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Hammond B-3 (1954–1975)

The most popular Hammond organ ever, in continuous production from 1954 to early 1975 (the C-3 is the identical internal in a church-style cabinet with "modesty panels").

What defines it

  • Two 61-key manuals, 25-note pedalboard, expression pedal, 12 reverse-color preset keys per manual — the console formula dating back to the 1935 Model A.
  • Touch-Response Percussion — the 1954 addition that made the B-3 the jazz organ.
  • Vibrato/Chorus scanner.
  • Nine drawbars per manual, tonewheel generation (tonewheel-generator) until 1975.
  • Nearly always paired with a Leslie 122.

Cultural weight

The B-3 became the centerpiece of the organ trio (organ, drums, guitar or sax) — cheaper for jazz clubs than a big band. Jimmy Smith's playing (the classic "888000000" drawbar setting) inspired a generation, and the instrument spread through R&B, rock (esp. prog rock), gospel, and reggae in the 1960s–70s.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-hammond-organ.md]

The last units were assembled from leftover parts and are considered inferior to earlier builds.^[raw/articles/wikipedia-hammond-organ.md]

  • hammond-organ-company — maker
  • A-100 (1959): self-contained B-3 with internal amp/speakers
  • Modern equivalents: Hammond-Suzuki XK/SK series and other clonewheel instruments
  • See also: B-3 vs C-3 — same organ in different furniture
  • See also: B-3 vs A-100 — same organ with built-in amp/speakers