From rick155@aol.com Mon Mar 11 14:33:32 2002
Subject:Re: Name that Hammond

In a message dated Mon, 11 Mar 2002 4:43:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, "Dan Pothaar" writes:

> So I was playing an honest to goodness ToneWheel???!!!<<

Well, yes and no. Yes it has tonewheels. Not, not the same as a B3. I can't explain the electronics, but as someone else has already noted, the E-1xx series has a combination of tonewheels (76) and transistors producing the sound. So I guess it's a hybrid in that respect. The E-100 I grew up playing just didn't growl or scream like a B3. It didn't have that kind of muscle. How much of this was attributable to the tone generation design and how much was attributable to the fact that I used it only with the internal amp/speakers and not a Leslie, I don't know. But E-100's in excellent condition go for $250 - $500, so you know we aren't talking about an A-100 (A true B-3 equivalent) in different clothes. Also, the percussion was very different; no classic 2nd or 3rd. Instead it had those cheesy perc effects tabs. Yeah, it had diving board keys, but I think you played one that's pretty well beat; I never had a complaint about the construction.

I had a chance to take my folks' E-100 a few years ago, but I passed on it. I have a B3 now. World of difference. So if you liked the sound of the E-133 you played, you'll really like a B3/C3/A-100.

Rick