From larry.a.schurr@boeing.com Tue Sep 16 04:57:46 2003
Subject:Re: Swell (not Expression) vs Volume Pedals

Though I know of no memorandae or written proof, in my tiny little mind I'm convinced that the Hammond "swell" was a compromise of technology.
Much like Hammond percussion drawbar dropout, tradeoffs needed to be made for the available componentry [of the time].
The pedal on a Hammond is, of course, certainly not Expression, as it does not actually activate additional ranks of tone generating devices. Nor is it exclusively a Swell as it intentionally changes frequencies.
IMO, the compromise of the gang plate variable capacitor stemmed from the high cost and low dependability of the carbon pots of the era and the downright cheap price of the capacitor being all tooled up by the television tuner industry. The variable capacitor presented a longterm solution for livingroom storage, low noise, and low maintenance. Also IMO, considering the response curve, it was *intended* to more carefully emulate a volume pedal. The livingroom is not the best place to experience Expression in the first place.

In any event, it's a bit of a chore to duplicate exactly.

L.


-----Original Message-----
From: bilyod@msn.com [mailto:bilyod@msn.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2003 6:29 PM
To: CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [CWSG] Re: Swell (not Expression) vs Volume Pedals

Hammond was a genius.But he had a tin ear for music. He wouldn't have known the difference between expression and volume. He invented the tonewhell generator but had electronic engineers to do the electronics. So the expression was all conceived between the musician and electronic engineer. The tonewheel generator is an electric tone generator not an electronic generator. Therefore Hammond is called an electric organ..l.not an electronic organ.

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