for some reason, probably a commercial where i saw a piano destroyed, i was wondering how difficult it was to move that instrument from show to show. did it need to be tuned often? what kind of crate was used? was packing required inside of it? any stories of something happening to it? it just seems like that is a very delicate instrument to move around.
In Gregg's book (or maybe it was Al Paul's) he talks about the early days of the guys helping get the B3 into upstairs gigs, and how careful they all were about getting it moved. Then there's one about Dr John dumping glitter onto the keyboard and what it cost Gregg to get it cleaned out. And I recall when Gregg played with the Nighthawks, he had to move the B3 himself. All 450 pounds of it, cause they were not going to do it for him.
Thus I submit some results to you of one of the most original googles of the year: Moving a B3
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Your-Guide-to-Safely-Transporting-a-Hammond-Organ-/10000000178706458/g.html
and finally, The Organ Forum!
http://www.organforum.com/forums/showthread.php?17030-Hammond-moving
http://www.dairiki.org/HammondWiki/MovingAHammond
kool rain.....thank you very much
lol that is fantastic information.
[Edited on 11/6/2015 by LeglizHemp]
I saw Gregg pushing his B3 up a ramp when he was with the Nighthawks, too. I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought about him traveling in Lear Jets, married to Cher, etc.... and here the guy was lugging in his equipment to the stage. It was a killer show. One for the ages, really.
[Edited on 11/6/2015 by revonah]
Had to share my own very recent story about Gregg's B-3.
I saw Gregg only last month, 10/4/15, @ The Sonoma Music Festival. About 1/3 of the way through what had been a fairly mellow set, they really ramped it up when they broke into Don't Want You No More/It's Not My Cross To Bear. You could feel the energy rising. But just as Gregg tried to break into his solo in DWYNM, there was no sound coming out of the organ whatsoever.
Gregg looked a bit puzzled, then he turned around and motioned to his crew that something was up. The band NEVER missed a beat, slick pros that they are. His keyboard player quickly broke out a short solo to fill in. Gregg got up and went to a mike at center stage and sang INMCTB while standing.
Gregg and band covered their asses quite well, but still, it broke the momentum of the set, having such a climactic tune interrupted. While Gregg sang at center stage, his crew pulled off his Hammond and replaced it with another one. I assume it had blown a tube. Those organs of course are 50's or 60's technology.
