dilema m111 w/leslie 25 or m3 w/ leslie 125

[jridabock]

i cant seem to find much about the m111 but it comes with the 25 the bowwow of leslies. guy wants 400 bucks for the pair.
everyone calls m3 baby b but they dont seem the same from what i read. I can get the M3 w/ the 125 for 300 bucks.
Are their any significant differences between the two organs and/or speakers?
Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
i currently have a hammond romance series? rotosonic that is very cool but looking to get closer to that "Hammond tone wheel sound"
PS all this is for my obsession for hearing my sons band have that hammond sound. my god whats wrong with me :)

[Orgrinder010]

Yes, just think of the M-111 as a good spinet, and the M3 as a B3. The M3 used the exact same parts as the B3 (Minus surplus) and even throws in an internal speaker. Also, I believe the M3 had a pedal sustain switch (?).

[back52887]

There is nothing that the m-3 has that the M-100 series lacks internally, with the exception of the almost unused pedal sustain switch on the expression pedal on most models. In addition it has reverb with separate amp and 8" spkr, and extra 12' speaker (but the same amp), some non-adjustable presets, a second version of chorus they call celeste which is more theatrical than regular vibrato - but not leslie-like - and the second and third harmonic voices on the percussion can be combined to make a more banjoish plunk. It even has the wierd motorboat effect from an accidently half engaged chorus switch.

The difference between leslies with two digits (ie 25,45,31 etc) and those with "1" in front is the separate "slow" or choral speed motor, very desirable but not essencial. The 25, 125, 110 and a few others, have only the single rotor drum, while the much more expensive models have a divider, and a treble driver that speaks through a rotating horn. That divider -driver has more to do with what some call TW sound. My Concorde (not TW) with an old 44W leslie gives a fine jazzey-blusey scream as good as any B-3/145 I have played.

Another factor to look at: 25s and 125s could run off the organ's little tube amp, or have their own amp. If the M-111/25 have the extra amp, and the M3/125 did not, the difference in value might make up for the lack of celeste. In any case the half-moon switches, adapters and 6 pin cable are worth $150 W/o the leslie on ebay. Prices vary in different areas for TWG spinets. Knowing where you are makes a difference. Let us know how it comes out,

Lee

[Hammond101]

Go play them both and listen to which organ sounds better. A subjective and personal decision. I would also make my decision based on the any of the Leslies being powered (with amp) as a previous poster suggested.

I owned a M3 and really enjoyed it. It was quite lacking in power until I connected it to an old JR20 tone cab I got for fifty bucks. That also added reverb that is a great help to the M3's sound. I have an M-111 at the present time purchased as a fixer-upper. I prefer it to the M3 due to the presets, reverb, twice the power (22 watts), three speakers (2-12" mains & a 8" reverb) and best of all a full octive of bass pedals. The M3 has only 12 bass keys the M100 series has 13 so you have the high C. My only dislike is the diving board keys. I also own an A100 so it takes a little time to get used to the feel of the spinet after the A100. The M3 felt more like the full size Hammond 3 series console. As the generators are the same and the e-tronics are better on the M100 I would have to choose M100. You could not go wrong with either one with both in the same condition however. Good luck!