From jazzman001_uk@yahoo.co.uk Mon Jan 31 08:40:14 2011
Subject:Advice for a Newbie please ?

Hi All

I'm fairly new to the Hammond/Clone world. I recently joined a local pub band that are doing songs that really needed Hammond sounds. Songs like Hush, Hard to Handle etc. I went on a spending mission and ended up with a Roland VK-7 into a Solton Twin-Jet Rotary and I'm using a H&K Rotosphere just as a valve pre. I know it isn't the greatest setup for replicating a true Hammond sound but in terms of weight and size it works well enough.

Anyway, my issue. We had our first gig this weekend and I noticed one major issue, Whenever I pull out any higher register drawbars the Solton amp just sounds really harsh and shrill. I ended up only using the first 4 drawbars all night to try and keep it under control. I think the Top driver in the cab just runs at to high frequency. The amp its self seems powerful enough, (I didn't get it past 1/4 volume). I've read up on frequencies on hammonds and leslies and it seems that 6-7 Khz is the highest frequency. I'm sure this harsh and shrill sound must be due to the compression driver having a to high frequency response.

I've found a P Audio D-50 Driver that has a high frequency range of 7Khz but I dont think I can source it in the UK (no suppliers !!).

Has anyone got any other suggestions, ie: another top driver suggestion or maybe an idea to reign the sound in a little etc. The compression driver has a threaded screw in fitting not the plate that I see Leslies use.

I guess I could dith the rotary and just use the H&K into the PA but that'd be cheating !! and it isn't as good as a proper rotary.

Thanks in advance for any advice/help

Simon