The Hammond organ is an electric organ, invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert[1] and first manufactured in 1935.[2] Various models were produced, which originally used tonewheels to generate sound via additive synthesis, where component waveform ratios are mixed by sliding switches called drawbars and imitate the pipe organ's registers. Around 2 million Hammond organs have been manufactured, and it has been described as one of the most successful organs ever.[3] The organ is commonly used with, and associated with, the Leslie speaker.
Tonewheel organs
Tonewheel organs generate sound by shaped mechanical wheels, that rotate in front of electromagnetic pickups. Each tonewheel assembly creates tones with low harmonic content, close to a sine wave. Inside the coil is a permanent magnet. As the profile of the tonewheel pass by, the strength of the magnetism changes—when the highest part is closest to the tip of the magnet, the magnetism is strongest. As the magnetism varies, an alternating current (AC) is induced in the coil, producing one of the frequencies used in harmonic synthesis.[4]
The first Hammond in production. Two 61-note manuals, 25-note pedalboard, 2 x 9 drawbars per manual, 2 pedal drawbars, 9 presets per manual, a tremolo effect generator ("tremulant").[5]
The best known Hammond. Similar to the B-2, but with added Touch-Response Percussion Control. Made famous by Jimmy Smith who influenced numerous other players.[13]
Same tone-wheel generator as the B-3 / C-3 but with power amp and speakers built into the console, along with a separate Reverb amplifier and speaker.[15]
The first Hammond Organ with a 32-note American Guild of Organists (AGO) pedalboard. Also included toe pistons, a Great to Pedal coupler and separate Expression Pedals for Swell and Great Manuals.
A self-contained organ somewhat similar to the A-100 except for: One set of Drawbars per manual instead of two, Preset Tabs replace reverse-color Preset Keys, Percussion Voices with Reiterate instead of harmonic percussion and added Harp Sustain and rhythm effects (Cymbal and Brush) for Lower Manual and Pedals.
A version of the E-100 specifically designed for churches. Liturgical Preset Tabs, no Cymbal/Brush or Reiterate on the Percussion which plays from the Lower Manual.
Almost identical to model D, except for the side handles for transportation. Model G means US Government model to use on US Army and various recreational service facilities. Supplied with tone cabinet G-40 (B-40 with an extra reverb unit).[23][24]
Two models in Church-styled cabinet were made under military specifications, and named G (G for "Government contract", with chorus), and G-2 (with vibrato), to be installed in chapels and officer's messes of U.S. Army and Navy.[citation needed]
Later, Government model was taken over by model C-2G (1952-1953) and C-3G (1955-?).[23]
Non-drawbar tone-wheel organ built completely to AGO specifications. Included 65 stop tablets, 12 couplers, 18 thumb pistons, 8 toe pistons. Also known as the Grand-100.
Deluxe self-contained tone-wheel organ with extra tonewheels for higher pitched tones. Also included reverse-color Preset Keys, Mixture Drawbars for additional harmonic, String Bass (pedal sustain), Stereo Reverb and stereo chorus and vibrato scanners. 50 Watts of three-channel amplification.[27]
L-100A Same as L-100 but with additional Percussion voices such as Guitar, Banjo, etc., alternating reiteration on Xylophone and Marimba and rhythm effects (Cymbal and Brush) for the Lower Manual and Pedals.
Tone-wheel spinet organ, replacing the M series. Added features include Presets, Vibrato Celeste and Stereo Reverb. Also the Legato Pedal control is controlled by a tablet, replacing the foot switch on the M-series organs.
First commercial polyphonicsynthesizer. Although Novachord itself is not referred to as an electronic organ, its basic design became mainstream, being implemented in electronic organs and polyphonic synthesizers during 1940s-1970s.
Monophonic attachment keyboard instrument, intended to accompany the pianos with lead voice of organ and orchestral sound. It consists of two units — a 3-octave mini keyboard attaching under the piano keyboard, and a tone cabinet including electronic sound generator, amplifier and loudspeaker.[42] The sound generator is based on a vacuum tube oscillator and octave divider circuits originally designed for Novachord. There are three minor changed models:[41]
Solo Pedal Unit (or Pedal Solo Unit) provides a monophonic bright bass sound on RT series and model D-100 consoles, layered with traditional polyphonic tonewheel pedal sound. Although Solo Pedal Unit is highest-note priority and it can play only one note at a time, the players can play polyphonic bass lines by the help of traditional pedal sound. The sound generator is electrically similar to Solovox Model L. It consists of a vacuum tube oscillator and five frequency divider circuits, controlled by a volume and 8-stop tablets (Bourdon 32', Bombarde 32', 16', 8', 4', 2' & 1', mute, pedal solo on) placed on the right side of lower manual. Although there are five revisions of units, these are interchangeable on all RT series consoles.[43]
Descended from the Novachord and are more like a tube synthesizer than an organ, with nothing in common with the tonewheel Hammond models. They produce totally unique sounds that can be mellow and haunting or brash and quirky. They also incorporate the circuitry from a Solovox monophonic tube synthesizer, with more tonal options and greater stability than the Solovox models typically have. Used in Fiona Apple's track "Fast As You Can".[49][50]
Transistor organs
Hammond started to produce transistor organs when the production of tonewheels became too expensive, switching to full-time Integrated Circuit (IC) models in 1975.[51][52]
Solid-state copy of the B-3, with additional string division, electric and grand pianos. Key click was re-introduced.[31] Supplied with matching Leslie HL-722.[citation needed]
Entry-level all-tab transistor spinet organ, no tonewheels. This series were all designed in the United States, built in Japan, and subsequently also assembled in England: Initially, first series were built by Yamaha (c.1969–), then by Nihon Hammond during 1973–1975. Subsequently Hammond UK began to import these models in kit form, and assembled in proper wooden cases for domestic market.[56][57]
First LSI-based Hammond console organ with drawbars, no tonewheels.[31] This model was once erroneously advertised as a next generation top model take over the X-77, called X-99; though, its official name was the Concorde.[63]
Transistor spinet organ with drawbars, in some extent, corresponded to a kind of successor of L-100 series tonewheel spinet organ, although its new drawbars arrangement is slightly exotic; its upper manual has normal nine drawbars; on the other hand, lower manual has only two 8' drawbars with sawtooth. This anomalous design was only followed by a few models (8000 series, 8100 series, and 8200 Aurora series).[64]
Hammond 1980s Flagship 2x61 note manuals, 25 pedals, Tonebars, Multiplex Synthesiser, Easy Play, 9 pistons, 4 speakers plus Leslie. Unlikel the contemporary Romance series, the electronics were mostly discrete transistors apart from the 440 multiplex generator and 434/435 LSI chips in the rhythm and auto-play boards.[66]
Grandee (11100 and 11200(M) series), released in 1975, was a model that enjoyed great interest in the Low Countries. It equipped full features at that time: 61×2 keys, 25 pedal with sustain, IC based tone generator, Delay Vibrato or Leslie & Vibrato, Reverb & Sustain, Auto-Vari 64 Rhythm, Automatic Accompaniment, Arpeggiator, etc.[67]
Portable spinet, transistor copy of the B-3 (or Porta B), derived from Ace Tone GT-7[81] circa 1971. Manufactured by Nihon Hammond, a Japanese joint venture between main company and Sakata (parent company of Ace Tone).
First Hammond to retail for under $500, sold through both music and mass merchant outlets. Single manual organ.
Digital organs
After the Hammond Organ Company ceased trading in 1985, production initially went to Noel Crabbe's Hammond Organ Australia, and then to Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation, who, under the name Hammond-Suzuki, manufacture digital organs.[85]
First full-digitally sampled Hammond organ, with dual manual, downloadable voice tables, and MIDI.[86][87] Manufactured by Suzuki-Hammond, the predecessor of later Hammond-Suzuki.
CX-2000 and its minor model SX-2000, probably released by Hammond Suzuki in 1988, were based on the predecessors, SX-1 & CX-1. Newly expanded "Orchestral Section" was two groups/banks of digitally sampled orchestral voices that can be combined with the drawbars and strings group.[88][89]
EX-1000 was one of the first models built by Hammond Suzuki in Japan. Later the minor models EX-700 and 800 were added. This model had 3 types of expansion cards: (1) Voice ROM cards (extra sounds), (2) Autoband Style cards (rhythm and accompaniments), (3) RAM cards (user memory, 16K and 32K)[90][91]
Standalone version of the XM-1. / Cost-cut model using DSP technology (32-voice polyphony, DSP effects including Leslie-simulator, and the simplify of Leslie connector).[92]
XE-1 / XE-2 / XE-200: Modular all singing and dancing[citation needed] single manual modular organ (XE-1), dual manual(XE-2), and built in cabinet (XE-200)[97][98]
A replica of the original B-3 with digitally generated tonewheel simulation
XK-1
2005–2011
Cut down version of XK-3, but extended vib/cho settings later in XK-3C
XM-2 / XM-c2
2005–present
MIDI module version of the XK-1
XK-3
2004–2007
Same internals as a New B-3 with cheaper keyboard base and built in Leslie simulator. Can be expanded with optional lower manual, stand and pedalboard.[100]
^De Hammond Encyclopedia, Hammond F-100 Extravoice: Translated to English: "Introduced in 1959 and produced from June 1961, the F-100 can be seen as one of the predecessors of the later Hammond Piper. The Extravoice was one of the many inventions of the famous Hammond engineer: J.M. Hanert. ... / Two editions of this organ were produced: / Extra voice A and B. / Years built: / Model A: Jan 1960 - Sept 1961 $995 / Model B: Sept 1961- Aug 1964 $995"
^ abDe Hammond Encyclopedia, V-100 Cadette series — Serial number plates by Yamaha were printed as: "Built by Nippon Gakki Company, Limited to Specifications of Hammond Organ Company, Chicago, ILL. Made in Japan". Also vivid color tablet buttons and "rice paper finish" wood print panel seem to share the design language of Yamaha Electone at that time.
^De Hammond Encyclopedia, Hammond Model K-100: Translated to English: "Like Model J-100, Model K-100 is also less well known. This instrument was also created after the acquisition of the Everett Organ Company."
^ ab"Hammond Accomplishments: 1980 - 1989". Hammond Zone (hammond-organ.com). Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. 1984 Hammond B-400 arrives. The first mass-manufactured organ with MIDI. Digital rhythms, digital solo voices, human choirs and a modern design in silver-metallic set new trends. / Composer-series are renamed K2 using the same digital technology as the B400.
^ ab"3.History ~ハモンドコンボオルガンの軌跡~" [3.History - Locus of Hammond Combo Organ -]. (suzuki-music.co.jp) (in Japanese). Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation. Archived from the original on 2010-04-01. [In English] XB-2 (1991.5~1997.11 [in Japan]) In 1986, Super B based on digital tone generator was released. This organ revived the B-3 by the digital technology using the sampling of the original tonewheel sound. / Then in 1991, the single-manual organ XB-2, powered by the Super B's tone generator, was released.", "XB-1 (1997.12~2004.11) [cost-cut model using DSP technology (32-voice polyphony, DSP effects including Leslie-simurator, and the simplify of Leslie connector from original 11pin to 8pin DIN)] ... 32-voice polyphonic organ using the VASE II synthesizing system. The waveform of tone generator was based on created by XB-2, with the additional fine-tuning.", "XK-2 (1998.12~2004.11) ...", "XK-3 (2004.5~2007.11) ...", "XK-1 (2006.5~) ...", "XK-3c (2007.12~) ...
^Jacques, David (2001). "Review: Hammond-Suzuki XK-2". The CloneWheel Page (clonewheel.ashbysolutions.com). Ashby Solutions. Archived from the original on 2014-12-27. Retrieved 2 Feb 2014.
^"Hammond Accomplishments: 2001 -". Hammond Zone (hammond-organ.com). Archived from the original on 2017-11-16. 2001 XE2 released, stage two of the XE system; a dedicated 61 note (with genuine Hammond keys) MIDI lower manual, initially available in kit form which includes side panels and cables, later available as a pre-built system. / 2002 XE-200, third stage of the XE system, a high powered amplified stand for the XE2 with pedals and expression pedal built in. / 2004 stage 4 of the XE series; the XE200se, a luxury version of the XE200 finished in Burgundy with full length music rest.
^ abHammond Organ Compact Series XE-1 School(PDF catalog) (in Japanese). Hamamatsu, Japan: Hammond Suzuki / Suzuki Musical Instrument Manufacturing Company. 2001-09-20.
^"Hammond XE-200 Luxury Organ". United Kingdom: A&C Hamilton Musical Instruments. HAMMOND XE-Series An expandable, keyboard component system ... Now with the introduction of the XE-200 the totally integrated system is complete, providing a natural progression from single keyboard to full spinet organ with out ever having to change the basic unit. / XE-200 upgrade set for XE-1 and XE-2. The XE-200 (full spinet organ) can also be created with an upgrade set for the XE-1 or XE-2. The upgrade set for model XE-1 consists of: ● XLK-1 midi control manual (including 2 new side panels). ● STE-200, a wooden design substructure with a built-in 13 note pedal-board, expression pedal with footswitch, piano-sustain pedal and additional stereo amplification system (2x 50 Watt). The upgrade set for model XE-2 consists of: ● STE-200, ...
^Hart, Terry (12 August 2011). "Hammond XK-3C". Mixdown Magazine (monthly). Furst Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
^Fortner, Stephen (13 December 2011). "Hammond SK1". Keyboard Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
Faragher, Scott (2011). The Hammond Organ : An introduction to the instrument and the players who made it famous. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN978-1-4584-0287-5.
"De Hammond Encyclopedia" (in Dutch). Hammond Toonwielorgelvereniging Netherland (Hammond Organ Club of the Netherlands). Retrieved 2013-08-06.
Service Manual. Hammond Organ Company.
Introductory Section (Hammond Organ Models)(PDF). Winterpark, FL: Audio Playground Synthesizer Museum. 2001 [1970]. Archived from the original(retyped PDF) on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2013-08-07. (recreation of original in 1970); Originally published as: Introductory Section. Service Manual. Melrose Park, Illinois: Hammond Organ Company. 1970. HO-495-1-2500.
The Blue Book of HAMMOND(PDF). 2001 [c. 1975]. Archived from the original(retyped PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-08-07. Note: It seems a retyped copy of original "Introductory Section" of Service Manual in circa 1975, or similar.
BlueBook Hammond and Leslie(scanned image in PDF). 2009 [c. 1984]. Retrieved 2013-08-07. Note: It seems a reprint of "Introductory Section" of Service Manual circa 1984, or similar.