The Hammond Organ: Beauty in the B (Keyboard Musician's Library)

by Mark Vail (Author)

• New

  Paperback
  2002

  $27.04

  The Hammond B-3 organ has been grinding its way through gospel, blues, jazz, rock, and even home entertainment since the first one was built in 1954. Now fully updated, this book traces the artistic and technological evolution of the B-3 and other crucial models and the rotating Leslie speakers that catapulted the Hammond sound into musical history. Packed with anecdotes and insights from speaker inventor Don Leslie and 30-year Hammond engineer Alan Young, the book explains the innovative tone-wheel system that renders the famous Hammond growl. It reveals the technical magic of the B-3's drawbars, presets, pedalboard, percussion, and other unique features. This new edition also covers Hammond Brightwave organs and Tone Cabinets, the Hammond 102100 synthesizer, more information from the Hammond Technical Manual, and details on other organs that try to replicate the legendary Hammond sound. A list of recommended recordings covers the work of these and other great Hammond players, such as Jimmy Smith, Booker T. Jones, Billy Preston, Gregg Allman, Sly Stone, and today's new artists. Readers who play can put the books 25 Hammond Licks You Must Know into action, along with experts tips on buying, restoring, and maintining these truly unique organs.