Hammond Novachord

Hammond Polyphonic Synthesizer

Sounds can be very subtle, never mind that my son's guitar being played through a Death-By-Audio special effects pedal sounds like a cat being strangled. He went through four guitars, a couple of amps and a dozen pedals before he found a combination he likes. The guitar had to be a made-in-America Jazzmaster, the sound from the made-in-Mexico one just wasn't cutting it. Next week it will probably be something different, but it's fine for now.

My other son is collecting records, not CD's, actual vinyl LP's. He even has a record player to play them on. They are not Luddites, they have their cell phones, iPods, and lap-top computers, but they seem to be very picky as far as their music goes. When I was their age all I needed was a six-pack and a car with an FM radio playing rock and roll. I suppose the 6-pack explains a lot.

Leslie speakers from Hammond organs are still sought after. John and his friends scored an old Wurlitzer organ from someone hoping it would contain a Leslie speaker. It has a copy, but it's not the real McCoy and it probably wouldn't to stand up to what they are dishing out.

Then I stumble upon a post about the Hammond Novachord in the Retrotechnologist. I always imagined that all those really weird sounds you got from the movies were made by the sound effects guys using pie plates and oil tanks or something. But no, they were simply playing the Novachord. The page about the Novachord Restoration Project has some sound clips so you hear what it sounds like. There are a few not too far from the top, and several more at the bottom. The picture is from this page and I think it's just the best.

Update January 2017 replaced missing picture.