From joek1000@aol.com Mon Aug 19 10:01:46 2002
Subject:percussion modifications - could clone makers add more options?

Hi,

I was looking at Goff's Trek percussion unit on their web page the
other day and thought that it would be nice if clonemakers could
start adding similar options to their percussion capabilities. I sent
an email to Goff and was pleasantly surprised to get a reply back
from Al Goff himself!

Are any of these already in the percussion settings for the CX-3 or
other clones?

Does anyone have any additional things they would like to see added?

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Here is the text of my message with Al's reply:

>Could you list a couple of things that are contained in a
>percussion modification? I know that the Trek unit you advertise
>on your site allows for a fifth percusion and has an adjustable
>decay slider. Is there anything else in a custom precussion setup
>that we could request from a clone maker?

I have made many different types of percussion mods over the years
but, in my opinion, the most important percussion features a clone
manufacturer can provide include the following:

1. Provide a user control (not software) for adjusting percussion
Volume against the drawbar volume. This should range from ZERO perc
to 300% of the stock level.

2. Provide a similar control (could be software) for Decay.

3. Provide software control as is on the XB-3 to defeat the 3dB drop
in Drawbar volume when the Perc is on NORMAL. In the case of a
true "clone" B-3, users will expect to have it function as the
original, with a choices to make changes.

4. Add controls for additional multiple percussion harmonics that are
additive, such as on larger HAMMOND organs - H100/300, X-66/77,
Concorde, etc.).

5. Provide the percussion frequency roll-off curve on the bottom end,
but have a software option to defeat it as I have done on many organs
to give more percussion "bass" for songs such as Green Eyed Lady.

6. Ensure that no FM synthesis or other clone sample beating occurs
in the perc.

7. Maintain the exact (de)tuning of the tonewheel generator to keep
the sound consistent. One problem several clone seem to share is that
they "correct" the tuning to perfect A-440 and don't understand why
HAMMOND made slight changes to allow for tonewheel manufacturing
differences, etc.

As far as a Trek II SS preamp, I make several different changes on
the circuit board to provide boosted perc volume with a volume
control. With the reverb on MAX, I have timed a 7 second percussion
ring time. Normally, there is an R/C circuit involved here, so the
decay rate is related to the volume.

Give my best to Tony L, Mark L, John F, Dave A and others on the
Yahoo list. I'm so busy travelling, etc. I rarely have time to post
on the HAMMOND board.

Al Goff
GOFF Professional