Hammond 3500 Leslie Speaker – Black

The Leslie Speaker continues its evolution as the most unique amplifier in all music. The Leslie Models 3500 / 3500W incorporate elements from Hammond’s exclusive 122 / 142 Heritage models and remain the essential partners for any Hammond Organ, bringing vintage sound with a new level of hi-definition clarity and presence. 300 watts of bi-amped power provides the thunder, commanding any Stage, Church, Institution, or Studio; and these new models are not for Organists alone. The standard 1/4” line-level input allows any 1/4”-equipped electronic instrument to share the Leslie legend, with a standard (optional) footswitch controlling Leslie speed. No external “preamp box” is required. The familiar 11-pin jack directly hooks up a Hammond Organ. The 3500 is road-ready with convenient handles, a tough/durable finish, and standard heavy-duty casters, while the 3500W’s traditional Walnut cabinet is attractive in any setting. The Model 991 is a full-sized traditional Leslie Cabinet in a fine furniture Walnut finish. The styling of both models’ Cabinets follows the manner of vintage Leslies, reviving Don Leslie’s original design for efficient acoustical response.

• 300 Watts Bi-Amped Power
• 11-pin or 1/4” (Line Level) Inputs
• Standard Footswitch for Leslie Speed
• 3500: Convenient Handles/Heavy-Duty Finish/Casters

Horn Rotor / Horn Driver

The Leslie 3500 is equipped with the exact same horn and horn driver found in Hammond’s exclusive vintage reproduction models 122H & 142H. The pre-1970s style horn is widely recognized as a key component of vintage sound, while the new horn driver is based on the original V-21, recreating not only its speaking characteristics but also its shape, which keenly affects the sound. The horn driver level is easily adjusted with a dedicated control knob, allowing precise balance with the woofer.

Woofer

The new model’s woofer is the same as found on Hammond’s models 122H/142H. It was developed with the aim of reproducing the vintage 122 (C15L) sound while being able to handle the higher output of newer power amplifiers.

Equalizer

A 3-band equalizer is provided. BASS allows adjustment of the low range, such as pedal parts and bass lines. MIDDLE allows adjustment of the middle range, such as chords and melodies. TREBLE allows adjustment of the high range, such as leakage sounds and key click sounds, which was not possible with vintage Leslies. The sound can be tailored to suit venue characteristics and any individual instrument requirements.

Bass Out Terminal

If a more powerful bass is desired, the low range may be output to an external bass amplifier, subwoofer, or PA via the [BASS OUT] terminal. The low-pass frequency may be adjusted with the [BASS OUT FREQ] knob. This sound is not “rotary.”

Overdrive

The new models are equipped with a new transistor preamplifier, based on the push-pull amplifier system used in vintage 330 model Leslies (and others). It reproduces the characteristic distortion of transistors when the sound is overdriven, providing “warmth” when applied lightly or full rock and roll “scream” when dialed up. This feature can be easily adjusted with the [OVERDRIVE ON/OFF] switch and the [GAIN] control knob on the bottom control panel.

11-Pin Power Remote Switch

Vintage Leslies did not have a power switch; they were activated when the organ console was switched on. This behavior can be reproduced via the [11-PIN POWER REMOTE SWITCH] when the console is attached with an 11-pin cable.

Stationary Out

When these models are connected via the 11-pin plug to a Hammond Stage Keyboard such as the SkPRO, the Piano, Ensemble, and Mono Synth Voices appear here in stereo, ready to be fed to a keyboard amp or P.A. System. For Hammond Organs, the non-Leslie sound appears here.

Rotor Speeds

The rear nameplate can be easily accessed by removing the two thumbscrews. Underneath the nameplate are the controls to independently adjust the rise and fall times and the slow and fast speeds of the treble and bass rotors.