! I highly recommend.I play my other organs through the S6's RCA aux. IN
paulj0557 1 month ago
I just got a free S6 yesterday. the lady who gave it to me said her dad just wanted to "smash it" and throw it away because he thought nobody would want it. Other people had asked for it just so that they could strip the tubes from it for other uses. Yeesh.
Brother Ron
ignoxious 3 years ago 2
what is the second song called?
mortson978 3 years ago
Pretty sure the 2nd song is the theme from the movie "The Bridge Over The River Kwai" and the last song is "Lida Rose" from the Music Man.
kingfish196 3 years ago
ok, thanks.
mortson978 3 years ago
The second song is Colonel Bogey March and it was from the movie Bridge on the River Kwai.
kdegru 3 years ago
I love the Chord Organ too!
I have one in my Hammond collection. Very different tones than a tone generator organ since it uses tube occillators.
I believe it is from the same linage as the Novachord which was truly one of the worlds first polyphonic synthesizers developed by Hammond way back in the late 1930's but they built only a few hundred. WAY AHEAD of its time! Hammond sold a ton of the Chord organs back in the late 50's into the 60's, so they are fairly easy to find.
B3Rock 3 years ago
i love adapting songs for chord organ. At times it can be so aggravating, but the end result is a very warm song, and a powerful one too. I had to replace the power chord in the back. Apparently they are a bit of a fire hazard, what with the wires, dust, and hot vacuum tubes.
mortson978 3 years ago
My grandma has one, I love playing it, the sound is so warm, It is strange, how the sound hasn't changed after fifty odd years. I absolutely love the hum of the bass pedals. I hope one day to master it.
mortson978 3 years ago
Thanks so much, it was wonderful to hear this pieces of history. Based upon negative comments I have read on other "organ-related" sites regarding the Hammond Chord Organ, I expected the the sound to be horrible. Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised how "musical" this organ sounded - the tone was actually quite nice, and not the least unpleasant to listen to
hinsterhinn 3 years ago
Thanks for your kind comments. I like yourself thought that the Hammond chord organ would not be very pleasing but when I obtained my first one back in the mid 80's I was thrilled with it's sound after I spent many hours refurbishing the electronics and tuning it. I have to lighten up so I will be auctioning off my chord organ soon.
kdegru 3 years ago
Oh yes I forgot to thank you for posting Jesse on the Twin Hammond organs with his wife. The organs look wild with that art-deco set pieces concealing them. I wonder if they were model A's or model B's or even BC's?
kdegru 3 years ago
This is great! Who'd ever know Jesse played the chord organ? I have a video of him and his wife playing twin Hammonds but I never knew he played the chord organ until now. Thanks for posting. Great bit of history!!
steverabb 3 years ago