How to chop a Hammond M3 Organ from garage to gig.

My Hammond M3 Organ was sitting in my garage in need of repair. I was asked to play a gig and said sure! (nothing like working under pressure) I had two weeks to make this M3 portable, with support from Steve Cox and online Hammond resources I was able to finish and make the gig. Future videos will be on modifications to the M3 and testing it out in live situations. Any feedback and info on M3's would be greatly appreciated! Peace!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Hammond Organ
• Hammond M3
• Hammond Chop

[garage2gig]

The weight was actually more with the amplifier installed in the top. To move the M3 safely you really need two people. The idea was to get it to fit in my 2000 Buick Regal, as you can see in the video it just made it! Overall the chop makes it much easier to move, utilizing the original base gives it the integrity when playing live. I received many comments oh having a Hammond at the gig and not one person realized it was chopped.

[RekkiMekki]

How difficult do you think a project like this would be on a scale of 1-10? I have good woodwork experience and I will be working with another guy who has lots of electric experience. I'm gonna be chopping an L103 though.

[garage2gig]

@RekkiMekki I would say a 4. Since you are a woodworker the chop requires one major cut than a series of small ones. The amp fits perfectly upsidedown. You just have to design your power and speaker cable if you go with the original. PLUS you have this great video! Good Luck! Jack

[deerfish3000]

I wanted to add a fuse to my M3. What was the amp and the voltage rating and how do you figure out the values?

[garage2gig]

@deerfish3000

The fuse I am using is a standard 10 amp at 250v. Not too much thought into it, just a precautionary measure in the event something shorts the fuse will open. Thank you for asking and good luck! :)

[RickJames093]

great job, did the weight of the top half of the organ change very much after the chop? id like to do this to my m101 to reduce weight. Did this particular way of chopping it make a decent difference in the weight or was it still quite a job to lift? Thanks

[GigiAO28]

@SkateYourOwnStyle

in Italy 2000 :-(

[SkateYourOwnStyle]

@garage2gig

You're right ! The thing i wanted to say is, that you could build a second cabinet for the organ and just put all the electronic parts and the manuals in it. When you get a better organ (B3 or C3) or stop playing gigs because of some reason, you could put all that back into the original cabinet and you'd have a very nice Hammond that could even be placed in your living room.

BUT: that would probably take a few weeks and cost quite a lot of money!!

So i can understand you!!

[garage2gig]

@SkateYourOwnStyle

I understand your frustration. It is always a double edge sword. Do I leave it alone and not play out with it or do I do my best in modifying so I and others will enjoy the sound of a Hammond Organ out in public.

[SkateYourOwnStyle]

Grrrm, after watching this video again I feel like killing you.... because a Hammond M3 in this condition is about 500 to 1000 Euros here in Europe!!!!

[deerfish3000]

Thanks for answering my question. Since Buss fuses start from 1/2 amp and go to 50+ amps, how did you know what amp rating to choose? I thought you might have done an Ohm's law calculation. If that was the case, I wanted to know how you figured it out. You don't want too weak of a fuse nor an overly strong one. I guess if it works, it works.