How I Get That Distorted Tone On My Stock Hammond B3

In this video I explain how I manipulate distortion on my Hammond in the studio depending on the track I am playing on. If you are interested in B3 tutorials, licks and tricks check out my online course at www.universeofkeys.com where I have over 300 videos. Thanks for watching! Mike Little

[@seansweeney3532]

Yep, I service these all around town. I even handled an emergency call for Joey Difrancesco when he was in town. He was playing a gig with a big band and the venue had a nice black B3 and two matching 122's... and they were rather muddy, so I popped a 12at3 in the preamp, and that helped, but the gain was noticeably less, of course, so I adjusted the reostadt level and wala.

[@UniverseofKeys]

Awesome!! We need more people like you :).

[@ProgRockKeys]

I’m 67, been playing Hammonds and aiming at the Jon Lord sound for 50 years. And I did not know this.

[@UniverseofKeys]

Thanks for watching!!

[@closetpicker]

I run mine through a PR40, but when I "discovered" the preamp gain adjustment around 6-7 years ago, it was a huge game changer! Just for giggles, I cranked it to max gain(turned until the volume no longer increased), walked around to the front of it, smashed the loud pedal down, pulled out all the stops, and hit a low C chord. 🙃 Just. Lovely. And crazy powerful, it projects like nothing else...!

[@UniverseofKeys]

It really works!! Thanks for watching!!

[@louiscornale5667]

Great but how about wooly bully watch it now 😮

[@drsauce4347]

Hey, very nice tip. I always would nail the leslie 122 onto 10 and crank the beast. Stop the motors from spinning and you have the Jon Lord. Worked every time. but I like this move also. thanks for the tip: RIP: Keith Emerson, Jon Lord, Joey DeFrancesco

[@UniverseofKeys]

122 on 10 is perfect!! Thanks for watching 🙏🙏

[@MrMikeEleven]

This is awesome, never heard about this! Very handy trick!

[@UniverseofKeys]

Thanks for checking it out!!

[@rbrown2925]

Thanks so much for all the tips. I have a very beat up B3 sitting in the basement, which I bought from a guy back in the 1970s (no Leslie, unfortunately). It's never really been used but I hope to change that this year and I'm very grateful for any info about the beast, especially how to get that Jon Lord sound.

[@UniverseofKeys]

You need to get a Leslie and get that thing going!! Thanks for watching!!

[@tieukhavu8832]

@@UniverseofKeys On which number did you set the preamp

[@UniverseofKeys]

@@tieukhavu8832 There are no numbers, just a pot that you turn, I just use my ear :)

[@tieukhavu8832]

@@UniverseofKeys I’ve seen Google Pictures of the Leslie power amps 147 / 122 or whatever model it is, The volume numbers go from 1 up to 10.

[@UniverseofKeys]

@@tieukhavu8832 OK I thought you meant the pre amp on the Hammond. I usually run the 145 on 8. Hope that helps.

[@mattwaters6987]

Luvin' that growl. 👍😊

[@UniverseofKeys]

🤟🤟🎹🎹

[@bradgoffmusic]

I wonder if this is as easy to adjust on an M3? I’m getting one in august, can’t wait!

[@UniverseofKeys]

As far as I know it should work!! Thanks for checking out the video!!

[@jjordanbaird]

I’m also wondering for my L102

[@blueeyedsoulman]

As an experienced Hammond and Leslie tech I can tell you that there are dangers in this. Firstly: If you go too far left with that preamp screw it may actually fall out internally and then you really have a problem. I would not recommend going beyond 2.5 turns from fully clockwise. (It's counter-intuitive. Turning clockwise lowers the gain. Anti-clockwise increases gain.) Secondly: Adding distortion to the signal can pop the driver which will ensure an expensive replacement. There are drivers that are not the standard Leslie driver which can handle the drive but they also alter the perceived highs and volume of the highs giving you a "not stock" new sound, which may or may not be to your liking. What driver are you using in your 145 sir? Have you popped any due to distortion?

[@UniverseofKeys]

Hi there! I guess I like to live dangerously ;). I personally have never had an issue but I do agree you need to be careful not to lose the screw. I have always just had stock Jensen drivers and they seem to work great for my purpose. I do not prefer the sound of "hopped up" Leslies but that is just my opinion. This Leslie has been used extensively for over a decade and knock on wood no major issues other than standard tube replacement and lubrication etc. As a studio musician I am constantly changing the pre amp to suit different tracks and moods. I am not a fan of the "set and forget" strategy for pre amp gain and love the different colours you can coax out of the same B3. This B3 and I have been together for over 35 years and no major issues w the pre amp. Thanks for your comment and for checking out my channel!!

[@Johnrack]

My understanding is that the pot adjusts the bias on the pre amp tube.

[@qddk9545]

If the pre amp is a Hammond AO28 the schematic is quite complicated. It has not less than 8 preamp tubes and many audio transformers. Audio transformers can contribute quite a lot to the sound when saturated. But I think it is a volume control, increasing the output distortion.

[@stevepoconnor]

Mike,,, Thanks so much for the great tip ,,, I Hope your good man ,,, SteveO

[@UniverseofKeys]

Hey Steve!! Thanks for checking it out!! All the best, M

[@ummagumma7826]

Ooh can't wait to try this. Do you change the preamp tubes often because they are being pushed more? Or better yet, when was the last time you changed the tubes and were you happy with the change?

[@UniverseofKeys]

Hi :) I have not noticed a significant stress on the tubes. I do constantly change the gain to suit different recordings however and am not just constantly driving it hard. I have to change the tubes every couple of years and it always changes the tone slightly. Nothing that ever bothers me.... I just embrace the change ;). Thanks for commenting!!

[@claudevieaul1465]

My '61 B3 goes into a 142 Leslie (122 type amp), and it does indeed go into overdrive around that 75-80% mark. However I needed a bit more 'hair' 😁 so I modded the organ with a homemade tube FX loop that doubles as an adjustable boost! I also made it switchable, so when off it's actually completely out of the usual signal path of the AO28 preamp, and I'm back to stock. But when I do need it, like on a solo, I can flick the switch, and push that baby into a full throated roar 😎🤘 It will still clean up when my volume pedal is below about 25% though, so that gives me a really nice range to work from... Plus, since I don't have an isolation booth, I can still hqve that immensely saturated tone without having to reglaze the windows every time 🤣🤣🤣👍

[@UniverseofKeys]

Sounds like a great mod!!

[@darrylday30]

Ironically, I’m watching this in order to better understand how to program a better organ sound on my synth.

[@ummagumma7826]

Still loving the lessons. Q for you - is it safe to assume that you're only going to overdrive your Hammond if you use the Normal volume setting as opposed to Soft? I don't want to keep turning that trim pot if I'm not going to be cranking the volume pedal on Normal setting anyway in the living room. While I have you - if your Leslie is in the isolation room what are you hearing the organ through, monitor speakers? thx!!

[@UniverseofKeys]

Great question!! Always on Normal for me. Soft is great for live situations when you need to duck down in volume quickly. I use Studio reference monitors to hear the organ as it is in an isolation booth. Thanks!!

[@ummagumma7826]

@@UniverseofKeys oh that’s an interesting take on the Normal/Soft choice. I assumed players always kept it on one but that totally makes sense to use the Soft when hovering in the background. I’ve been watching pipe organ videos too. Crazy to think how in the 30s the original Hammonds were designed to cover all the bases totally aimed to replace pipe organs. History of Leslie design is interesting too, I believe Leslie designed it to emulate pipes coming at you from a 30 foot spread in front of the parish thanks for the response

[@jmcqueen3454]

This video is literally Organ gold! Does this work on an A-100 or any other series?

[@UniverseofKeys]

Yes!! A100, C3, D152, RT3 etc!! Any organs with the ao28 pre amp. Thanks for watching!!

[@michaelsmilek2404]

Awesome! Thanks ❤

[@UniverseofKeys]

Thank you!!

[@derrick_builds]

Nice.

[@flashdunston8341]

That would be great if it worked on my C3. What could be the reason that I can‘t get it loud enough to distort with this method?

[@UniverseofKeys]

Try turning the volume up on the leslie as well. For me it is a combo of the two. Otherwise I would have a tech look at it and see if there have been any mods done. Hope this helps and thanks for checking out the video!!

[@OrganizedDead]

Hey Man. I apologize if I missed something related in any of these comments, but I've watched your video a few times and tried this on my B3 and it hasn't distorted the sound. My tech guy advised me(as you do in the video) of not turning counter-clockwise too much but I feel like I've turned it 4-6 times, at least, and no noticeable difference in the sound. Like not any, really. Any ideas? Much appreciated. G

[@UniverseofKeys]

Hello :). There should be no reason it doesn’t work other than, you are running a solid state Leslie, or the screw is backed off all the way. A big part of it I feel is making sure the Leslie is turned up between 8-10. Of the Leslie is set too low you may not get the full picture. I have a tube Leslie. A 145. Final step would be get your tech over there to take a look!! Wishing you luck 🤟🤟🎹🎹

[@OrganizedDead]

@@UniverseofKeys Thanks, Brother! Yup, Leslie 122 tube amp turned up to 8/9. I guess I'll try 10. Curious about your comment "screw is backed off all the way." Guessing you mean that it's not screwed in at all anymore, which is definitely not the case. I'll keep messing with it. I appreciate your time. Cheers!

[@UniverseofKeys]

Thats exactly what I mean :) Good luck I hope it gets figured out!!

[@brianblanson3360]

Will this work on a Hammond A-100? and what kind of screwdriver did you use?

[@UniverseofKeys]

A very small flathead, it will work on a A100, thanks for watching!!

[@Numocron]

Awesome😃👍❤️

[@UniverseofKeys]

🎹🎹🤟🤟

[@briguy1960]

Been doin this for years

[@BrandonKraemerbk]

Mike, how are you micing up your 145 in the booth?

[@UniverseofKeys]

Hey Brandon!! 2 Neumann TLM 102's on the top hard panned and n Shure SM7B on the bottom. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!!

[@tp63us]

❤

[@UniverseofKeys]

:)

[@blueeyedsoulman]

What brand/model power tubes (and others) do you prefer?

[@UniverseofKeys]

Hi again :) I have been using Amperex tubes and really digging how and where they break up w the volume pedal. Where are you located? The world needs great Hammond techs!! Thanks so much for maintaining these precious instruments and keeping the legacy alive!!

[@blueeyedsoulman]

@@UniverseofKeys Retired in FL. I'm officially a dinosaur called Backiosaurus and I no longer have my trusty Vanosaurus to ride around Hammonds.

[@UniverseofKeys]

@@blueeyedsoulman hahahaha fair enough!!

[@TravisEngler]

How many rotations are you doing? The Service Manual says not to go past 1.5 turns but I don’t get any distortion being that conservative on my M100 with the internal speakers.

[@UniverseofKeys]

Hi there :) I am doing about half a turn, very conservative but that seems to get big results w the B3 and the Leslie. Thanks for watching!

[@nordland2235]

We had a guy trying out for the band I roadied for.....he had a B3 with 2 leslie cabs....the cabs had 15 sro speakers.......that thing was so loud...it drowned out the guitar players amps......and he would not turn it down....so he was given the boot. Also they are too heavy to take to gigs...I would have quit before I would have loaded n unloaded that monster for every gig.

[@UniverseofKeys]

Hahahahaha!!!

[@ProgRockKeys]

First time I’ve heard of the Leslie drowning out the guitarists! Lol Back in my day, the guitarists all seemed to have 100w Marshalls.