adding a horn to a leslie 125

Hello!

I happen to own a hammond m3 organ with a leslie 760. However, I really dislike the sound of the solid state 760. Maybe it's this particular leslie, but it really sounds like crap. Over here in Europe tube leslies (122,147) are extremely expensive. Only the 125 is cheap due to its lack of a rotating horn. I'm actually thinking of buying a 125 and placing the horn from my 760 in it. Is this a realistic plan? Would a 125 with a tweeter sound as good as the "real" leslies? I know the 125 is only 20W or so.

Any thoughts? Would it be better to modify my 760?

Thanks,

Hans

Here is someone that added a horn to a Leslie 25.

http://www.cyrguitars.com/AnotherLeslieProject.html

thanks for the link! It seems fairly easy to just build your own leslie. I think I'll grab a 147/122 amp off ebay and build my own leslie with the 760 parts.

It will be more expensive to add the horn to the Leslie 125. Also it does not have top louvers in the cabinet. Ask Mate-Stubb or STG and see what they say.

The leslie I use is a 125 with a horn added, and a 147 amp.

Dan is that the one you gig with?

I saw an article somewhere about how to rout out authentic looking louvers - what router bits to use and everything.

The project is definitely doable if you have carpentry skills and patience. You will spend more than you expect!

if you think the 760 is {censored} you should buy a 122 amp, crossover, and bass speaker and just convert your 760 over to being a 122 with Tolex.

it would be easier and sound better than futzing around with a 125.

Yes, the Speakeasy road Leslie.

I was going to do that but instead bought a modified 22H. If I can't sell my 760 locally I may still do that with the 22H guts- to save the nice wood cab and also for better bass.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I received an empty but absolutely cherry 125 and decided to convert it up. It's a labor of love with the upper louvres being the main pain. Then you have to gut the bottom since it needs to go from a 12" woofer to a 15" woofer and assembly, along with dropping in the top horn and "tray".

You might be a bit closer to "the sound" with your 760. It's a lot bigger than my 825 which I've gutted, disassembled and massaged to take 122 internals. Now THAT was a labor of love as well as a comedy of errors but it's just about ready for the road.

Bear in mind that no classic Leslie deserves the abuse of the road. They're just too beautiful IMHO to get beat up like that. Pro-lines were designed for mobility.

i'm going to be buying a trailer soon. one of the reasons is that i need to be able to take my 31Hs out.

This guy isn't {censored}in around! 31H's are awesome!

I transport mine on it's back- don't know if that would be advisable for a tube Leslie.

31H.

Ouch! Now that's love.

(from Jaws:"We're gonna need a bigger boat")

well once you hear a 31H in good service, you realise the way the organ is _supposed_ to sound ... and that _this_ is the sound that made Wild Bill Davis think "hmm. i'll bet that i could lead a band with this instrument." and then made Jimmy Smith say "i finna steal dat ****a's {censored}." and Groove Holmes and Jimmy McGriff say "{censored} this acoustic bass {censored}. i need to do THAT!"

STG

You have two 31H's correct?

thanks for the replies. I think I'll convert the 760 or look out for a good deal on a 122/147

Hans

Hans- check out Carston Meyer at www.keyboardpartner.de - might not be far from you so you could listen to his 760 mods in person.

if you do go with converting the 760 over to a 122 (probably the best long-term idea as the 760 is a fairly road-friendly cabinet) make sure to get the rear amplifier plate for the front of the cabinet, and remove the lips that hold the current amplifier panel in place ... they have to be removed to do the conversion properly.

Where do you KEEP all those Leslies? That's a lot of real estate.

well the 122 is in Studio B, the 51 is in Studio A, and the 31Hs are along the wall in the antique store.

it's not really _that_ big of a deal.