Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
 The Bible for Hammond Organs April 13, 1998
G. Carlin (New York)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I hate to be the one that said I told you so, but this book is the real thing. It is the Hammond/Leslie bible. Anyone who even thinks about playing an organ, or using organ sounds should get this book. It has something for everyone, and the pictures alone (over 250 photos) are worth the price of the book. I just enjoy flipping through the book looking at the pictures, and reading the captions, over and over again. This is a magical book, that draws you in, and lets your imagination run wild. The book is presented in 10 chapters with a Foreward, Introduction and an Appendix. Dominic Milano, who wrote so many great B-3 related articles for Keyboard magazine, starts you off with a short dynamic foreward, encouraging you to read on. ThereÕs just something so fascinating, mystical, and hypnotic when reading about the Hammond Organs, while the pictures fill the pages like the beautiful women of Playboy magazine. You just want to keep reading this book while admiring the ÒHammond beautiesÓ. Its truly hard to believe that the author, Mark Vail, never owned a Hammond, but he really did his homework for this book and I have know doubt he will own a classic very soon - its just to hard to look at any of the modelÕs beautiful wood cabinets and massive size and to say I can get all the sounds I need from my B-3 wannabe. This book makes it all to clear thats thereÕs nothing like the real thing. And after reading how to transport (see moving article by Rick Harris), and then transporting a full console organ for the first time - donÕt worry about it ! What I like most about this book, is its not just about the B-3, its about Hammond Organs and Leslie Speaker Cabinets - all models. And theres a picture for everything - your never left guessing when it comes to the numerous models and styles throughout the companies histories. And Mark doesnÕt hog the spotlight, he goes out and talks to the experts, and gives you their thought opinions, and commentary. Every page brings something special, a resource, an idea, o!r just a new way of looking at something. The ten chapters are: 1. All Hail the King!, 2. Down & Dirty, 3. Laurens Hammonds, 4. Hammonds You May Have Known, 5. Buying & Maintaining a B-3, 6. Don Leslie, 7. Tips from the Stars, 8. Ahead of their Time, 9. Contacts, 10. Hammondography and an Appendix of Resources. Now for faithfull Keyboard magazine readers (from the 80Õs and up) you might recognize some of the writing as articles that appeared previously in the magazine. However there is so much new material and pictures added, its really not the same, and it was just nice to have all the Hammond information in one place and to not have to dig through old beat up magazines to find something out. In addition, many of the previous articles had to be updated, take for example the price of a B-3. Prices have changed considerably since 1991, and after reading MarkÕs ÒWhatÕs a B-3 Really WorthÓ I feel better prepared to explore the market or put the idea aside until IÕm ready financially. I have to say that when I hit chapter 7, ÒTips From the Stars: Legends Share Their Playing Techniques (Interviews by Robert L. Doershuk), I reached Nirvana. Theres just so much here - for everyone, it helps all players to find some direction in all levels of playing-something which is sorely missing for todays player ( see B.T. productions for only true Hammond guidance). Some previous Keyboard magazine articles appear in this chapter; ÒPopular B-3 Drawbar Configurations of Key PlayersÓ and Ò25 Hammond Licks You Must KnowÓ - but this is the real stuff for Hammond players, and its all thats been available to us lately. Alot of the references to Hammond materials have long since been out of print. Therefore, these articles had to be in the book, otherwise there would be a mass ordering of Keyboard back issues! The ÒContactsÓ chapter is pure gold, actually plattinum. If your interested in a Hammond - youÕve got to talk to these people! There the last of their kind and there serious about Hammonds and Leslies. !These are the people you MUST talk to, especially if your new to the ÒclubÓ. And the last chapter, Hammondography will give new people a good idea of who to listen to for the Hammond/Leslie sound. While the Appendix reviews Hammond ÒResourcesÓ such as the Hammondology Series by B. T. Productions, Barabara Dennerlein B-3 Sampling CD, and a Keyboard resource for B-3 and Leslie Alternatives. In my opinion - A+++, this is definately it!
Great Book though I agree about the editing May 23, 1999
Joan May (CA USA)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was delighted to find this book, especially as it honors my favorite Hammond recording of all, Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (Matthew Fisher, Hammond organ). There were some misspellings here too -- i.e. singer Gary Brooker's name spelled "Garry" -- Brooker has nothing to do with the song's Hammond melody or playing, a fact I'm not sure Vail realized -- and spelling Fisher's name as "Fischer." But the biggest error in this context is his saying that the song is a "B3" tune. Though Fisher often plays it on B3 in concert (his Hammond was stolen in the 70's when he lent it to Brooker and Reid of Procol Harum after he left that band), the original recording was done on an M-102. I've heard many renditions of this song, by Procol and others, and I think the enchanting, magical sound Fisher achieved on that M-102 has never been surpassed, nor will it ever be.
beauty in the b says it all! December 9, 1998
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The book is the most actual and concise, i could not find anything negative and i could hear the b3 playing while reading the book
Perfect Coffee Table Reference! February 27, 2001
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is a great overall historical reference for anyone who owns, plays or restores a hammond tone wheel organ.
 Targeted for Jazz / Pop organists, but of general interest. June 24, 1998
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
This book assumes you are a interested in the Hammond because you are a Pop, Jazz, Gospel, or R&B musician. If you are looking at the Hammond from a different perspective, this book still contains loads of information about the history and construction of Hammond organs. For the more general reader the description of all the Hammond models is particularly good. Each has a photo and tells how it differs from other models. Only the description of the innovative but ill-fated X-66 is shortchanged: it was a radical departure from previous models in many ways, so I was hoping to learn more about its new features, control and construction. Another disappointing omission for me the fact that there was no stop list for the Grand-100, Hammond's only attempt to build an electric organ that would operate exactly like a pipe organ. If you are looking for new ideas on drawbar registrations, you will find here only those used by Pop/Jazz organists who tend to play the right hand very high. It was a surprise to me how these musicians use very little of the potential the the drawbars. I was scratching my head when saw registration after registration go like: 88 8000 000, 88 8800 000, or the very daring 88 8000 008, but I guess these are the sounds that work for them. If you are looking for registrations that attempt to reproduce pipe organ stops or wish to learn how to use drawbars for more subtle effects, you'll have to look elsewhere. I've pointed out a few of the shortcomings of this book for the general reader, but it still gives a really great overview of Hammond history. I particularly like the inside information that author Vail got from interviewing engineers from the Hammond and Leslie shops -- this alone is worth the price of the book. If you are at all interested in the Hammond or the beginnings of electric keyboards, this book is a must for your library.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
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