Organ Sound ELECTRO-HARMONIX B9 ORGAN MACHINE

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 22 Jun 2014 10:17 am

Looks like steel players will now be able to exact their revenge for the keyboard PSG patch. Hate to be the troll but, while impressive sounding, it comes across just as gimmicky.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 22 Jun 2014 12:36 pm

Paul Arntson wrote:I just read the blurb. They claim " the B9 Organ Machine will transform your guitar or keyboard" so I guess it's supposed to. Sounds like a lot of fun and more portable than a B3.

They don't tell you that the pedal weighs 400 pounds.

Charlie Thompson · Post by **Charlie Thompson** » 24 Jun 2014 4:30 am

Sounds awesome but how do you change the cabinet speed while playing steel?..Seems like it needs a fast/slow switch or a speed control jack for an external speed control device. Or maybe you can easily rotate the mod pot with your foot?

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 24 Jun 2014 7:20 am

this box lacks a button to ramp up and down the speed of the rotating speaker effect, a serious omission in my book. You apparently achieve that by turning the Mod knob, but what a hassle.

Erv, did you file a report on the Forum on your Hammond Leslie box? Where, if so?

The best Leslie sim I've heard was the Pog2 for the organ tone, and the Strymon Lex for the Leslie effect. But talk about expensive and eating up pedal board space...sheesh.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Jun 2014 7:25 am

John,
I never filed a report on the Hammond/Leslie box but it is a good one.
I really look forward to using it with this new organ machine.
I think the requirements for a Leslie effect varies with what instrument you are using it on. I'm sure the needs and wants of a keyboard player are different than those of a steel player.
Personally, I have no need of the ramp up and down feature on some of the effect boxes. When I employ the effect, I want it NOW.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 24 Jun 2014 7:30 am

Erv, can you post some audio of the Hammond Leslie on steel? Anything you don't like about it? How's it compare to all your other Leslie boxes?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 24 Jun 2014 7:37 am

John,
I don't have any audio to post but I think it is my pick of the litter.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 24 Jun 2014 8:27 am

Hey John,
I've got the Strymon Lex. I love the ramp up/down while sustaining a chord. The new B9 along with the Lex would
probably be "way kool" I would think.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 24 Jun 2014 3:10 pm

Jay, if you get the B9 to pair up with your Lex, let us know how it sounds, post audio clips if possible. Thanks. I guess the B9's various organ sounds might be nearly as good as the fat goodness of the Pog2?

Dickie Whitley · Post by **Dickie Whitley** » 24 Jun 2014 3:12 pm

...I wonder if a BOSS RT-20 would work well with it...guess I'll have to scrape up a few dollars and find out...

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 24 Jun 2014 3:32 pm

Dickie, by all means, get on it!

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 24 Jun 2014 3:45 pm

John McClung wrote: I guess the B9's various organ sounds might be nearly as good as the fat goodness of the Pog2?

Seems like it will be better, actually. The POG is great for church/cathedral type organ tone...but I don't play all that many weddings

So, variations of the classic B3 tonewheel and VOX Continental sounds would be a heckuva lot more practical...for me anyhow.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 24 Jun 2014 3:51 pm

Good point, Jay. Can't recall: does the B9 have an expression pedal jack that could be used to ramp speeds up and down instead of using the Mod knob? That'd be nice, except I'm out of feet.

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 24 Jun 2014 5:44 pm

I'm using Pog2 for the sound and the Ventilator for the Leslie effect...you can control how fast it ramps up and down, and with one button do the effect; also how close the mikes are to the rotators and how much distortion the Leslie amp puts into the sound.(like the growl Joe Walsh had on some of his tunes)

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 24 Jun 2014 5:46 pm

I was real disappointed with the Pog2.

I don't know that I've ever had the need to ramp up or down. I would only use it a couple of times a night, and only if the band had no keyboard player.

Gerry. You still have to hit 2 pedals to turn the effect on. That's what I don't like having to do. I'd rather not have the effect, than have to hit 2 pedals to turn it on and turn it off.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 24 Jun 2014 5:49 pm

I listened to the demo, sounded good to me.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 24 Jun 2014 5:54 pm

I don't bother with a rotary effect when I use the POG2. I simulate the effect with bar movement, which gives me total control of ramp up/down speeds. You just need to make a constant vibrato for the audience to hear it as a Leslie, once you have the right tone.

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 24 Jun 2014 5:56 pm

Yeah, I don't like the extra time it takes and that is the least of it; I also turn off any delay and cut the reverb and often the highs as well...make sure all distortion and other f/x are off...BUT...almost always, in tunes I use the organ, it is the only sound I use in the whole tune...I like to give a break to the ears of the audience in NOT hearing the steel in every song(I also slip in the rez box when I can or mix it with my distortion and straight steel)...the hardest part is to keep telling band mates NOT to give me any leads when on organ...it sounds best when used as a pad 'under' the band; when it comes out front, the illusion is lost.

Gerry Simon · Post by **Gerry Simon** » 24 Jun 2014 6:06 pm

If you listen to a lot of rock organ, the keyboardist is 'constantly' ramping up and down as the song goes thru its changes; it's part of the effect. In a good box , like the Ventilator, the mass of the large rotor takes more time to speed up and slow down than the small rotor and that is reflected in the sound from the Ventilator or other box that strives for a realistic sound. I doubt anyone in the audience will consciously notice that but it IS in there in the real thing. I used to haul a full sized Leslie around for a few years in the '70's and I am grateful for today's technology that I don't have to lift that thing anymore!

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 24 Jun 2014 6:22 pm

Listened to a lot of rock organ, huh? $:\$

Josh Rossow · Post by **Josh Rossow** » 24 Jun 2014 7:16 pm

Hey John, I noticed that there is an additional switch that can be plugged into the Leslie pedal to control the speed. It could probably hang on the leg of the steel with one of those leg adapters, that would be kinda cool.

CU 1 switch

Jonathan Mitguard · Post by **Jonathan Mitguard** » 25 Jun 2014 9:56 am

I get my organ effect with a Damage control Glass nexus. It is no where near as convincing as this but it does have the rotory speed up and down controlled by a button which I operate with my elbow. As John mentioned I am out of feet, knees and hands to do anything else. I think the speed up and slow down is a very important feature, and I bet the next generation of B9 will have it.

John McClung · Post by **John McClung** » 25 Jun 2014 10:50 am

Allrightee, Josh, another ornament for the Christmas tree/pedal steel leg!! That could come in handy.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 25 Jun 2014 12:11 pm

Gerry,
I'm a keyboard player by trade , and YES , I do listen a LOT to ramp up and down and it IS imprortant to me .....Check out some of the early Stepenwolf albums ....You'll hear a lot of GREAT ramp up and down all over the albums .....JIm

BTW ...The Ventilator is the closest simulator to me .....but I still have my 2 larger Leslies for backup !!......Jim

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 27 Jun 2014 2:18 pm

There use to be volume type pedal that would turn knobs on effects pedals via a cable devise. Anyway, I have the B9 organ machine and find it very realistic. I like the Fat & Full sound with a medium rotation. Nice for stabbing organ effects and sustaining. It's a keeper.