Home organs.... Kimball Swinger 100?

UnconSci

Im looking to pick up a 70s Organ and I have a Kimball swinger 100 that I can pick up if I want it. What do you all recommend?

Electrode

I see those at thrift stores from time to time. I always assume that they're from female former church hymnsters. If it's free, go for it! But I remember those organs had a ice skate arena sound, as opposed to the B3 feel, to them. It's the one with the tremelo/sharp/"tuba" levers on them, right? Nancy Bea Hefley heads know the deal.

dark

This is apparently a Kimball Swinger 200b, 21http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyfCUb69O4Y/a1b, 21b, 21Sounds like a nintendo to me. If thats the sound you want, then you can probably spring for any 70s home organ you want. If you want something that sounds bluesier or will sound somewhat like whats on records you like - you'll have to be pickier and be willing to spend a bit more money. Look for a tonewheel or spinnete based organ rather than a transistor based organ (like this Kimball swinger)b, 21b, 21Naturally Hammond B3s and the like are uber expensive (couple thousand bucks), but check out the Hammond "M" series. A good organ is the Hammond M3 which uses spinnetes, has drawbars to modify the sound, and can usually be found for $80 - $200. The organ used for "Whiter Shade of Pale" was a Hammond M series.b, 21b, 21With a good amp, you can get the M3 to distort, giving you access to a lot of those classic rock + funk organ tones. b, 21http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5YYDQVIBX4/a1

UnconSci

Thanks... Yea I honestly am kind of down with the nintendo sound. But if im going to fill up my apartment with something Im kind of thinking of saving up a few hundred bucks to get a better one.b, 21b, 21As far as the nintendo'ey ones... they aren't really organs more electric pianos... which electric piano type organs would anyone recommend.b, 21b, 21Also... the M3 sounds really promising but that thing looks huge. b, 21b, 21I appreciate the help. Any other tips are helpful as well.

dark

Electric piano like? I dunno about that. Just make sure that it'll do what you want it to do. I've got a couple scenester friends that for awhile there, bought every crap no name nintendoy organ that they saw for $30 at a garage sale. Unlike an electric piano or anything w/ a plectrum+strings, there may not be any way to change the decay of the notes, which results in a very different kind of character and feel to anything you're going to play. I'm convinced its going to sound like pushing buttons on a touch tone phone, but if thats what you're after img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /1b, 21b, 21b, 21b, 21b, 21This is a pic of the Kimball 100. This looks at least as large as the M3 to me. Home organs are usually large.b, 21b, 21b, 21b, 21Here's the Vox continental. Probably one of the more famous transistor types. Used by Pink Floyd, the Doors etc. This'll be a couple hundred bucks (sometimes a couple thousand if the seller is dillusional). In contrast to other home organs, this one - and farfisa organs, are relatively compact.

UnconSci

Thats not the kimball 100... that has way more stuff.b, 21b, 21I think I honestly want a transister type organ. I don't want anything bluesy.. if anything something more like the doors or pink floyd... minus the modular synths and shit liek that.b, 21b, 21That vox continental looks great but I don't think im going to find one cheap at all. If you find one anywhere for a good deal let me know... i'll hit you off with records or something as a finders fee.

dark

If I find a vox continental for a good deal - that shit is mine.

dark

Oh yeah, you can always cop out and use Native Instruments B4 software to emulate tonewheel and transistor organs (including the continental)b, 21b, 21But then you don't have a conversation piece.

UnconSci

I just want a fullsize keyboard whether or not its a piano or a home organ/keyboard doesn't really matter. I just want something to play around with for fun. And use it for recordings occasionally.

dark

In that case, what do you think of getting a cheap end (couple hundred $$ so you have 6 or so octaves) Yamaha keyboard with midi ports and using it as a midi controller for VSTs and software emulators for the kinds of instruments and sounds you want as the mood strikes you.

Lazer

i picked up a hammond 225xl w/leslie for $15 at a thrift. i recommend you find a similar deal.

dark

Is this an actual external leslie speaker cabinet? Or is it a psuedo leslie built into the organ?b, 21b, 21Sound clip please?

UnconSci

Quote:h, 21b, 21In that case, what do you think of getting a cheap end (couple hundred $$ so you have 6 or so octaves) Yamaha keyboard with midi ports and using it as a midi controller for VSTs and software emulators for the kinds of instruments and sounds you want as the mood strikes you. b, 21b, 21h, 21

b, 21b, 21Im not a afraid of VSTs or anything I just would rather have a stand alone instrument. I am not really looking for anything computer or digital oriented even. I just want something fun to F*ck around with when the mood strikes. Its not a conversation piece as more of a step towards learning better musicianship. b, 21b, 21I do need to just start doing some serious thrift searching in the next few weeks. I just live in LA and shit gets picked through quickly. Guess I need to search the outskirts a bit more.

goodwill_hunting

i found a hammond m-103 in really nice condition at the thrift store for $40, it had some cool tones and you could F*ck with the sound using the drawbars, i never learned how to play and ended up selling it, it seemed like a nice organ though compared to all the other crap i usually see at the thrifts

Lazer

Quote:h, 21b, 21Is this an actual external leslie speaker cabinet? Or is it a psuedo leslie built into the organ?b, 21b, 21Sound clip please? b, 21b, 21h, 21

b, 21b, 21b, 21psuedo.

dark

The M-103 is exactly the organ Procal Harum used for whiter shade of pale.