Saved a Leslie 122 - Now what?

[tyru007]

I was called upon to help move an old organ from a church to a home.  The church was spring cleaning out sone of their old junk.  After we got it into the house I noticed that it was a 60's era Hammond and was told by one of the mebers that he thought there was an "old heavy box" with the label Leslie on the back side that went with the organ.  The owners of the oragn did not want it since it was too big and heavy.  I asked about it and they sadin tehy had moved it to the trash pile to go to the dump.  I went back and sure enough there was a Leslie Model 122 Tube amp/speaker system in very good condition.  I threw it in the back of the trailer along with the connection cable and drove it over to the new owners of the organ, trying to explain to them the value of the speaker and the organ.   They still wanted nothing to do with the Leslie since niether of them played the organ and it was just a show piece in there living room. 

So now what do I do with an Unwanted Leslie 122?

Can you make a preamp for this speaker?

[HotBluePlates]

What you do is "do a little dance, drink a little wine" and high-five all your friends on your lucky find!

Then you look up Captain foldback for the schematic on this Leslie, as well as look at the control unit information (to switch speeds, unless you somehow swiped that from the Hammond).

When I look at the schematic, I see a differential input driving a push-pull pair of 6550's. That means you just need to add a preamp and phase inverter (probably built in a second chassis) and figure a method to turn the rotating speaker, off and on into chorale and tremolo modes. You could probably get some ideas from the output section of the Hammond's schematic, but I don't think you need to copy what's there, just build a preamp you like and input a push-pull signal into the existing Leslie amp.

[bigsbybender]

You have the absolutely most desirable Leslie.... however it is designed exclusively for the Tonewheel era Hammond Organs (A, B2, B3, C2,C3, A100 et al.)  The better Leslie to use for other instruments is the 147 which uses a combo Preamp and controller for 1/4" ins. 
My recommendation is offer a trade for a 145/147 with preamp for the 122. Hammond owners would likely take you up on it as the 122 is the most desirable model for the B-3....in fact it's half the sound that we call the B-3 sound!

I have been searching for years for a good Leslie 122.  I haven't spotted a working one in a 300 mile radius for under $1200. You got very lucky!


j.

[G._Hoffman]

Well, you can easily make a preamp for it, or even drive it from your guitar amp using an effects loop or a load box.  That's what I would probably do with it.

What model was the organ, by the way?


Gabriel

[DummyLoad]

you sell it to me for shipping costs and beer money. 

add a marshall/trainwrck preamp and have a blast.

--DL

[birt]

those are very nice. in a backline rental company we had a lot of 147's and 122's for the B3's. but we used them with preamps too and the absolute best preamp (guitar, keyboard, whatever) for a leslie is a Trek II. you can buy these at trekii.com but if you want to build your own preamp you can use their schematic for ideas. they are so kind to provide it with their products so i will not put it online. i can send it in an e-mail to you if you don't put it online either.

we had all our leslies and hammonds modified to big speakon connectors instead of the old unreliable leads. so i added 2 speakons to the sides of each preamp so one preamp could be used with 2 leslies. i also built in a relay for each speakon that switched automatically to the right position depending on if there is a 122 or an 147 connected.

[tyru007]

I believe the organ was a A-100 series.  Two speakers and cloth grill in the front.  6 pin connector to the Leslie.

Anyone have a schematic for a preamp for this model.  Looks like it needs 120 VAC + relay DC voltage + signal?

The Trek II is a bit more than I want to spend. 

[stingray_65]

PLEASE!
do not deface this Leslie.
You're asking how do I stuff a Strat neck pup into my new found 57 Goldtop.
Believe me there is an organist SOMEWHERE that will trade you the money you need to build what ever amp you desire to have that 122.

If what you want is a vibrasonic, then get one or make one. Heck I have a couple leslie 17 units removed from other non tone wheel organs  that is the same as  a vibrosonic. that would cost more in shipping (cheap) than the cost of buying (cheaper)


Just my .02

Ray

[tyru007]

Don't worry, I was no intending to modify the 122 in any way.  I saved it from the dumpster and I am a little pissed at the people who took the organ for not realizing the value of the organ with the leslie.  I'm kind of hoping that they will tire of the organ and I can go and pick it up.  

I was looking for something I could get or build that would interface with the stock 122 or I'll end up selling it.  

I'm not really a vibrato/tremelo kind of person but I must admit, I heard a couple of video playing an acoustic through a Leslie that sounded great. 

[DummyLoad]

A100 is nothing more than a. B3 with a PR40 built in. Shame it's just a peice of furniture to the new owners.... oh well :-/

[tyru007]

Finally got to pull the back covers off.  Looks in very good condition, solid with no missing/damaged parts.  Based on the parts inside I would say built in 1972.  Now if only I could find a compatible organ to test it out. 

[Platefire]

I have scored two Hammond PR-40 Tone Cabinets but always wanted a Leslie. Back in the 70's I had access through my band at the time to a leslie with foot control with a 1/4" input and electric guitar just sounded great through it and it had fine breakup too. If you could trade for one of those, that would be great---long as you don't have to move it around 

[tyru007]

Well, the owners of the organ decided it makes a great plant stand and conversation piece. 

If anyone is interested in a Leslie 122 in good condition, please PM me.

[Ed_Chambley]

There are many simple ways of interfacing any Leslie.  I worked with a friend on one he bought for $100.  It was in great shape and was a great deal.   The best use for a Leslie other than with a hammond is an effects amp.  You can modify a wah pedal to control the spinning horn and plug into it as well.   Leslie also makes a preamp for 1/4 inch to adapt to your 122.  IMO and Many other players, it is best to have your wet signal coming from one amp and dry from the other.  I am trying to work a deal on a 147 right now.

It may not be your thing, but things change.  The tones I like today, I wold have never played 10 years ago.  You have found something really great.  In my area Atlanta South, they are everywhere so a nice one can be had for $700 to $800, but still that is a great deal to just load it up.  Get it where you can play through it, I'll promise you that you will gain a great appreciation for it.

[skyclad]

Trek II makes a pedal preamp with speed control for Leslie 122. I use one with my Hammond keyboard, and sometimes guitar. It's a good thing you saved the cable. Not all Leslies have two speeds (fast and slow). Some have fast and off, but the 122 has both and that's a better sound IMO.

http://www.trekii.com/UC1A.html

sky

[bigsbybender]

Man, I'd love to offer you a fair price and arrange shipping but I'm broke and too far away.....

[proaudioguy]

those are very nice. in a backline rental company we had a lot of 147's and 122's for the B3's. but we used them with preamps too and the absolute best preamp (guitar, keyboard, whatever) for a leslie is a Trek II. you can buy these at trekii.com but if you want to build your own preamp you can use their schematic for ideas. they are so kind to provide it with their products so i will not put it online. i can send it in an e-mail to you if you don't put it online either.

we had all our leslies and hammonds modified to big speakon connectors instead of the old unreliable leads. so i added 2 speakons to the sides of each preamp so one preamp could be used with 2 leslies. i also built in a relay for each speakon that switched automatically to the right position depending on if there is a 122 or an 147 connected.

Which backline company?  I may need to have you in my contact manager.

[proaudioguy]

As a former keyboard player (and maybe a future one) I am very thankful you saved one from the dump.  This is like finding a classic tube amp by the dumpster (to a keys player).  I would love to have that TrekII pedal with leslie cabinet for guitar.  What a sweet combo that would be.  I could see a lot of uses there.  Too bad the idiots that got the organ are, well, idiots.

I purchased a dejavibe MDV only to find out there is a stereo version available.  All chasing that sound.  Still quite happy with the mono, but wish I had the stereo version.

BTW when I have these on stage I mic the bottom with an RE20 and the top with a pair of SM57s.  You can upgrade the mics as you like, but this works.  I run the bottom mic mono and pan the 57s hard left and hard right.  I blend the 3 until it sounds right.  The PA is usually 50-60ft apart and I'm usually 100ft or better away and it just sounds amazing.

[tyru007]

Well, sure enough, the people that took the organ got tired of using it as a plant stand.   They called me and asked if I wanted it.  They had tried to play it but  claimed it did not sound very good to them.  I picked it up and it was a Hamond L-103 organ.  It did not sound right when I first tried it but everything spun up including the leslie.  Found four of the draw bar wires were broken including the fundamentals.   One of the tube sockets was loosing and causing some crackling issues.  Resolderd the wires back on and tightended the socket and now sounds much better. 

[birt]

great!

[proaudioguy]

Well, sure enough, the people that took the organ got tired of using it as a plant stand.   They called me and asked if I wanted it.  They had tried to play it but  claimed it did not sound very good to them.  I picked it up and it was a Hamond L-103 organ.  It did not sound right when I first tried it but everything spun up including the leslie.  Found four of the draw bar wires were broken including the fundamentals.   One of the tube sockets was loosing and causing some crackling issues.  Resolderd the wires back on and tightended the socket and now sounds much better. 

That is SWEET!!!  I wish I could score a sweet deal like that.  I have a baby grand, but always wanted a hammond with drawbars.