Reviews, advice and tutorials
In this Hammond organ blog, I’ve gathered together as much news and practical advice as possible here to help you choose, buy, maintain, restore, gig and record these incredible instruments. In my view, Hammond organs deserve a place in every band and it’s up to us owners to keep that sound alive. In the posts and video below, I try to answer common questions and share a few playing tips that I’ve picked up over the years. I also review new products and try to give a gigging organ player perspective on how they would fit into my rig.
I hope you find this Hammond organ blog helpful. If there’s anything you’d like me to take a look at, just get in touch.
Deep Purple’s Burn – Jon Lord’s Organ Explained
I hope you are all well and good and looking forward to the week ahead? I have had a lot of people request this one over the years and so I thought I would bite the bullet and show you how I (at least!) have tackled this iconic Deep Purple song – BURN! I’ll go…
Interview with Paul Mann
Good morning all! Today I am very pleased to introduce to you Paul Mann. Paul is a renowned conductor of orchestras but you may also know him for his extensive work with Deep Purple and Jon Lord. Throughout this fascinating interview we discus Paul’s life and early career from the Norther Ballet and his conducting…
Nick Foley UK Chats to Marine Lacoste from Unkle Cracker, Corey Hart and Highway Hunters
Hello! This week I am joined by an excellent keyboardist and Hammond Organ Player Marine Lacoste as she takes a rare break back home in Canada. We discuss her musical beginnings, the instruments that she has had and uses regularly and obviously we dive a little deeper into Hammond Organs and the many modifications that…
Interview with Jamie Pipe (Danny Bryant, The Mentulls, Martin Barre)
Hello how are you today? I’m really pleased to be able share this video with you today. Today we meet Jamie Pipe. I have been a fan of him, his talent, hair and age for some time now and this week I finally got the time to have a good sit down with him. Today…
RS2 Leslie Simulator Plugin
Good Morning, I hope that you are well? Today is something different. I was recently asked if I would help out with the (easy side of the) development of a Leslie simulator plugin (vts) that a company called Brother of Mars were developing. Its a sim aimed less at the Jazz world (although not exclusively)…
Hammond C3 Vs Neo Ventilator
Hello, Today I thought that we would take a quick look at the marvellous NEO instruments ventilator effects pedal. But this time with a difference. Using my custom line out connection, we are able to hear this mighty pedal in use with my Hammond C3 for the first time. I’ll take you through the controls…
Interview with Nigel Hopkins Part2!
GMGAGE to you all! Today I was lucky enough to snag a little time with a great keyboard player and musician Nigel Hopkins. Nigel has toured the world with Chris DeBurgh, Bonnie Tyler and more and played a pivotal role in Jon Lord’s classical shows and his celebration concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Over…
Modern Rock Organ: An interview with Andy Gotteri
Hi there, how are your holidays? Late December at time of writing this and I hope all is well with you and yours? Today I am chatting to Hammond and synth player Andy Gotteri, a busy UK musician on the gigging circuit over in Blighty. We deep dive into Hammond Organs as you might expect…
Interview with Jon Lord’s keyboard player: Nigel Hopkins
GMGAGE to you all and Happy Holidays! Today I was lucky enough to snag a little time with a great keyboard player and musician Nigel Hopkins. Nigel has toured the world with Chris DeBurgh, Bonnie Tyler and more and played a pivotal role in Jon Lord’s classical shows and his celebration concert at the Royal…
Hammond organ effects pedals – a deep dive with Greg Lounsberry of Lounsberry Pedals
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are! Today we spend a pleasant half an hour chatting with Greg Lounsberry, maker of boutique effects pedals for all instruments but particularly for this channel the great ‘Tall and Fat’ and ‘Organ Grinder’ Pedals. The tall and fat is used throughout the USA but Europe…
Hammond Organ Inverse Keys – What do they do?
Have you ever wondered what that octave of black keys with white flats and sharps do? I get asked this all the time and so today decided to record a video showing you exactly what they do. Impress your friends with your insider knowledge! If you have anything you think I would be able to…
Understanding drawbars on a vintage Hammond organ
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, how are you doing? I’m back from a rough bout of ManFlu ™ and really excited to talk to you! Today, I would like to take is slow and talk in-depth about Hammond Organ drawbars. They are fundamental to achieving your tone. Let me know what you think,…
Rock Organ Riffs played SLOOOOOOW
Good morning folks, I had a few people asking for me to slow my organ licks down so that they were easier to catch. I was very happy to oblige so today I have been through some of my trusty rock organ licks and played them slow and up close so that you can have…
Fender Rhodes vs Addictive Keys … with shock twist!
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening wherever you are! I hope you are and remain well? Battling through a slight cold this week but I really wanted this week to finish what we started a few weeks ago and compare the vintage and mighty Rhodes piano to another pretender. Today is the XLN Addictive…
Dirty Hammond blues licks – new for 2022
Good Morning, good Afternoon, good Evening wherever you are. We are back again and this week its on the trusty beast, the Hammond C3. Many moons ago I produced a quick video on dirty blues licks and technically it wasn’t so good, perhaps it was not as easy as it should be to see what…