Jesse Crawford playing the Hammond Chord Organ

A Pro on the Hammond Chord Organ. The Poet of the Organ apparently was interested in new musical technologies.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jesse
• Crawford
• on
• the
• Hammond
• Chord
• Organ.

[hinsterhinn]

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

[kdegru]

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]

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?

[Claudius131]

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.

[paulj0557]

@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

[EternityinTransiency]

@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?

[davidgray2]

How saddening to hear the great master like this in his older age. Wish I hadn't listened now.

[paulj0557]

@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]

@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.

[artdecolv]

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!

[mortson978]

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.

[three185]

He truly was 'The Poet of the Organ'

I have never found a Jesse Crawford

recording that I didn't like!

[tonysqqkq]

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