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PURE
Hammond
Since its introduction in 1955, the Hammond B-3 has become
the essential performance tool for the worlds great keyboard players. The
instantly recognisable B-3 sound is synonymous with the world of popular
music, while no concert stage would seem complete without a B-3´s imposing
wooden cabinet.
B-3
design specifications
Now, for the first time Hammond have exactly
replicated the original B-3 design specifications with the introduction of
the New B-3.
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Sound
generator system
The unique B-3 sound is reproduced by a revolutionary
newly designed sound generator system
(96DigitalToneWheels™), which recreates all of those wonderful idiosyncrasies of
the Tone wheel generator which have eluded all previous digital
systems.
Almost
all comtemporary electronic musical instruments generate their sound "on the
fly" : this means that wheneven a note is pressed, the computer figures out
which key and sound-characteristics are needed and fetches this information out
of a sample-table from the computers memory-banks.
This information is then
processed to produce the actual sound. All of this happens within milli-seconds
after any key is pressed.
In contrast to the above the New B-3 has an "
all-note
continuous " sound-generator: Inspired by the original Hammond
tone-wheel generator in which 91 wheels are spinning continuously, the new
generation Hammond is producing every single one of 96 sine-waves all the
time...
Each of these 96 signals is mapped to the multi-contact system, which
is again inspired on the original B-3 : whenever a key is pressed each of the 9
corresponding drawbar sine-waves is "un-blocked" by its individual
contact...
The implications of this are staggering...
just think about
it for a while...
think about the dynamics involved... instead of any note
needing to be retrieved any generated after the key is pressed, the sound
is actually already there, but is being detained by the key-contact, ready to
spring out...
This explains the incredible dynamic sound experience that only
Hammond creates... you will be impressed by the sheer massive pressure-wave that
this instrument can release...
It all has to do with "continuous
tone-generation "
Another aspect is the polyphony : over are the days of
16, 32, 64, 128-note polyphonie... over are the days of "note out-phasing"...
every single drawbar-note is there... all the time... that's what we call " all-note
generation".
Only Hammond, inspired on the longest
tradition of drawbar-generation, can offer you the experience and emotion of
such truely "virtual tone-wheel generation"...
Waterfall keys
& harmonic drawbars
Two, 61 note, B-3 style, waterfall key, keyboards allow
for the essential performance characteristics of the Hammond masters, especially
effortless palm glissandos. While four
complete sets of nine traditional harmonic drawbars and twenty four
reverse colour key presets achieve total ease of set up.
Mechanical
multi-contact system
It is by utilising several tone varying features
that the B-3 performs so uniquely. Upper and lower pitch foldback subtly effects
the overall sound, while, probably, the most important and interesting feature
is the nine key contact system operating on each key. These contacts connect
from each of the nine drawbar pitches and by pressing a key slowly each pitch
level can be determined, high to low. This system created the earliest form of
touch response for tone variance as well as expression. This mechanical contact system is also
responsible for Hammond´s famous key click noise, an unintended feature that
became an essential component of
the B-3 character. The new B-3 incorporates a complete mechanical contact
system, totally unique in a modern instrument.
B-3 expression
curve
Sound dynamics are controlled by an exact copy of the original B-3
expression curve incorporated in
the new instruments foot volume controller.
Knowledge
The challenge
for many years has been to recreate the look, sound and feel of this legendary
keyboard instrument. Only Hammond has the qualifications and knowledge to accurately achieve
this
Now the B-3 is
re- born...
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Prestige
Performance
Quality
These are the terms that best describe the Hammond
New B-3 Organ. This brochure is dedicated to all
performers
and lovers of organ music who demand nothing less than
the
finest in tonal reproduction whether their appreciation is
for
the classic masterpieces of Bach or the sparkling
modern
arrangements of contemporary composers and artists.
The Hammond New B-3 Organ offers conservative styling
that lends gracious dignity to any décor. Notice the
variety
of timeless finishes carefully executed on choice hand
selected woods. Observe the superb craftsmanship that
represents the epitome of the cabinetmaker’s art.
You can literally "feel" the built-in quality that
characterizes
all of the craftsmanship that is represented in the
Hammond
New B-3 Organ- from the finish on the superb cabinet to
the
precious metal palladium contacts in the heart of this
truly
magnificent instrument.
Finally! Someone got
it right!
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The Heart and Soul of the New B-3 |
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Digital Tone Wheel™ Sound Engine
and
Direct Analogue
Keying™
Let us now consider
the new digital tone generator and see how it produces the sound. The
unique Hammond B-3 sound is reproduced by a revolutionary newly designed
sound generator system (96 digital Tone Wheels). This new digital Tone
Wheel generator perfectly generates pure tones that is tones which have no
harmonic content of their own. This purity is essential in order to attain
a desirable tonal cohesion between the fundamental and its harmonics when
they are mixed through the use of the drawbars.
When a manual key
is pressed, it closes 10 small electrical switch contacts. These contacts
are connected to the digital Tone Wheel generator as well as to the
drawbars. The positions of the
drawbars (which are under control of the
player) determine the intensities of the individual electrical currents
corresponding to the fundamental and its harmonics. |
 After leaving
the drawbars,
the various electrical currents are connected together
(or "mixed") to form a single complex current which flows from the console
to the Leslie cabinet where it is amplified and caused to operate
the
speakers. The swell pedal varies the intensity (or volume) of this
complex
current before it reaches the speakers. |
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Pre-Set
Combinations
 Each manual of the organ is equipped
with nine pre-set combination keys. In addition, there are two sets of
manually adjustable controls for each keyboard, thus making twenty-two
different registrations which are instantly available, in addition, of
course, to the many thousands of variations available by adjustment of the
"harmonic drawbars." "VIBRATO AND CHORUS" has six possible positions
corresponding to three degrees of vibrato and three degrees of vibrato
chorus. The control pre-selects the extent of vibrato or vibrato chorus
which will be obtained when either of the manual vibrato "ON-OFF" stops is
used.
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Touch Response Percussion Control
 Percussion tones
may be produced with a key-controlled "touch-response" in which desired
notes of a melody may be accentuated. Now at your touch are effects like
harp, chimes, orchestral bells, celeste, xylophone, marimba and a whole
new world of fascinating percussion tones, which may be expressively
introduced in a manner not found on any other organ.
Information
Center
The drawbars,
control tablets and rotary controls affect the operations necessary for
performance on the organ. Advanced features such as drawbar voice mode,
pedal sustain length etc., are accessed using the Information Center. This
allows the player to see and make changes. The Information Center Display
and touch buttons are located on a drawer unit positioned under the right
side of the lower manual. |
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The Selective Vibrato Stops
 The great and
swell manuals are provided with separate "ONOFF" vibrato
controls in
the form of tilting stop tablets. The rotating control "VIBRATO AND
CHORUS" has six possible positions corresponding to three degrees of
vibrato and three degrees of vibrato chorus. The control pre-selects the
extent of vibrato or vibrato chorus which will be obtained when either of
the manual vibrato "ON-OFF" stops is used.
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Panel
The new Hammond B-3 has a
Rotary Control Panel which is located underneath the manuals on the
extreme left side. The organist can use these controls to adjust the sound
of the instrument such as: master volume, bass, treble, reverb, overdrive
etc.
MIDI
The New Hammond B-3 has a MIDI
OUT jack which is located underneath the organ on the left side. To
control another MIDI instrument (synthesizer, sound module, etc.) from the
organ, connect the MIDI OUT from the organ to the MIDI IN of the
instrument you want to control.
Due to the unique tone-generation
system of the New Hammond B-3, it does not implement MIDI IN or MIDI
THRU. |
The Registration Principle
of the Hammond Organ
This is the
original, unique feature of the Hammond Organ which makes it completely
different from any other organ. In the Hammond Organ, the basic elements
of all musical tones (the fundamental and its harmonic overtones) are made
separately available to the organist. Furthermore, their relative
strengths may be adjusted at the will by the organist. The drawbars of the
Hammond Organ are provided for this purpose. Flute-like tones, for
instance, may be produced by a certain combination of these drawbars;
string-like effects by another combination; or the effects of both strings
and
flutes by still a different combination of the same drawbars. Thus,
the drawbars provide the tonal ingredients from which the various
registrations may be compounded.
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Multiple 
Speaker Connection
The New B-3
Hammond Organ has two 11-pin Leslie connectors, one marked MAIN and
the other marked ECHO, making it easy to connect multiple Leslie
Speakers to the organ. |
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Speed Switch
 A Leslie Speed
Switch is provided with the New B-3 Hammond Organ to allow control
of the Leslie Speaker rotors from the organ console.
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Main/Echo Switch
 When
two Leslie Speakers are connected to the organ, the optional
Main/Echo switch will allow the sound to come from only the Main
cabinet, only the Echo cabinet, or both cabinets
simultaneously.
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NEW B-3 |
ORIGINAL
B-3 |
| KEYBOARDS |
61-61-25 |
61-61-25 |
| PRESET
KEY |
12keys |
12keys |
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Mechanical
Latch |
Mechanical
Latch |
| SWELL DRAWBARS
(UPPER) |
9 pitches 2
sets |
9 pitches 2
sets |
| GREAT DRAWBARS
(LOWER) |
9 pitches 2
sets |
9 pitches 2
sets |
| PEDAL
DRAWBARS |
2 pitches |
2
pitches |
| PRESET
MEMORY |
Compact Flash
card |
Change by Preset
Panel |
| KEYING
METHOD |
Direct Analog
Keying |
Direct Analog
Keying |
| CONTACT |
10-Mechanical
contacts |
9-Mechanical
contacts |
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+Rubber contacts
w/velocity |
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| POLYPHONY |
Full
Polyphony |
Full
Polyphony |
| GENERATOR
(Manual) |
96-Digital Tone
Wheels |
91-Tone
Wheels |
| GEN.
WAVEFORM |
Changeable by
CFcard |
Fixed |
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(Flash
ROM) |
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| GENERATOR
(Pedal) |
VASE II |
Tone
Wheels |
| VIBRATO/CHORUS |
V1, V2, V3, C1, C2
,C3 |
V1, V2, V3, C1, C2
,C3 |
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SWELL ON, GREAT
ON |
SWELL ON, GREAT
ON |
| LESLIE |
SLOW, STOP,
FAST |
SLOW,
FAST |
| CONTROL |
OVERDRIVE |
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REVERB |
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| TONE
CONTROL |
BASS ,
TREBLE |
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| TERMINAL |
LINE IN ,LINE
OUT |
PHONO
INPUT |
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11P LESLIE
SOCKET |
6P LESLIE
SOCKET |
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HEADPHONE |
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MIDI
OUT |
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| EXT MEMORY
SLOT |
COMPACT FLASH
CARD |
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| DISPLAY |
20x2 digits
LCD |
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| WEIGHT |
132 kg |
190 kg |
| DIMENSIONS |
Closed,
without pedal keyboard 123 cm wide, 73 cm deep, 97 cm
high.. |
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Open and with
pedal keyboard and bench 123 cm wide, 126 cm deep, 117 cm
high. | |
