Wow, you need a tie-die shirt, or a liberache suit to play that thing! If Elvis took up the organ, he'd play one of these. Good choice, take a power saw to it.
Haha, yeah. I am definitely considering chopping this thing. Where would I put the speakers, though?
Run your line out into the band mixer, using the big PA speakers. If I had a band, I'd buy some Peavey SP7's, 39-19000 hz +- 3db, 129 db spl, 135 pounds, built in casters. Going for $500 a pair used. Then you have to bribe the sound man not to bury the organ in the mix, but anyway. Or get your own 4x15" wall-of-sound speaker, they go up to 1200 hz. I love my CS800S power amp, but earlier CSx00 amps than the CS800x had to be played really loud to sound good. I'm working on a PV1.3K amp now, that would really drive a 4x15 speaker. Even two of them.
I looked at your power amp picture, the can cap has blue lettering. That might be a recent FP cap, which if it was made since 1990, doesn't need replacing. Look for a date yyww where yy is the last 2 digits of the year. The really old aerovox & mallory can caps tended to be stamped, not printed. My hammond cans were made in 65 and 66, and were really holding down the power of the organ.
I looked at your power amp picture, the can cap has blue lettering. That might be a recent FP cap, which if it was made since 1990, doesn't need replacing. Look for a date yyww where yy is the last 2 digits of the year. The really old aerovox & mallory can caps tended to be stamped, not printed. My hammond cans were made in 65 and 66, and were really holding down the power of the organ.
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OK. So the pedal is resistive. I would replace those two resistors with new carbon or metal film and clean up the pots really good with deoxit or CRC QD and finish up with some fader lube on the pots. If the pots don't have an opening where you can get the cleaner in you might have to carefully drill a small hole in the back. Those pots are in a really grimy area and may take some time to get truly clean. See if that helps with the quirkiness. Wouldn't hurt to clean all connectors with CRC QD or similar.
You also want to clean the contacts on all stop tabs with QD as well. Be careful of the keying circuits. IIRC some CONNs have keying contacts that can be damaged by normal contact cleaners so don't get any on them. You might want to drop into organforum.com as there are some CONN experts there that could guide you much more expertly.
You also want to clean the contacts on all stop tabs with QD as well. Be careful of the keying circuits. IIRC some CONNs have keying contacts that can be damaged by normal contact cleaners so don't get any on them. You might want to drop into organforum.com as there are some CONN experts there that could guide you much more expertly.
Carbon or metal film resistors?
Pots=potentiometers—I finally had to look that one up. So, what I would do is drop some of this cleaner into the pots (or make a hole to drop it into) and turn the pots back and forth, or what?
I'll check with the guys on the Organ Forum about cleaning the contacts.
Wow, what a turnaround! A couple months ago, everyone was telling me to dump this old Conn. Now, I'm finally getting some help with it. The pictures turned some heads, perhaps?
Pots=potentiometers—I finally had to look that one up. So, what I would do is drop some of this cleaner into the pots (or make a hole to drop it into) and turn the pots back and forth, or what?
I'll check with the guys on the Organ Forum about cleaning the contacts.
Wow, what a turnaround! A couple months ago, everyone was telling me to dump this old Conn. Now, I'm finally getting some help with it. The pictures turned some heads, perhaps?
Different people. Also, I don't know Conn numbers, and transistor oscillator Conn's leave me cold if you can buy a console Hammond. If it works, the tube oscillator Conn is a great visual prop with the back in plexiglass. Not the model to midiize. If you can tune it yourself then the biggest downfall, unstable tuning, is not an expensive problem. Watch the Arcade Fire episode of Austin City Limits, you'll see what some people are doing with retro props like toy celeste, accordians, round TV screens with snow, pipe organs. If you have streaming on you home computer. There is a guy on organforum that writes a victory post everytime a Hammond H goes into the dumpster. It's my favorite electronic organ.
Contact cleaners that say "hexane" "heptane" Iso-octane" "aliphatic hydrocarbons" are probably safe for the plastics, but spray the non contact areas first to see. Those are fancy names for old fashioned gasoline, so no open flame, smoking, heaters, pilot lights, lamps turned on or off, within 30' while using. Use a fan to disperse the fumes fast. Don't use contact cleaners containing brominated or chlorinated hydrocarbons on a Conn pedal plastic contact, but those are expensive and hard to find.
I had to replace a couple of pots on my H that drop out due to vibration. They cost about a dollar, plus $6 shipping which I usually tag onto other parts (capacitors usually).
About the speakers on chops. People usually separate out the power amp (if big and heavy) and speakers from the keyboard and tone generator on an organ doing a chop. The power amp and speakers can go in a separate diy enclosure, or you can just buy something like a Peavey KB200, or use the band PA amp and in your ear radio monitors like the pros use. Total weighs more, but is easier to get up the stairs of a paying gig. If you want to talk about the Kimball start a new thread under musical instruments or on electronics over on organ forum. Sounds like you have plenty to do to the Conn, though.
Contact cleaners that say "hexane" "heptane" Iso-octane" "aliphatic hydrocarbons" are probably safe for the plastics, but spray the non contact areas first to see. Those are fancy names for old fashioned gasoline, so no open flame, smoking, heaters, pilot lights, lamps turned on or off, within 30' while using. Use a fan to disperse the fumes fast. Don't use contact cleaners containing brominated or chlorinated hydrocarbons on a Conn pedal plastic contact, but those are expensive and hard to find.
I had to replace a couple of pots on my H that drop out due to vibration. They cost about a dollar, plus $6 shipping which I usually tag onto other parts (capacitors usually).
About the speakers on chops. People usually separate out the power amp (if big and heavy) and speakers from the keyboard and tone generator on an organ doing a chop. The power amp and speakers can go in a separate diy enclosure, or you can just buy something like a Peavey KB200, or use the band PA amp and in your ear radio monitors like the pros use. Total weighs more, but is easier to get up the stairs of a paying gig. If you want to talk about the Kimball start a new thread under musical instruments or on electronics over on organ forum. Sounds like you have plenty to do to the Conn, though.
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I'd just replace the supply filter caps and all coupling caps in the amplifier unit, I assume it also provides power to the oscillators.
FWIW I would leave the oscillators alone unless there is a clear indication of a problem with one - in which case I would just repair that unit. A total recap at the hands of an inexperienced newbie is very likely to result in more problems than it solves. All oscillators would also have to be retuned after component replacements.
per the picture above the power supply vertical can cap has blue writing, not stamping, so it is not fifty years old. Could be recent depending on the date YYWW. The organ is so old there are probably only one or two more electrolytics. To concur in one thing, paper caps don't need replacing unless debug proves them bad. To concur in another thing,on a poorly working device I replace at most two parts at a time between function tests, to make sure I didn't make a cold solder joint or otherwise make things worse. Easy to back out that way.
Resistors come in various types of construction. Carbon Composition are what are on that pedal right now. They have advantages in some situations (like grid stop resistors) but they don't tend to age too well and will go up in value over time and can absorb moisture. Carbon Film and Metal Film would be a couple of good choices for stability and reasonable noise performance IMO.
As to Conn organ sound I have not played one of the spinets in a long time but my experience with console tube models is that they are surprisingly realistic. The Conn tube organs that I have played tend to sound a lot like an organ. The Hammonds that I have played sounded a lot like, well, a Hammond. Nothing wrong with that of course as it is a matter of your intent. The Hammond is practically the definition of the jazz organ sound but to emulate a pipe organ not so much. Different tools for different jobs.
I imagine one could also do credible jazz on a Conn too especially with a leslie tone cabinet. Wurlitzer Electrostatic organs also do a pretty good job when it comes to an analog imitation of pipes.
For cleaning a google for idiot's guide dexoxit will get you started on the process.
As to Conn organ sound I have not played one of the spinets in a long time but my experience with console tube models is that they are surprisingly realistic. The Conn tube organs that I have played tend to sound a lot like an organ. The Hammonds that I have played sounded a lot like, well, a Hammond. Nothing wrong with that of course as it is a matter of your intent. The Hammond is practically the definition of the jazz organ sound but to emulate a pipe organ not so much. Different tools for different jobs.
I imagine one could also do credible jazz on a Conn too especially with a leslie tone cabinet. Wurlitzer Electrostatic organs also do a pretty good job when it comes to an analog imitation of pipes.
For cleaning a google for idiot's guide dexoxit will get you started on the process.
Hey, I don't remember seeing a picture of the front of this organ. You holding out on us or did I miss it?
I just found out that my Conn will interface with a Leslie 122... which is outlandishly expensive for me (an amateur without a band). Is there any way I could hook a cheaper Leslie into it, or would restoring a busted 122 be cheaper still?
If you know what all the connections are you can interface to anything. 🙂 Seriously this would be a good question for the organforum. The Hammond guys are especially knowledgeable about leslies.
I haven't played a spinet in a while (a really am used to five 8va per manual) but those keyboards look really small. I think most spinets have another half 8va per manual.
Can you give us the stop list (sorry I am a real organ junky)?
This is my current organ, a soiled state analog Baldwin.
http://www.youtube.com/user/lovesavacuum?feature=mhum#p/a/u/1/j4QrBLIEKEY
Since I made this video I have recapped the power supply and adjusted the panoramic tone a bit but alas about a month later the B oscillator went intermittent on me and will only play for a few minuets before dropping out of oscillation. That is on my long list of projects. May end up being a midi project in the long run.
I haven't played a spinet in a while (a really am used to five 8va per manual) but those keyboards look really small. I think most spinets have another half 8va per manual.
Can you give us the stop list (sorry I am a real organ junky)?
This is my current organ, a soiled state analog Baldwin.
http://www.youtube.com/user/lovesavacuum?feature=mhum#p/a/u/1/j4QrBLIEKEY
Since I made this video I have recapped the power supply and adjusted the panoramic tone a bit but alas about a month later the B oscillator went intermittent on me and will only play for a few minuets before dropping out of oscillation. That is on my long list of projects. May end up being a midi project in the long run.
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"soiled state"?
Yeah, I'll confer with the OF guys about the Leslie.
Tabs on the Conn 427 are:
Swell: Tremolo L, Tremolo F, Diapason 8', Soft Flute 8', Concert Flute 8', Violin 8', Oboe 8', Accomp to Solo 16', Unison Off, Solo 5 1/3', Solo 4'
Great: (left hand) Open Diapason 8', Flute 8', Cello 8', Reed 8', Accomp F (right hand—mostly faded) Sustain On, Harp, Vibra Harp, String Harp, Chimes
Pedals: Sub Bass 16', Major Bass 16'
The right hand great tabs are drowned out by whatever comes on when I turn on the Sustain On (sounds like a annoyingly loud flute), so that needs fixed.
They're small, but usable for accompaniment. It's not exactly a classical organ 🙂
It's got 43 12AU7, 2 12AX7, one 5U4GB, one OA3, and a couple other assorted beauties.
Yeah, sustain shouldn't add a voice. Something amiss there. For a nice effect try either Diapason 8 or soft flute 8 in combination with the 5 1/3 for solo line or simple two part on the upper using cello or diapason on the accomp. Try with and without trem.
I am guessing the the Accomp F... is Accomp Full.
A lot of times these analog organs liked to be played with comparatively few stops activated so try to get the tone qualities that you want with the fewest tabs possible and see if that helps the clarity.
Still waiting for the wav files. 🙂
I am guessing the the Accomp F... is Accomp Full.
A lot of times these analog organs liked to be played with comparatively few stops activated so try to get the tone qualities that you want with the fewest tabs possible and see if that helps the clarity.
Still waiting for the wav files. 🙂
If they were louder, I would. Diapason, oboe, and concert flute drown out the other two stops, as well as all the greats except the 8' flute and the Sustain On weirdo.
Is 5 1/3 supposed to make it duo phonic, adding a note a fifth above?
Oh, the organ is pretty clear, it's just a little screwy.
I may just have to post some files of what the organ sounds like unmodified. My RCA to 3.5mm adapters aren't working very well without a volume control on the line.
Yep the 5 1/3 is a harmonic. It adds a very nice effect as long as there aren't too many notes being played. You may need to clean the tube sockets as well. It is possible that you have some marginal tubes causing grief as well. Sometimes it is hard to track these things down but a good cleaning is always a good first step as a lot of problems relate to the goofy impedances that you get with dirty connections.
I retract my earlier statement about the Kimball lacking a line out—it has one underneath the Accomp keyboard, next to a switch that turns on the lights for the solo keyboard panel. Works weirdly, but like a charm—Tibias and flutes on one side, percussion on the other, strings, reeds etc in both, and so on.
The marginal tubes in the Conn would probably be in the amp—all the 12AU7 work fine, otherwise I wouldn't get a sound out of it.
I'll try cleaning it once I get some supplies together.
The marginal tubes in the Conn would probably be in the amp—all the 12AU7 work fine, otherwise I wouldn't get a sound out of it.
I'll try cleaning it once I get some supplies together.
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