Dealing with the "shrill factor"

The "shrill factor" is the most common design fault of virtually every Hammond Organ Clone on the market today. On a Hammond console, the output voltage (or loudness) of each tonewheel is limited at its peak output, regardless of how many notes (with drawbars pulled out) tap that tonewheel. Think of it as a 91-band limiter. On most Hammond Clones, that rule is simply ignored (near impossible to achieve via MIDI encoding to a single switch contact on a keyboard vs. 9 contacts on a Hammond)
Thus, the big complaint, "its too shrill". Ok, turn down the Hi-EQ, "now its too dull or muddy". Ok, add a tube preamp. "It warms it up a bit, but still can't get it right". I have found a tool that gets back closer to the actual Hammond tone, feeding the properly-balanced signal to the tube preamp, resulting in a much smoother organ tone and preamp drive to my Leslie cab (2101). More details coming...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hammond
• Organ
• Roland
• VK8
• VK8m
• Leslie
• 2101
• Tube
• Preamp
• Loudness
• Robbing

[rmaccrea]

Roland VK88> Radio Shack MPA-250A stereo amp> Antique Realistic Mach 1 speakers. 

[rmaccrea]

I have noticed this is also greatly affected by the speakers. I am now using a pair of Radio Shack Mach 1's and their high end is not as prominent. But the 15" woofers do a wonderful job of projecting the bass. Doesn't sound muddy.