Are you baffled?

[crysalis]

Hey all!

So... Biggie Shortie (see sig). She sounds absolutely incredible (thanks to Admiral). Complimented on her every weekend. She has a few mechanical mishaps here and there that I've been ironing out, but still sounds incredible. However, my horns do NOT have baffles. They were snapped off by the last owner (a horrific man who should never touch anything ever again) and I've always been curious how it would sound with a baffled horn.

Does yours have baffles? In Admiral's case, what is the ratio of baffles to non-baffled? :P

[Jlw]

My horn had the baffles on it when I bought it for my diy project. But I recall reading that the sound without baffles was more AM (amplitude modulated) as compared to a more FM (frequency modulated) sound with the baffles attached. It was also said that horns without baffles were used more in a rock setting than jazz. But I think the bottom line is "Whatever floats yer' boat".

[TheAdmiral]

It appears from my observation that about 1/4 don't have diffusers (the term most used). Depends if it came from a home or was used professionally. There is one with diffusers on ebay now. Get it and compare the two to see which you like the most or use them at different times for different reasons as noted above. Different strokes.
I have used them both ways and am leaning to ones with diffusers now although my band Leslie sounded pretty good without them. Those without have a lot of "punch" in a noisy stage setting. Also helps to elevate them. Maybe with all those compliments you should stay the course! Sail ho.

[crysalis]

Maybe with all those compliments you should stay the course! Sail ho.

This is my fear. I don't have the extra time or money to do it anyway. I'll probably do it when I change the driver. It is starting to distort, though I'm surprised it lasted this long. I do notice that it is a very pronounced effect from the back of the cabinet (I don't have the upper and lower panels on for the time being). I'll try it someday and see what it does for me. Just curious what others do/use.

[Orgrinder010]

I prefer diffusers. I've played around with most "classic" leslies from the 31A to a 70's 122 and the diffusers to my ear give a smoother 'shimmer', almost like a properly setup scanner on Chorus.

[paulj0557]

I agree about the 'shimmer' sounding better in the house while playing the organ. I did prefer the diffuser on my A100 with the chorus on 1, but over time I preferred the chorus over the Leslie completely. Now that I haven't played a Hammond in a few years and play all of the other organs you see below my post, I actually miss the Hammond for the Hammond sake, no Leslie- just like I played it in the last 2 years I played it. If I go back to a Hammond some day I want to play just like the Hammond on the record, Organ- Goes South of the Border! One Hammond with a Leslie and the other with Vibrato only! Hey, wait a minute aren't certain Hammond consoles with a separate chorus and vibrato for each manual? So theoretically you can play one manual through a straight cabinet and the other through the Leslie? Yes, that's what I want. George on one manual and William on the other!
http://www.emusic.com/album/George-Ryan-and-William-Daly-Organ-Goes-South-Of-The-Border-MP3-Download/11013776.html

[andyg]

All of mine have had the diffusers on, but a few that I've used on the road have been without. Much prefer them in place. James Last did a few 'Hammond a Go-Go' albums with twin Hammonds, one with leslie and one without. On opposite sides of the stereo, too. Not sure that you can do leslie on one manual and vibrato on the other on a tonewheel Hammond, though I seem to recall that the LSI consoles could do it.

[tonewheel1966]

Not sure that you can do leslie on one manual and vibrato on the other on a tonewheel Hammond, though I seem to recall that the LSI consoles could do it.

I believe I asked why Steve Winwood had two preamps in his B3 in the old days and someone who knew his tech said it was to send each manual to a different Leslie - so if you wanted to splash out on a second preamp you could do it.

TW

[crysalis]

though I seem to recall that the LSI consoles could do it.

You can! At least on my Concorde you can...

[8painting]

I overall like the sound of baffles, but when playing on a leslie without them, if I'm playing rock music, I don't mind at all.

[Chris Keyman]

It was supposed to have the baffles on. That's Mr. Leslie's design. He designed it for his own ears which like "theater organ" style. Which is pretty dramatic and majestic. He was not designing it for rock. You have to decide for yourself by trying both. You will have a more direct, bright, in your face tone, but you will have a more bumpy and obvious tremolo effect as opposed to a more seamless vibrato type effect if you remove the baffles. A prime example of really smooth with baffles would be Steve Miller's Fly like and Eagle. Understand now?

[crysalis]

Oh i understand what they do... I'm just curious how many people use them or what they prefer.