Organ Sound ELECTRO-HARMONIX B9 ORGAN MACHINE

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 3 Jul 2014 6:53 am

Cartwright, I counter your statement with two words: Wurlitzer Prize.

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 3 Jul 2014 12:33 pm

Lane,
I have no idea what you're talking about.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 3 Jul 2014 1:12 pm

I don't think there's an organ effect. Just Moon and a Leslie. You can hear the pedals all over it.
I CERTAINLY agree this is not a "leave it on all night" effect, but this here's a CLASSIC, and was a pretty good hit.

http://youtu.be/qHgzxxwAZHw

Cartwright Thompson · Post by **Cartwright Thompson** » 3 Jul 2014 2:16 pm

Right, this thread can't make up it's mind. Organ effect and Leslie effect are two distinctly different thongs. Moon rockin' pedals with a Leslie is great . My point was that rockin' pedals with an organ effect is cheesy.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 3 Jul 2014 2:20 pm

I suspect one could make it work without cheese, but I see your point.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 4 Jul 2014 2:55 am

I think that there are a couple of serious omissions here in this product ....As Jay mentioned , you are not getting the true drawbar setting differences in the tone when changing the presets in this unit is one omission .......Then you have the ramp up and down control .....With an added ramp up/down footswitch and authentic drawbar change presets in this box, and it would be a home run ......Still a very convincing sounding pedal in it's own right as it is ..... If a fast / slow input jack was incorporated into this pedal , the actual Leslie 1/2 moon switch that was modified to mount to a pedal steel could work well . as when sliding to another position on the steel , the switch could be brushed with the palm of the hand to the fast / slow positon eliminating the need of a thrid hand or foot .....This is used all the time on organs with this proceedure , why not pedal steel ? ....Jim

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 4 Jul 2014 7:26 am

This is NOT a Leslie effect. It is called an Organ Machine!

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 4 Jul 2014 7:44 am

Erv,
If you are going to call a product a "B" anything with inferences to the Hammond Organ , and you make inferences to various songs that a preset is used for that use a Hammond Tone Wheel organ with a Leslie , and you have percussive selections that are also found on Tone Wheel Organs that run thru Leslies, then by all means , the Leslie effect should be included and also made useful by said product ..... That's like saying a Fender Twin Reverb amp should only be used for a guitar ......because it's sold as a guitar amp .... JIm

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 4 Jul 2014 9:05 am

I would argue that anything calling itself an "organ machine" and called "B-*" (the star being computer speak for wild card or "anything) and lacking a Leslie sim by definition is half a box.
I can't think of a single Hammond legend whose tone doesn't involve the Leslie. At least one who stands out.
(Feel free to point one out, I like learning new stuff).
I cannot conceive of wanting to sound like a Leslie-free B-3; have never seen a B-3 without a Leslie on a stage.
It's like seeing a remora without a shark.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 4 Jul 2014 12:08 pm

Well, Jon Lord played most of his Deep Purple stuff without a Leslie, using Marshals instead. He`s the only one I can think of....

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 4 Jul 2014 12:44 pm

Well, I guess we can all agree that it's not a real Hammond organ, is it? I mean, jeez, how dare Electro-Harmonix make an organ effects box that:

- doesn't have a Leslie ramp-up/down control.
- doesn't have a way to get drawbar settings like a Hammond.
- doesn't have a walnut cabinet.
- doesn't weigh as much as an original Hammond.
- doesn't cost as much.

Quick, someone call the Better Stompbox Bureau and report this.

Even so, I'll be using the B9 tonight at a gig, all the while feeling bad that I'm not using a real organ + Leslie.

Shame on me.

Mitch Druckman · Post by **Mitch Druckman** » 4 Jul 2014 4:21 pm

Some of those presets sound like they already have a Leslie simulation programmed in. Just not very adjustable. Maybe a Deluxe model B9 with Hazarai is in the works.

I thought the Continental preset sounded great with the built-in vibrato. No Leslie required.

Jerry Hedge · Post by **Jerry Hedge** » 5 Jul 2014 6:29 pm

Olli Haavisto wrote:Well, Jon Lord played most of his Deep Purple stuff without a Leslie, using Marshals instead. He`s the only one I can think of....

Also Brian Auger (Oblivion Express). Laurens (sp) Hammond the inventor of the Hammond Organ HATED Leslies!!!For years,when Leslie would create a interface for the Hammond and their cabinets Hammond would change the pin outs on the organs. Hammond believed his organs sounded best with the PR 40 tone cabinet. It wasn't until Hammond lost direct control of the company that the Leslie was accepted as a speaker for the Hammond!!!

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 6 Jul 2014 6:41 am

I stand by my statement that the B9 organ machine should be used sparingly to embellish a song. However, there seems to be quite an interest in this device as I have had over 3,000 hits on my short demo. I didn't get 10% of that cutting a Rickenbacker in half with a Sawzall

admin · Post by **b0b** » 6 Jul 2014 7:56 am

Lenny, your demo sounds just like my POG2. I don't hear any non-octave drawbars in this emulation. I'm starting to think that the B9 is the same circuitry as the POG2 with presets to make it easier to use.

Slides with this effect make me feel a bit queasy. I agree - use sparingly for pads. I hate when I'm using an organ effect and the bandleader tosses me a solo. It's hard to find anything that sounds good under scrutiny.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 7 Jul 2014 8:35 am

b0b wrote:Lenny, your demo sounds just like my POG2. I don't hear any non-octave drawbars in this emulation. I'm starting to think that the B9 is the same circuitry as the POG2 with presets to make it easier to use.

Slides with this effect make me feel a bit queasy. I agree - use sparingly for pads. I hate when I'm using an organ effect and the bandleader tosses me a solo. It's hard to find anything that sounds good under scrutiny.

You beat me to it b0b.I have the POG2 and a Strymon leslie simulator.
Watching these videos of guys demonstrating the B9, I have can't hear any difference. The POG2 at least has the octave control bars that let you tweak the sound.
The Electo Harmonix demo sounds more like a B3 because the player is playing sharp single note patterns. He also uses the click, which sounds authentic.
My experience with the POG2 so far is, never move the bar, never slide, get a Leslie sim if you don't have one, and only play pads. I have yet to get a real B3 sounds using single notes

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 7 Jul 2014 1:32 pm

I have been using an EHX HOG and an RT-20 for Leslie for 5 years to get organ sounds and before that had a POG, but the thing I hear differently about this box is it sounds to me like there is a "Freeze" type of thing going on, where the triggered note stays exactly the same volume as on an organ.

On the POG/HOG the volume out tracks the volume in. Obviously you can use the volume pedal to help keep it level, but its not the same as Freeze.

Also, non triad intervals such as Dom7 sound clearer to me also that I can achieve on the HOG.

I suspect its getting the pitch, triggering the "organ sound" production (some sort of real time DSP, not stored samples), then freezing the note, all in real time. And polyphonically.

I would be interested to hear how low the input signal has to drop to before the note cuts off. Can you sustain for 10 seconds or more?

And, how is sounds with a chord having multiple extensions like an Em7b5 or a fully diminished chord. On a real B3 or even a good sim like a Nord Electro, pushing down several keys with your palm still sounds good even with intervals that close.

Daryl Thisdelle · Post by **Daryl Thisdelle** » 7 Jul 2014 4:40 pm

I gave in today and bought one for my recording studio, and not so much for my steel guitar. I will try it but thinks will use it else where. But ya never know how good it may sound on the steel.

Daryl

Rich Santucci · Post by **Rich Santucci** » 16 Jul 2014 6:33 pm

So, what is this guy using? A Vent?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3RvQAeJ ... r_embedded

David Wessner · Post by **David Wessner** » 17 Jul 2014 8:45 am

Just received my B9. It replaces the POG2 on my pedalboard. The B9 is a significant step up from the POG in presence and realism. It really cuts and the freeze function is amazingly effective. I'm using it with a Strymon Lex for Leslie effect which is a great combination. The two together nail an organ sound.

Nathan Guilford · Post by **Nathan Guilford** » 17 Jul 2014 10:09 am

I didn't know it had a freeze function. Do you mean you play a chord and it will hold it while you play single lines?

David Wessner · Post by **David Wessner** » 17 Jul 2014 11:49 am

No, not quite. When you hit a string(s) it will hold that note at constant volume for 10 seconds or so as long as you don't restrike it or mute it. If you do it cancels the freeze.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 18 Jul 2014 8:07 am

David,
I am using the same setup as you.
Do you have the B9 ahead of the leslie sim or behind it in the chain?
Erv

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 18 Jul 2014 9:01 am

While I am impressed with what I hear, I don't think I'll get one. Just the fact of having to hit 2 pedals to get organ AND Leslie turns me off. I use a Tech 21 Rotochoir, and for the few times I use it at a gig, it works great. I have people, including bandmates, that comment on my "B3 sounds". While the sound doesn't sound anything like a real B3, it is somewhat convincing to most people you would normally play for. I truly believe that they are convinced it is an organ due to the rotating speaker effect, and not so much the real organ tones.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 18 Jul 2014 9:33 am

Richard,
I don't have to hit two pedals with the way I have it set up. I have the two pedals in a loop through a Boss unit. I hit the pedal for straight steel and then when I want the organ/Leslie effect, I just hit it again.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Organ Sound ELECTRO-HARMONIX B9 ORGAN MACHINE

B-9

Freeze function?