From dwalker@ou.edu Sat Nov 16 17:27:56 2002
Subject:RE: Perspective: Why not more chops??

And one more factor - local musicians who have the resources to handle
the weight of a console can usually handle the size as well (i.e. they
own a van or whatnot that's available just for their organ and related
stuff). That seems to further reduce the market to regional/national
touring acts where there's a lot of gear to move and just one trailer
for the whole act, and many of those groups would just go for the local
rental option.

I guess the remaining advantages might be ease of moving where the
top-heavyness is an issue (stairs, tight doors and hallways in old
buildings), but as people have pointed out on hamtech, when compared
with a console on ROKs the only real difference of a chop is that you
have to lift the thing to get it onto the stand!

None of this tempers my desire for one, though.

-Daniel, who's never toured and might be talking out of his butt

> I'd think the main reason is mass. The majority of the
> weight in a Hammond is the tone generator and preamp.
> Additionally, of all the people who have Hammonds, I suspect
> that the majority of Hammond owners aren't anywhere a
> reputable "chop shop" (pardon the term), in which case
> shipping costs and the lack of ability to see it before you
> buy it can really put a damper on the desire to own one
> (which is definitely great, for me).
>
> -Daniel
>
> > Cloners:
> >
> > If the real deal is so fine, why don't more folks have chops?
> > It seems to me that a reasonably portable chop (like the
> > ones made by The Hammond Store in Central CT) would be the
> > best of both worlds (i.e., portable and still authentic). My
> > understanding is they go for about $3,500.
> >
> > Yes, it is still a far cry from a 61 key Electro, but I guess
> > I'm not clear why these types of units aren't more popular.
> >
> > Lon H.