B-3 (Tone-wheel organ)

This Instrument Type replicates the classic B-3 tone-wheel organ which has been a staple of many genres of music, including Jazz, Rock, Rhythm & Blues, etc.

Each Drawbar controls an individual harmonic.

Tips

• This Instrument Type incorporates unique features of a tone-wheel generator, such as Leakage Tone and Virtual Multi-Contacts. For more information, consult the “Glossary of terms”.

■ Creating a favorite sound (registration)

Moving a Drawbar forward (toward you) will increase the volume of that Drawbar. Pushing the Drawbar back in (away from you) decreases the volume of that Drawbar.

The illustration below shows the function of each Drawbar for the B-3 Instrument Type.

Each Drawbar has a footage mark associated with it. For example, the first white Drawbar is marked “8′.” This is pipe organ terminology indicating that the pipe used to produce the lowest note on the keyboard on a pipe organ is actually eight feet (8′) long. The numbers from “1” to “8” on each Drawbar represent degrees of loudness - number 1 being the softest, and number 8 being the loudest.

Drawbar

Function

White
(8′, 4′, 2′, 1′)

The 8′ Drawbar generates the fundamental tone.

The 4′, 2′ and 1′ Drawbars generate B-3 (Tone-wheel organ) harmonics, going up one octave from left to right.

Black
(2 2/3′, 1 3/5′, 1 1/3′)

The black Drawbars generate odd number harmonics, having fifth or third relation to the fundamental tone.

These harmonics are very important to create harmonically complex sounds such as strings, woodwinds or brass tones.

Brown
(16′, 5 1/3′)

The 16′ Drawbar generates the tone one octave lower than 8′. The 5 1/3′ Drawbar generates the third harmonic of the 16′ fundamental.

These harmonics adds depth and richness to the sound.

Normally, the tones are built on the 8′ fundamental. If you want to add depth to the tone or to expand the keyboard range by one octave, build the tones on the 16' fundamental.

Tips

• Using the Drawbars to the right of the 8′ Drawbar will result in brighter tones, while using the Drawbars to the left of the 8′ Drawbar (brown Drawbars) results in lower-pitched, “darker” sounds.


Examples of Drawbar registration

Jazz

Blues

Tips

• On a vintage Hammond Organ, when Percussion is used, the sound of the 1′ Drawbar is canceled. Some jazz organists have taken advantage of this idiosyncrasy by keeping the 1′ Drawbar pulled out and turning Percussion “ON” and “OFF” while playing. The result is an instantaneous registration change with a single motion. The M-solo replicates this feature.

Groovy & Funky

Max Power

■ Adding Percussion

Using Percussion along with a Drawbar registration will add an extra attack to notes played.

PERCUSSION

Function

LED

[ON] button

Turns the Percussion tone “ON” or “OFF.”

ON: enable

OFF: disable

[SOFT] button

Selects the volume of the Percussion tone.

ON: soft

OFF: normal

[FAST] button

Selects the rate at which the Percussion tone dies away.

ON: fast

OFF: normal

[THIRD] button

Selects the harmonic of the Percussion tone.

ON: third

OFF: second

■ Applying effects

Leslie

This will add the Leslie effect (Chorale or Tremolo effect created by a rotating baffle) to the sound. The [FAST] button will blink according to the selected Leslie Mode.

LESLIE

Function

LED

[BYPASS] button

Bypasses (disables)/enables the Leslie effect.

ON: bypass (disable)

OFF: enable

[STOP] button

Switches between STOP and SLOW Modes of the Leslie effect when FAST Mode is disabled.

ON: stop

OFF: slow

[FAST] button

Turns Leslie FAST Mode “ON” and “OFF.”

Fast blink: enable

Blinking slow or off: disable

Tips

• You can also use a Foot Switch to change the Leslie Mode to FAST (⇒).

Vibrato & Chorus

This will add Vibrato (periodic fluctuation of pitch) or Chorus (periodic effect combining Vibrato and non-Vibrato tones) to the sound.

VIBRATO & CHORUS

Function

LED

[ON] button

Turns Vibrato/Chorus “ON” or “OFF.”

ON: enable

OFF: disable

[MODE] button

Selects the effect and its level.

A larger value results in a deeper effect.

V-1~V-3: Vibrato

C-1~C-3: Chorus

NOTE:

• Chorus is not available for the Vx, Farf, Ace and Ens Instrument Types. Six (6) degrees of Vibrato are available in the order listed below.

V-1→C-1→V-2→C-2→V-3→C-3

Overdrive

This will add Overdrive (sound produced by amplifying a signal until the sound is distorted) to the sound.

OVERDRIVE

Function

LED

[ON] button

Turns the Overdrive effect “ON” or “OFF.”

ON: enable

OFF: disable

[OVERDRIVE] knob

Adjusts the level of the Overdrive effect.

Turn the [OVERDRIVE] knob to the right to increase the Overdrive effect.

Delay/Reverb

This will add Delay (echo effects similar to a tape delay unit) or Reverb (an audio effect simulating the ambience of a natural environment such as an auditorium) to the sound.

DELAY/REVERB

Function

LED

[ON] button

Turns Delay/Reverb “ON” or “OFF.”

ON: enable

OFF: disable

[DELAY/REVERB] knob

Adjusts the level of Delay or Reverb.

Turn the DELAY/REVERB knob to the left to increase the Delay effect and to the right to increase the Reverb effect.